Drake will officially be a part of the curriculum this fall for students at Concordia University in Montreal. The course, titled “Hip Hop: Past/Present/Future – Drake: Media, Myth and Manhood,” was announced by professor and artist Yassin Narcy Alsalman in a post to X on June 16.
According to the course materials, the curriculum is structured around the career and cultural impact of Drake, with a specific focus on his extensive discography, the rise of his October’s Very Own (OVO) brand, and the broader systems that shape modern music industries. The course also explores the intersection of art and capitalism, examining how artists navigate visibility and influence within that framework.
Academic Analysis of the OVO Empire
A central question raised in the course framing asks whether audiences want artists to exist purely as entertainment figures, or whether there is a responsibility to consider their well-being and autonomy. This inquiry reflects a growing trend in academic circles to treat contemporary hip-hop figures as subjects of serious cultural study.
Narcy, who has previously taught courses on Ye and Kendrick Lamar, noted that each class will coincide with one of Drake’s albums, spanning from So Far Gone to ICEMAN. The professor also highlighted his long-standing connection to the OVO camp, including multiple interviews with Noah ’40’ Shebib, most recently for the cover of Rolling Stone Middle East North Africa in 2025.
This new course offers a unique opportunity for students to dissect the mechanics of one of the most successful careers in modern music history, bridging the gap between pop culture and academic discourse.
