Drake was born and raised by his mother in Canada, but he spent his summers in Memphis with his father. And as his fame grew throughout the 2000s, he got to know John Calipari, who coached Memphis basketball from 2000 to 2009.

Calipari, recruiter extraordinaire, embraced the young actor-slash-rapper. Then when Calipari moved to Kentucky before the 2009-10 season, Drake's fan allegiance went with Calipari to Kentucky, as Drake threw his full support behind the Wildcats and became the program's most famous fan (sorry, Ashley Judd).

Now Drake -- aka 25-year-old Aubrey Graham -- is such a part of Big Blue Nation that Calipari sent him a customized championship ring commemorating the Wildcats' 2012 NCAA title (picture below), complete with his nickname, "Drizzy."

Drake coached one of the Tigers' instrasquad teams at Big Blue Madness, their season-opening scrimmage, in 2009. In 2010, Drake called Calipari and the Kentucky basketball team on stage during a concert in Lexington, Ky. And he's been spotted at numerous Kentucky games over the past three years.

Not a bad guy to have hanging around your program while recruiting 16- and 17-year-old boys.

When the Wildcats won the national title earlier this year, Drake was in Europe. But that didn't stop him from representing.

On Drake's Twitter from that night: "I'm over in Europe...but its still GO BIG BLUE!!!!"

From Drake on Instagram.