Yes, we made this image of “Drake” with AI

Drake isn’t just a Grammy-winning rapper and global pop culture icon, he’s also a self-proclaimed collector with a serious nerd streak. In fact, the Toronto superstar’s recent exploits in collecting music memorabilia, art, sports cards, gaming gear, and more prove that deep down, he’s a “blerd” (Black nerd) at heart. From chasing ultra-rare basketball cards to dropping big bucks on legendary hip-hop jewelry, Drake has amassed some of the coolest collectibles around while proudly flaunting his hobbyist side.

Tupac’s Death Row Chain: Drake’s Latest Legendary Find

The latest buzz in Drake’s collecting saga is a rumored purchase straight out of hip-hop lore: Tupac Shakur’s original Death Row Records chain. Just this week, Drake set the internet abuzz by posting an Instagram photo of the iconic diamond-encrusted pendant once owned by Tupac. The pendant features Death Row’s infamous electric-chair logo on the front, and on the back is engraved “All eyez on you, 1996,” a nod to Tupac’s All Eyez On Me era. Drake even tagged high-end collector Alexander Bitar in the post (Bitar later confirmed the deal), signaling that this piece of rap history now lives in Drake’s personal collection.

Although the exact price Drake paid hasn’t been disclosed, similar Death Row pieces have fetched between $500,000 and $1,000,000 at auction. It’s a hefty sum, but for an item of such cultural significance, the value is “priceless,” as Bitar himself said. Reactions from fans were mixed, some skeptics grumbled that “Pac would’ve hated Drake” owning his chain, while others defended Drake’s right to own a piece of hip-hop history. Controversy aside, Drake’s motivation seems to come from genuine fandom and reverence. (After all, this is the same artist who once rapped, “I plan to buy your most personal belongings when they up for auction,” on his 2019 track “Omertà”, a line that now reads like prophecy.)

This isn’t Drake’s first time snagging a fallen legend’s bling. In 2023, he famously purchased Tupac’s gold, ruby, and diamond crown ring, the one Tupac designed and wore during his final public appearance at the 1996 VMAs, for over $1 million at a Sotheby’s auction. The ring, engraved with “Pac & Dada 1996” (a reference to Tupac’s fiancée Kidada Jones), tripled its pre-sale estimate and set a record for hip-hop memorabilia. Drake revealed himself as the anonymous high bidder by proudly flaunting the ring on Instagram Stories. Clearly, if it once belonged to a rap legend, Drake wants it on his shelf (or better yet, on his person).

Hoarding Hip-Hop History in Jewelry

Drake’s devotion to collecting music memorabilia doesn’t stop with Tupac. He has been quietly (and not-so-quietly) hoarding hip-hop history piece by piece, especially when it comes to jewelry from iconic artists:

Frank Ocean’s Met Gala Necklace (2021): Drake reportedly acquired the flamboyant diamond-studded necklace that R&B star Frank Ocean wore to the 2021 Met Gala, dropping roughly $1.9 million to make it his own. Owning another artist’s statement piece from a landmark fashion moment? That’s a next-level fan move.
Pharrell Williams’ Auction Trophies: When producer Pharrell auctioned off dozens of personal items through his Joopiter auction house, Drake went on an absolute shopping spree. By early 2023 it came out that Drake was behind about half of the winning bids, scooping up approximately $2.6 million worth of Pharrell’s bling. This haul included Pharrell’s 14-karat N.E.R.D pendant chain encrusted with gems (an iconic piece that alone cost about $2.2 million, two gold-and-diamond chains (at $150,000 apiece), a gold skateboard pendant necklace ($103,750), and even quirky items like Pharrell’s diamond-covered Oakley sunglasses and a 24k gold-encased Sony PSP handheld console. Yes, you read that right, Drake even snagged Pharrell’s old PlayStation portable gaming device for nearly $20k, blending his love of music history with his gaming hobby in one swipe.
Other Rappers’ Bling: Drake has flexed with some of these purchases in his own creative projects. He famously showed off several of Pharrell’s old N.E.R.D and Billionaire Boys Club chains in his 2023 video “Jumbotron S**t Poppin,” effectively wearing $2.6 million of Pharrell’s old jewelry on his nec. He even referenced melting down those chains in a playful jab on Travis Scott’s track “MELTDOWN” to make a point, a move that sparked buzz until Pharrell himself shrugged it off as no big deal. For Drake, collecting these items isn’t just about investment or clout; it’s like he’s assembling a museum of hip-hop artifacts and then having a little fun with them in true fanboy fashion.

It’s clear Drake takes the term “hip-hop head” to a new level, he’s literally crowning himself with the jewels of the genre’s greats. By owning and cherishing these items, Drake shows a kind of reverence for the artists who came before him, almost as if he’s preserving pieces of music history. It’s the kind of move you’d expect from a dedicated historian or super-fan… which, in a very blerdy way, Drake truly is.

Sports Card Adventures: Drake the Trading Card Nerd

Drake’s collector itch extends well beyond music. He’s also an avid sports fan, we often see him courtside at NBA games, and he’s parlayed that passion into the sports card hobby. In a scene straight out of Willy Wonka’s golden ticket hunt, Drake joined the frenzy to find one of the rarest modern trading cards: a one-of-one LeBron James “Triple Logoman” card from the 2020-21 Panini Flawless basketball set. How deep did he dive? Try over $200,000 spent on unopened card boxes in an attempt to pull the elusive card.

The hype was real: collectors had placed bounties north of $500,000 for whoever found the Triple Logoman, and Drake wanted in on the action. He teamed up with high-profile card breaker Ken Goldin for a late-night live stream that became the stuff of hobby legend. “Drake hopped on my Instagram Live at like 2 in the morning one night and we’re opening cases in a case war,” Goldin recalled, with Drake’s 110 million Instagram followers suddenly tuning into the nerdy world of card breaks. Drake flew Goldin out to Toronto and together they cracked open 10 cases of Panini Flawless (plus a vintage 1986-87 Fleer box for good measure) in hopes of hitting the jackpot. While they didn’t end up pulling the Logoman card (some other lucky breakers found it weeks later), Drake didn’t walk away empty-handed. In the process he scored at least three Michael Jordan rookie cards (from that ’86 Fleer box), a pretty sweet consolation prize by any collector’s standards.

Perhaps the wildest part of this story is the Drake Effect on the card market. The moment word got out that Drake was ripping packs, the price of those high-end card cases doubled from around $20,000 to $40,000 apiece. His mere participation sent demand through the roof, bringing a pop culture spotlight to a hobby usually confined to niche enthusiasts. Drake was genuinely excited to chase that “grail” card, proving that beneath his cool rapper exterior lies the giddy heart of a sports nerd who loves his hobbies. As one collector quipped, once Drake got involved, the chase “went crazy”, and indeed, it was a perfect example of Drake geeking out and the world watching him do it.

Gaming and Esports: Drake Levels Up

No modern nerd résumé would be complete without some gaming cred, and Drake has plenty. He’s been gaming publicly on the biggest stages, bridging the gap between hip-hop and esports culture. Back in 2018, Drake nearly broke the internet by appearing on Twitch with superstar streamer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, where the two teamed up for a round of Fortnite that drew over 500,000 concurrent live viewers, at the time, a record-shattering moment for game streaming. Watching Drake enthusiastically call out positions and celebrate wins in an online battle royale match was a revelation: here was a rap megastar unabashedly enjoying video games right alongside a pro gamer. The session became a milestone in mainstream crossover for gaming, and it showcased Drake’s genuine love for the medium (and some solid Fortnite skills to boot).

Drake didn’t stop at just playing games, he decided to own a piece of the esports world. Later in 2018, he became a co-owner of the esports and gaming lifestyle brand 100 Thieves, joining an investment round with Scooter Braun that injected $25 million into the company. By taking an equity stake in 100 Thieves (which competes in games like League of Legends and Call of Duty and also produces popular streetwear-style merch), Drake signaled that he sees gaming not just as a pastime but as a serious cultural and business avenue. It’s a classic blerd move: turning a personal hobby into a savvy investment in the booming esports industry. And of course, it doesn’t hurt that 100 Thieves has a certain cool-factor and style that meshes with Drake’s OVO aesthetic, in other words, it’s exactly the kind of gaming brand Drake would be involved with.

Whether he’s dropping into Fortnite or dropping cash on an esports franchise, Drake’s foray into gaming shows he’s unafraid to wear the “gamer” label. In a world where rap and geek culture increasingly collide, Drake is happily leading the charge, controller in hand.

Art and Pop Culture Ventures

Drake’s collector impulses also extend into the realm of fine art and quirky pop culture projects. This is a man who not only collects things, but creates experiences around art and culture in true nerdy aficionado fashion. Case in point: in 2022, Drake’s entertainment company DreamCrew purchased Luna Luna, a long-lost traveling art amusement park from the 1980s. Originally conceived in 1987 by artist André Heller, Luna Luna was a carnival-meets-art-gallery featuring attractions designed by the likes of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Salvador Dalí, Keith Haring, David Hockney and more. It toured briefly before being locked away in storage for decades. Drake, upon hearing of this eccentric piece of art history, decided to buy the entire carnival and resurrect it, an ambitious project to restore the rides and re-launch the art theme park for a global tour. If that isn’t a flex of both artistic vision and geeky enthusiasm, what is? Imagine owning a Ferris wheel painted by Basquiat or a fun house designed by Dalí; Drake is literally making that a reality. It’s the ultimate collectible on a grand scale, blending music, art, and nostalgia into one huge passion project.

Drake’s connection to the art world doesn’t stop at Luna Luna. He has long been a patron and participant in high-brow art circles. Back in 2015, he even collaborated with Sotheby’s on a contemporary art exhibition, curating a soundtrack to pair with works by Black artists like Nick Cave and Basquia. Visitors to the gallery could put on headphones and hear a Drake-curated playlist for each artwork, a very modern, musical twist on art appreciation. This innovative mash-up of art and music came about through Drake’s friendship with a Sotheby’s specialist, highlighting how naturally he melds his musical life with his art enthusiasm. It’s not every day you see a rapper influence the stodgy auction house scene, but Drake managed to do it in style.

From owning high-concept art installations to scoring rare collectibles at auction, Drake approaches art and pop culture with a true collector’s zeal. He’s the guy who will geek out over a Basquiat piece one minute and an anime-inspired diamond chain the next. In fact, walking through Drake’s Toronto mansion (as glimpsed in magazines and his own posts) is like touring a museum of modern cool: there are reports of chic KAWS sculptures, sports and music memorabilia, and even racks of Hermès Birkin bags he’s amassed over the years as an investment for “his future wife”. It’s an eclectic mix that screams pop culture connoisseur.

Embracing the Blerd Life

What’s remarkable about Drake is how openly he embraces this blerdy collector life while still being regarded as one of the coolest entertainers on the planet. He’s effectively redefining what it means to be a nerd in hip-hop. In an era when geek culture and hip-hop culture are merging, Drake stands at the intersection: rocking vintage sports jerseys and Pokémon jackets one day, then bidding on a Wu-Tang lyric sheet at Sotheby’s the next. His passion for hobbies and collectibles isn’t a secret side-hustle, it’s become a part of his brand.

By proudly chasing hobbies traditionally seen as “nerdy”, whether it’s trading cards, video games, or auction house treasures, Drake is sending a message that loving what you love, unabashedly, is the new cool. He’s showing young fans (and fellow artists) that you can top the charts and top a Magic: The Gathering deck, or drop bars and drop big money on a comic book, without any shame. In a way, Drake is the ultimate fanboy with superstar resources: if he geeks out over something, he’s going all-in, and likely bringing mainstream attention to it in the process.

So yes, Drake has Hotline Bling, but he also has Lord of the Rings (quite literally, Tupac’s crown ring). He can spit about starting from the bottom, then turn around and quote obscure basketball card stats or show off a custom arcade machine in his house. It’s this multifaceted passion that makes Drake such a fascinating figure. He’s living proof that being a nerd and being cool aren’t mutually exclusive, in fact, his career might suggest that being a blerd with epic hobbies can amplify your coolness. After all, when you have one of the world’s biggest rappers geeking out over the same things the average fan loves, it kind of validates every nerdy obsession as something to celebrate.

Drake, the blerdy collector, is out here with the coolest stuff: a piece of Tupac’s legacy around his neck, priceless art installations in his backyard, rookie cards in his safe, an esports team in his portfolio, and a joypad in hand. And honestly? We love to see it. It’s the kind of playful, passionate fandom that makes us say: “Drake’s one of us.” 🎮🎤🃏

—#Drake #Tupac #DeathRow #Collecting #Blerd

Drake, Blerdy Collector Type With the Coolest Stuff