Back to News
Why is Drake barking like a dog? Six things you need to know about the rapper’s midlife pivot
EntertainmentShowbizMusicMusic NewsAugust 14, 2026 at 8:00 AMNational

Why is Drake barking like a dog? Six things you need to know about the rapper’s midlife pivot

By Elle HuntThe Guardian Music

There’s a lot to unpack as this proud son of Toronto closes in on 40 – from his gambling to his very public dates. Here goes!Even if you can only name a handful of rappers, Drake is probably one of them. Not so many years ago, he was among the planet’s biggest celebrities, named in the same breath as Taylor Swift and Beyoncé and breaking chart records set by the Beatles. Many of his dozens of hit singles – Work, One Dance, Hotline Bling and God’s Plan – were ubiquitous, among the last truly crossover radio hits.Drake is still landing chart spots (if not critical acclaim), but now it’s his foray into the “creator economy” that’s raising eyebrows – shilling for a crypto casino, fraternising with manosphere influencers and, just last weekend, live-streaming dates with OnlyFans models. So what’s this all about? Is Toronto’s once-golden boy having a midlife crisis – or is it a media-savvy pivot? Here’s how Drake got caught up in the “creator economy”. Continue reading...

There’s a lot to unpack as this proud son of Toronto closes in on 40 – from his gambling to his very public dates. Here goes!

Even if you can only name a handful of rappers, Drake is probably one of them. Not so many years ago, he was among the planet’s biggest celebrities, named in the same breath as Taylor Swift and Beyoncé and breaking chart records set by the Beatles. Many of his dozens of hit singles – Work, One Dance, Hotline Bling and God’s Plan – were ubiquitous, among the last truly crossover radio hits.

Drake is still landing chart spots (if not critical acclaim), but now it’s his foray into the “creator economy” that’s raising eyebrows – shilling for a crypto casino, fraternising with manosphere influencers and, just last weekend, live-streaming dates with OnlyFans models. So what’s this all about? Is Toronto’s once-golden boy having a midlife crisis – or is it a media-savvy pivot? Here’s how Drake got caught up in the “creator economy”.

Continue reading...

Related News

Phoebe Bridgers explains why ‘Lost Weekend’ took “forever” to make: “I didn’t love all parts of being away”
Music News

Phoebe Bridgers explains why ‘Lost Weekend’ took “forever” to make: “I didn’t love all parts of being away”

The new record ended a six-year wait after her last solo album 'Punisher' The post Phoebe Bridgers explains why ‘Lost W...

NME Music News1 hour ago
This is what it sounded like when everyone at Boomtown festival got the government wildfire phone alert at once
PoliticsMusic News

This is what it sounded like when everyone at Boomtown festival got the government wildfire phone alert at once

"British humour is unmatched" The post This is what it sounded like when everyone at Boomtown festival got the governme...

NME Music News1 hour ago
Ariana Grande Eternal Sunshine tour review: pop illusion at its most effective – for good and bad
UK NewsEntertainmentMusicMusic News

Ariana Grande Eternal Sunshine tour review: pop illusion at its most effective – for good and bad

The O2, LondonOn her last live dates before she steps back from the public eye, Grande holds her own – but it’s also imp...

The Guardian Music3 hours ago
Rock stars Ash look back: ‘Mark broke his feet jumping off a balcony – for the rest of the tour he self-medicated with gin and buckets of ice’
EntertainmentMusicMusic News

Rock stars Ash look back: ‘Mark broke his feet jumping off a balcony – for the rest of the tour he self-medicated with gin and buckets of ice’

The Northern Irish band on jamming together at school, booze and breakdowns, and being a weirdly functional familyTim Wh...

The Guardian Music4 hours ago
Watch Kurt Vile join Fontaines D.C. on stage for ‘Roman Holiday’ at La Route Du Rock
Music News

Watch Kurt Vile join Fontaines D.C. on stage for ‘Roman Holiday’ at La Route Du Rock

Grian Chatten has said the 'Skinty Fia' song was "quite inspired" by Vile The post Watch Kurt Vile join Fontaines D.C....

NME Music News6 hours ago
Twenty One Pilots want fans attending All Points East to send them their footage and stories
Music News

Twenty One Pilots want fans attending All Points East to send them their footage and stories

The duo will make their debut at the London festival later this month (August 30), and want fans to share "something un...

NME Music News6 hours ago