If Drake is familiar to you, most likely it's as a result of his small screen role as some wheel chaired character on Degrassi. And regardless of the fact that Kevin Smith apparently directed some of those episodes, any relationship with that enterprise shouldn't necessarily make a career. But I don't really know about show biz.

In addition to acting, Drake (nee Aubrey Drake Graham) was not only born in Canada, but apparently was raised in a pretty swank part of Toronto. So when adding all of this together, it wouldn't necessarily seem as if it would end in some sort of underground rap accolade. But it has.

And over a few mix tapes during the last couple of years, Drake's acclaim has grown to include folks as far a field as Lil Wayne and Bun B, both of whom make an appearance on the Canadian's latest release. Wayne, though, in addition to lending his high profile name to some recordings has apparently become something of a mentor to the younger rapper. And as a part of the loose knit ATF crew, Drake has found himself in some pretty decent company.

With the announcement that his first, proper full length - Thank Me Later - will be out by the latter portion of 2010, the fervor that surrounds Drake has reached a new level. The release last week of The Drought is Over hasn't even been able to quell any of this.

The new mix tape, his first since So Far Gone, seeks to add some gloss to Drake's previous records. The inclusion of some big names - previously mentioned - serves to bloat the attention already heaped upon this all too photogenic emcee. But with all of this constant internet chatter, the expectations have become pretty immense as well.

As with any other mix tape, The Drought is Over offers up a few freestyles in addition to the pre-figured cuts. And while some might take issue with portions of the production here, for the most the freestyles surpass those studio efforts lyrically and musically. "Can't Hide From Love" might not seem like it's off the top - and who really knows - but the density of those verses easily moves past "Friends with Money," on which Drake just speaks on dollars and how he keeps 'em. Either way, both of these tracks work to explicate the topical material that Drake works with.

For having such an enormous ground swell lifting him to other worldly rap states, one should expect to hear a few verses that touch on subjects not all too traditionally associated with rap stars. But unfortunately, that's not the case. And on "Take You Down" - on which Drake sings, soul stylee - the emcee/singer (?) relates the fact that he's "on some G shit," before he all too graphically explains what he's about to do to the fairer sex and their goodies.

Musically, The Drought is Over ushers in some radio friendly beats with a few too many girly hooks on top of the slight lyrical fare. With as much attention as this emcee is getting, he might need to eschew some of rap's most expected models in order to actually impact the genre.