• Home
• News
• 2017
• PhD student draws media attention with research paper on Drake

Research focuses on how a ‘hybrid identity’ built the perfect Drake

Amara Pope, a first-year PhD in Media Studies student, has been busy responding to requests from media for interviews after recently publishing a research paper on Canadian music artist Drake. The paper discusses how Drake is able to capitalize on hybrid identities in his work in order to increase his appeal.

Her paper, titled "Musical Artists Capitalizing on Hybrid Identities: A Case Study of Drake the 'Authentic' 'Black' 'Canadian' 'Rapper'", was published in Stream: Culture/Politics/Technology in December. It is also available through Scholarship@Western.

For more, see:

• "'Fan girl' meets PhD: Why Drake is the subject of a doctorate" (CTVnews.ca, includes video interview with Ben Mulroney)
• "Drake's marketing skills catch eye of researcher at London's Western University" (LFPress.com, includes video interview)
• "This Ontario university student is getting a PhD in Drake studies" (DailyHive.com)
• "Studying Canadian identity through...Drake" (Toronto Star)
• "Drake started from the bottom and now he's at the top - of the ivory tower" (Metro News)
• "Meet the Western PhD Student Who Just Published a Paper on Drake" (Flare)
• "Local 22-year-old inspired by Canadian rap star Drake in her pursuit of a PhD" (Waterloo Chronicle)
• "Western University student getting a PhD in Drake" (CBCNews, Kitchener-Waterloo)
• Ontario Morning Podcast, Jan 20 (skip to 23 minutes for interview)
• "Western Phd Student's Recent Publication About Drake" (106theex.com)