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U of T Drizzy: the elusive artist opens up about the Contact Festival, @champagnepapi and more

photo of an Instagram @UofT Drizzy image
(image courtesy @U of T Drizzy)

Even Drake follows the University of Toronto student artist known as .

Called 鈥減ure gold鈥 by , reimagined through an interactive U of T Scarborough campus tour by and picked up by around the globe, the Instagram account became insta-famous this year and has more than 17,000 fans 鈥 including Drake 鈥 who follow, like and comment on the parody account. 

The U of T Scarborough mastermind behind the account isn鈥檛 just into Drake and Photoshop 鈥&苍产蝉辫;this Instagrammer runs a youth basketball program, has counselled women and children living in abusive environments. A passion for creativity drives the student's projects, which include volunteering to create graphic layouts for a fashion magazine and taking on work-study positions at UTSC.

One rule? No U of T Drizzy work on the weekend; that time is spent disconnected to the online world and connected to family, friends and Sunday meal prep.

Six U of T Drizzy posters were mounted in the Environmental Science and Chemistry Building and Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre during  and visitors were invited to take a photo with one and be entered to win a UTSC & Drake-themed Summer of 6-teen Starter Pack.

Below, U of T Scarborough writer Holly Fraser talks with @UofTDrizzy about what it's like to be featured in the prestigious Contact Photography Festival and more. Drake lyrics used by @uoftdrizzy within this article appear in italics.

We鈥檙e so happy to have U of T Drizzy at UTSC to talk summer plans. You鈥檝e already been busy this spring 鈥&苍产蝉辫;tell us what you鈥檝e been up to lately.

Drizzy doesn鈥檛 take semesters off. I鈥檓 currently taking a class downtown but back at UTSC for the second-half of the summer. I鈥檓 in the Contact Photography Festival through May because I just wanna be鈥 I just wanna be successful. You鈥檒l have to bear with me, it鈥檚 been a moment since I鈥檝e done some public speaking, I find nowadays it鈥檚 just best to keep quiet. But uh, sometimes you just gotta let it out. This weekend I鈥檓 popping over to UTSC for Doors Open Toronto to check out the Environmental Science and Chemistry Building, a local author will be there and you can see the earth tubes, some pretty dope stuff. So, now the doors open and we all goin鈥.

Speaking of the Environmental Science and Chemistry Building, we saw a photo of you sitting on top of it. What was that all about?

Man, I was on top of the world that day. I鈥檓 ballin鈥 outta control, keep on receiving the scholarships. And you should really see the VIEWS from that building.

So what鈥檚 going on for summer?

The weather is looking up so you can spot me in the Valley or picking up a bike from the bike-share to cruise around 鈥檆uz my mother embarrassed to pull my Phantom out. We need to figure out something though, a bike won鈥檛 cut it from downtown when I come to UTSC because I take Eglinton to 401 East and exit at Markham Road in the east end. Did you know you can rent garden space or check out the bees on the rooftop here? Man, I got love for this city. What else鈥 hmm鈥 I guess just a couple days on the beach, then its adios. And you know I鈥檓 always doing work, work, work, work, work, work.

You were recently at UTSC鈥檚 Doris McCarthy Gallery 鈥&苍产蝉辫;what was happening there?

The Scarborough Film Festival kicks off June 2 and free student screenings are at UTSC June 8. The DMG (use the short-form, fam) hosted students to network with the team and some dope English and film profs. Plus, I got car money, fresh start money, I want Saudi money, I want art money.

You know convocation is coming up, so what advice would you give students who are graduating from UTSC on June 2?

Wanted to tell you, accept yourself鈥攜ou don鈥檛 have to prove [expletive] to no one except yourself and if you end up needing some extra help, then I can help.

Speaking of convocation, when will you graduate?

I鈥檓 taking my time to experience UTSC, I got love for this city. Did you know there鈥檚 150 student clubs at UTSC? Have you tried the food in Scarborough? Yo, it鈥檚 delicious. And bruh, TPASC is so big I get lost there every time I go play ball. I mean, I鈥檓 too busy. Born a perfectionist, guess that makes me a bit obsessive. And you know I got a thing for words so when it comes to writing essays, paperwork takin鈥 too long and I think that my profs, well, maybe they don鈥檛 understand me

You brought your mom to campus a few weeks ago, what did you take her to see? Is there anything you want to say to her?

Well I鈥檝e been watching the Toronto Raptors lately and haven鈥檛 made time for mom. I took her to Mother鈥檚 Day brunch at Miller Lash House and then we had a stroll around campus. Mom, You and The 6 raised me right. I鈥檓 always being true to what you taught me.

That鈥檚 sweet. 

I spilled all my emotions tonight, I'm sorry.

Don鈥檛 be sorry! Speaking of emotions, people around here are asking if you鈥檙e single.

Call me Heartbreak Drake, I鈥檓 the hardest one to tame. As a man, I鈥檓 just honest; as an artist, I鈥檓 a king. But for real, I don鈥檛 kiss and tell. And I鈥檓 on my grind鈥擨 have a show on Fusion Radio and represent SCSU. And I wouldn鈥檛 change a thing if you paid me. I took my wildest dreams and then mapped 鈥檈m out.


The artist behind U of T Drizzy stresses the importance of self-care and plans to continue U of T Drizzy as long as it鈥檚 entertaining.

鈥淔or me, doing well in school is very important. So when you鈥檙e trying to do that with work and school and maintain relationships with friends and family, it鈥檚 important to find time to just chill out and take care of yourself,鈥 says the artist. 鈥淚 put a lot of love into U of T Drizzy and I feel I get a lot of love back.鈥

 

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