Drake and PartyNextDoor made a huge splash when they released their new album, “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U,” on Valentine’s Day. This 21-track, 74-minute project is already breaking records and winning fans around the world.
According to Billboard, the album now holds the record for the biggest R&B/soul album in Apple Music history based on first-day streams worldwide. Although we don’t have the exact number of streams from Apple Music yet, the news has everyone talking. On Spotify, the album earned over 56 million streams on its first day, making it one of the biggest debuts of the year—only behind The Weeknd’s recent release.
This album is a big deal for both artists. For Drake, it’s his first full-length album since 2023’s For All the Dogs, and it comes on the heels of his very public feud with Kendrick Lamar. For PartyNextDoor, this is his first major project since his 2024 album, P4. The album includes guest appearances from artists like Pim, Chino Pacas, and Yebba, and it features production work by regular collaborators such as Noel Cadastre, Gordo, and Jordan Ullman.
Drake even surprised fans during a concert in Melbourne on his Anita Max Wynn Tour. He took a moment to announce the album, saying, “I got an album coming out on Feb. 14 with my brother PartyNextDoor… It’s called $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, but it’s some turned-up songs for you on there, too, and there’s some personal feelings on there for you. Hopefully, whoever you’re with on Valentine’s Day, y’all can share that experience together.” He also revealed the cover art, which shows both artists in stylish fur coats standing in front of the Marilyn Monroe Towers in Canada.
Support for the album has been pouring in from many directions. Kanye West—who has sometimes called Drake his “nemesis”—returned to social media to praise the track “Gimme a Hug.” He wrote, “‘Gimme a Hug’ is incredible. Sheeeeesh,” and even retweeted a post showing that the song shot to the top of Apple Music’s U.S. chart. Young Thug, a close friend and frequent collaborator, also celebrated the album’s early success with a post that read, “That boy back number one.” Not only that but Twitch streamer Kai Cenat jumped in, excitedly promoting “Gimmie A Hug” as it quickly went viral.
Despite all the praise, the album has received mixed reviews from some critics. They have pointed out that the long running time and the different musical styles of Drake and PartyNextDoor sometimes make the project feel a bit uneven. In one of the album’s standout tracks, “Gimme a Hug,” Drake even takes a moment to address his past conflicts, including a reference to his rivalry with Kendrick Lamar. He raps about his own influence and challenges others, saying lines that many fans find bold and memorable.
On top of the streaming records on Apple Music and Spotify, the album also helped Drake temporarily surpass Kendrick Lamar for the most single-day Spotify streams by a rapper this year—with a staggering 92.4 million streams in one day.
Even with the mixed reviews, there’s no doubt that “$ome $exy $ongs 4” U is creating a huge buzz in the music world. With strong support from big names like Kanye West, Young Thug, and Kai Cenat, along with millions of streams from fans around the globe, the album is already proving to be a major hit.
Kanye west shows love to Drake’s “Gimme a Hug” pic.twitter.com/kt0CgIuJ3A
— Drake Charts ⁶𓅓 (@DrakeChart) February 15, 2025
Be sure to follow @hiphopuntapped for Hip Hop News, Entertainment , Fashion , & Sports.
