PHOTOSSee Drake's Best Moments (and Gifs!) on Degrassi
Before he was one of the most critically acclaimed musicians of his generation, Drake played Jimmy Brooks on the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation for eight years. If you're only accustomed to seeing him as a cool rapper, get ready to have your world view shifted significantly.
Look at little cutie Jimmy in the first season! Here he is saying "shut up," as seventh graders often do.
He still had that Drake swag, though.
And he kept his friends in line with fantastic takedowns.
Despite this hairline, he was pretty good with the ladies.
The show did a Breakfast Club homage, like every teen drama should.
Jimmy didn't love getting a Saturday detention, however.
The character was known for being just a sweet, good guy who was everybody's pal.
He was the most outright defender of Marco, the first kid to come out of the closet on the show.
The show didn't hold a whole lot of dramatic tension for Jimmy, who was also a trust-fund kid who usually had a girlfriend, Ashley. That is, until bullied kid Rick got the Carrie treatment, and decided to retaliate.
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Other characters incorrectly gave Rick the idea that Jimmy was behind the bullying. So he shot him in the back.
Uh oh, Jimmy Brooks. He survived the shooting but ended up paralyzed from the waist down. He stayed in a wheelchair for the remainder of the series.
It was very sad news for Jimmy and his love life, but on the bright side...
It allowed Drake to really show off his acting chops.
Who knew he was such a gifted rapper and musician?!
Anyway, his solid girlfriend Hazel stuck with him during the shooting and long afterwards.
Eventually Jimmy graduated high school.
Jimmy had loads of pipe dreams on the show, including a music career (obviously Drake had to work some rapping into the show somehow!), and using his wealth to open a t-shirt store with his BFF.
He had an on-again, off-again relationship with first love Ashley for his entire eight years on the show, and it ended with one of his most awesome moments ever!
