DRAKE DELIVERING "SEXY" COMEBACK

Drake is returning to the spotlight after a rather challenging 2024; the superstar's $exy $ongs 4 U, a joint project with PARTYNEXTDOOR, will arrive on Valentine’s Day (2/14) via Drake's OVO Sound and Santa Anna.

PND, who has participated on Drake tracks previously but never done a joint project with him, now generates about 80m streams per week globally, more than double what he achieved last year.

A massive beef with Kendrick Lamar, whose multiple-Grammy-winning smash “Not Like Us” subjected him to some of the most withering scorn in hip-hop history, has monopolized Drake’s attention of late, prompting him to file a defamation lawsuit against UMG (the artist is repped for legal by Theo Sedlmayr).

$exy $ongs, it’s worth noting, will drop just four days after Kendrick delivers the halftime performance at the Super Bowl (2/9) and just at the outset of Drake's own monthlong arena tour of Australia and New Zealand. Fans are naturally wondering if the 6 God’s new batch of Valentine treats will include a few grenades lobbed at his nemesis.

Drake’s last two albums surpassed 500m streams and 400k in activity during their opening frames. Could this new effort match or beat them? We’ll be watching the numbers closely.

Insiders say there may be issues with rights clearances on the new record, but in any case it’s clear that the set gives Drake a way to get back in the game—and reset the conversation.