For Drake, fame is the name of his game

Turn on the radio or MTV Hits these days and there's a pretty good chance you'll catch an appearance by a young MC named Drake. The Canadian heartthrob has collaborated with superstars of hip-hop and R&B ranging from Kanye West to Mary J. Blige; his debut album "Thank Me Later" sold 447,000 copies and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 when it came out back in June; and his second headlining jaunt, the Light Dreams and Nightmares Tour, comes to Radio City Music Hall Tuesday and Wednesday nights. "Thank Me Later" is full of downcast ruminations on the nature of fame, which may seem an odd choice of topic for a debut album. But once you delve into the MC's back story, it becomes less surprising.

1. YOU MAY RECOGNIZE HIM FROM . . . In 2001, a young actor by the name of Aubrey Graham made his first appearance on the Canadian teen soap "Degrassi: The Next Generation." Drake played the basketball-playing Jimmy Brooks, who was confined to a wheelchair after being shot by a classmate, and he appeared as a regular cast member on the show until 2008.

2. MIXING IT UP Drake's first radio hit was the singsongy 2009 track "Best I Ever Had," which scaled the charts before he was officially signed to a major label. The song, which originally appeared on a mixtape that the MC released independently, eventually reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Drake released his first mixtape, "Room for Improvement," in 2006; his 2009 mixtape "So Far Gone," which contained "Best," also had him rapping over songs by the likes of Billy Joel, Coldplay and Peter Bjorn & John.

3. FRIENDS FOR LIFE Drake is part of the Lil Wayne-led Young Money crew, which also contains the ferocious Nicki Minaj and the silky-voiced Lloyd among its ranks. He's fiercely devoted to his mentor, frequently leading the crowd in "Free Weezy!" chants to show solidarity with Wayne, who's currently serving jail time at Riker's on a gun charge.

4. HE LOVES THE LADIES Drake's two favorite lyrical topics are fame and romance (and he frequently raps about how the two collide). His sets usually contain a moment where he invites a young woman from the audience onstage for some public flirtation - and during his tour opener in Miami, he told the audience that he moved there from Canada because of how much he loves the local ladies.

WHO Drake

WHEN | WHERE Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 8, Radio City Music Hall

INFO $44.25-$95.25; 212-247-4777, radiocity.com

A Drake set list

From Miami's James L. Knight Center last week

"9AM in Dallas"

"Forever"

"Up All Night"

"Show Me a Good Time"

"The Resistance"

"Karaoke"

"Successful"

"Fireworks"

"Lose My Mind" (remix)

"Money To Blow" (featuring Birdman)

"I'm Goin' In"

"Right Above It"

"Every Girl"

"Bedrock"

"Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" (remix) (Alicia Keys cover)

"A Night Off"

"Shut It Down"

"Unforgettable"

"Light Up"

"Run This Town" (Jay-Z cover)

"Say Something"

"Miss Me"

"Best I Ever Had"

"Fancy"

"Find Your Love"

"Paris Morton Music"

"Over"