Love him or not,Drakeis one of his generation’s most influential and versatile artists, who revolutionized hip-hop andgenerated some of the most iconic moments in rap history. The Canadian star has continuously pushed the boundaries of genre fusion and evolved as a commercial juggernaut, always maintaining cultural relevance and keeping his next plot twist close to the vest.
Drake unequivocally has a few all-time great mixtapes and multiple iconic collaborative efforts not to be overlooked, likeWhat a Time to Be Alivewith Future,Her Losswith 21 Savage and evenhis recent$$$4Urelease with PARTYNEXTDOOR, but it’s his eight solo studio albums that truly show him in his most authentic light.
8Honestly, Nevermind
OVO, 2022
Honestly, Nevermindcontinues to serve as an incredibly divisive topic among Drake’s core audience, so we’ll leave it here and up for debate. The artist’s Dance/Electronic music should be separated into its own category altogether, not to discredit the surprise genre shift. Beats on this project, stemming from various producers like Black Coffee, Gordo and 40, were crafted with a smooth, laid-back club theme that received praise from many, but also undoubtedly left much to desire for those expecting a more rap-heavy dynamic.
Its main hip-hop offering was, of course, “Jimmy Cooks” also featuring the work’s lone guest, 21 Savage.Drake’s unexpected experimentation led to this being one of the most criticized releases of his career, with many viewing it as an uninspiring and unwanted stylistic curveball.
7For All The Dogs
OVO, 2023
Drake brought out J. Cole (“First Person Shooter”), SZA (“Slime You Out”), and 21 Savage (“Calling for You”) for memorable moments onFor All The Dogs, and threw in a handful of nostalgia throughout with his dynamic and introspective lyricism. “Rich Baby Daddy” featuring Sexyy Red and SZA is a perfect example of howFor All the Dogsoften paired classic Drake with modern trends, though other attempts throughout the somewhat inflated 23-track release fell flat and left little replay value. PartyNextDoor, Teezo Touchdown, Yeat, Chief Keef, Lil Yachty, and Bad Bunny also appeared onFor All the Dogs.
6Certified Lover Boy
OVO, 2021
CLBwas an astronomic commercial success, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and winning Top Rap Album at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, but that doesn’t mean it breaks into Drake’s top-five solo albums. The Drake album received relatively average reviews across the board, while most cited exhaustion with the “Drake formula” and criticized a perceived resistance to change (untilHonestly, Nevermindmade them want that signature Drizzy back again). Features from 21 Savage, Project Pat, Tems, Yebba, Future, Young Thug, Travis Scott, Lil Baby and others helped bring this piece over the finish line.
5Scorpion
Young Money/Cash Money Records, 2018
The Canadian rapper’s fifth studio releaseScorpionwas a wildly popular double albumwith the first disc mostly featuring hip-hop spins and the other more R&B and melodic tracks, providing a diverse collection that caters to numerous audiences. “God’s Plan,” “Nice for What” and “In My Feelings” all reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, with four other songs — “I’m Upset,” “Don’t Matter to Me,” “Nonstop” and “Mob Ties” — reaching top-twenty status.
Drake Addresses “Rap Beef” On New Album Less Than A Week After Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show: “We Dropping Harder”
Many fans have been waiting on bated breath for Drake to finally respond to Kendrick Lamar in the Super Bowl fallout — he speaks through a new album.
Scorpion, which included unparalleled posthumous appearances from Static Major and Michael Jackson, broke both Spotify and Apple Music single-day global records for album streams with 132.45 million and 170 million streams, respectively.
4Thank Me Later
Young Money/Cash Money Records, 2010
Thank Me Lateris the debut album that solidified Drake as a mainstream superstar following the massive success of hisSo Far Gone(2009) mixtape. Still to this day, these first two entries are among his most revered displays of artistry. Drake’s ability to blend rap, R&B and vulnerable self-reflection shines brilliantly through songs like “Over,” “Miss Me,” “Fancy” and “Find Your Love,” which all went on to become both fan and radio favorites. All four singles reached the Billboard Hot 100 top 40, as the album debuted at No. 1 overall on the Billboard 200. Drake came through with star-studded contributions from Nicki Minaj, Swizz Beatz, T.I., Young Jeezy, No I.D., Alicia Keys, Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Timbaland, among others, to help him showcase his total command of a genre-altering style that would soon dominate the rap industry.
3Views
Young Money/Cash Money Records, 2016
Drake proved that he had become an immovable force in music with “One Dance” (his first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit) and pop-culture mainstay “Hotline Bling,” two of his biggest songs of all time.Viewsdelicately embraces his Toronto roots— from its CN Tower cover artdown to its overall sound — along with dance, Caribbean and Afrobeat influences to create an immersive listening experience that deeply resonates with his fanbase. “Pop Style,” “Controlla” and “Too Good” were the other three supporting singles, asViewsclaimed the No. 1 spot for 13 non-consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 and all 20 tracks landed on the Billboard Hot 100.
2Nothing Was The Same
Cash Money Records, 2013
Sixteen deluxe-edition tracks, no skips:Nothing Was The Samegave us a long list of well-curated hits. Pairing the versatile “Hold On, We’re Going Home” Drake and the rap anthem “Started from the Bottom” Drake throughout, the album beautifully balances the emotional depth, self-indulgence and commercial appeal that made the artist a superstar. Carefully placed features from 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Jhene Aiko, Sampha, Jay-Z and Majid Jordan, as well as the highly regarded production of Noah “40” Shebib, sentNothing Was The Sameskyrocketing toward massive critical acclaim. The album debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200, sold 658,000 copies in its first week and earned a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 2014 Grammy Awards (inexplicably losing out toThe Heist– Macklemore & Ryan Lewis).
1Take Care
Cash Money Records, 2011
Drake took his time with this one. Romance, struggle, fame, heartbreak, success, ego:Take Carehas it all. Songs like “Marvin’s Room," “Over My Dead Body” and “Shot for Me” unveiled an emotional honesty and relatability that only the 2011 6 God could provide. It’s not just a classicDrakealbum, it’s one of the best albums of the decade.Take Carewill be remembered as an unmatched display of storytelling that redefined hip-hop as we know it, creating a path for some of the most well-known artists of today. Modern masterpieces like “Headlines,” “Crew Love,” “Take Care,” “Under Ground Kings,” “The Motto,” “Look What You’ve Done” and “HYFT” ensureTake Carewill be entrenched into the depths of classic hip-hop and R&B culture forever.
