Drake Is Coming to Netflix in 2018 to Star in the Revival of the UK Show ‘Top Boy’
The glo-up is real with this one. Drake’s career is coming full circle with the announcement of the rapper picking up the rights to the UK crime drama Top Boy. Although Drake is known and celebrated for numerous hits he’s racked up over the years like “YOLO”, “Started from the Bottom”, “Hotline Bling” – not to mention countless features – the Toronto native had humble beginnings on the long-running Canadian television series Degrassi. Top Boy marks a change for his career because he’s mostly known for his success in the rap game, but acting has always played a big role in Drake’s life.
Audiences may remember Drake (known then as Aubrey Graham) for his portrayal of a character who would eventually don the name “Wheelchair Jimmy”. Jimmy was paralyzed after a school shooting, but managed to maintain a sunny disposition despite hardships he faced as a high school student. Drake shared rap music in common with Jimmy and eventually retired from the role to pursue rapping full-time off-screen.
Long story short, his dreams came true and then some.
Although this may seem like a random move, Drake is known for making boss moves with his millions. Drake went from rapper to Raptor when he delve into the realm of NBA ownership and inked his own deal with the Toronto Raptors basketball team as a global ambassador. The actor buying the rights to a show that he enjoys and believes in doesn’t seem too off the mark for the entertainer. Plus, it’s no secret that he follows in Uncle Jay-Z’s unofficial handbook of how to be a mogul.
Top Boy is a show that chronicles a fictionalized account of UK street culture, drug dealing, and gangs. Drake has been a fan of the series since Netflix picked it up and started airing past episodes on the online streaming platform. The show was dropped from the Channel 4 network after its second season aired.
@AshleyWalters82 is too incredible!! Everybody on Top Boy gives such incredible performances. That show is just too good.
— Drizzy (@Drake) October 9, 2014
News initially broke that the Canadian rapper bought the rights to the program, but now there’s talks that he is getting back into his acting roots at the ground level by getting a starring role in the series, alongside actor Ashley Walters. Walters shared with The Mirror, “We met up to start talking about the show and we are working out a role for him. He loves acting, of course he wanted a part. He’s going to be really hands on and is getting stuck into it.”
Drake has such an affinity for British culture and acting that Top Boy seems like an interesting next step in his ever-evolving career. The rapper recently saw success with his More Life playlist spending two weeks (and counting) at the top of the Billboard 200 charts and surpassing his own streaming record on Spotify.
An official date has not yet been announced, but Top Boy will pick up where it left off with a third season that is slated to premiere in 2018.
Watch the trailer below:
Photo Credit: PRPhotos
