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Drake 'Honoured' With Personalized Virgin Airlines Plane

Just two weeks after his debut record, 'Thank Me Later,' topped the charts in both the US and Canada (it sold over 500,000 copies in the States alone) Toronto rapper Aubrey "Drake" Graham has become the first hip-hop artist to have a commercial airplane named after him, cementing his newly minted role as international star and Canadian ambassador.

Air Drake, as the newest plane in the Virgin America fleet is called, is also the airline's first international aircraft, providing flights between Toronto and sunny California destinations San Francisco and Los Angeles.

"It's breathtaking to stand out here and stare at this plane," Drake told Spinner shortly after arriving in Toronto with Virgin Group chairman Sir Richard Branson on the plane's inaugural flight. "It's phenomenal."

"We're honoured to name our plane Air Drake," echoed Branson. "He's Canadian through and through; he's one of the most successful Canadians. He bridges the gap between Canada and America very successfully."

Taking off from Los Angles at 5.30AM and arriving in Toronto nearly 11 hours later -- via a pit stop in San Francisco that featured an early morning press conference with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger -- the plane ride provided the Young Money star an opportunity to seek business advice from the Rebel Billionaire whose fortune is currently estimated at just under $4 billion US.

"He wanted advice on running companies." Branson recalled. "I said the key is finding great people, not trying to do everything yourself -- learning the art of delegation, not second guessing people."

"He told me I'm making the right moves," Drake elaborated, "doing [good] things for my city, being able to create jobs in the city. I'm on the right path."

Though Drake's relationship with his hometown has been tumultuous since he admitted to the New York Times that he felt "unsafe in Toronto at all times," the former 'Degrassi: The Next Generation' star claims he is still proud to represent both Canada and Toronto on the world stage.

"I'm honoured to be called a representative and ambassador; however people want to chalk it up," he said. "I don't go to the States and go to Europe and forget where I'm from. I say every night at the end of my shows 'I'm just a 23-year-old kid from Toronto Canada,' so I appreciate the love.

"I'm just honoured that my city loves me at all 'cause I love this city so much," he added. "I remember walking around [suburban Toronto Mall] Yorkdale with my friends saying, 'One day we're gonna do it' and [now] we're doing it."

It's hard to argue with a man whose face is on the side of a plane.

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Mariner

I had assumed that the intention was to honour the British Admiral who defeated the Spanish Armada One would not consider one of the many so-called imposters who claim to produce music

July 01 2010 at 8:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sekinu2

Babygirl see thats whats wrong with american right now you hae every non white person tossing a race issue at everything with no reason or information to the point no one cares. Im white own a hip hop label and can't stand drake. he is not hip hope maybe slightly rap but more singer entertainer and just plain annoying as hell sounding like that mush mouth dip Lil Wayne. Did you think those comments might be becuase they hate rap since what they hear is whats on mainstream radio and that is crap? Or did you just do the stupid thing and jump to race without even a bit of knowledge? At least think before you speak and if your gonna toss a race card have something solid to base it on. False racism makes the world worse then it already is..peace

July 01 2010 at 3:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lee

bobat 7-01-2010

Well i sure want be using that airline (sounds racist to me)....

grembrosat 7-01-2010

Will never fly virgin, if they name a flight after a CRAPPER. (sounds racist to me)
Race doesn't have anything to do with it, but, reading some of the responses in themselves, the remarks were/are racist...and you are telling me that the aforementioned will not fly on Virgin because they do not like his music? Yeah, right. And country Music, I happen to enjoy Country Music. I have seen the Blue Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton, The Dave Matthews Band and a few other Nashville regulars in concert and enjoyed them all. You asked me personally if I was racist,,,,the answer is NO. I am married to a "white" man,we have adopted three children, one white, one asian and one black. And your remark about me not flying on an airline if the person featured were black, doesn't matter. I don't fly on ANY airlines. Personally I think you are the baby here. Must be time for your diaper change because you are full of SHEEEIT

July 01 2010 at 2:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
frank

they are going to issue guns and serve drugs on that plane

July 01 2010 at 1:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Arseno

To honor a "rapper" as a promo painted on an airliner is a big disappointment for a new airline. I wonder who the marketing genius who did that was. "Rap is Crap", as most folks know, I will never do business with a company that promotes it. Also, I would hate to be sitting in a plane with a bunch of self absorbed rap fans busting a move. AIR DRAKE? A NEW LOW FOR THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY. Yuck.

July 01 2010 at 1:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
biohaz0325

They only serve 40's and Blunts on the flight

July 01 2010 at 1:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Uhm

......Isn't that the kid from Degrassi?

July 01 2010 at 1:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
CherryPoppins

Congratulations Drake. I hope you do eventually get a business started and create jobs. Way to go. Stay on your "grizzy"

July 01 2010 at 1:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tinkbelle

Well good for Drake...I have never flown, but that airplane looks pretty cool, although it won't change my mind about flying! LOL So you don't want to fly Virgin anymore because it's named after a "crapper" then hop on another airline and go on about your day. Damn let the man enjoy his time!

July 01 2010 at 1:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
april

Not that it has anything to do with this article but Drake is half white.

July 01 2010 at 12:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply