The Toronto MC exceeded the hype, working his relentless grind from mixtape acclaim to chart-topping fame in an unforgettable year. By Shaheem Reid Drake Photo: George Pimentel/ WireImage Wack rappers, your worst fears have been realized: Drake is on top and he’s not letting up. This time last year, the VMA-nominated Canadian juggernaut known as Drizzy was topping the charts and basking in the glow generated by a string of highly touted guest appearances and his certified-instant-classic mixtape So Far Gone. As ’09 drew to a close, love for Drake from fans only intensified. The 23-year-old repped for his family on the We Are Young Money album, while verses on Timbaland’s “Say Something,” and his own “Forever” — let’s not even get started again about the power-packed lineup on that record
