Drake Set to Reclaim His Degrassi Narrative in New Documentary Premiering at TIFF — Narrative Control Before the Next Diss?

Drake is going back to where it all began—before the rap beefs, before the Grammys, before OVO. The Toronto icon will appear in the upcoming documentary Degrassi: Whatever It Takes, premiering at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival later this year.

Directed by Lisa Rideout, the documentary promises to dive deep into the legacy of one of Canada’s most culturally influential teen dramas, Degrassi, and the role it played in shaping Drake’s early public persona.

“Creators, superfans, and stars including Aubrey Drake Graham delve deep into all things Degrassi in this engaging history of the Canadian show that changed teen TV,” the official TIFF synopsis reads.

🎬 The Jimmy Brooks Era: From TV Star to Rap Titan

Between 2001 and 2009, Drake starred in 145 episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation as Jimmy Brooks, a high school basketball player whose storyline took a dramatic turn after a school shooting left him paralyzed.

Though that arc became one of the show’s most iconic, it wasn’t always embraced behind the scenes. According to a 2021 oral history published by The AV Club, a Toronto law firm reportedly sent a letter on Drake’s behalf demanding that Jimmy’s injury be reversed for Season 6.

“Aubrey Graham will not return to Degrassi Season 6 unless his injury is healed and he’s out of the wheelchair,” recalled writer James Hurst.

When confronted about it, Drake reportedly distanced himself from the demand, expressing concerns that the wheelchair role made him look “soft” in the eyes of his peers in the rap game.

Hurst’s reply? “Tell your friends in the rap game that you got shot. How much harder can you get?”

Eventually, Drake backed down and embraced the role’s impact, with Hurst reminding him that he was representing an underserved group of viewers with disabilities.

🎙 MainEvent.News | Backstage Take

Drake’s move to step into this documentary is brilliant chess—not checkers. He’s reclaiming his narrative before anyone else can twist it, especially in the current climate of rap beefs and character digs. Real strategy isn’t about reacting—it's about staying ahead of the curve. Longevity beats clout every time.

📅 What’s Next?

Showtimes for the TIFF premiere of Degrassi: Whatever It Takes will be announced by August 12. Expect viral moments, press buzz, and possibly even a little preemptive PR defense from Drake himself.