Canadian rapper surpasses Kendrick Lamar’s streaming milestone with latest album debut
Drake has achieved one of the biggest streaming debuts in Spotify history after his latest album ICEMAN generated massive first-day numbers worldwide.
According to streaming figures circulating online, the album’s opening track Make Them Cry recorded approximately 13.2 million streams within its first 24 hours, setting a new record for the biggest debut day for a rap song on Spotify.
The achievement surpassed the previous record held by Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us, which debuted with 12.8 million streams.
ICEMAN posts one of Spotify’s biggest rap debuts
The album also became the second-largest rap album debut in Spotify history after reportedly generating 140.2 million streams during its opening day.
Only Drake’s earlier project Certified Lover Boy remains ahead with 155 million first-day streams.
Industry observers said the release is currently Spotify’s biggest album launch of 2026, reinforcing Drake’s continued dominance in the global streaming market.
Fans dissect lyrics amid Drake-Kendrick rivalry
Listeners quickly began analyzing the album’s lyrics, with many fans identifying references to Kendrick Lamar across several tracks.
Social media discussions also focused on mentions of celebrities including DJ Khaled, LeBron James, J. Cole, A$AP Rocky and Rihanna.
The album’s release comes amid an ongoing legal dispute linked to Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us.”
Reports indicate Drake’s defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group was dismissed, although the matter is currently under appeal.
Music industry analysts say the rivalry between Drake and Kendrick Lamar continues to influence modern hip-hop culture, driving fan engagement, streaming competition and chart performance globally.