| Druski | |
|---|---|
 Druski in 2022 | |
| Birth name | Drew Desbordes |
| Born | September 12, 1994 Columbia, Maryland, U.S. |
| Education | Georgia Southern University |
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Genres | Comedy |
Drew Desbordes (born September 12, 1994), known professionally as Druski is an American comedian and actor. He is known for his sketch comedy, Coulda Been Records, and collaborating with various musicians in their music videos, including Jack Harlow, [1] Drake, [2] Lil Yachty, and others. [3]
Drew Desbordes was born on September 12, 1994, in Columbia, Maryland to Cheryl Desbordes, a state department worker, and David McLain Desbordes, a commercial pilot who previously served in the United States Air Force as a captain and in the National Guard as a Major. [4] [5] He grew up in Gwinnett County, Georgia. He played sports as a child and mostly stayed out of trouble, except in the classroom when he would make jokes. [6] He attended South Gwinnett High School.
Desbordes was always funny and used to make his parents laugh speaking in different accents. [7] Drew came from a comedic household, from his Grandma down to his brother. His family introduced him to the world of comedy at an early age, as his parents watched popular comedians on television, such as Cedric The Entertainer and Dave Chappelle. [6]
Desbordes graduated high school due to his Spanish teacher, Nancy Gordeuk, giving him a simple paper to complete that awarded two-years worth of the class, meaning he could graduate on time. He then attended Georgia Gwinnett College before transferring to Georgia Southern University. He became depressed and stopped attending classes, instead watching YouTube videos. After two semesters, he dropped out. Desbordes was originally a Sports analytics major and wanted to become a sportscaster, but later turned to comedy after being encouraged by his classmates. [8] [6]
On October 2, 2017, Desbordes began posting comedic skits and other comedic content on his Instagram account under the handle "druski2funny", now Druski. [9] In his early skits, he pretended to be a frat bro named Kyle Rogger, a ruthless record label executive, and other characters, such as Bubba Joe, garnering a wide audience.
Druski crossed paths with then rising artist Jack Harlow and began opening and hosting shows for him. [10] On October 22, 2020, Druski made a cameo as a school bus driver in the music video for Jack Harlow's song "Tyler Herro." [11] On March 9, 2020, he was featured on Lil Yachty's song "Oprah's Bank Account." [12] On August 13, 2020, Desbordes was featured in the music video of Drake's song "Laugh Now Cry Later" featuring Lil Durk. [13] [14] Drew also appears in videos for Jack Harlow's song "Churchill Downs", featuring Drake, and Chlöe and Latto's music video for For the Night. [15]
In 2021, Diddy (through his Revolt) and Adidas announced a new series called Sneakin’ In With Druski, with Desbordes as the host. [16] The series has featured people like Snoop Dogg, Teyana Taylor, and Yung Miami (from City Girls) since its launch. [17] That same year, Desbordes created the satirical label Coulda Been Records as a way for artists to come onto his Instagram Lives, usually resulting in him teasing them throughout their time on. [18] Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. struck up a friendship with Druski upon finding his videos, and invited the comedian to stay at his home during the COVID-19 pandemic. [7] Druski was an opening act for J. Cole and 21 Savage's The Off-Season Tour throughout September and October 2021. [19] Also in October, Desbordes satirically offered Meek Mill to sign onto Coulda Been Records after Meek Mill said that he didn't get paid for his music. [20] [21] [22]
Desbordes launched his 4lifers entertainment company in 2023, which serves as the umbrella company for his business ventures. Those range from live touring, TV/Film/Web productions, merchandise, licensing, and Coulda Been Records. [23]
Druski has done four nationwide tours in the US. First with Jack Harlow, then opening for J. Cole on the Off-Season tour with 21 Savage in the fall of 2021. Druski also opened for Chris Brown and Lil Baby on the One of Them Ones tour in the summer of 2022. [24]
He headlined his first comedy tour, "Coulda Woulda Shoulda", in March 2023. [9] The tour featured a mixture of traditional stand-up comedy and live auditions as part of his Coulda Been Records series.
Druski has appeared in a number of promotions. In April, 2021, he appeared in the Squad Up The World | Call of Duty: Warzone Season 3 trailer, alongside Young Thug, Saweetie, Jack Harlow, Swae Lee and more. [25] Druski then appeared in Beats By Dre ‘It's the Music’ TV commercial in April, 2021. In the fall of, 2021, Druski starred in Bud Light seltzer's national TV campaign and is currently a Bud Light ambassador, appearing in spots for their coverage of the Super Bowl, March Madness and the start of the NFL season. [9] In 2022, he starred alongside Jack Harlow in a TV commercial for KFC. [26] That year, Druski also appeared in commercial spots for AT&T and in 2023 was featured in a spot for the NBA All-Star Game and the NBA NBA draft. In 2022, Desbordes also appeared in the Google Pixel Anthem spot, alongside stars Giannis Antetokounmpo, Candace Parker, Joel Embiid, Kelsey Plum, LaMelo Ball, Jayson Tatum, Jalen Green, Taylor Rooks, Richard Jefferson and Simu Liu. Druski continues to be a Google Pixel ambassador and stars in their latest TV commercial for the 2023 NBA Playoffs. [27]
Druski has also done commercial work for the likes of 2K Sports, Amazon, American Express, Fanatics, Inc., EA Sports, Meta, Mountain Dew, NBA, NFL, Pepsi, PrizePicks, QuikTrip, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, and Spotify. [28] [29] [30] [31]
Druski also has equity stake in Happy Dad Hard Seltzer, which he actively promotes across his content & live shows. [32]
Desbordes launched Coulda Been Records in 2019, a satirical record label crafted for his Instagram Live talent-scouting show. Desbordes began the show in 2019 as a talent show where he sought out the best singers, dancers, rappers, and it “turned out to be shit.” In a pivot, he renamed the project Coulda Been, and has turned it into a legitimate record label. While doing so, he studied the business craft of two inspirational figures, Suge Knight and Diddy. Coulda Been Records features Desbordes taking on a record label executive persona. Established artists and friends like Chloe Bailey, Drake, Jack Harlow, Ella Mai, Kodak Black, Chance the Rapper, Justin Bieber, Antonio Brown, 21 Savage, Ice Spice frequently join Druski's streams while he looks for talent. Druski is now in production on Coulda Been Records Season 1, which will be an 8-10 episode series where contestants will compete to win a Coulda Been Records album deal. [33]
Druski employs situational humor across all demographics. Highlight characters include frat boy, Kyle Rogger; a country hillbilly, Bubba Joe; a court-appointed snitch attorney; an old-school biker; a line cook; Demon Home, who is usually fresh out of prison; a soccer mom; a youth football and basketball coach & more.
Desbordes made his film debut in 2023. First as a cameo in House Party , released January 13, 2023, and then as a lead supporting actor in the Will Packer produced film, Praise This , directed by Tina Gordon Chism, released on April 7, 2023. [34] [35]
Drew will be featured in the upcoming season of Grownish. Druski is working on several TV & film productions for release in 2024, including several that he is executive producing. He is both writing and starring in the content. [9]
| Year | Artist | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Lil Yachty and DaBaby featuring Drake | "Oprah's Bank Account" | Himself |
| 2020 | Drake featuring Lil Durk | "Laugh Now Cry Later" | |
| 2020 | Jack Harlow | "Tyler Herro" | Bus Driver |
| 2022 | Jack Harlow featuring Drake | "Churchill Downs" | Himself |
| 2022 | Chlöe and Latto | "For the Night" |
Aubrey Drake Graham, known mononymously as Drake, is a Canadian rapper and singer. An influential figure in contemporary popular music, he has been credited with popularizing R&B sensibilities in hip hop artists. Gaining recognition by starring as Jimmy Brooks in the CTV teen drama series Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001–08), Drake pursued a recording career in 2006, releasing his debut mixtape Room for Improvement in February of that year. He followed up with the mixtapes Comeback Season (2007) and So Far Gone (2009) before signing with Young Money Entertainment.
Robert Rihmeek Williams, known professionally as Meek Mill, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he embarked on his music career as a battle rapper, and later formed a short-lived rap group, The Bloodhoundz. He signed with Atlanta-based rapper T.I.'s Grand Hustle Records as a solo act in 2008, although he departed by 2011 and released no albums with the label. Williams then signed with Miami-based rapper Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group (MMG) that same year, and rose to mainstream recognition following his performances on the label's Self Made Vol. 1 (2011) compilation album; his song "Tupac Back" served as the album's lead single while its follow up, "Ima Boss" entered the Billboard Hot 100.
Durk Derrick Banks, known professionally as Lil Durk, is an American rapper and singer from Chicago, Illinois. He first garnered a regional following with the release of his Signed to the Streets mixtape series (2013–2014), which led to his signing of a recording contract from Def Jam Recordings. The label released his debut studio album, Remember My Name (2015) and its follow up, Lil Durk 2X (2016) to moderate commercial success before parting ways with the artist in 2018.
Rogét Lutfi Chahayed is an American record producer and songwriter who Billboard has called "one of hip-hop and pop's most dependable hit machines." He has been nominated for nine Grammys, including Producer of the Year, Non-Classical at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in 2022.
Carlton Davis Mays, Jr., professionally known as Honorable C.N.O.T.E., is an American hip hop record producer and songwriter.
Kentrell DeSean Gaulden, known professionally as YoungBoy Never Broke Again, is an American rapper. From 2015 to 2017, he released eight independent mixtapes and garnered a regional following for his work. He signed with Atlantic Records in the latter year to release the singles "Untouchable" and "No Smoke", of which marked his first entries on the Billboard Hot 100. In January of the following year, his single "Outside Today" became his first to reach the top 40 of the chart and received quadruple platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It served as both his mainstream breakthrough and the lead single for his debut studio album Until Death Call My Name (2018), which peaked at number seven on the US Billboard 200 despite mixed critical reception.
Semaja Render, known professionally as Lil Gotit, is an American rapper and singer.
Jackman Thomas "Jack" Harlow is an American rapper and singer. He began a musical career in 2015, and released several EPs and mixtapes until signing with Don Cannon and DJ Drama's record label Generation Now, an imprint of Atlantic Records in 2018.
YSL Records is an American record label based in Atlanta, Georgia. It was founded in 2016 by the Atlanta-based rapper Young Thug. The company is a label imprint of 300 Entertainment. Its artists include Gunna, Lil Keed and more. Several contemporary artists, including Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Lil Baby, Lil Gotit, NAV, Travis Scott, and Slimelife Shawty have expressed allegiance to YSL, but are not contractually signed.
"Pain Away" is a song by American rapper Meek Mill, released on November 20, 2020 from his EP Quarantine Pack. Featuring American rapper Lil Durk, it was produced by S1 and Epikh Pro.
Colson Michael "Cole" Bennett is an American music video director, videographer, and music producer. He is the founder of the multimedia company Lyrical Lemonade, which he started in 2013 as an Internet blog.
Lil Boat 3 is the fourth studio album by American rapper Lil Yachty. It was released on May 29, 2020, by Capitol Records, Motown Records, and Quality Control Music. The album serves as the third and final installment of the Lil Boat series and the sequel to Lil Boat 2. The album was recorded four times over and was described by Yachty as "upbeat" and "heavy-hitting". It features guest appearances from Tierra Whack, ASAP Rocky, Tyler, the Creator, Future, Draft Day, DaBaby, Drake, Lil Keed, Young Thug, and Lil Durk, with production by JetsonMade, Mike Will Made It, Pi'erre Bourne, Earl on the Beat, K Swisha, and Lil Yachty himself, among others.
"Whats Poppin" is a song by American rapper Jack Harlow, released as the lead single from his EP Sweet Action, by Generation Now and Atlantic Records on January 21, 2020. It was also included on his debut studio album, Thats What They All Say, along with its remix. It was produced by JetsonMade, Pooh Beatz, and LosTheProducer. The song has been credited with projecting Harlow's name in the music industry, leading to later successes such as his first studio album, on which "Whats Poppin" features. The track reached the top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100, as well as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. It received a nomination for Best Rap Performance at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
"Oprah's Bank Account" is a song by American rappers Lil Yachty and DaBaby featuring Canadian rapper Drake. Produced by Earl on the Beat, it was released by Quality Control on March 9, 2020 alongside a comedic video, where Lil Yachty portrays talk-show host Oprah Winfrey. Yachty originally wanted American singer Lizzo to appear on the song, but, according to him, she never responded to him.
"Back in Blood" is a song by American rapper Pooh Shiesty featuring fellow American rapper Lil Durk. It was released through Atlantic Records and 1017 Records on November 5, 2020, as the lead single from the former's debut mixtape, Shiesty Season (2021), and two days before his twenty-first birthday. The two artists wrote the song alongside its producer, YC. The song marks the first collaboration between the two artists, and they later reunited in 2021 on Lil Durk's song "Should've Ducked", a track off of the deluxe edition of his sixth studio album, The Voice.
The Voice of the Heroes is a collaborative studio album by American rappers Lil Baby and Lil Durk. It was released through Quality Control Music, 4 Pockets Full, Only the Family, and Alamo Records on June 4, 2021. Its title comes from Durk's childhood nickname of "the Voice" and Baby's nickname of "the Hero" that Lil Durk had given him. The album contains guest appearances from Travis Scott, Meek Mill, Young Thug, and Rod Wave with notable production from London on da Track, Wheezy, Turbo, and Murda Beatz. It was preceded by the single, "Voice of the Heroes", the title and opening track, which was released on May 31, 2021.
"Sharing Locations" is a song by American rapper Meek Mill featuring fellow American rappers Lil Baby and Lil Durk. It was released on August 27, 2021, through Atlantic Records and Maybach Music Group, as the second single from Meek Mill's fifth studio album Expensive Pain. The song was produced by Nick Papz, KJ, Svdominik, and Xander. It is the second time that all artists are on the same song, following their joint collaboration, "Still Runnin", which appears on Baby and Durk's collaborative studio album, The Voice of the Heroes (2021).
Zack "Bia" Bialobos is an American DJ, record executive, record producer, socialite, and club promoter. He was first known in the Los Angeles nightlife scene in the late 2010s as a club promoter and DJ. Later a co-founder of Field Trip Recordings, he signed notable artists including Yeat, SSGKobe, and Slump6s.
"Churchill Downs" is a song by American rapper Jack Harlow featuring Canadian rapper Drake from the former's second studio album Come Home the Kids Miss You (2022). It was produced by Boi-1da, Audi, BEDRM, and Ace G.
"Poland" is a song by American rapper Lil Yachty. It was released on October 11, 2022, through Quality Control Music and Motown Records.