Drake tapped as Junos 2011 host

Toronto rapper Drake willhost Canada's annual musical honoursin 2011, one year after he took home his first Juno trophies.

The actor-turned-rap star will host the March 27 Juno Awards ceremony in Toronto, organizers announced on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old performer and former star of Degrassi: The Next Generation, whose real name is Aubrey Drake Graham, has seen his star rise over the past two years. He gained renown recording with top artists like Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Jay-Z.

He won the Junos for best new artist and for best rap recording (So Far Gone) at the 2010 awards in St. John's, N.L., in April two months before the release of his debut album, Thank Me Later.

On Wednesday night, he earned four Grammy nominations: for best new artist, best rap album (for Thank Me Later), best rap solo performance (for the track Over) and best rap performance by a duo or group (the song Fancy, performed with T.I. and Swizz Beatz).

The 2010 Junos featured a selection of presenters, while past hosts have included comedians Russell Peters and Brent Butt, actress Pamela Anderson and singers Nelly Furtado, Shania Twain and Alanis Morrissette.