Drake has been in the spotlight lately, but it’s been a mixed bag for the Toronto rapper. Despite facing criticism for his recent rivalry with Kendrick Lamar, he has continued to rack up impressive achievements, including being crowned the most streamed artist on Spotify once again and securing three awards at the Billboard Music Awards. Perhaps this recognition has motivated him, as he took to Instagram on December 19 to announce that he is indeed working on new music, collaborating with producer Noah “40” Shebib.
In his post, Drake shared an image of 40 at work, sitting in front of a beautifully decorated fireplace during the holiday season. The producer was clearly focused on a project, laptop open and ready for action. Although Drake himself didn’t appear in the picture, he captioned it with the intriguing phrase, “strong winds from the north.” It remains uncertain whether this refers to his roots in Toronto or if he’s creating from his new residence in Texas. Regardless, this marks the first confirmation from Drake about upcoming music, much to the delight of fans who have been eagerly awaiting the collaborative project with PARTYNEXTDOOR.
Drake had previously mentioned that this joint album with PND would be released before the close of 2024. However, with the year winding down, it seems the release may be delayed. PARTYNEXTDOOR indicated he would focus on completing the album once he finished touring, but it’s unclear how much progress has been made. There’s speculation that the track 40 was mixing in the Instagram post could potentially be part of this collaborative effort. Given the recent wave of negative press surrounding Drake, building excitement for new music seems like a smart strategy.
Adding to the drama, Drake is reportedly considering legal action against Universal Music Group and Spotify for allegedly employing underhanded tactics to amplify Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us.” This move has drawn criticism from various circles, including peers and fans, with Snoop Dogg recently weighing in. On the Bootleg Kev Podcast, Snoop remarked that Drake’s actions did not reflect the conduct of a true rapper, emphasizing that in the West, disputes are settled in the streets.
As the anticipation for Drake’s new music continues to build, fans are left wondering what direction he will take next.
