Global music history has officially been rewritten by one of the biggest names in rap. Canadian artist Drake has become the first musician ever to simultaneously secure the top three spots on the Billboard 200 albums chart. This unprecedented feat follows his massive multi-album rollout that took the internet by storm.
According to official data published by Billboard, his highly anticipated studio album Iceman debuted spectacularly at No. 1. The project moved a staggering 463,000 equivalent album units in its opening week. Consequently, this achievement grants the global superstar his 15th career No. 1 album overall.
Drake Surpasses Jay-Z and Ties Taylor Swift
This landmark achievement allows Drake to officially surpass legendary mogul Jay-Z for the most chart-topping albums among solo male performers and R&B/hip-hop artists. Furthermore, the historic debut moves him into a tie with pop icon Taylor Swift for the highest number of No. 1 albums among solo acts across all genres.
Most No. 1 Albums in Billboard History:
1. The Beatles (19)
2. Drake (15) — Tied with Taylor Swift
3. Jay-Z (14)
Currently, only iconic rock group The Beatles remain ahead of Drake in the historical standings, holding the ultimate record with 19 chart-topping albums. Aside from breaking career records, Iceman also secured the second-biggest opening sales week of the entire year. It sits just behind the sensational album Arirang by global icons BTS, which moved 641,000 units. Additionally, Drake’s project logged the single largest week of the year for any R&B/hip-hop release.
A Surprise Triple Drop Completes the Historic Sweep
What truly stunned the music industry was how Drake managed to lock down the remaining podium spots.
His two accompaniment albums, Habibti and Maid of Honour, debuted right behind the lead project at No. 2 and No. 3. Habibti generated an impressive 114,000 equivalent units, while Maid of Honour closely followed by bringing in 110,000 units, effectively completing the historic top-three sweep.
The megastar had strategically teased Iceman for nearly two years. He gradually built up immense hype through his special internet livestream series. During these broadcasts, he previewed unreleased tracks to keep his fanbase engaged, including the highly discussed song “What Did I Miss?” and his Central Cee collaboration titled “Which One.”
During his final promotional livestream right before the scheduled drop, Drake surprised his global audience by announcing the existence of two completely separate albums. He then dropped all three individual projects simultaneously at midnight on May 15. This massive injection of music completely dominated streaming platforms, ensuring that his name will stand alone in the chart record books for a very long time.