Drake reveals his father has been diagnosed with cancer
Drake has revealed his father has cancer.
Drizzy released three albums on May 15th, including the previously announced Iceman. On the opening track, ‘Make Them Cry’, he opens up about his father’s cancer diagnosis for the first time.
71-year-old Dennis Graham, who is also a musician, hadn’t publicly announced the news prior to the lyrics.
In the song, he raps, “My dad got cancer right now, we battlin’ stages/ Trust me when I say there’s plenty things that I’d rather be facin’/ For real/ And this time, ask me to dig deeper, I’ll gladly explain it.”
Elsewhere in the song, Drake discusses his current life battles, including a legal battle with Universal Music Group and the fact that he’s about to turn 40.
He spits, “N*ggas wanna talk about a battle, I’m battlin’ patience/ N*gga, I battle frustration I’m ’bout to turn 40, dog, I’m battlin’ agin’/ I’m battlin’ the fact that the album ain’t even drop and already they asses complainin’/ Fuck it, I’ll battle the label/ Fuck it, I’ll battle the majors, I’ll battle the stations ’til my ass is back in rotation.”
During an interview in 2016, Graham revealed the biggest lesson he’s learned from his son.
“Drake is such an entrepreneur,” he told The Fader. “He knows every in and out of the music business. I thought I was going to have to help him when he first started. I thought I should be there to help him and make sure that he’s not being taken advantage of or anything like that. But I found out that my services weren’t needed. He had his entire corporation together, so to speak.”
He continued, “He was extremely smart about what he was doing and knew every step that he was taking. So I never had to worry about him again ever. I’m so happy about that. That makes me feel good, that I don’t have to worry. He was smart enough to handle his own business in his own way.”