Drake was first “discovered” in the industry sense by James “Jas” Prince, who found his music on MySpace and brought him to Lil Wayne, leading to Drake’s deal with Young Money/Cash Money in 2009.

What “discovered Drake” usually means

In music conversations, “who discovered Drake” usually refers to the person who:

  • First identified him as a potential star in rap, not just a TV actor.
  • Actively connected him to a major label or mentor who could launch his career.

By that common industry standard, the credit largely goes to Jas Prince.

Jas Prince’s role

  • Around 2006, Jas Prince was looking for new talent and found Drake’s early music page on MySpace.
  • Impressed by Drake’s rapping and singing, he contacted him directly, kept in touch, and started pushing his music.
  • Jas then played Drake’s songs for his father, J. Prince, and later took the music to Lil Wayne, insisting Drake had serious potential.

This “A&R–style” work is why many insiders say Jas Prince truly discovered Drake.

Lil Wayne’s role in discovering vs. breaking him

Lil Wayne is often described as having “discovered and mentored” Drake because of how strongly he championed him once they connected.

  • After Drake’s music reached Wayne’s circle, Wayne invited Drake to join him in Atlanta and record, leading to early tracks like the original version of “Forever” and “Stunt Hard.”
  • Wayne then brought Drake into Young Money, giving him verses, tour spots, and co-signs that turned him from a buzzing mixtape rapper into a mainstream star.

So:

  • Jas Prince “discovered” Drake in the sense of finding him and pushing his music.
  • Lil Wayne “broke” and mentored Drake, turning him into a global rap figure.

Other names people mention

Fans and forum discussions sometimes credit other figures around Drake’s come- up:

  • Trey Songz : Collaborated with Drake early (“Replacement Girl” era), helping expose him to R&B and mixtape audiences in the mid‑2000s.
  • Early collaborators and producers : People who worked on Drake’s first mixtapes helped shape his sound before the Young Money era, though they are not usually labeled as having “discovered” him.

These people contributed to his rise, but the discovery narrative still centers on Jas Prince and Lil Wayne.

TL;DR

  • Industry answer to “who discovered Drake?” → Jas Prince found him on MySpace and took him to Lil Wayne.
  • Public perception often says Lil Wayne discovered him, because Wayne signed, mentored, and globally launched Drake through Young Money.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.