Videos After The Jump
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - When Drake stormed into St. John's for the Junos this weekend, winning two awards and taking the stage for three separate performances, the 23-year-old best new artist winner really looked more like a calm, seasoned vet.
And, in fact, he does have some uncommon experience: he's one of an exclusive club of Canadian artists who appeared at the Grammys before his own hometown show.
In January, he didn't win in either of the two categories he was nominated in at the Grammys but provided one of the show's highlights with a crackling performance of his "Forever" with Lil Wayne and Eminem.
So how did the two experiences compare?
"The Grammys were very overwhelming," Drake said backstage after the Junos on Sunday. "I was actually very sick that night, so it was a little disheartening at first. I was sort of nervous. I remember walking the carpet and I just got lost in the melee of people that were way more famous than me. Nobody really cared much that I was there.
"It was a great night though. That's probably one of the most memorable nights of my career."
Drake and His Mom
The Junos, however, were just as memorable.
"Tonight was about more for me, though," he said. "It was just, I spend so much time in the States telling them how much I love Canada, telling them how much I love Toronto and how much it's inspired my music.
"So to be recognized by Canadians, it just lets me know that I'm not doing it vain and that they support me as much as I love and support them.
"So the Junos tonight was really special for me."
Aside from winning trophies for new artist of the year and rap recording of the year (for his EP, "So Far Gone"), Drake also took the stage for a blistering - and blue - performance of his new single, "Over," for a backing role on 16-year-old Justin Bieber's tune, "Baby," and for K'naan's show-closing "Wavin' Flag."
When he beat out Bieber for new artist, the two phenoms - conveniently seated next to one another - smiled and hugged, and Drake gave him a shoutout onstage (only after thanking his mother, of course).
Afterwards, Drake breezed into the media room and did something no one else did all night - he grabbed a chair and got comfortable as he fielded questions from the media.
But as relaxed as he seems, Drake says the gigantic leaps forward he's been making this past year haven't dulled the nerves that still come with award shows.
"Pretty much every single thing I do is intimidating or nerve-wracking, so I just do what I do right now, come in and try to make myself overly comfortable," said Drake, nee Aubrey Drake Graham.
"When I have to perform, I just really go at it head on, I jump around, I get excited, I amp myself up. If you think about what you have to do too much, it can definitely drive you crazy."
And it's not lost on him that, for a Canadian rapper who doesn't have an album full-length out yet ("Thank Me Later" is now scheduled to drop in June), he leads a charmed existence.
"For a new artist, I've (done) some things that some people will never get to do in their lives," he said.
"I'm grateful for all my blessings."
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