Merry Christmas, Drake and Josh: The Rapper Drake Misconception
The Canadian-American rapper Drake did not star in or contribute to the 2008 Nickelodeon television movie Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh.
The holiday special actually starred actor and musician Drake Bell, leading to a common internet misconception due to their shared first name.
| Movie Premiere Date | December 5, 2008 |
| Actual "Drake" in Movie | Jared Drake Bell |
| Rapper Drake's Real Name | Aubrey Drake Graham |
| Rapper Drake's Age | 39 (as of 2026) |
| Rapper Drake's Actual Teen Show | Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001-2009) |
When internet users search for "merry christmas drake and josh" in connection with the Canadian-American rapper and singer Drake, they are encountering a widespread digital misconception. Aubrey Drake Graham, the globally recognized musician born on October 24, 1986, has absolutely no connection to the Nickelodeon franchise. The confusion stems entirely from a shared moniker. The rapper did not star in the holiday special, nor does he have a holiday song or album titled after the project. At 39 years old (as of 2026), his extensive resume as a rapper, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and film actor does not include any appearances in this specific sitcom universe.
The television movie Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh officially premiered on the Nickelodeon network on December 5, 2008. The "Drake" featured in this specific title refers exclusively to Jared Drake Bell. Coincidentally, Bell is also an actor and musician who shares the exact same birth year (1986) as Aubrey Drake Graham. This overlapping timeline and shared profession in the entertainment industry have fueled the common mix-up. However, Bell and Josh Peck were the sole headliners of the 2008 holiday film, and there is no official collaboration or holiday project involving the Canadian rapper.
During the era when the Drake & Josh holiday movie was premiering, Aubrey Drake Graham was actively working as a television actor on an entirely different network. From 2001 to 2009, he was a prominent cast member on the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation. His tenure on the drama series overlapped directly with the December 2008 release of the Nickelodeon film, but the two television projects never intersected.
Ultimately, while both men work as actors and musicians born in 1986, their career trajectories remained completely separate. Fans searching for a holiday crossover, a cameo, or a musical contribution from the Canadian-American artist within the Drake & Josh property will find that no such project exists. Aubrey Drake Graham's transition from a teen drama actor to a chart-topping rapper happened entirely outside the realm of the Nickelodeon comedy.