When he was up and coming in Canada, fans knew him as Aubrey Drake Graham. But these days, the world tends to call him Drake.
And now, the Grammy-winning rapper, 38, is reflecting on his time on the Canadian TV show that first launched him to fame.
The trailer for Degrassi: Whatever It Takes was released to The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday, Aug. 27. The documentary, which centers on Canada’s iconic TV franchise, will make its world premiere Sept. 13 at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Whatever It Takes features “interviews and insights on the show’s legacy from creator Linda Schuyler, executive producer Stephen Stohn, superfans, including filmmaker Kevin Smith, and cast of the Degrassi universe,” according to a release via THR.
Drake, one the Degrassi household names, is included in the documentary’s trailer and notes that one of his first kisses actually took place on camera for the show.
“Damn, I never thought about it like that,” he says in the trailer.
“It was kind of a whirlwind experience,” former cast member Shenae Grimes-Beech says of Degrassi stardom. “Probably a bit like ‘out of body.'”
The Kids of Degrassi Street, the first show from the franchise, premiered on the CBC in 1982, as THR notes. The Degrassi universe would expand to several more series as well as novels, graphic novels, soundtrack recordings and more. Besides The Beachcombers (1972-1990) and Schitt’s Creek (2015-2020), the Degrassi releases are among the most successful Canadian television productions ever, as they ultimately gaining a devoted following in the U.S.
“Degrassi changed the landscape of television with real, unvarnished storytelling and did it unapologetically from a teenage perspective,” Lisa Rideout, the doc’s director, said in a statement. “I was inspired by how fearless the series was in tackling issues that others wouldn’t touch. This documentary celebrates the iconic Canadian franchise while revealing the impact it had on the people who made it and the audiences who loved it.”
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 27, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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