Overview
Drake’s fifth studio album Scorpion released June 29, 2018, debuting at #1 with 732,000 units. The double album (25 tracks, 90 minutes) addressed his secret child Adonis and spawned three #1 singles: “God’s Plan,” “Nice for What,” and “In My Feelings."
"God’s Plan” Philanthropy
“God’s Plan” debuted at #1 in January 2018, spending 11 weeks atop the Hot 100. The music video featured Drake giving away nearly $1 million in Miami (cars, tuition, groceries), creating a viral philanthropy trend. The song went 11x Platinum.
”In My Feelings” Viral Dance
“In My Feelings” (#1 for 10 weeks) spawned the #InMyFeelingsChallenge (also #KekeChallenge or #DoTheShiggy) where users danced beside moving cars. The challenge started with comedian Shiggy and exploded with Will Smith dancing atop Budapest’s Chain Bridge. It prompted safety warnings after injuries.
Pusha-T Beef
Scorpion dropped amid Drake’s feud with Pusha-T, who revealed Drake’s hidden son Adonis on diss track “The Story of Adidon” (May 2018). Drake addressed fatherhood on “Emotionless” and “March 14,” admitting “I wasn’t hiding my kid from the world / I was hiding the world from my kid."
"Nice for What” Female Empowerment
“Nice for What” sampled Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor” and featured an all-star female music video (Misty Copeland, Issa Rae, Rashida Jones, Tiffany Haddish, Jourdan Dunn). The song spent 8 weeks at #1.
Streaming Dominance
Scorpion broke streaming records:
- 745.9 million streams in first week (Apple Music/Spotify combined)
- 7 songs simultaneously in Billboard Hot 100 top 10 (record)
- All 25 tracks charted on Hot 100
Critical Reception
Despite commercial success, critics found Scorpion bloated (56 Metacritic). Its 90-minute runtime and Side A/B structure (rap/R&B split) felt indulgent. Drake’s lyrics about relationships and fame felt repetitive.
Cultural Impact
The album solidified Drake’s streaming-era dominance. “Nonstop” became a motivational anthem. #InMyFeelingsChallenge was 2018’s biggest TikTok precursor trend.
Legacy
Scorpion went 5x Platinum and proved Drake’s ability to dominate despite controversies. The album’s vulnerability about fatherhood humanized his public persona.
Source: Billboard Chart History