Does Drake Deserve to tie Michael Jackson’s Billboard Number one songs Record?
Hot Takes
Assessing each of Drake’s number one songs to determine if they stood the test of time.
BY HARPSICHORD
OCTOBER 17, 2023
Digital illustration of Drake’s recent hairdo via Instagram.
On October 16, Billboard finally confirmed the inevitable: Drake has officially tied Michael Jackson for the fourth most No. 1’s on the Hot 100 singles chart. Now there is a bit of a discrepancy– even with the publication itself. Technically, Michael Jackson and Drake have reached the No. 5 position on the all-time list, but since the current publication only counts Elvis Presley’s seven out of 18 [Editorial note: Which is really 17, because of a dual credit situation– we know this sh!t is so extra and complicated…. **Sigh**], they will both be regarded as No. 4 on the GOAT list as it pertains to the current era of the Hot 100.
When Drake started amassing multiple number ones towards the latter part of his career– usually on the first week when his new album drops– critics started complaining about how streaming stats shouldn’t compare to the eras of Michael Jackson, where it was common to go out of the house, enter a CD store, and buy the record in order for it to count on Billboard. As we know, Michael Jackson died in 2009, before the streaming era really took off– meaning his 13 hits prior to 1995’s end all came from the aforementioned status quo.
But looking back at all of Drake’s No. 1’s– including his most recent, “First Person Shooter” with J. Cole– is that a fair assessment to make? Even if a song from Michael Jackson or Drake came from the streaming or pure sales era, did it stand the test of time for it to be a rightful No. 1? And with the trend of songs from the past reaching new peaks (see: Kate Bush’s 1985 song “Running Up That Hill” chart history in 2022), Michael Jackson could potentially break the record in the after life (social media is already conspiring how to get “Thriller” as his 14th No. 1 come this Halloween).
The Hot 100 is all about assessing sales and consumption, making it a stats only race. But buried beneath the charts is a social analysis to determine why a song should be deemed popular. And in Drake’s case, his No. 1’s happened to come at times when Pop Culture and hip hop were shifting with what was going on in society. In a way, all of his hits function as relics.
First No. 1: “What’s My Name” - Rihanna Featuring Drake (2010)
Does It Deserve No. 1: Yes
When “What’s My Name” first dropped it was the surprise hit of Rihanna’s Loud before the album even dropped. Most of the credit is due to the lead herself, as audiences were already familiar with her sound, and “What’s My Name” supplied just that. Drake’s contribution worked as well– as he already released his No. 1 debut album, and was arguably the hottest new mainstream rapper out at the time. Then there is the factor of the Lucky Strike bowling date that had press salivating at this collab. Over the course of time, “What’s My Name” is considered one of Rihanna’s best hits. It even opened up her Super Bowl Halftime Show for crying out loud.
Second No. 1: “Work” - Rihanna Featuring Drake (2016)
Does It Deserve No. 1: Yes
What’s actually upsetting about Drake’s “record” is the fact that the man has worked hard with supplying the public hits since “What’s My Name” and even before that. There is the case of wondering what Drake songs should have went No. 1 that have not, and honestly the list is so long between 2010 and 2016.
Just a few songs, shall we: “Find Your Love,” “The Motto,” “Started From The Bottom,” “F*ckin’ Problems,” “I’m On One,” “Hold On We’re Going Home,” and “Hotline Bling” (and that’s just naming a few). That’s why his record with Michael Jackson somewhat balances out, because the same case could be made for The King of Pop as well (“The Girl Is Mine,” “Human Nature,” “Thriller,” “Smooth Criminal,” “Remember The Time,” “Scream,” “You Rock My World,” etc…)
But alas, Drake’s second ever No. 1 is with Rihanna, again… And anyone living during 2016 would say “Work” was played everywhere and that it was a smash. The song eventually got nominated for Record of the Year at the 2017 Grammys. This is also the song that helped Rihanna break Michael Jackson’s record to gain 14 No. 1’s. What’s very ironic is Rihanna’s music career halted just as the streaming era was fully taking off. Even with her out of the equation, Drake also played his part. Just stroll through 2016 Halloween costumes on social media, and there is bound to be a dude dressed up as Drake (with an accompanying Rihanna) from the music video.
Third No. 1: “One Dance” - Drake Featuring Kyla & Wizkid (2016)
Does It Deserve No. 1: Yes
Now that all that context has been laid out from the previous song, it’s best to explain why “One Dance” deserves its summit position. There is an annual period in time on X [formerly known as Twitter] where young adults who experienced Summer ‘16 tweet something along the lines of “Bring me back to the summer where the DJ played ‘One Dance,’ ‘Work,’ and [Drake’s] ‘Controlla’.” 2016 arguably is one of the best, most fruitful, and culturally impactful fiscal years for mainstream music– and commercial dancehall played a pivotal role. “One Dance” would be one of the songs that added to the canon. Also, the inclusion of Wizkid during a time where afrobeats was on the cusp of breaking for pop-only audiences, is a major historical marker of sorts.
Fourth No. 1: “God’s Plan” (2018)
Does It Deserve No. 1: Yes
At this stage of his career, Drake is racking up hits, even if they don’t go No. 1. However, there were still on-going debates about whether he is a GOAT, or if he’s making McDonalds’s styled hits. In hindsight, “God’s Plan” really ushered in a new sound for Drake and mainstream hip hop at large. It hinted at how the Lil Yachty era of rap would become larger than life, and took on the momentum of younger rappers entering the game. At this point, the “One Dance-Work-Controlla” generation of millennials were side by side with the generation of Gen-Z at the clubs. Drake had been on top of that, and so the song stuck for 11 weeks at the Hot 100 peak.
Fifth No. 1: “Nice For What” (2018)
Does It Deserve No. 1: Yes
Drake was unstoppable during his Scorpion era. At this stage of a rapper’s career, it’s almost unheard of for someone to go six eras strong without being stopped. “Nice For What” offered a new sound for Drake that played on bounce music, but also brought something that the ladies could enjoy and feel boastful about in the clubs. Classic R&B was also getting its shine, so the inclusion of Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor” made for an added bonus. On its opening week, the song received 88,000 purchased downloads, which is monumental for an era where streaming became the primary source of consumption. It dominated streaming too with over 60 million counted for the charts.
Sixth No. 1: “In My Feelings” (2018)
Does It Deserve No. 1: Yes
This is another case of you had to be there for the time to understand. Which guess what? Constitutes for a legitimate number one hit on Billboard. “KiKi, do you love me,” became the question that had everyone wondering, “who is KiKi?” There is the dance trend of people running outside the passenger seat of cars to do a specific “ghost riding” dance challenge associated with the song. It has the influences of bounce music that was on a resurgence. Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop” is interpolated– as that song went No. 1 in 2008– becoming one of Drake’s mentor’s biggest hits. It also introduced the mainstream world to The City Girls, marking a monumental breakthrough for the new guard of female rap.
Seventh No. 1: “Toosie Slide” (2020)
Does It Deserve No. 1: Yes
This is where things started to get wonky. “Toosie Slide” might be the first song where the debate of this article started taking place when it came to Drake’s personal collection. At the time of its release, most were on house lockdowns because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clubs weren’t open, and masks were a common form of protection against the virus. Because of the lockdowns, the social media app, Tik Tok, blew up in popularity. Artists were being criticized for designing songs where a portion of it could be played for a small snippet to circulate on the app. The lyrics blatantly gave instructions for a dance to do to those snippets. In hindsight, this song deserves its spot because it works as a relic of the time society faced at large. Now if it should be considered one of Drake’s best is a discussion for another time…
Eighth No. 1: “What’s Next” (2021)
Does It Deserve No. 1: Yes
Another case of, you had to be there for the time. By this point, the Drake formula of obtaining a hit became clear. He would make rowdy clubbangers that could double as promo for whatever other purpose. As the COVID-19 restrictions eased up in Summer 2021, people were out on the streets more. Clubs were open, so that added fuel to Drake’s fire. What had helped this song further, was the fact that the NBA named the song as their official playoffs anthem. As the games cut away to commercial break, we’d hear “What’s Next.”
Ninth No. 1: “Way 2 Sexy” - Drake Featuring Future (2021)
Does It Deserve No. 1: Yes
Drake faced a lot of criticism that we see him now facing with For All The Dogs, that he did on his previous studio album, Certified Lover Boy. But one thing that couldn’t be denied is his chemistry with Future (who himself deserves more No. 1 songs than just two). They gave listeners an anthem that reminded people of their critically-acclaimed 2015 EP, What A Time To Be Alive, but as more seasoned artists. The song sampled Right Said Fred's 1991 memeable song “I'm Too Sexy.” It had the bass to knock at the clubs, and became an anthem of sorts for that space.
Tenth No. 1: “Wait For U” - Future Featuring Drake & Tems (2022)
Does It Deserve No. 1: Yes
Ironically, Drake’s tenth No. 1 would come at the hands of Future, who returned the favor on his album. The song exploits the current social media discourse of relationship toxicity, which Future and Drake have simultaneously become the poster children for. Subjectively speaking, “Wait For U” happens to be a very pleasant song to listen to for its laid back music composition that delves into midtempo R&B, as well as storytelling hip hop for a new generation. The song would go on to win Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 2023 Grammys. What also helped: Tems, whose song was sampled during a time where she had a persistent mainstream presence thanks to her various afrobeats hits.
Eleventh No. 1: “Jimmy Cooks” - Drake Featuring 21 Savage (2022)
Does It Deserve No. 1: Yes
Drake ended up taking a loss that he was able to make lemonade out of. In terms of critical and societal acceptance at large, the artist’s Honestly, Nevermind album could be considered a commercial flop for his standards. People simply weren’t feeling the album’s overall soundscape of dance music coming from Drake. It could be that at this point, the market felt oversaturated with too much Drake music, and therefore people didn’t want to give it a proper chance. However, at the end of the album, there is a switch up into the trap sound listeners are familiar with. With 21 Savage in favorability with the public, “Jimmy Cooks” performs well in club settings as well as house parties, which is a major factor for today’s Billboard Hot 100. There is also the sensibility of the song reawakening chopped-n-screwed hip hop, as well as the vibes of ‘70’s R&B, but in a clever way.
Twelfth No. 1: “Slime You Out” - Drake Featuring SZA (2023)
Does It Deserve No. 1: No
Out of all thirteen songs, this one is the only one where it benefited because of circumstances. SZA has had a major 2023, and is arguably one of the biggest pop stars of today. There have also been rumors floating around that the pair used to date, which brought about some social media discourse akin to the nature of “In My Feelings” and “Wait For U.” However the song itself is boring coming from two A-list superstars that could have thought out of the box, and bring something unpredictable. The song did high numbers because of the star power, but as For All The Dogs came out, it quickly got drowned out of the conversation by Drake’s other tracks, as well as SZA’s own from her box office album, SOS. In its second week on the Hot 100, the song fell 11 spots from debuting at the top.
BUT….. Drake still deserves 12 No. 1 songs at this point, and here’s why…
Uncredited Twelfth No. 1: “SICKO MODE” - Travis Scott Featuring Drake (2018)
Drake is not credited on the hit single from Travis Scott’s blockbuster ASTROWORLD. The reasoning is unknown– as Drake is a major part of why that song became a hit. The beat switch that happens is infectious to say the least, and Drake's “like a light” portion is quotable in party settings as well as social media. “SICKO MODE” is a song of its time, as it fueled many mosh pits in a time where that movement was popular for hip hop and pop music.
Thirteenth No. 1: “First Person Shooter” - Drake Featuring J. Cole
Does It Deserve No. 1: Time Will Tell…
The debate about who the greatest rappers and hip hop artists alive of Drake and J. Cole’s generation includes them both, as well as Kendrick Lamar. It was a matter of time where we would get a song featuring them both during impeccable runs in their respective careers. Surprisingly, this would become J. Cole’s first No. 1 song on the chart. In a way, they are both helping each other out, as J. Cole is being debated about as a strong lyricist and feature, while people argue that they are getting tired of Drake repeating his formula. Speaking of the formula, on this song we hear the bass-heavy bounce that appears on “What’s Next” and get a taste of the chopped-n-screwed sound from “Jimmy Cooks.” Will this sound stick around, or will someone else usurp it? Only time will tell…
