Drake’s Hot 100 Hits Ranked: Staff Picks

Drake and SZA are two generation-defining songwriters that have forever changed the popstar blueprint, which makes it all the more irritating that “Slime You Out” is as terrible as it is. If ever there was a reminder that chart positions don’t equate quality records, it’s this one. From the apparent lack of chemistry between Drizzy and Solána to the droning melody and that embarrassingly repulsive “whipped and chained you like American slaves” live, “Slime You Out” is the kind of a song that only sees the light of day because no one in the room knows how to say — or listen — to the word “no.” — KYLE DENIS

Weeks after COVID-19 upended daily life in 2020, Drake attempted to lift spirits with the release of “Toosie Slide.” The whimsical single remains a minor entry in the treasure trove of the rapper’s No. 1 records. Trading his rap titan cape for that of a dance instructor, Drake encouraged listeners to move like “Michael Jackson,” despite lacking the King of Pop’s trademark grace. Viewed by many as Drake’s first true play for TikTok dominance, “Toosie Slide” offered a lighthearted distraction during one of the most uncertain moments in recent history. — CARL LAMARRE

Typically, when the three-headed monster of Drake, Future and Young Thug merges like Voltron, chaos ensues. Unfortunately, “Way 2 Sexy” squandered a fast-break opportunity despite a slick Right Said Fred sample and a timely assist from Kawhi Leonard (who appears in the music video). Though the single debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100, its blockbuster ambitions ultimately produced a straight-to-streaming result, as the song proved to be more flash than substance and quickly exited the cultural conversation. — C.L.

Four years after its release, this Grammy-winning song still hits home. The track’s percolating staccato beat — coupled with a sample of “Higher” featuring ethereal-voiced Nigerian singer Tems — evokes the roller coaster ride that ensues when love, betrayal and other toxic addictions intertwine. Plus who best to underscore that dilemma than the dynamic duo of Future and Drake? “You got better when you met me and that ain’t coincidental,” raps Drake. “Tried to bring the best out you, guess I’m not that influential.” — GAIL MITCHELL

When Drake unleashed Scary Hours 2 in 2021, he came with cruel intentions. His three-finger slap to the rap game arrived in the form of “Lemon Pepper Freestyle,” “Wants and Needs,” and “What’s Next,” as he detonated on his hapless adversaries. The former served as a resounding victory lap for the 6 God, who reveled in his Hot 100 dominance, Valentine’s Day escapades and mafioso mentality. While “What’s Next” only spent a week atop the Hot 100, the turbocharged single remains one of Drake’s most infectious records of the decade and a favorite among OVO loyalists. — C.L.

“First Person Shooter” had quite the butterfly effect, as a line can be drawn from the For All the Dogs Hot 100 No. 1 hit to lighting the fuse for Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s battle less than a year later. J. Cole and Drake put on a braggadocious rap masterclass and delivered a state-of-the-art accompanying visual, but “FPS” doesn’t hit the same since Cole side-stepped a potential war with Kendrick, which fractured his relationship with Drake. The 6 God addressed Cole on ICEMAN’s “Make Them Pay,” noting he’s got love for their past, but he “could never forgive” him. Don’t expect anymore collaborations between the Dreamville boss and Drizzy in the future. — MICHAEL SAPONARA

Drake switched lanes to deliver his experimental Honestly, Nevermind album to soundtrack dancefloors all summer long in 2022. However, he snuck in one rap song as “Jimmy Cooks” closed out the project, reminding hip-hop he’s still atop the food chain. The 21 Savage-assisted track launched at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and held for a week, as Drizzy and 21 built on their budding chemistry last heard on the menacing CLB standout “Knife Talk.” What fans didn’t know, though, was that the OVO and Slaughter Gang duo were cooking up a full joint effort, with Her Loss arriving months later in November. — M.S.

Instantly the most infectious track on Iceman due to the chorus’ Lykke Li “I Follow Rivers” interpolation, you hear “Beep, beep, baby” everywhere you go, whether that be in cars passing by, the stranger randomly singing it or inside of your own head. It’s a catchy tune that’s looking to get Drake’s chart mojo back with it being his first multiweek No. 1 since 2018’s “In My Feelings.” — ANGEL DIAZ 

Drake kick-started the most commercially dominant year of his career in 2018 with “God’s Plan,” which initially arrived as part of his Scary Hours EP before becoming Scorpion’s lead single. In addition to winning a Grammy, “God’s Plan” debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100 and ruled the chart for 11 weeks, which marks the longest running No. 1 of the 6 God’s career. Shot at Miami High School (where students believed Drake Bell was showing up initially), an accompanying Karena Evans-directed music video found Drizzy at his most generous and philanthropic, as he dished out scholarships, shopping sprees, cash and cars for families in need around the 305. There’s even a forgotten cameo from former NFL star Antonio Brown. — M.S.

It’s hard to explain how big this song was during the summer of 2018. Thanks to a viral dance from New York-based content creator Shiggy that involved a moving car, “In My Feelings” stayed at the top of the Hot 100 for 10 weeks. The New Orleans bounce sample, the City Girls vocal assist and the chorus all make this not only one of Drake’s best No. 1s, but also one of the best songs he’s ever made. — A.D.

“What’s My Name?” became such a massive hit because of its dancehall influences and the flirtatious back-and-forth chemistry between Rihanna and Drake. 

The song arrived at a time when rumors about their real-life relationship were everywhere, which only added to the intrigue. It also marked Drake’s first-ever No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 as a performer. 
One reason the track remains so memorable is Drake’s opening verse, which includes the infamous “square root of 69” line, a lyric that’s still referenced in memes and conversations today and has become one of the most recognizable bars of his career. 

Add in Rihanna’s undeniable star power, a catchy hook and the pair’s chemistry, and it’s easy to see why the song became a defining moment for both artists. It was also nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 54th Grammy Awards. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON

“One Dance” is often viewed as the record that cemented Drake as a global force in Afrobeats and dancehall-influenced music. 

Featured on Views, one of the most important albums of his career, the song samples Kyla’s 2008 UK track “Do You Mind” and blends those influences with WizKid’s infectious presence. 

The track became Drake’s first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist and spent 10 weeks atop the chart. It was also a huge moment for WizKid, whose appearance helped make him the first Nigerian artist to reach No. 1 on the Hot 100, a historic feat. 

And let’s not forget: “One Dance” helped reshape the sound of mainstream pop by bringing Afrobeats and dancehall influences to the forefront of global music. — C.C.

When this banger dropped ten years ago, some folks feigned that Rihanna was indecipherable. In fact, some still do. Unnecessary and forced anti-Caribbean sentiment aside, Riri’s seamless fusion of Bajan Creole, Jamaican Patois and AAVE is exactly what makes “Work” such an arresting — and ultimately, such a successful — song.

Somehow unbothered, cool and yet still unmistakably seductive, Rihanna’s vocal performance is a towering one — but Drake also pulls his weight. His guest verse deftly balances real-life implications, a malleable rap-sung cadence and instant quotables (“If you had a twin, I would still choose you”) without feeling too crowded or long. And when the two superstars start harmonizing on the chorus? It’s out of here. Very few artists can say that understand the anatomy of five-star rap-sung collaboration like Drizzy and Riri. — K.D.

“Nice for What” was so much more than another Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 — it was a cultural event. 

Built around a sample of Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor” — and featuring vocals from Big Freedia — the record stood out because it sounded nothing like most mainstream rap songs at the time. Its New Orleans bounce foundation, shaped by collaborations with Weebie and BlaqNmilD, plus production from Murda Beatz, gave it an energy that felt fresh, infectious and impossible to ignore. 

The song was so massive that Drake replaced himself at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, knocking “God’s Plan” out of the top spot. 

A big part of its success was the message; rather than centering himself, Drake crafted a celebration of women who are focused on their goals, careers, independence and self-worth. 

The music video amplified that sentiment, featuring a star-studded lineup of influential women including Issa Rae, Tracee Ellis Ross, Tiffany Haddish, Yara Shahidi, Olivia Wilde, Michelle Rodriguez and Misty Copeland. By spotlighting successful women across culture, the visual became just as impactful as the song itself. — C.C.