Canadian rapper and singer Drake has released the music video for his latest hit single ‘Nokia’ from his album ‘$ome $exy $ongs 4 U’, celebrating both his home city of Toronto and Caribbean mas dancers, with a touch of visual nostalgia.
And, among the dancers in the video is Caymanian model Aneka Campbell.
Campbell was among over 40 masqueraders and dancers featured in the video – shot in black-and-white and filmed in IMAX – which takes the rapper, Aubrey ‘Drake’ Graham, back to his hometown, with several lyrical references to Toronto and iconic locations of the city, plus a flurry of dancers as well as the Tribal Carnival mas band, adding Caribbean flavour and vibes.
“It still feels surreal. I feel incredibly grateful and proud to have represented Caribbean culture in a project that has reached such major success,” Campbell told the Cayman Compass.
The opportunity came through Celena Seusahai, the CEO of Tribal Carnival, Campbell explained.
“I previously modelled with her band in Cayman and stayed in contact after moving to Canada. She later reached out to me with the chance to be part of the music video.”
The 22-year-old model called it a dream come true.
As dancers representing Caribana, Campbell noted, “We were instructed to bring the energy and spirit of Carnival to the screen. The direction was to be natural, vibrant, and expressive – just as we would be at a real carnival.”
A fun fact Campbell shared was that the costumes were custom-made by Tribal, “just four days before the shoot. Huge credit to Celena – she really pulled it all together.”
Connecting with Drake and the rest of the production team was what she truly enjoyed, Campbell said, adding, “Everyone brought great energy and positivity to the set, making it a really special experience.”
Drake attended the Monday night premiere of the video in Toronto, with Drake in attendance and delivered remarks for the occasion.
Campbell said the viewing party was “amazing!”
“The atmosphere was electric – everyone was thrilled to see the final product. Watching it in a theatre setting with full sound and visuals felt cinematic. We watched it over and over, just taking it all in.”
Photos and clips of the music video began circulating across social media including ones including Campbell waving high and proud the Cayman Islands flag. Campbell said she made sure to carry the flag.
“It was a personal choice to bring the flag, and some of the other girls brought theirs as well. Initially, it wasn’t clear if they’d be included in the final cut, but they decided it added authenticity to the Carnival theme. It felt incredibly rewarding to represent my island in that way.”
Followers reposted and expressed their support for Campbell.
She said “it feels amazing” seeing the support from the community.
For Campbell, the video moment, “feels like the beginning of something bigger. I’m focused on pursuing more opportunities like this and continuing to represent Cayman proudly. I’m excited about the direction things are heading.”
A highlight of the experience Campbell said, was meeting Drake.
“He was very grounded and genuinely appreciative of everyone involved. It was refreshing to see how down-to-earth and respectful he was with the team.”
Campbell said the opportunity to be featured in the Drake video gave her exactly what she wanted – valuable experience.
“I’m now focused on growing my modelling career, broadening my range, and staying open to new, exciting projects. The journey is just beginning.”
Related Videos
