The Rise of Top Boy: Unveiling Drake's Impact on Netflix's Revival

Summary

Drake played a behind-the-scenes role as an executive producer for Netflix's Top Boy revival, helping to bring the show back after it was canceled by Channel 4.

Drake primarily focuses on promoting the show and leveraging his fame to attract new viewers, leaving the direction and writing tasks to the original creative team.

Even though he doesn't have an acting role in the show, Drake's song "Behind Barz" features on the Top Boy soundtrack. With over 40 million streams before its official release, it garnered significant attention for the show.

Drake, the renowned rapper and actor, played a significant role in the revival of Netflix's Top Boy. This British crime drama follows the exploits of Dushane and Sully, two close friends involved in drug dealing and gang violence in the Summerhouse estate of London's Hackney borough. The show's initial two seasons aired in 2011 and 2013, consisting of only four episodes each. Unfortunately, Channel 4 canceled the series in 2014. However, thanks to Netflix, the show was brought back to life with three more seasons.

The announcement of Top Boy's revival by Netflix involved the involvement of Drake, as reported by Variety. Drake, who gained fame for his portrayal of Jimmy Brooks in the Canadian TV series Degrassi: The Next Generation, led many to speculate that he would assume a role in Top Boy. However, following the release of the final season on September 7, fans were left perplexed about Drake's on-screen presence. It was ultimately revealed that Drake played a behind-the-scenes role in the production of Top Boy.

Drake Is An Executive Producer For Netflix's Top Boy Revival

While on tour, Drake became a devoted fan of Top Boy, but was disappointed to learn that Channel 4 had canceled the show. Determined to bring it back, he met with the show's creator, Ronan Bennett, to discuss a revival plan. Soon after, the duo successfully pitched the idea to Netflix, sealing the deal within just an hour (via The Guardian). Drake's immense fame and influence undoubtedly contributed to their success.

Instead of taking on a directing or acting role, Drake serves as an executive producer for Top Boy. According to actor Michael Ward, Drake's main involvement is promoting the show and leveraging his extensive reach to attract new audiences. While executive producers often have influence over the show's creation and writing, Drake defers this responsibility to the original team behind the series. Typical tasks for TV executive producers include managing the creative team and overseeing day-to-day production (via NFI).

Top Boy's Soundtrack Also Features Drake Music

Drake's song "Behind Barz" made it onto the soundtrack of Top Boy, even though he doesn't have an acting role in the show. As part of the promotion for the show's revival, Drake released the freestyle rap on Link UP TV. Initially, he didn't officially release the track, choosing to include it on the soundtrack instead. The soundtrack was released on September 13, 2019. "Behind Barz" gained significant attention for Top Boy, accumulating over 40 million streams before its official release (via HypeBeast). Featured by Variety, The Guardian, Cosmopolitan UK, NFI, and HypeBeast.