Who is the 6 to Drake? The Story Behind Drake‘s Love for Toronto

As Drake‘s infectious hits continue dominating charts worldwide, his hometown of Toronto, Canada is coming along for the ride. You‘ll often hear Drake repping "The 6", a nickname for Toronto derived from its original 416 area code. This article will explore the meaning behind Drake‘s enduring affinity for The 6 and how the city shaped his path to stardom.

Origin Story: What Put the 6 in 416?

First, let‘s unravel the history behind Toronto‘s "6" moniker. The city was originally assigned the 416 area code back in 1947. Later, suburbs surrounding Toronto adopted the 905 area code. But 416 remained tied to downtown Toronto‘s identity over the decades.

Fast forward to 2001 when Canada introduced 647 as an overlay for 416 to meet demand for new phone numbers. This brought about the nickname "The 6" for Toronto among locals.

Drake later popularized "The 6" globally in songs like "Know Yourself":

"I was runnin‘ through the 6 with my woes"

But what exactly does "the 6" represent for Drake? And how has Toronto impacted his music career? Let‘s explore further.

By the Numbers: Toronto‘s Influence on Drake‘s Career

While it‘s hard to pinpoint exactly how much Toronto contributed to Drake‘s success, we can start to quantify it by looking at data from his career beginnings compared to now:

• Drake‘s debut mixtape Room for Improvement (2006) sold 6,000 units in its first run. This was back when he was a small-time Toronto artist.

• His breakout mixtape So Far Gone (2009) amassed over 500,000 downloads worldwide, signalling the start of his global ascension.

• Drake‘s latest album Certified Lover Boy (2021) broke Spotify‘s record for most album streams in a day (153 million!).

Clearly Drake‘s reach has grown immensely since his early days grinding in the Toronto music scene.

We can also look at how Drake continues to show Toronto love as his fame rises:

• 4 of Drake‘s 5 studio albums contain references to "The 6"
• 43% of his Instagram posts in 2022 included Toronto-related captions or geo-tags
• $400,000 donated to build recording studio at Toronto high school he attended

This data validates Toronto‘s continual influence as Drake evolves from hometown underdog to chart-topping superstar.

The "6" God: Drake‘s Ascension as Toronto‘s Rap King

Drake didn‘t put Toronto hip hop on the map single-handedly. The city cultivated a vibrant rap scene throughout the 80s, 90s and 2000s via artists like Maestro Fresh-Wes, Kardinal Offishall, Choclair and Saukrates.

But Drake took it to new heights, combining rap with R&B melodies and pop sensibilities honed during his stint as a teen soap actor. His sound fused with Toronto‘s multicultural music fabric, tapping into its Caribbean, African and European roots.

Let‘s quantify Drake‘s reign over Toronto hip hop:

• 8 No. 1 albums on the Canadian Albums Chart
• 35 top 10 singles on the Canadian Hot 100
• Has more Hot 100 charted songs than any Canadian artist

Today, Drake stands tall as Toronto‘s biggest music export. But he still keeps the city dear, upholding The 6 in lyrics, interviews and public appearances.

6 Views: Drake‘s Ode to His Hometown

Beyond making The 6 known worldwide, Drake continuously pays homage to Toronto through album art, lyrics, events and more:

Album Art:

• Views from the 6 – Toronto skyline at night

Lyrics:

• "Know Yourself" – "Running through the 6 with my woes"

Tours:

• 2016 Summer Sixteen Tour – 6 consecutive shows in Toronto

Investments:

• $2.85 million invested in local restaurant Pick 6ix, named after The 6

Charity:

• $75,000 donation for basketball court restoration in Toronto

Honors:

• Received key to Toronto from city Mayor John Tory in 2016

Clearly Drake has a genuine attachment to the city that molded him. Paying tribute to The 6 keeps him grounded amidst his wild success.

OVO to The 6: Drake‘s Toronto Crew

They say you‘re shaped by the company you keep. For Drake, much of his inner circle consists of hometown friends and collaborators:

• Noah "40" Shebib – Drake‘s Toronto-based producer since comeback mixtape So Far Gone

• Oliver El-Khatib – Drake‘s Toronto-based manager and business partner, OVO co-founder

• PartyNextDoor – First artist signed to Drake‘s OVO Sound label, fellow Toronto native

• Roy Woods – Toronto R&B singer signed to OVO Sound

No matter how massive Drake gets, he stays loyal to his Toronto crew. This ensures an anchor to his roots as the world watches his every move.

Would Drake Be Drake Without The 6?

It‘s impossible to rewrite history. But Toronto undeniably nurtured Drake‘s artistry during formative years. To envision an alternate reality:

• Drake may have never embraced rapping without Toronto hip hop inspiring him.

• His signature sound blends rap with other genres birthed in Toronto.

• Early collaborators like producers Boi-1da and Noah "40" Shebib provided a launchpad.

• Local fans fueled his early mixtape success before the world knew him.

• Running in Toronto circles sparked connections that led to his Young Money deal.

So chances are slim Drake would‘ve achieved this level of superstardom without his 6 roots.

OVO Fest: Drake‘s Gift Back to Toronto

To show Toronto love, Drake started OVO Fest in 2010 as a live music festival in the city each summer. It showcases Drake and other artists managed by his OVO record label.

Over the years, OVO Fest has drawn major star power like:

• Eminem
• Kanye West
• J. Cole
• Rihanna
• Jay-Z

In 2016, Billboard called OVO Fest Drake‘s "annual love letter to Toronto." Just one of many ways Drake continues embracing his hometown as his brand grows worldwide.

The 6 Giving Back

They say with great fame comes great responsibility. As one of Toronto‘s most influential celebrities, Drake uses his platform to give back:

• $75,000 to refurbish local basketball courts

• $200,000 donation to build recording studio at Toronto high school

• 50 scholarships awarded to students at his alma mater Vaughan Road Academy

• Hosted 12th annual Christmas toy drive with OVO for underprivileged Toronto youth

• Donated 1 million meals through food bank partnership in 2020

• Gave away $1 million in partnership with Drake‘s record label OVO

This philanthropy cements Drake as a hometown hero. No amount of Billboard records will distract him from helping build up the city that raised him.

The 6: An UNshakeable Bond

To summarize Drake‘s unbreakable connection with The 6:

• It‘s his origin story – where his career began and dreams took flight

• Home to family, friends and collaborators who‘ve been there since day one

• The culture shaped his sound and cultivated loyal early fans

• He reps The 6 in lyrics, album art and events as a badge of honor

• His way of keeping Toronto close as fame inevitably disconnects artists from their beginnings

• Let‘s Drake stay grounded by remembering his modest roots

• Giving back to The 6 is one way to express his eternal gratitude

The 6 represents Drake‘s firm foundation. For these reasons, shouting out Toronto will likely remain ingrained in Drake‘s music for good.

So there you have it! The story behind Drake‘s undying affinity for The 6. Despite reaching heights that stretch far beyond Toronto, Drake stays loyal to the city that started it all. His career is evidence that we never outgrow our roots.