Talk about having the last laugh.
The headlines in 2024 couldn’t stop talking about Drake’s feud with Kendrick Lamar. But behind all that drama, Drake was busy breaking records.
Without even releasing a new album, he moved 8 million units and locked down his title as best-selling rapper for the tenth straight year.
Breaking Down Drake’s Victory
Drake pulled in 8 million album units sold in the U.S. in 2024, and he didn’t even need to drop a new album to do it. This marks his 10th consecutive year as the best-selling rapper.
Now, how exactly did he achieve this? Well, while other artists might disappear between albums, Drake kept the music flowing with his “100GB series” and dropped singles like “Push Ups” and “Family Matters.”
He also jumped on tracks with up-and-coming artists like 4Batz and teamed up with familiar faces like Camila Cabello, Gordo, and Sexyy Red, so you couldn’t turn on the radio without hearing his voice.
But, aside from all these, Drake’s older stuff is still crushing it.
Albums like Certified Lover Boy and Honestly, Nevermind aren’t gathering dust. They’re still racking up massive streaming numbers on Spotify and Apple Music. Fan favorites like “Way 2 Sexy” and “Massive” also kept pulling in listeners.
Drake’s got this whole thing figured out. He keeps his old hits in rotation while dropping just enough new tracks to keep everyone hooked.
Of course, his fans couldn’t help but celebrate online, especially when comparing his success to Kendrick Lamar’s year.
The Impact of the Kendrick Feud
If you were anywhere near social media in 2024, you couldn’t miss the Drake and Kendrick showdown. It was the rap battle that had everyone picking sides.
But, if you need a refresher, here’s basically what happened:
Kendrick came out swinging with “Not Like Us,” a diss track so good it grabbed Grammy nominations and had people calling it one of the best takedowns ever… except for Drake.
That’s because Kendrick went after everything from Drake’s cultural identity to his personal life.
Things got personal, and fast.
But instead of hurting Drake’s numbers, all this drama actually helped them soar.
Every time either artist dropped a new track in the feud, fans rushed to stream it. People couldn’t get enough of tracks like “Not Like Us” and “Push Ups,” and while they were at it, they kept Drake’s catalog on repeat.
The whole thing turned into this massive moment for hip-hop that had everyone talking. Music critics were all about Kendrick’s wordplay, while Drake just kept watching his numbers climb.
Basically, Kendrick was getting all the critical love. But even though Kendrick’s diss track broke records, Drake was still king in terms of the overall album sales.
What We Can Expect for 2025
Drake’s plans for 2025 show that he isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
During a Christmas stream with Adin Ross, he casually dropped some news that he’s sitting on a treasure trove of new music for 2025. But what got fans really excited was when he started talking about his upcoming collab album with PARTYNEXTDOOR.
“ Me and PARTY’s [album is] honestly one of the projects I’m most proud of in my life.” he says.
“I’ve always wanted to make a full album of that – of our sound, Toronto sound, R&B. So it’s just the best that both of us have to offer.”
Drake also posted on his Instagram Story, saying “I’m about to get active again” with a mysterious pic of someone in a tux.
Now, there’s no confirmation on what he’s referring to exactly, yet. But, it could mean a bunch of things. Maybe he’s getting ready to drop that collab album, or he might be gearing up for his Anita Max Wynn tour in Australia. Or, as some industry insiders think, it could be the start of a new beef.