Drake's Scorpion Is Already Breaking Records

Drake "I'm Upset" Music Video

Drake is a bonafide superstar at the moment, and he has the numbers to prove it. As it is being reported this week, Scorpion, the popular Canadian rapper's fifth studio album, has already crossed the one billion mark in total streams, and the new album has only been out for a little over a week now. At this rate, Scorpion will likely prove to be the musician's most popular album to date, and it has received no shortage of controversy in the process.

Drake's latest career achievement was announced by Drake's own record label, Republic Records, this week, as it was reported by CNN. Drake has no shortage of high marks in his music career, but with this latest benchmark, Drake continues to establish himself as one of our biggest working artists.

The 25-track, two-sided album has earned attention for a variety of reasons, most notably after Drake's heated rap battle with Pusha-T, which resulted in the veteran rapper releasing a scorching diss track that revealed the potentially-confirmed rumor that Drake has a secret love child. On Scorpion, Drake made references and allusions to the previously-unknown child on singles such as "Emotionless" and "March 14," to name a few, with Drake saying things like he would "kiss his son on the forehead." Additionally, Drake's newest album earned notoriety for featuring a surprise collaboration with the late Michael Jackson on "Don't Matter To Me," which was made thanks to an unfinished, unreleased single from the King of Pop himself.

Meanwhile, on the B-side single "Finesse," Drake talks about sleeping with an unnamed model, which Bella Hadid claimed was not about her even though the model was previously the primary suspect. The mystery lives on. Additionally, the new studio album is also inspiring a new social media challenge entitled #InMyFeelingsChallenge. The viral dance challenge asks participants to listen to the song "In My Feelings" and mime the lyrics in dance form, often in a public setting. Here's an example from football player Odell Beckham Jr. and his Instagram.

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Drake's connection to social media is currently playing a big hand in Scorpion's success, though the album is also helped by (mostly) strong word of mouth too, with critics celebrating the maturity and soulfulness on display in this fifth studio album.

This is obviously only the beginning for Drake. We should expect his profile to rise ever higher from here, even when he is flaking on a date with Tiffany Haddish and costing the popular comedian $100,000 or losing connect with Rihanna. Drake is skyrocketing in his fame, and we'll be sure to continue covering his ascension here at CinemaBlend.

Will Ashton

Will is an entertainment writer based in Pittsburgh, PA. His writing can also be found in The Playlist, Cut Print Film, We Got This Covered, The Young Folks, Slate and other outlets. He also co-hosts the weekly film/TV podcast Cinemaholics with Jon Negroni and he likes to think he's a professional Garfield enthusiast.