Earlier today (July 14), TMZ reported that authorities are investigating “odd and disturbing” phone calls that Drake’s father, Dennis Graham, received late Wednesday night (July 12). Apparently, an unknown individual called Graham twice and, over a 15-minute period, rambled to the Memphis musician about his son and the Freemasons. Officials from the Los Angeles Police Department paid Graham a visit and initiated an “annoying phone calls” report in response.
In a candid interview with ABC 24 (below), Graham opened up about his admiration for Drake’s success and his musical upbringing in Bluff City. “He’s got so much revenue coming in from different ventures that he’s gotten into that it’s just mind-boggling,” he said. “Here I am thinking I was going to be the big star, and I didn’t quite make it and vicariously — here it is… He’d have a little time to listen to his rap and then I would play Johnnie Taylor, Bobbie Blue Band, BB King, Al Green, and he’d listen to it, and he got that soul and blues instilled in him… Our love is undeniable. I mean, like, that’s my heart. That’s my heartbeat.”
Graham also revealed a moment when the OVO head honcho shared his frustrations with dealing with family post-fame. “[Drake told me,] ‘Every time I go, I gotta take pictures with my family, everybody’s around and I get sick of it.’ So, I finally told [the family members,] ‘When he comes, you guys treat him like you did when you were playing in the yard together. Don’t ask him for pictures, money.'”
He continued, “Money’s an issue. Everybody feels that he owes them something. Like, ‘Hey, you’re my cousin and you’re rich? Can I get $10,000? I’m trying to open this hair salon, can you put up $250,000 for me to do it?’ Which is ludicrous.”