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Why Drake uses a Jamaican accent

Authentic or not, it tells you something about Toronto.

The recording artist Aubrey “Drake” Graham likes to use a Jamaican accent on occasion. To some, it’s a fake patois.

But whether or not it comes across as authentic, Drake’s sporadic accent can tell us something about the Jamaican community in Toronto — the city Drake is from and loves to represent.

This video shows the evidence in Drake’s past work that explains the pan-African ideas on his latest album, More Life.

Here’s a playlist of songs featured in this video, alongside some of the samples used on the album.

For more on the history of dancehall and its connection to Jamaican heritage, I recommend checking out this excellent video from The Nerdwriter.

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