The publication provided updated first week sales projections for Drake and his new LPs. Per the outlet, ICEMAN will most likely go number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart with 475K album-equivalent units, whereas HABIBTI and MAID OF HONOUR will land at number two or three respectively with about 120K units each. This would make him the first artist ever to top the Billboard chart with three new project debuts.

Also, Drake is looking to dominate Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart, which tracks song performance. He could have as many as 14 tracks in the top 15. Some of the biggest contenders in this race are “Ran To Atlanta” with Future and Molly Santana, “Janice STFU,” “Make Them Cry,” and “Whisper My Name.” All those cuts are from ICEMAN, but there’s always a chance HABIBTI or MAID OF HONOUR records get more momentum.

Read More: Drake May Be The Most Critic-Proof Artist In Music

Drake’s Triple Album Chart Debut

We’ll see very soon whether or not the 6ix God achieves this triple album chart debut. They could all have a lot of staying power, too. After all, classic full-lengths like Take Care haven’t left the charts since they landed. With so much conversation around this trilogy and so much music to digest, revisit, and scrutinize, it will have a lot of fuel to keep skyrocketing.

Elsewhere, Drake is showing love to fans’ praise online, and mostly ignoring all the negativity his way. There’s a lot more love to focus on, and a lot more momentum to build as this trilogy aims to stay as a dominant commercial force.

All three albums are expected to move 715K-plus album-equivalent units in their first week of availability, an incomprehensible number for many. We’ll see what their staying power looks like concerning fan-favorite tracks, how the fit in the discography, and other questions.

Read More: Drake “ICEMAN” Album Review

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Release Date: May 21, 2026
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Album: Experimental Rap

Tracklist For Expermental Rap

1. 投影の芸術
2. babygirl
3. Burning Hammer
4. $ (Money)
5. Pop this Heat
6. Meet the Dealers
7. Head
8. Degenerate’s Prayer
9. The Ghost of Emmett Till
10. Since I Met Ye
11. ¥ (Yen)
12. GYBB
13. TSAR BOMBA
14. Mask On
15. His Will
16. Lights
17. New Era
18. One Day It Will Be Over
19. War Over Land
20. Bridges on Fire (ft. Buzzy Lee)
21. No Strippers In Heaven
22. 內戰
23. Chat
24. The 1st Amendment
25. You will always lose money chasing women, but you will never lose women chasing money

The post Experimental Rap – Album by JPEGMAFIA appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

ICEMAN, of course, is the vengeful comeback where Drake addresses the fallout from 2024. And while he didn’t hold back from addressing everyone and anyone who was even tangentially involved in his public takedown, he certainly had some choice words for Kendrick Lamar, specifically. But while some staunch Drake fans believe Kendrick is freaking out behind the scenes about his next move, Akademiks strongly feels that isn’t the case.

During a recent livestream, Ak explained how he feels as though Drake and Kendrick are in an endless war of mind games with each other. 

“What I would put stock into is that let me just say this. I think Kendrick is a very cerebral and smart guy. You’d be an idiot to come out of that entire battle and not even, whether you like him or not, have that opinion. To think he’s like losing it like that, no, we make jokes but no. If anything, I think he’s plotting his next move and I think he’s trying to counterpunch Drake,” Ak said, adding that he believes Drake was also strategizing on how to counter Kendrick Lamar if he tries to stomp on his rollout. 

“So, they’re still playing chess. They’re still playing chess, they’re just not like, you know, playing in the local park where everyone’s watching,” he added. Akademiks theorized that Kendrick probably won’t center or be immediately influenced by what Drake has presented on ICEMAN, but he might use it to fuel his next release.

Read More: Drake May Be The Most Critic-Proof Artist In Music

What Is Kendrick Lamar Cooking Up Right Now?

Just days before the release of ICEMAN, Kendrick Lamar’s music was temporarily pulled from platforms like YouTube and Apple Music, specifically the records released during his battle with Drake along with GNX. And while they all were reinstated later, posters across Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta reading “WHO IS THE GIANT?” surfaced, sparking speculation that Dot was readying to release a new album on the same day as Drake. That obviously did not happen. However, even though the Big 3 conversation has been dead, it would be a great year for music if we got new albums from Kendrick, Cole and Drake. Check Akademiks comments above and let us know your thoughts in the comments below. 

Read More: Drake “ICEMAN” Album Review

The post Akademiks Thinks Fans Would Be Stupid To Think That Kendrick Lamar Is “Losing It” Over “ICEMAN” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

This week, Latto confirmed that she gave birth to her first child with 21 Savage. The pregnancy announcement and the birth of her and 21’s child have both played a role in the rollout for her forthcoming album, BIG MAMA, which arrived on May 29th. The clip also featured footage of 21 Savage, giving fans the clearest confirmation yet that the two are together.

For 21 Savage, this journey hasn’t exactly unfolded in the public eye, but it’s clearly not something he’s unwilling to acknowledge anymore. After he was spotted at Arsenal’s historic match over the weekend, he shared a photo dump celebrating the win. The second slide included a photo of his newborn wearing Arsenal gear, with the post captioned, “We did it !!!!!!!! @arsenal.”

Savage also has three other children, including his sons Kamari and Ashaad, along with a daughter, Rhian.

Read More: Drake May Be The Most Critic-Proof Artist In Music

21 Savage’s Newborn Is An Arsenal Fan 

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Savage’s appearance at the Arsenal match this weekend felt more surprising than his connection to Latto. During a halftime interview, Savage revealed that he’s been a lifelong supporter of the team. “I was born in London,” he said, per Complex. “That’s all I know is Arsenal. I’ve always been an Arsenal supporter my whole life.”

The couple have yet to reveal the baby’s name, but with Latto’s upcoming album around the corner, that may be something she’s saving for release day. Check out Savage’s post above.

Read More: Drake “ICEMAN” Album Review

The post 21 Savage Shares Photo Of His & Latto’s Newborn Baby In Arsenal Gear appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

In one clip circulating, PBD asks Ross if he would put “Drake at your level.” “No,” he responded. “I can see it in your eyes, you might be confused with all of the numbers and all of the fake numbers flood the marketplace, 50-something. That sh*t ain’t nothing. Remember what I told you: the streets are the streets. If Drake was what he thought, what you think he was, or what he thought he was, he would’ve been able to clear all this shit up, address it, and been moved on.”

Ross then added that Drake’s lawsuit against UMG isn’t entirely in the past before comparing that situation to a hypothetical one where the Canadian rapper sues podcasters like Patrick Bet-David for speaking on the situation. “That’s like him, he might sue you for speaking of him on this situation,” he said.

Read More: Drake May Be The Most Critic-Proof Artist In Music

Did Rick Ross Listen To ICEMAN?

PBD was truly curious about Rick Ross’ critical analysis of the music itself. “I listened to some of it… It was horrendous. My homies actually say there, they lost an hour of their life for this sh*t,” he said. When PBD asked if they were recovering, Ross added, “Yeah. Trauma.”

Ross argued that the rollout for the album built such high anticipation that the album itself was a disappointment. However, he added that he didn’t listen to the entire project before citing Pitchfork’s unfavorable review of ICEMAN. “I couldn’t do it… I said it was mid. Mid meant 5. Pitchfork gave it a 4-point-something,” he added, before sharing a hilarious interpretation of Drake’s woeful bars about mistrust and disloyalty. Check the clip above and sound off with your thoughts on ICEMAN in the comment section below.

Read More: Drake “ICEMAN” Album Review

The post Rick Ross Calls Drake’s “ICEMAN” Horrendous: “Lost An Hour Of Their Life” appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Album: Cry Baby
Genre: Hip-hop
Release Date: May 21st, 2026

Quotable Lyrics
Why they treat me like I’m in a UFO
Cuffed me in the backseat so I can’t phone home
How does it feel to be all alone?
Quite familiar, Freeway Roc La familia

The post White Flag – Song by Vince Staples appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The mockup uses a grey suede upper as the base, with navy blue hitting the mesh panels on the side, the outsole, and the collar lining. White Nike Air branding appears on the heel, and the overall palette lines up directly with Georgetown’s grey and navy color scheme. The style code listed is FV5029-004.

Jordan Brand has a well-documented history with Georgetown. Patrick Ewing wore Jordans during his time with the Hoyas in the 1980s, and that connection has informed several Georgetown-inspired colorways across different Jordan silhouettes over the years. An AJ4 in this colorway would fit naturally into that lineage.

It is worth noting that these are mockup images, not official product photos. The final shoe could look different when official imagery surfaces closer to the release. February 2027 is still a long way out, so details have time to change.

That said, the colorway direction makes sense and the AJ4 is a strong silhouette for a Georgetown-themed release. Grey suede with navy accents is a clean combination, and the Nike Air heel branding is always a welcome detail on the AJ4. More information should surface as the release gets closer.

Read More: T-Pain Takes His Extremely Rare Koenigsegg Regera Out On Atlanta Highway

Air Jordan 4 “Georgetown”

The Air Jordan 4 and Georgetown connection goes back decades. Patrick Ewing played for the Hoyas in the early 1980s under coach John Thompson. Also his relationship with Michael Jordan and Nike helped tie the school’s colors to the Jordan Brand identity early on.

Jordan Brand has revisited the Georgetown palette multiple times over the years on various silhouettes. Further the grey and navy combination is one of the more recognizable college-inspired colorways in sneaker culture.

A February 2027 release would likely coincide with basketball season, which is a natural fit for a college-themed Jordan drop. The AJ4 has not had a dedicated Georgetown colorway in some time.

Read More: Air Jordan 3 “BIN 23” Will Drop With Special Packaging

The post Early Look At The Air Jordan 4 “Georgetown” Coming In 2027 appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Earlier this year the Air Jordan 8 “Bin 23” was pushed back to August, making the AJ3 the first shoe in this year’s Bin 23 lineup to actually hit shelves. The series has always been about elevated materials and tight production numbers, and this release follows that same template.

The shoe sits in a deep burgundy and dark red colorway across the full upper. The suede and nubuck materials give it a rich, wine-like finish that makes the Bin 23 name feel intentional.

Gold hardware on the tongue badge and eyelets adds contrast without pulling away from the overall color story. The midsole leans toward a cream and aged yellow tone, and the Nike Air branding on the heel is printed in a tonal darker burgundy that almost disappears into the upper.

The wooden crate-style packaging with a wine glass ring stamp on the front is a nice touch. It reinforces the wine theme without overplaying it. At $355 for 2,300 pairs, this one will move quickly. People who want it should plan accordingly when June 13th arrives.

Read More: T-Pain Takes His Extremely Rare Koenigsegg Regera Out On Atlanta Highway

Air Jordan 3 “BIN 23”

The Bin 23 series is a premium Jordan Brand line that originally launched in 2010. The name references Michael Jordan’s jersey number 23, and the line was built around limited production runs and elevated materials.

After years of nothing, Jordan Brand revived the series in 2026 with a multi-shoe lineup. The Air Jordan 3 is the first release in this year’s Bin 23 collection, with the Air Jordan 8 and Air Jordan 4 to follow later in the year.

Each shoe in the series comes with special packaging and a higher price point than standard Jordan releases. The 2,300 pair production number directly references the Bin 23 concept.

Read More: Drake’s OVO Label Links With Red Bull Racing For Another Capsule Drop

The post Air Jordan 3 “BIN 23” Will Drop With Special Packaging appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

“I want to end with this,” the rapper said. “I could be wrong, but I’m gonna say it. God has showed me that he’s real. Someone I never in my life thought that the world would turn against him and f*ckin’ clown him on a worldly level was Drake. I thought Drake was the most loved, he’s Black, he’s Jewish. The best combination in the world. For real. I never thought—Drake could literally do no wrong.”

Read More: 6ix9ine Argues That Drake’s Background Exempts Him From Snitch Allegations

6ix9ine Pulls Up A Bible Verse To Prove His Point

Although there were memes and jokes about Drake over the years, and 6ix9ine mentioned the whole “he got peed on” fiasco, Tekashi was surprised by how intense the backlash was. He also mentioned Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance, where the Los Angeles hitmaker looked directly at the camera and said Drake’s name before alleging Drizzy is a pedophile.

“That same year, Durk gets arrested for murder-for-hire,” 6ix9ine continued. “The name of their song in 2020 when they dissed me was ‘Laugh Now Cry Later.'” He then referenced a bible verse about correcting people who try to humiliate you. “If you were facing murder-for-hire, and two of your best friends were cooperating, what would you be doing? Would you be happy?”

Lil Durk remains in jail without bond. He was arrested in October 2024 in connection with a murder-for-hire plot dating back to 2022. His trial is expected to begin sometime in August 2026.

Check out Tekashi 6ix9ine below.

The post 6ix9ine Suggests God Is Punishing Drake & Lil Durk For Dissing Him appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Part of that was because of the scale itself. More than 40 songs spread across Rap, R&B, Dance, and Pop-leaning production, released in a single drop from an artist already known for overwhelming the streaming era through sheer volume. However, the music quickly became secondary to the debate surrounding it. To be frank…the reviews have been harsh.

Read More: Drake Posts HotNewHipHop Users’ Old “Take Care” Critiques After New Albums

The most brutal of critics described the releases as “bloated,” emotionally exhausted, repetitive, and overly engineered for streaming culture. Backlash also focused on Drake’s lyricism, with people mocking bars they felt sounded too simple and caption-ready, designed for social media circulation instead of actual depth. Others slammed the production across the projects, arguing that much of it felt minimal, bordering on laziness, especially from an artist whose catalog once helped define the sound of modern, often melodic Rap.

Still, the numbers exploded anyway. The albums immediately dominated streaming platforms and charts, with Drake once again flooding playlists, timelines, reactions, memes, arguments, and discourse cycles all at once. Fans called it another takeover. However, critics called it proof that Drake values quantity over cohesion. Either way, everybody was talking about it.

Has Drake reached a point where criticism no longer meaningfully affects his dominance at all?

The Reviews Were Brutal, But The Numbers Were Bigger

The criticism surrounding Drake’s triple release started almost immediately after the albums hit streaming platforms. Complaints sounded similar, no matter which project people were discussing. ICEMAN drew criticism for what listeners described as weak or overly direct bars aimed at Kendrick Lamar, Rick Ross, and others. Habibti and Maid of Honour were called out for sounding unfinished or emotionally flat despite leaning into the melodic and club spaces Drake has dominated for years. The larger complaint beneath it all was fatigue.

Read More: Drake “ICEMAN” Album Review

People online kept asking the same question: why would he release this much music at once if only a fraction of it feels essential? It was argued that this had to do with his getting out of his record contract. Drake was accused of flooding streaming platforms instead of editing himself creatively. Even some longtime fans admitted parts of the releases felt overly familiar sonically. None of that stopped the rollout from becoming massive.

Within hours, Drake occupied huge portions of Apple Music and iTunes charts simultaneously, and it didn’t take long for him to dominate major Billboard positions again despite the backlash. For most artists, reviews this harsh would slow momentum or at least fracture public enthusiasm. With Drake, the backlash almost became fuel for the release itself. Every negative reaction created another conversation, another repost, another debate, another stream. At this point in his career, criticism no longer seems separate from Drake’s success. It moves alongside it.

Drake Understands The Streaming Era Better Than Anyone

Forty-plus songs across three albums would have sounded ridiculous in a different era of music. Now, it sounds like a streaming strategy. That’s a portion of what makes Drake such a difficult artist to measure traditionally at this point in his career. The fuss aimed at ICEMAN, Habibti, and Maid of Honour comes from people still approaching albums like tightly edited artistic statements. Drake increasingly releases music like someone trying to bogart space itself. These projects were built to touch different audiences simultaneously.

Read More: Drake Takes Aim At DJ Khaled For Not Speaking About Palestine

ICEMAN stayed closest to Rap, full of competitive energy and lingering shots at rivals and former allies. Habibti leaned melodic and atmospheric, closer to the emotionally detached R&B sound Drake has spent years refining. Maid of Honour moved further into club and house-inspired production, territory he’s returned to repeatedly since projects like Honestly, Nevermind shifted expectations around what a Drake release could sound like.

Individually, some listeners may only care about one of those albums. Together, though, the releases create nonstop engagement. From a traditional critical perspective, the projects can feel overstuffed. Yet, streaming culture rewards abundance differently from older album eras. More songs create more opportunities for virality, playlist placement, chart entries, reaction content, and repeat engagement across platforms. Drake understands that better than almost anyone, because he helped shape the environment in which modern artists now release music.

At this stage, Drake doesn’t always seem interested in making concise albums. He seems interested in remaining unavoidable.

Read More: Drake Takes Shots At Rick Ross On “ICEMAN”

Drake May Be Bigger Than Album Reviews Now

There was a time when an album review could seriously shape the direction of an artist’s rollout. A bad critical response could slow momentum or create the feeling that an era had failed publicly. That relationship between criticism and success feels increasingly disconnected in the streaming era, and Drake may be the clearest example of that shift.

That may be because, despite the backlash surrounding ICEMAN, Habibti, and Maid of Honour, nothing about Drake’s actual position in music appears unstable. The streaming numbers stayed massive. The internet stayed consumed by the release. Fans argued over standout tracks while critics dissected weak bars and repetitive production choices. Even people openly saying the albums were disappointing still spent the weekend listening closely enough to debate lyrics, rank songs, and repost clips online. That level of attention has become its own form of power.

Read More: Adin Ross Claims Kendrick Lamar Is Running Scared Because Of Drake’s “ICEMAN”

Drake no longer operates only as a rapper releasing albums. He functions more like a permanent cultural event, someone whose music immediately floods streaming platforms, social media timelines, podcasts, reaction channels, sports pages, meme accounts, and group chats all at once. At that scale, criticism stops behaving the way it once did because visibility itself becomes more valuable than consensus.

Moreover, Drake understands visibility better than almost anyone in music history. A listener may hate half the songs and still contribute to the engagement machine by arguing about them online. Someone mocking a lyric still reposts the clip. Another who calls the albums inflated still streams enough records to identify which ones work and which ones don’t. In Drake’s world, criticism often extends the lifespan of the release instead of shrinking it.

Now, that doesn’t mean the critiques are meaningless. The conversations around creative stagnation, overexposure, weak lyricism, and quantity over quality are real, especially as more listeners question whether Drake still edits himself artistically the way he once did. However, those criticisms now coexist with a level of commercial dominance that feels largely untouched by them.

Read More: Drake’s Three New Albums Get Gargantuan First Week Sales Projections

Further, the strangest part about this moment in Drake’s career is that the criticism almost feels built into the experience now. People dragged Honestly, Nevermind when it first arrived in 2022, especially because of its dance-heavy direction. For All The Dogs faced similar complaints about repetitive themes and lack of editing, yet still debuted at No. 1 and produced massive streaming records. Even after the Kendrick Lamar battle shifted public perception around Drizzy in a way few moments ever have, his commercial dominance barely moved. That history matters when looking at ICEMAN, Habibti, and Maid of Honour.

Very few artists in modern music operate like that. Maybe that’s the real shift happening around Drake now. The conversation is no longer centered on whether every album is a classic. It’s about whether any artist in the streaming era has figured out how to remain this culturally dominant while absorbing this much objection at the same time. Right now, Drake still appears to be the only person operating at that scale, and it’s sliding him back up the charts.

The post Drake May Be The Most Critic-Proof Artist In Music appeared first on HotNewHipHop.