Before his rap career took off, the "Take Care" singer and Toronto native was best recognized as Jimmy Brooks, the wheelchair-bound basketball player from the Canadian TV teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation.

The rapper also will perform as musical guest on Jan. 18, 2014.

Drake is headed back to Saturday Night Live, this time as host and musical guest.

He'll be the first host of the new year, pulling double duty on Jan. 18. Drake was the musical guest back in 2011 but has never hosted.

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Drake released his third studio album, Nothing Was the Same, in September. The musician has plenty of TV acting experience, having starred in the Canadian teen soap Degrassi: The Next Generation from 2001 to 2009.

Saturday Night Live airs Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. on NBC.