25 reasons we love Drake

The Drake the world knows now is a rapper, musician, and an example of posh pop culture and popularity. But don't forget that Drake was originally Jimmy Brooks on "Degrassi: The Next Generation." Long live the scene in which Drake's character Jimmy tragically gets shot and paralyzed. But Drake was starting a career in music before anybody saw him coming, which is why he eventually was forced to leave the show. Luckily, things worked out just fine for him after television.

Even if everyone can't actually be Drake's best friend, he easily makes you feel like you are through his music. But those who have entered Drake's bubble (usually NBA players) never leave without a hug.

Just before 2016 ended, it left us with one more bombshell: a Drake and Jennifer Lopez romance. Photos appeared on Drake's Instagram, straight from the source, and it was reported that Drake had always crushed on J. Lo growing up. Drake has given her jewelry, and Lopez has canceled events allegedly just to hang out with Drizzy. Moral of the story: Be like Drake and have a chance with your childhood crush.

Drake appropriately named his partnership with Taylor Swift in this Apple commercial "Draylor." The rest of us just call it funny. The self-deprecating Apple Music commercial premiered during the 2016 American Music Awards with Drake looking on and laughing in the crowd. Watch the commercial here.

Owls naturally look edgy, but ever since Drake called on designer Nate Willis to make an owl the logo of his October's Very Own imprint, the animal has never been more in-style.

Drake has ventured quite successfully into fashion with his October's Very Own brand, simply known as OVO. In December, Drake opened yet another pop-up shop, this time in New York City. Unlike most pop-ups, Drake's OVO stores are usually permanent.

It seems that Drake is always heartbroken or going through some sort of relationship turmoil, which could be another way of saying Drake is a human. The difference between him and us is he can turn heartbreak into heartfelt anthems that go platinum.

Drake made it clear that all "Summer Sixteen" he was looking for revenge. Not in a violent, make-you-pay way, but in a tongue-in-cheek and catchy way. Drake turned all the shots taken at him and any possible pain he's been through into a musical masterpiece and wildly successful "Summer Sixteen" tour.

Regardless of what Drake and Rihanna were, are or might be in the future romantically, the duo has blessed us as creative collaborators: from "Take Care" to "What's My Name?" to "Too Good" to "Work." We all just have one request: No matter what happens between the two of you away from the studio, please at least always remain civil so the music never stops.

Drake presented Rihanna with the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. He told the crowd that he first met Rihanna as an extra for the music video to her 2005 breakout hit "Pon de Replay."

But the real swooning started when Drake revealed, "She's someone I've been in love with since I was 22 years old. She's one of my best friends in the world. All my adult life, I've looked up to her, even though she's younger than me."

Drake was an actor first, and he's an actor still. He has hosted "Saturday Night Live" twice and appeared on it three times, the most recent being his hosting and musical guest gig in May 2016. Any time Drake stops by "SNL," we're reminded that he's gifted as an entertainer above all else.

Play around on this website and thank me later. Here are some examples of the best from the "Views" meme craze.

If it feels like Drake is constantly dropping new singles or projects, that's because he is. After venturing out on his Summer Sixteen Tour, what became hip-hop's highest grossing tour of all time, Drake turned 30 on Oct. 24, 2016, and announced a brand-new project "More Life." He then released four new singles on his OVO Sound radio.

Drake's father, Dennis Graham, recently made the news because he dropped a single called "Kinda Crazy." The truth is Dennis had a career in music long before his very famous son. Dennis Graham worked with Jerry Lee Lewis as a drummer.

Drake and NBA superstar Steph Curry have been known to hang out. Curry has said he has played basketball at Drake's house. But the solidification that these two are actually buds? They were spotted along with Curry's wife Ayesha grabbing a late-night bite at In-N-Out Burger on a Wednesday night in December 2015. That's friendship.

In August, Drake took his Summer Sixteen Tour to Detroit where he surprised the audience with its hometown hero and rap icon Eminem. The two performed "Forever" together, a song they collaborated on in 2009. Drake is the rapper of right now, but Eminem is one of the originals. So to see the two of them perform together in Eminem's city was a treat for rap and music fans.

Drake was born Aubrey Drake Graham. A grown man named Aubrey is dominating the music industry. Respect. Although, apparently, the name Aubrey has an origin meaning "rules with elf wisdom," so maybe it was just fate.

In July 2015, rapper Meek Mill sent a tweet accusing Drake of using a ghostwriter. And so a rap beef between the two was born for all the world to see. Most notably, Drake released "Back to Back," and the track peaked No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100.

If you are a casual fan of the NBA, chances are very high that you have seen Drake on the sideline for many games. Drake is a "Global Ambassador" for his hometown Toronto Raptors and does not take his role lightly. The 2016 NBA All-Star Game was held in Toronto, which gave Drake an excuse to be in the center of all the weekend's festivities.

And don't worry, Drake is passing his crossover appeal to the younger generation. Seven-year-old Young Dylan performed Drake's songs "Child's Play" and "One Dance" at halftime of the Toronto Raptors' "Drake Night" in November.

Scroll through Drake's Billboard chart history and by the end of it, you will have at least three of his hits stuck in your head. The simple fact that Drake's chart history is so extensive proves that a Drake song is more often than not a universal earworm.

On Oct. 26, 2015, Drake uploaded the "Hotline Bling" music video to his official VEVO channel, which now has over a billion views and became yet another source for memes. Keeping with the theme of staying humble, Drake starred in a T-Mobile commercial spoofing his "Hotline Bling" video that aired during Super Bowl 50.

Nov. 16, 2016, was dubbed "Drake Night" at the Toronto Raptors game. Drake, the Raptors' Global Ambassador, was in attendance wearing a shirt with ESPN's Doris Burke's face above the words "WOMAN CRUSH EVERYDAY." Drake has long had a public crush on the ESPN basketball play-by-play woman and color commentator. You go, Doris.

Drake has never forgotten his roots. An example, linking back to his start on the Canadian series "Degrassi," is this list of times Drake weaved in lyrics about his acting roots. It all started in Toronto, and that's where Drake still flourishes. Drake made Toronto cool, figuratively and literally by the numbers.

Complex listed Drake's "More Life" as one of 2017's most anticipated albums.

Yes, it's true. Drake is not just a "millennial" thing. My mother went with me and my sister to see Drake's Summer Sixteen Tour show in July 2016 and was happier than I've ever seen her. My mother is the biggest Drake fan in the universe. If that doesn't endear you to Drake, nothing will.