Her filing claims that in May 2025, Clavicular allegedly served her “excessive amounts of alcohol” at his parents’ home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and had sex with her while she was unable to give consent. She further alleges that she accepted an invite to stream with him months later, at which point Clavicular injected Aqualyx into her face under the false impression he was medically trained to do so. She is seeking $50,000 in damages.

When reached for comment, Mendoza’s legal team told TMZ, “The allegations in the complaint speak for themselves. We look forward to hearing from Mr. Peters’ attorneys.” Clavicular’s attorney, Steve Kramer, denied the validity of Mendoza’s story in a statement provided to the outlet as well.

Read More: Meek Mill Can’t Escape His Own Digital Footprint

Clavicular’s Response

Clavicular seemingly addressed the allegations himself in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday afternoon. “When I was in the hospital on life support a girl was begging Mitchell for my AMEX credit card (he said no). The consistent theme of girls trying to use me for money is brutal for a young guy trying to navigate a complex society. Hopefully I can find a good girl whos intent is to not to screw me over and take my money,” he wrote.

Fans have been sharing advice for Clavicular in the replies to his post. “When you hang around people like that, you attract people like that. You’re not going to find your ideal woman like this, you seriously need to reconsider a lot of things in your life and build confidence in yourself,” one user wrote. Another added: “You literally surround yourself with those kind of people, what do you expect? You are who you hang with big dawg. Do better if you want better.”

Read More: Ranking Every Drake Album From Worst To Best

The post Clavicular Sued For Fraud & Intentional Infliction Of Emotional Distress appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“More than eighteen (18) months have passed since the compliance deadline,” her petition read. “Despite several written requests over the course of several months, [Future] has failed and refused to comply.”

Future denies the allegations, and now, he’s filed a petition of his own. According to TMZ, he’s asked the court to find Mealy in civil and criminal contempt. He alleges that she’s violated court orders and wants her to cover his legal fees. He accuses her of leaking information about him to the press.

Mealy, too, denies the allegations.

Read More: Meek Mill Can’t Escape His Own Digital Footprint

Future Legal Drama

This isn’t the only legal drama Future is currently wrapped up in, however. Earlier this month, the performer was also sued by his ex, Layla Sanad. Sanad alleges that she gave birth to a child in 2017, who goes by his initials, K.W., and that he admitted to being his father.

She wants the court to establish paternity so she can start receiving child support. She’s also seeking two years of retroactive child support.

Reportedly, Future responded by filing court documents of his own, asking for Sanad’s Florida case to be dismissed in favor of “a more convenient forum.” At the time, he claimed that Sanad and their son lived in Arizona, and that he had already filed a case in that state. He also claimed that he had been “voluntarily” giving Sanad $3,500 per month.

The case is currently under review.

Read More: Ranking Every Drake Album From Worst To Best

The post Future Demands Ex Brittni Mealy Be Held In Contempt Of Court appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Meg has since quit Moulin Rouge. This morning, we reported on her night out on the town, in which she seemed to be having a whole lot of fun. Everyone handles breakups differently, and we are seeing that here with Klay Thompson.

Prior to today, the NBA star had not commented on the Megan Thee Stallion situation. Instead, he kept to himself. Thompson is a private guy, so this shouldn’t have been surprising. However, with Meg making her feelings clear, there was a sense that Thompson might attempt to dispel the allegations.

Earlier today, Thompson went live on Instagram. There was anticipation for what he might say. However, he subverted expectations by not saying a peep. He simply live-streamed himself driving his boat, just as he’s done dozens of times before.

Read More: Ranking Every Drake Album From Worst To Best

Klay Thompson Is Doing His Own Thing

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Shade Room (@theshaderoom)

The NBA star was wearing a bandana over his face, with a Dallas Mavericks baseball cap. The boat was rocking a bit, and he could be seen sipping on what appeared to be an iced coffee. Clearly, he is out here living his best life. He appeared unbothered in the video. Whether or not it was intentional or just his natural state of being is hard to decipher.

Thompson has plenty of free time now. He is a single man, and with the Mavericks out of the NBA Playoffs, he has a long offseason ahead of him. Simply put, he is free to do as he pleases.

This free time will likely be enjoyed to its fullest. It’s important to remember that Thompson is getting older, and that makes the offseason that much more important. He probably isn’t interested in engaging in his relationship issues in such a public way.

Read More: Meek Mill Can’t Escape His Own Digital Footprint

The post Klay Thompson Looks Unbothered During Live Stream Following Megan Thee Stallion Breakup appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“Since I went independent sh*t been moving so weird,” he tweeted. “I’m still selling out all my shows that’s why I made that Charlamagne sh*t a issue … I made like 80m off rap since drake beef he not on my level of achievements to tell lies about my brand to the masses .. that’s was that.”

“And yes I’m still making money!” Meek added. “Not because of the beef. I went to prison had the biggest movement and came home and made the best album of my life!”

Meek’s tweets arrived just a few weeks after Charlamagne Tha God shared his hot take on the Philly rapper’s career on The Breakfast Club. He argued that the Grammy nominee never fully recovered from the Drake beef, prompting a fiery response.

Read More: Meek Mill Can’t Escape His Own Digital Footprint

Meek Mill Responds To Charlamagne Tha God

“Since Drake beef I drop tap 3x platinum… peta double platinum… blue notes 1 and 2 platinum… uptown vibes with legend from Brooklyn fab platinum… what’s free feat jayz meek mill I think it’s plat… f*ck on me ft cardi b platinum,” he wrote on Instagram. “How far we came… he actually switched up on drake because he helped power the meek was done narrative was done… now he’s using the same against drake… im good with drake and jayz as far as I know… keep me out this weak a** sh*t.”

Charlamagne later cleared things up, insisting he didn’t mean any harm.

“I would only talk through the music, because every single time Meek posts, the internet turns it into a joke,” he explained. “Y’all was just laughing at him last week because he posted about being on LinkedIn. … I said, you know, the way they act with Meek is strange. And I agree with Meek. The propaganda against Meek is strange. And it started with that battle. And at least on social media, the narrative around him hasn’t recovered.”

Read More: Ranking Every Drake Album From Worst To Best

The post Meek Mill Reveals Astonishing Earnings Since Drake Beef appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

In December, for example, a woman named Beyla Richard-Flenory filed a paternity action against Big Meech. According to her, she allegedly has a “strong reason” to believe that he’s her “biological parent.” Moreover, she alleges that she’s suffered “significant emotional distress” as a result of his denying this.

“I have tried for years to reach out to others in the family,” she stated. “Some believed me, while others did not seem to care.” Richard-Flenory insists that it’s not money she’s after, but rather “the truth, acknowledgment, and the dignity that every person deserves.”

Read More: Ranking Every Drake Album From Worst To Best

Big Meech & 50 Cent Beef

Big Meech continues to deny her claims, per TMZ. He’s even open to setting the record straight once and for all with a DNA test. “The parties have agreed to a DNA test,” his attorney, Alan Soven, told the outlet. “Meech is not the father. Does not know her.”

News of Big Meech denying paternity claims comes just a few months after his fiery feud with 50 Cent began. It all started when Big Meech recruited Rick Ross to perform at his welcome home concert. This didn’t sit right with Fif, who’s had his fair share of issues with Rozay in the past.

In response, 50 Cent took to social media and started taunting both Big Meech and his son relentlessly. The beef even ended up costing Lil Meech his job playing his father on the popular Starz series BMF.

Read More: Meek Mill Can’t Escape His Own Digital Footprint

The post Big Meech Breaks Silence Amid Secret Daughter Allegations appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“Aries Spears, you’re not on the ‘pay me more’ list. You’re on the list of people that should be happy to get whatever crumbs they getting,” Budden begins a clip circulating online. “You’re name is cold as hell, especially, since that Tiffany Haddish sh*t that we don’t even talk about no more. You’re cold as can be. You don’t have leverage, beverage, or nothing else that rhymes with leverage. Picking up the phone like, ‘Hey, I need more money.’ Not you Aries Spears. Sorry, the MadTV days are long gone.”

From there, he warned that he made a risky decision by asking for more money. “Vlad gonna fire him whenever the contract run out. Then what’s happening with Aries Spears?” he said.

Marc Lamont Hill then argued that the raw numbers on YouTube show he isn’t nearly as popular as Boosie Badazz. He suggested that Spears should make more money if his views eventually go up.

Read More: Meek Mill Can’t Escape His Own Digital Footprint

The drama began when reports surfaced that DJ Vlad was paying Boosie Badazz $25,000 for their interviews. Aries Spears then complained publicly about feeling like he deserves more money to appear in his videos with Vlad. Vlad countered in an interview response that he had already given Spears a raise recently and that his views pale in comparison to Boosie’s. Spears then posted a video on social media, labeling Vlad a culture vulture.

DJ Vlad’s Response To Joe Budden

Vlad ended up responding to the clip of Joe Budden and Marc Lamont Hill on X (formerly Twitter). He wrote: “I never thought I would see this day. @JoeBudden and @marclamonthill, 2 guys who usually criticize me, go off on Aries Spears pocket watching Boosie and demanding more money for interviews. And they made this video before I replied to Aries. They correctly predicted me kicking Aries off VladTV. Thanks to both of you for explaining how basic business works. Something Aries will never understand.”

Read More: Ranking Every Drake Album From Worst To Best

The post Joe Budden Has Harsh Words For Aries Spears Amid DJ Vlad Drama appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“Many individuals who were involved have long since passed away, while others have been hard to identify,” the complaint reads. “Yet, one thing is certain: there remain individuals who were involved in Tupac’s murder who, for 30 years, have not been held accountable for their crimes. […] This action seeks to change that.”

The lawsuit also alleges that recent developments have “revealed the existence of a broader, more complex conspiracy to murder Tupac that involved much more than mere retaliation for a prior altercation.”

Read More: Meek Mill Can’t Escape His Own Digital Footprint

Keefe D’s Motion To Toss Evidence

Snoop Dogg" class="wp-image-992673" srcset="https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2Pac-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2Pac-300x214.jpg 300w, https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2Pac-768x548.jpg 768w, https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2Pac-1536x1095.jpg 1536w, https://wp.hnhh.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2Pac-2048x1460.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />

News of the lawsuit comes just a few months after Keefe D filed a motion to exclude certain evidence from his upcoming trial. The motion cited various items seized from his Nevada home during a nighttime raid in July of 2023. His attorneys alleged that the search was unlawful and that investigators painted a “misleading portrait” of Keefe D in the search warrant application presented to a magistrate judge.

“When officers obtain nighttime authorization through bad faith, courts agree suppression is appropriate,” the motion stated. “Bad faith is evident from the face of the affidavit supporting the search warrant. […] First, the court unwittingly relied on a misleading portrait of Davis as a dangerous drug dealer. When in fact, his drug convictions were [25] years old. He was a [60]-year-old retired cancer survivor that had lived quietly in the same Henderson home for nearly a decade.”

“Second, the court overlooked the case-specific urgency or safety concerns Nevada law requires to justify nighttime searches,” the motion continued. “[It accepted] instead generic safety theories that would apply to virtually any search of any home.”

A judge denied the motion at a court hearing in February.

Read More: Ranking Every Drake Album From Worst To Best

The post 2Pac’s Stepbrother, Mopreme, Hits Keefe D With Wrongful Death Lawsuit appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

At one point in the interview, DaBaby described himself as the best rapper alive. “A thousand percent. A thousand percent. Like you can go back to when I first started… I always say like — and I know a lot of people say they’re the best — but, like, I’m the best motherf**kin’ rapper. Like, I’ve been saying it like, and I you know I often say it when I do my freestyles or whatever,” he said, as caught by XXL. “This is a phrase of mine, and a lot of people are familiar with me saying it, but I definitely do mean it. And you know, it ain’t no of course I feel like everybody should feel like they’re the best, but that’s not — I’m not talking like that — when I say that. Like, I’m better than these ni**as. Like, I really mean that.”

Read More: Meek Mill Can’t Escape His Own Digital Footprint 

In making his argument, DaBaby highlighted his versatility as an artist. “I feel like I have the ability to, you know, go anywhere, you know what I mean, musically. Like I can literally do it. Even if we strip everything else away and just go back to being in front of a microphone and putting music on, like I can I can get in there with the best of them,” he said.

Despite the proclamation, DaBaby says he’d still love to collaborate with J. Cole, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar. “And it ain’t no, you know, it’s nothing to be frowned upon or whatever,” he further clarified. “I would love to work with these guys. Like it take me saying that type of s**t and then putting it on display with the music and you know putting it out for those doors to open up for these you know for me to end up in the rooms with these guys and on the records with these guys.”

DaBaby’s “Be More Grateful”

The interview with Apple Music comes after DaBaby released his latest project, Be More Grateful, back in January. In promotion of the album, he’ll be putting on his own music festival on June 13 in North Carolina. In other news, The New York Times named Kendrick Lamar as one of the greatest living American songwriters on Tuesday.

Read More: Ranking Every Drake Album From Worst To Best

The post DaBaby Proclaims Himself Better Than J. Cole, Drake, & Kendrick Lamar appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

This has caught the attention of many of his peers. Those who work for ESPN do not dare to criticize Smith. That said, there are plenty of others outside of the network who have no fear in giving Smith their unfiltered takes about him.

For instance, during a conversation with Rich Kleiman, executive Steve Stoute noted how Smith is at a point in his career where journalism doesn’t matter so much anymore. Instead, Smith is more focused on becoming as famous as possible and making as much money as possible.

Smith saw these comments and was not happy about them, so much so that he took to his show on Tuesday to address Stoute. As you will see below, the ESPN pundit did not hold back.

Read More: Meek Mill Can’t Escape His Own Digital Footprint

Stephen A. Smith Responds To Steve Stoute

Smith claims fame was never something he was interested in. Instead, he claims to be someone who is fully motivated by telling the truth. He also admonished Stoute for calling him a clout chaser. In fact, Smith turned it on Stoute, saying that Stoute needs to say Smith’s name in order to gain clicks and traction.

The pundit then shifted his focus to Rich Kleiman, who was in agreement with Smith. Moreover, Smith then noted how he was recently called out by NASCAR driver Joey Logano for saying that race car drivers are not athletes.

Needless to say, Smith is someone who has created quite a few enemies for himself. This has led to a constant stream of beefs that is, quite frankly, exhausting. At some point, fans are going to start tuning out for good.

Read More: Drake Dominated 2016 Ten Years Ago & Hasn’t Let Up

The post Stephen A. Smith Goes Off On Steve Stoute For Calling Him A “Clout Chaser” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

He has been a mainstay of the music industry for two whole decades, and it’s about time we take a look at all of his projects and rank them, from worst to best. In this list, we are taking a look at albums, mixtapes, compilations, and playlists. If you are expecting any EPs, you won’t find them here.

Ranking Drake’s albums is a painstaking process. His music is so diverse in sound that there is truly something for everyone. Certain fans want to hear him rap, others want to hear him sing. No one is going to be 100 percent satisfied with our ranking, and that is just fine by us. With that being said, behold HotNewHipHop’s definitive rankings of Drake’s 18 full-length projects.

18. Room For Improvement

It’s strange hearing Drake introduce himself to the world. With an artist as ubiquitous as he has been for the last 20 years, you forget there was a time he had to directly tell listeners he was “from Canada,” as he does on the introduction to his debut mixtape, Room For Improvement. Of course, some listeners already knew him from Degrassi: The Next Generation, but he was still Aubrey Graham at that time. In 2006, Drake was born. 

While there were certainly flashes of the stardom that would emerge from Drake, Room For Improvement lives up to its title. Much of the bloated project is derivative of better rappers from that time. Still, there are highlights: “Come Winter” is solid enough to deserve a place on a stronger Drake album, and Trey Songz’s contribution on “About the Game” makes for a memorable moment as well. Otherwise, Room For Improvement is only notable for the career it would pave the way for.

– Cole Blake

17. Comeback Season

Given that this was Drake’s second project (and a mixtape at that), refinement isn’t expected. But even though this listening experience is with a 20-year-old still finding their sound, there are quite a few enjoyable moments. You could see how his first two albums were inspired by Comeback Season through songs like the title track, “Closer to My Dreams”, “Man of the Year,” among others. Soulful, smooth, and at times hype, you can also see how much of an influence Lil Wayne was on a hungry Drake. Take, for example, the tracks where he’s rapping over already-made beats from the likes of Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco. But the experimentation over them, along with artists such as (No) Malice, North Carolina duo Little Brother, and Dwele, is cool to look back on to see where Drake was pulling his sounds and approaches from.

– Zachary Horvath

16. For All The Dogs

Drake unveiled his eighth studio album, For All The Dogs, in October of 2023. Featuring themes of heartbreak, fame, and ego, it dominated charts in no time, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and racking up record-breaking streaming numbers. It moved an impressive 402K album-equivalent units in its first week, largely thanks to collaborations with the likes of SZA, Yeat, Sexyy Red, and more. The LP is also home to “First Person Shooter,” on which J. Cole reinforced the widespread belief that he, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar are the “big three” of hip-hop. Kendrick ended up challenging this claim on his collaboration with Future and Metro Boomin, “Like That,” marking the start of what would become one of the most-talked-about rap beefs in years.

– Caroline Fisher

15. Dark Lane Demo Tapes

While this compilation ranks as a relative lowlight in the Drake discography, it certainly isn’t for a lack of ambition. Even throwaways and leaked cuts like this still boast big features from Young Thug, Chris Brown, and more, as well as one of his most beloved 2020s songs with “Chicago Freestyle” featuring GIVEON. But for better or worse, Dark Lane Demo Tapes slides by on the strength of its isolated tracks, not so much as a cohesive experience. Still, the moodiness and darkness of many cuts on here keep it feeling tight, paired with aggressive lyrical displays like “War” and more fun, peppy moments like “D4L.” While The Boy would more impressively execute many of these ideas on Certified Lover Boy or Her Loss, this still has some slept-on gems. It’s not a definitive project by any means. Rather, more proof that Drake’s vault will always have some hit potential.

– Gabriel Bras Nevares

14. $OME $EXY $ONGS 4 U

Drake dropped off his collaborative album with PartyNextDoor, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, just in time for Valentine’s Day in 2025. It served as the hitmaker’s first full-length release since his infamous beef with Kendrick Lamar, and arrived shortly before he toured Australia, Europe, and the UK for the first time in years. Once again, the project debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, marking the 14th album of the Grammy winner’s career to do so. It moved roughly 246K album-equivalent units in its first week and set a major streaming record, earning the most first-day streams for an R&B / Soul album in Apple Music history. The LP leans into Drake’s R&B sensibilities and centers on themes of love, relationships, and success.

– Caroline Fisher

13. Care Package

Hardcore music listeners go nuts for loosies, bonus tracks, and leaks. Sometimes, in the fans’ eyes, these elusive recordings are better than some songs that actually make the official tracklist. But artists like Drake, who churn out hits on a daily basis, have to make some tough decisions when it comes down to sequencing. But luckily, in August 2019, Drizzy decided to surprise his supporters with a whole album’s worth of these cuts on Care Package. Taken from sessions between 2010 and 2016, this 16-track collection is a gem in his discography, as there are some truly iconic songs here. “5 AM in Toronto” has some potent bars that still hit hard to this day. “F*ck your list, everything’s lookin’ gorgeous / Without me, rap is just a bunch of orphans / But if I stay, then this sh*t is a bunch of corpses.” Or there’s songs like “Can I” and “The Motion” that perfectly define Drake’s cold and moody sound. 

– Zachary Horvath

12. Scorpion

Scorpion is a unique entry in Drake’s discography for various reasons. First and foremost, it was his first album following the Pusha T beef, and fans had high hopes. There was this sense that Scorpion would be the event album to end all event albums. A project that could destroy some of the narratives that had followed Drake over the previous three years. In the end, it was a valiant effort, albeit one that turned out to be top-heavy when it came to hits.

The first half of this project has songs like “God’s Plan,” “Nonstop,” “Mob Ties,” “Sandra’s Rose,” and even “I’m Upset.” These are considered classics when it comes to Drake’s lengthy catalog. Unfortunately, despite the presence of “Nice For What” and “In My Feelings” on the second half of the record, there just isn’t enough here for the album to sustain itself. Songs like “Ratchet Happy Birthday” overstay their welcome, while the rest is just kind of boring. And don’t get us started on that Michael Jackson feature. A strong second half, and this easily cracks the Drake album Top 10.

– Alexander Cole

11. Certified Lover Boy

Certified Lover Boy was one of the most eagerly anticipated releases of Drake’s career, and finally arrived in September of 2021 following several months of teasing. With appearances from a long list of frequent collaborators like Future, Young Thug, 21 Savage, Travis Scott, and more, it topped charts almost instantly. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and moved over 613K album-equivalent units in its first week. It broke multiple records upon its release, too, becoming the biggest single-day opening in both Spotify and Apple Music history and racking up more than 744 million streams within just a week. Themes of love, paranoia, ego, and self-awareness define the LP, which Drake himself has described as a “combination of toxic masculinity and acceptance of truth.”

– Caroline Fisher

10. So Far Gone

For most fans, it all started here. Drake’s indelibly influential 2009 mixtape was a massive moment in the blog era, letting his competition know that studio-quality projects were now an expectation, not just a bonus. He achieved this by not just delivering high production value with big names and samples, but by also by communicating a specific, idiosyncratic musical identity. Drizzy still hadn’t perfected his hip-hop/R&B fusions, but cuts like “Successful,” “Best I Ever Had,” and “Sooner Than Later” are hearteningly earnest beginnings on that journey.

However, what makes So Far Gone even more special in retrospect is how explicitly these fusions favor one style more than the other. Rather than the melds and half-and-half approaches of later LPs, there’s more significant contrast between tracks like “Ignant S**t” and “Brand New.” This mixtape also contains some of the 6ix God’s best early lyrical displays, such as the intro “Lust For Life” and “The Calm.” His confidence may not have had the scale to back it up back then, but it wouldn’t take long. 

– Gabriel Bras Nevares

9. Her Loss

Amid a turbulent rollout with fake performances, media appearances, and more to mock, Drake and 21 Savage both leveled up in their careers with the release of Her Loss in 2022. While this was more obvious for Savage despite his relatively brief appearances, Drizzy still took this opportunity to learn from the current meta and revamp his menacing, powerful, and confident persona. Whether it’s teaming up with Lil Yachty all over this LP, complementing 21’s darker approach, or even experimenting with other aesthetics, he did a lot to prove doubters wrong following the house-centric Honestly, Nevermind.

However, Her Loss’ true strength is still in its simplicity and lack of pretensions. There’s not much in the way of Drake and 21 Savage’s compelling trade-offs on “Broke Boys,” “Privileged Rappers,” and “Treacherous Twins”: just solid beats, luxury, lust, and a lot of subliminals. Even though it’s not a surprising record from these artists, it was still a welcome exercise in swagger. The bravado and untouchable mentality on display is a cornerstone of Drake’s 2020s run in music.

– Gabriel Bras Nevares

8. Honestly, Nevermind

Honestly, Nevermind was always a bit of a sleeper pick to make the top 10, and quite frankly, if it was up to some of us, this would make its way into the top five. Back in 2022, there was certainly a bit of Drake fatigue making its way throughout the music industry. Certified Lover Boy was fine, but the artist was becoming devoid of risk. The formula was running dry, and the fans wanted to hear something a little different. Thankfully, Honestly, Nevermind was Drake’s remedy to that problem.

This is a house album. Not exactly what you would expect from Drake. It was a huge risk at the time, and following the album’s release, some were calling this Drake’s worst album to date. These knee-jerk reactions couldn’t have been more incorrect. Quite frankly, this is Drake’s most fun project. If he continued down this lane, perhaps we would be having different conversations about the artist. Regardless, songs like “Massive” and “Sticky” are critical to Drizzy’s modern discography. Drake’s music hasn’t been fun in a very long time, aside from flourishes here and there like “Nokia.” At least with Honestly, Nevermind, it reminded us that the biggest artist in the world is allowed to let loose sometimes.

– Alexander Cole

7. What A Time To Be Alive

What A Time To Be Alive was the beginning of contemporary hip-hop’s obsession with the collab album. Following the release of Drake and Future’s 2015 hit-filled album, we got projects like Without Warning, Super Slimey, Pluto x Baby Pluto, and even Huncho Jack Jack Huncho. While these projects were good, none have the aura that WATTBA has. It’s a project that fans were not expecting, and with Drake and Future at the peak of their powers, it felt like the entire music industry was going to stand still while these two ran the game.

The album certainly has its critics, with some claiming that the chemistry isn’t always there. However, if one thing is for certain, it is that the hits are here. “Jumpman,” “Digital Dash,” “Big Rings,” and “Live From The Gutter” are some of the best songs in the Drake and Future library. Its placement is high on our list, mainly because of Drake’s performances on the album. There is no denying that Drake was the better artist on this album, even if you’re an unabashed Future fan. One man dominates the tracklist, and it’s what makes What A Time To Be Alive so deserving of seventh place on this ranking.

– Alexander Cole

6. Thank Me Later

In June of 2010, Drake delivered his debut studio album, Thank Me Later. The LP was quick to become a fan favorite. It boasted boased features from a variety of major players like Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Alicia Keys, Jeezy, and Nicki Minaj. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, moving an impressive 447K album-equivalent units in its first week. Furthermore, the project also won Favorite Hip-Hop / Rap Album at the 2010 American Music Awards. It even helped Drake earn the title of Best Male Hip-Hop Artist at the BET Awards, among other accolades. It even secured a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 53rd annual Grammys the following year. However, the award ultimately went to Eminem’s Recovery. The album solidified the Toronto rapper’s position as a force to be taken seriously in hip-hop, showcasing his lyrical abilities and signature melodic flow. It’s since been certified quadruple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

– Caroline Fisher

5. More Life

Drake’s 2017 “playlist,” simply titled More Life, is the perfect album to kick off our Top 5. In 2017, the artist was fresh off Views. An album that carried some of the most ridiculous discourse of Drake’s career. There was this sense that the artist wasn’t inspired anymore. That he had accomplished everything already, and that his lack of hunger was showing. Given Drake’s recent output, this now 10-year-old narrative certainly looks ridiculous. Even more so when you consider what an epic achievement More Life was from top to bottom.

This is an album with a massive array of hits. From “Glow” to “Fake Love” to “Passionfruit” to “Portland” to “Gyalchester,” you’d be hard-pressed to find a Drake album with more bangers. This is an album in which Drake merged numerous sounds with ease. He did so all while bringing forth some of the biggest artists in rap. Quavo, Travis Scott, Young Thug, and Kanye West have some of the best performances on the album. This helped Drake put together one of his most inspired offerings yet. It’s hard to imagine a world without an album like More Life.

– Alexander Cole

4. Views

Three years after Nothing Was the Same, Drake took fans to the top of the CN Tower in Toronto to put them in the shoes of his hometown’s biggest star. Having just issued a warning for “you boys in the new Toronto” on “Summer Sixteen,” Drake used his fourth studio album, Views, to celebrate the city that moulded him and assert his dominance over it.

Drake’s personality shines with songs like “Child’s Play,” where he raps about fighting with a girlfriend at The Cheesecake Factory and taking his Bugatti to pick up tampons. Humor and extravagance mask deeper self-criticism. It’s no surprise he would host an episode of Saturday Night Live just weeks after the album’s release.

While the project often remains thematically similar to Drake’s previous work, he maintains interest by exploring plenty of new sounds. This marks his first major foray into Jamaican dancehall music, a direction he foreshadowed on three of his singles from Views: “One Dance,” “Controlla,” and “Too Good.”

– Cole Blake

3. If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late

If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late is the bane of any hip-hop Drake hater. None of it should work as well as it does. The ghostwriting allegations surrounding this 2015 mixtape, the tough talk, the relative lack of romance, and the significant shift away from the Nothing Was The Same era are all narratives against the Toronto superstar that question his rap credentials. As such, this tape is a mastery of execution and a masterclass in confidence. Drizzy went harder, not more nuanced or apologetic, and it makes for the most consistently thrilling and invigorating piece in his catalog.

“No Tellin’” embodies this tape’s cold and menacing tone, “Jungle” keeps the soul alive for more lovelorn listeners, and “6PM In New York” proves Drake’s pen did not lose its sharpness when it added some more braggadocio. He avoided corny lines in favor of sharp and combative lyricism, fully embracing the legend status his career crystallized. If You’re Reading This is also arguably the most definitive full-length in Drizzy’s career when it comes to “the Toronto sound,” crafting endlessly evocative instrumentals with stark, frigid bite. It’s Drake playing the villain with surgical precision, refusing to turn superstardom into compliant stagnation.

– Gabriel Bras Nevares

2. Take Care

Despite Drake’s debut studio album, Thank Me Later, being an immediate hit, it wasn’t until his sophomore effort, Take Care, that he mastered the sound that would come to define his career. Encouraged by the response to his vulnerability on earlier records, he took his emotional candor to new levels in 2011, embracing a rare degree of romantic introspection for hip-hop at the time. Whether it’s drunkenly calling up an ex on the iconic “Marvin’s Room” or using the title track to sing alongside Rihanna, with whom he had a fling in real life, Drake was already expressing a rawness that few artists sustain across an entire project.

Take Care also introduced Drake’s complicated perspective on fame, which would echo throughout the rest of his discography. “They say more money, more problems, don’t believe it,” he raps on the closing track, “The Ride.” The lyric is juxtaposed with the cover art, which depicts a dejected Drake staring into a golden chalice. 

Overall, Take Care remains one of the most important releases of the 2010s, bringing emotional honesty to the forefront of hip-hop. It’s loaded with many of his best hits as well and features an all-star team of collaborators, including The Weeknd, Rihanna, Birdman, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Stevie Wonder, Lil Wayne, André 3000, and even Kendrick Lamar.

– Cole Blake

1. Nothing Was The Same

It was an incredibly tight race for what Drake’s best project ever is. The ones in our top three we feel are the consensus best trio of albums he has to offer. But ultimately, we could only pick one and we landed on his third studio LP, Nothing Was the Same. One reason is how tight and intentional it sounds. From seamless transitions to themes of how success can also cause worry and uncertainty, Drake really catapulted himself into solidified superstardom with the execution on his end. Production across the board is pretty damn flawless as far as it pertains to albums of his, too. He and Noah “40” Shebib are on the same wavelength, and that also applies to the other talents behind the boards, such as Boi-1da, Dahi, Nineteen85, Detail, etc. Taking this record over the top is the sheer number of hits. “Tuscan Leather,” “Furthest Thing,” Started From the Bottom,” “Worst Behavior,” “From Time…” you get the point. It’s a timeless album and rightfully deserves the number one spot on our list.

– Zachary Horvath

The post Ranking Every Drake Album From Worst To Best appeared first on HotNewHipHop.