TORONTO – Popular Canadian rapper Drake may be heading for choppy waters when his grant from the Canada Council for the Arts runs out at the end of this month.
Since he was bestowed the grant in 2009, Drake has used the $250 million to record chart-topping albums and fund international tours.
4 million of Drake’s 5 million album sales and most of his tour revenue has been subsidized by the Council.
In order to keep the grant, the rapper was required to comment on issues regarding Canadian identity in his music — a demand he was none too pleased with.
“Do you think I really wanted to make up fake nicknames for Toronto or film a music video in a goddamn Shoppers Drug Mart!? No! I had to do that for my grant. I had no choice,” explained Drake.
When asked for comment, a spokesperson from the Council said, “Drake is ready to go out on his own. Besides, we need his budget to continue propping up Justin Bieber. That kid’s a disaster.”
