Drake may have officially claimed the title of the new king of pop. The Toronto rap superstar has broken the long-standing record once held by Michael Jackson for the most No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 by a solo male artist.
His latest track, Janice STFU, debuted at No. 1 on this week’s chart following the release of his trilogy of albums. Billboard reports that the achievement brings Drake’s career total to 14 chart-topping singles, putting him level with Taylor Swift and Rihanna for the most No. 1 songs among all artists. Only Mariah Carey, with 19, and The Beatles, with 20, remain ahead.
Drake also achieved another milestone this week by setting a new record for the most entries on the Hot 100 in a single week, with 42 songs appearing on the chart. The feat surpasses Morgan Wallen’s 2025 record of 37 entries, which had previously topped his own mark of 36.
In recent years, the Hotline Bling artist has frequently referenced Michael Jackson in his music, often drawing comparisons between his own legacy and that of the pop legend. The cover art for his new album Iceman appears to continue that tribute, featuring a rhinestone-studded glove that closely resembles Jackson’s iconic accessory.
Album trilogy dominates charts
Drake also made history this week as the first artist ever to occupy the top three positions on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart.
His trilogy — Iceman, Habibti, and Maid of Honour — debuted at Nos. 1, 2, and 3 respectively on the chart dated May 30.
The projects mark Drake’s first solo releases since his highly publicized feud with Kendrick Lamar in 2024, with several songs across the albums containing references to the rivalry.
Iceman arrived after nearly a year of anticipation, during which Drake promoted the project through a series of headline-grabbing stunts. One of the most notable involved a massive block of ice installed in a downtown Toronto parking lot, with the album’s release date concealed inside. He officially launched the album on May 15 by illuminating Toronto’s CN Tower in an icy blue glow before unexpectedly releasing the other two albums shortly afterward.
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving diaspora communities across 44 languages. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, Unifor, NEPMCC, and the Canada Freelance Union. He holds CAVCO Personnel Number SINH0106. Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
