Drake has achieved an unprecedented feat by becoming the first artist to debut in the top three slots on the Billboard 200 with his albums “Iceman,” “Habibti,” and “Maid of Honour” landing at Nos. 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
Historic Chart Performance
“Iceman” leads the pack, debuting at No. 1 with 463,000 equivalent album units. This marks Drake's 15th album to top the charts, surpassing Jay-Z's record for most No. 1 albums among solo male artists and in the R&B/hip-hop genre. With this achievement, Drake ties with Taylor Swift for the most No. 1 albums among solo acts, trailing only the Beatles, who have 19.
The release of “Iceman” also represents the second-biggest sales week of 2026, following BTS' “Arirang” which sold 641,000 units. “Iceman” claims the largest week for an R&B/hip-hop album this year. The other two Drake albums, “Habibti” and “Maid of Honour,” debuted with 114,000 and 110,000 units, respectively.
Release Strategy
Drake released “Iceman” on May 15 after a two-year buildup. He first teased the album in July 2025 with his “Iceman” livestream series, premiering tracks like “What Did I Miss?” and “Which One” featuring Central Cee. On the eve of “Iceman's” release, Drake surprised fans by announcing two additional albums, “Habibti” and “Maid of Honour,” releasing all three at midnight.
Impact on the Charts
Elsewhere on the Billboard 200, the ripple effect of Drake's triple release is evident. Noah Kahan's “The Great Divide” falls from No. 1 to 4. Ella Langley's “Dandelion” follows. The rest of the top 10 sees Morgan Wallen’s “I’m the Problem,” Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and “Number Ones,” Lucki’s “Dr*gs R Bad,” and BTS’ “Arirang.”
Drake's record-breaking achievement underscores his dominance in the music industry and sets a new benchmark for artists worldwide.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/music/news/drake-sets-album-charts-record-first-debut-top-three-slots-1236756312/
