Drake’s fourth studio album released April 29, 2016, that cemented his status as the dominant force in hip-hop while popularizing “The 6” as a nickname for Toronto.
Cultural Dominance
Views broke multiple streaming records upon release, achieving over 1 billion streams on Apple Music in its first week. The album spawned massive hits including “One Dance,” “Hotline Bling,” and “Controlla,” with “One Dance” becoming one of the most-streamed songs of all time.
The album cover—Drake sitting atop Toronto’s CN Tower—became an instant meme template, with people photoshopping Drake onto various structures worldwide. The hashtag #ViewsFromThe6 trended as fans shared their own “views” and discussed the album’s more introspective, melancholy tone.
Chart Success
Views spent 13 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200, the longest reign by a male solo artist in over a decade. It sold over 5 million copies worldwide in 2016 alone.
Toronto Pride
The album elevated Toronto’s profile in hip-hop, with “The 6” entering common usage as a city nickname (referencing the 416 and 647 area codes). Drake’s celebration of his hometown inspired civic pride and tourism interest.
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