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Drake has set the record straight on long-running speculation that his toned physique is the result of surgery. Appearing on Bobbi Althoff's Not This Again podcast on September 2, the rapper addressed years of rumours surrounding his abs after a shirtless selfie reignited debate earlier this summer.
When asked directly if he had undergone abdominal etching — a cosmetic procedure designed to sculpt muscles — Drake replied simply, "No." He acknowledged that surgery is common in the industry but maintained he has never gone under the knife. "People also say that I got a BBL," he added with a laugh. "They call me 'BBL Drizzy.' I don't know if my wagon looked crazy when I walked in here."
The Grammy winner admitted, however, that the viral photo was not entirely untouched. "I came from the gym, I was sweaty in that pic," he explained. "Maybe I heightened the saturation or something on it. I think I hit it too hard. They don't look like that."
Speculation about Drake's body dates back nearly a decade. In 2016, former rapper Joe Budden suggested online that he had visited Dr. Miami, a celebrity plastic surgeon. Since then, artists including Pusha T and Megan Thee Stallion have hinted at the possibility in their lyrics. The conversation escalated in 2024 during Drake's feud with Kendrick Lamar, who rapped, "Tell 'em where you get your abs from," in euphoria. Producer Metro Boomin added fuel with a parody track titled "BBL Drizzy."
The Toronto native has denied the claims before. In 2019, after DJ Carnage commented on his Instagram accusing him of "fake ab surgery in Colombia," Drake brushed it off with a playful retort. Still, the chatter persisted, intensifying again when his June 2024 Instagram post showcased his defined abs.
Drake said his passion for fitness is real, noting that his seven-year-old son, Adonis, is already dedicated to workouts. "He has an eight-pack, it's crazy," he told Althoff. "He's just way more locked in than like I ever was or ever will be."
