Drake’s New Album Shatters Records as Kanye West & Young Thug Show Love

Drake’s latest album, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, has made an explosive impact on the music scene, earning praise from both longtime rival Kanye West and frequent collaborator Young Thug. The highly anticipated project, a joint effort with PARTYNEXTDOOR, has been breaking records on streaming platforms despite receiving mixed critical reviews.

Kanye West & Young Thug Show Support

Kanye West, who has had an on-again, off-again rivalry with Drake, shocked fans by publicly endorsing the album. The Donda rapper took to X (formerly Twitter) to praise one of the standout tracks, writing: “‘Gimme a Hug’ is incredible. Sheeeeesh.” This unexpected show of support came just weeks after Kanye referred to Drake as his “nemesis,” adding a new twist to their complicated relationship.

Kanye west shows love to Drake’s “Gimme a Hug” pic.twitter.com/kt0CgIuJ3A

— Drake Charts ⁶𓅓 (@DrakeChart) February 15, 2025

Young Thug also joined the conversation, celebrating Drake’s chart dominance by posting: “That boy back number one.” The Atlanta rapper has been a close ally of Drake for years, frequently collaborating with him on hit records. Young Thug’s public support only adds to the growing hype surrounding $ome $exy $ongs 4 U.

That boy back number one 🐐

— Young Thug ひ (@youngthug) February 15, 2025

Breaking Streaming Records

Despite some criticism, the album has been a massive success on streaming platforms. On its first day of release (February 14), $ome $exy $ongs 4 U racked up 56.6 million streams on Spotify, making it the second-largest debut of the year behind The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow.

On Apple Music, the album set a new all-time record for the most single-day streams for an R&B album, proving Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR’s continued dominance in the genre. Additionally, the project helped Drake surpass Kendrick Lamar for the most single-day Spotify streams by a rapper in 2025, hitting an impressive 92.4 million plays across the platform.

Mixed Reviews & Album Criticism

While fans have embraced the album, critics have been divided. Some praise Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR’s chemistry, but others argue that the album suffers from a lack of cohesion and an overly long runtime. With 21 tracks and a 74-minute length, some listeners feel that the project could have been more focused.

Despite these critiques, the commercial performance of $ome $exy $ongs 4 U is undeniable. The album is expected to make a major impact on the Billboard 200 chart, although the final first-week sales numbers are yet to be determined.

Drake’s Response to Kendrick Lamar & Industry Critics

One of the album’s most talked-about moments comes from the song “Gimme a Hug,” where Drake seemingly addresses his long-standing rivalry with Kendrick Lamar. The verse reflects on his influence in hip-hop, rapping:

“Drake elimination, fake intimidation / Take a minute, take a deep breath, have a little bit of patience / ‘Drizzy, you amazing, you the inspiration / You set the bar for the next generation / You Neo in The Matrix, these n-ggas just Nemo in the ocean.”

These bars of Gimme a Hug, along with others in the track, have sparked debate among fans, with many seeing them as shots at Kendrick Lamar and following their highly publicized feud.

Drake, Serena Williams, and SZA: A Super Bowl Subtle Shade

With the album’s success already making waves, Drake is set to capitalize on the momentum with his upcoming Wireless Festival 2025 performances, where he will headline all three nights with unique setlists. Given the buzz surrounding $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, fans can expect several tracks from the album to make it into his live performances.

As Drake continues to dominate the charts and social media conversations, one thing is certain—love him or hate him, Drizzy remains one of the most powerful forces in hip-hop today.