Why Drake uses a Jamaican accent

Drake employs a Jamaican accent when it's convenient for him. So we investigated the origin of his patois.

Note: An earlier version of this video incorrectly stated that Boi-1da produced One Dance. It also incorrectly set the dates on Views and If You're Reading This It's Too Late.
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The cultural history we’re discussing in this video extends beyond Drake in so many ways that couldn’t fit into this video. So here are some links to further watching / reading to get a better picture of the Caribbean-Canadian connection.

The second resource is in the Statistics Canada website. It’s where I got the map you saw in the video. And it can give you a closer look at the figures I talk about in the video.

Finally, I recommend the culture writing in the FADER, particularly when it focuses on greater Toronto. Here are some of my favorite pieces:

On the delicate balance between appropriation and appreciation in Greater Toronto

[iridescentdreamer]

I'm Guyanese and I grew up with Hispanics but you don't see me walking around with a Dominican accent LOL

[Lulumajorca]

He's not speaking patois. There's a distinct dialect in urban Toronto that hybridizes english, patois slang, arabic and somali (but mostly patois), representing the diverse cultural fabric of the city, but it's defintley unique and a product of the migrant patterns of foreign born citizens in the city. Urban London has a similar demographic to Toronto, which is why a lot of the slang is extremely similar.This is why I have trouble saying that Drake is appropriating Jamaican slang. Most people of colour in Toronto speak like this.Toronto urban slang, even though it is strongly influenced by patois, is defintley its own unique dialect. So while we say "wha gwan my yout?" on the daily, terms like "I'm cheesed" or "say wallahi" are a product of a very mixed environment. Idk, it's hard to understand if you're not from Toronto lol. What do ya'll think?

[djromeboy]

He just sounds like all Toronto mans loll who tf made this

[baltimore]

all imma say is I've never heard the weeknd speak in a Jamaican or UK accent

[bballercheetahfan]

Oh really he has jamaican roots? why Didn't he show them off during his first 3 albums!!!??? OR the past 9 years? Why all of a sudden in the past two years he's decided to show his jamaican side?

[bigsexyryan]

Yea to be honest, thats just how a lot of kids from the Toronto area speak, couldn't tell you why but it's more of just a city thing rather than a Jamaican heritage thing, I know way too many people who speak like that who definitely aren't Jamaican

[bionicbagel]

Being from Toronto, lots of people use Jamaican slang in their everyday life, it's just what young people adapt too. It is definitely part of the urban culture in the city, ask any kid wagwan and he will for sure know what ur saying. Because we are so diverse, lots of slang gets mixed in, from Caribbean to African. And you pronounced Scarborough in a dumb way lol (pronounced scar bro)

[dextv]

So does Toronto really pronounced as "torono"? I just know that.

[antwainclarke]

Lol I'm Jamaican and I don't feel at all that Drake or anyone else is stealing anything from me... like how can you steal culture and language? you can imitate it, sometimes badly, but never steal. I actually feel great pride to know that we have a language worth sharing with the world.

[GarethWareth]

Weird, because he didn't do any of this until he started ripping off the UK scene. UK hip-hop and grime is heavily influenced by Afro-Caribbeans, particularly patois, and London slang comes a lot from this. Also, Drake got really into UK dancehall and afrobeats. I'm sure this has a little to do with it, but he's mostly picked it up from abroad for sure. No doubt he's also into Jamaican dancehall.

[JulesLuna]

Vox, you really don't need to justify Drakes identity crisis with facts about his upbringing.

[TheLazyGentleman]

As a Jamaican, Drake's "Jamaican Accent" is one of the worst I've ever heard. Like his last album is a huge joke in Jamaica due to his accent in songs like "No Long Talk." That's not to say he isn't allowed to do what he's doing or anything, his music is still loved here no joke ting, it's just that as a native some of his songs are absolutely unbearable to listen to without laughing yuh rass off.

[Kriojenic]

I'm in Scarborough and it's just something that rubs off on you when you grow up here, nothing new he's just staying authentic to his upbringing

[thediplomic]

Bramptons population:

96% South Asian
4% other

[jonesyvz]

You missed out his recent links with the UK that heavily influenced the new album

[odainanderson]

Proud to be Jamaican, Love how wi culture is well rated

[SleepFan]

I don't think growing up in Toronto is an excuse to suddenly start to speak like that since he didn't before. Drake grew up around Jamaicans, but that doesn't make him Boi-1da or even Rihanna from Barbados. He's putting it on to fit in and because dance-hall in so in now. His excuse is Toronto's diversity. Most of his upbringing was in the more white area of Toronto anyways.

Whatever, he can speak however he wants, I'm not offended or upset, it's just disingenuous to justify his accent like this as well researched as this may be. Drake is arguably a culture vulture.

[gypsyjane]

Doesn't matter why... he needs to stop

[CallMeAntsForShort]

Pritty simple.. it's cool to be Jamaican end of

[Flipperzzzzz]

The way he pronounced "Scarborough" kek.