He recounted another memory from the mid-2000s, when he and Drake were at Skybar Los Angeles after a Degrassi signing. “You were in the bathroom writing, ‘Buy Drake CDs’ on the chalkboard,” Shane shared. “And Travis Barker, who happened to be urinating next to you, said, ‘Who’s Drake?’ And you turned to him and you said, ‘I’m Drake.'”
The actor wisely guessed, “I assume you don’t sell CDs in the bathroom anymore.” In a full circle moment, Drake performed with Travis five years after that incident, at the 2010 Grammys.
Stacey also remembered when Drake was just trying to get his start in the music biz, saying, “It feels like yesterday when we were standing on the red carpet together at the Teen Choice Awards in L.A., trying pretty desperately to hand out your demo to whoever would take it, on burnt CDs.” She went on, “It has been incredible to watch your career unfold, even from afar, and I’m so proud of you.”
Christina has been there to witness his fame skyrocket as well—and has the souvenir to prove it. She revealed that the now-34-year-old singer sent her some of his first music on MSN Messenger years ago.
“I know, somewhere, I still have a burnt CD that you had signed ‘Drake,’ which I need to find,” she joked. “Next thing I know, I’m driving in Toronto, and I hear your first track on FLOW 93.5. And I thought to myself, ‘Aubrey is gonna make it.’ Here we are today: You are Billboard’s Artist of the Decade.”
Watch the Degrassi cast’s tributes in the video above. And see the “Hotline Bling” artist accept his accolade at Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, May 23, on NBC.
(E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal family).