Drake - NOCTA

Aubrey Drake Graham (1986) is a Canadian actor, R&B singer—and, what he’s probably best known for—rapper. He releases his songs under his middle name, Drake, and some of us may also know him by his nickname, “Drizzy.”

Drake’s career began at age 15, when he was discovered as an actor. He played the role of “Jimmy Brooks” in the Canadian TV series “Degrassi.”

In addition to his acting career, the Canadian made his debut as the rapper “Drake” in 2006.

Since then, things have only continued to look up for him. In 2008, he was discovered by Lil Wayne and, much to the chagrin of other music labels vying to sign the talented Aubrey Drake Graham, signed with Lil Wayne’s in-house label, “Young Money Entertainment.” Drake learned a lot from one of the best rappers of all time.

Drake released four albums under the Young Money label: *Thank Me Later* (2010), *Take Care* (2011), *Nothing Was the Same* (2013), and *Views* (2016). All of these albums reached No. 1 on the album charts in Canada and the U.S. and were certified platinum multiple times. These were followed by the studio albums *Scorpion* (2018) and, most recently, *Certified Lover Boy* (2021).

In addition, Drake has released numerous mixtapes, EPs, and songs.

In addition to his career as a rapper, today’s superstar has many other ventures and is an extremely successful entrepreneur.

Among other things, he founded his own music label called OVO Sound, invested in his own whiskey, and became a Global Ambassador for the Toronto Raptors.

Also worth noting is his own fashion brand, created by Drake himself in collaboration with his tour manager Oliver El-Khatib: October’s Very Own, or OVO for short. The name is a nod to the Canadian’s birth month—that’s right: October. The brand’s flagship symbol is the OVO owl, which can be found on a wide variety of OVO pieces. An owl might seem a bit arbitrary at first glance—but if you type “OvO,” you might be able to figure it out (the O’s are the owl’s eyes, and the v is meant to represent the owl’s beak).

The Canadian’s brand should not be confused with the typical merchandise line of just any celebrity looking to make a quick buck. Drake promises his fans and customers top quality and has so far been able to deliver on his own promises.

In the early days of OVO Fashion, production runs were very limited. OVO was hard to come by, and copycats tried to flood the market with counterfeit products. Drake countered this by releasing more and more of his own collections and suing any imitators. OVO was meant to continue standing for high quality; cheap fakes had no place in Drake’s universe. OVO customers usually pay a certain price for that quality. Items from Drake’s brand are, of course, no bargains and can sometimes command a very high price. However, fans of the brand apparently don’t mind paying for a certain level of exclusivity and quality, and as a result, OVO pieces often sell out.

Another measure of the brand’s success—which launched in 2011—is the number of collaborations it has undertaken, ranging from Canada Goose and Roots to Jordan Brand and Louis Vuitton. These are partnerships with brands that many fashion labels can only dream of.

Now let’s move on to his latest project: NOCTA.

By the way, NOCTA stands for “nocturnal creative process” and refers to artists, musicians, and all kinds of creative minds around the world and their creative processes.

NOCTA is a collaboration between Drake and Nike and serves as a sub-label of what is arguably the world’s most prestigious sneaker and apparel brand.

Nike was a brand with which the Canadian rapper had a special connection even as a child; as a kid, he loved wearing clothes and sneakers featuring the legendary Nike Swoosh. So, a collaboration and a contract with Nike is a huge dream for him that’s actually coming true.

NOCTA produces everything from hoodies to sneakers. Various items are available in the official shop at nocta.comHowever, the most popular items usually sell out very quickly. Examples of past products include the NOCTA x Nike Hot Step Air Terra, which is available in black and white editions.

We can expect a lot more from this brand, which has been around since 2020; according to rumors, new products are already in the works.

NOCTA x Nike Air Force 1:

One of the first releases from Nocta—or rather, Drake—following the Hot Step Air Terra was a collaboration with the Air Force 1, one of Nike’s best-known and most popular sneaker models.

This collaboration, called “Nocta x Nike Air Force 1,” was a limited edition and introduced a new take on the AF1, featuring a variety of details and premium materials, representing a modern, technologically advanced interpretation of the classic Air Force 1 sneaker. The shoes feature a waterproof and breathable membrane as well as “Certified Lover Boy” details.

There’s no information on whether or when a restock of the sneaker is planned, but it’s likely that Nike will continue to collaborate with Nocta to develop new and innovative takes on its classic sneaker models.

Aubrey Graham, aka Drake, has built a massive brand over the past few decades, and there are no signs that he’ll be resting on his laurels anytime soon. The pop star isn’t just the talk of the town because of his illustrious music career—he’s also made a name for himself in other areas and has become one of the most famous celebrities of our time.

An incredible career—we can’t wait to see what’s next.