Drake’s path to superstardom traces back to one life-changing phone call from his mom.
On Wednesday, the trailer for the upcoming documentary Degrassi: Whatever It Takes dropped, featuring the rapper reflecting on the moment that set everything in motion.
Directed by Lisa Rideout, the film is set to premiere Sept. 13 at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“I didn’t have a great time in high school. I just didn’t really fit in,” Drake admits in the trailer. “Then one day, my mom called me and told me, ‘You got the role.’ And I just grabbed my bag and left. And man, what a wild journey that started.”
Degrassi: Whatever It Takes dives deep into the legacy of the iconic Canadian teen drama where Drake played Jimmy Brooks from 2001 to 2008.
The Lisa Rideout-directed documentary reunites multiple generations of Degrassi stars—Dayo Ade, Stefan Brogren, Shenae Grimes-Beech, Jake Epstein, Shane Kippel, and Miriam McDonald—who reflect on the show’s cultural impact and the challenges of growing up in front of the camera. It also examines the fame that followed many of its cast members.
From Kids of Degrassi Street (1979–1986) to Degrassi Junior High, Degrassi High, Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001–2015), and Netflix’s Degrassi: Next Class (2016–2017), the franchise became known for tackling real teen issues such as pregnancy, drug use, mental health, and domestic abuse.
On the music side, Drake recently announced a creative partnership with Kai Cenat, opening the door for a group of directors to create 19 music videos for his and PARTYNEXTDOOR’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U standout “Somebody Loves Me.”
The mini-clips double as “micro-videos” and pitches for a full-scale production. “Our finalists represent a diverse range of experience levels, as we were committed to giving new and emerging directors—including a few first-time directors—the opportunity to showcase their talent,” read a statement shared on Drake’s official site.
