Drake Beats Michael Jackson’s Record for Most No. 1s by a Solo Male Artist as ‘Janice STFU’ Debuts Atop Singles Chart

Drake has shattered Michael Jackson’s longstanding record for the most number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 by a solo male artist. The milestone was achieved when his track “Janice STFU” debuted at the chart’s summit, propelled by the release of three new albums. With this accomplishment, Drake now boasts 14 career number-one hits, tying him with Rihanna and Taylor Swift for the highest tally among all artists. Only Mariah Carey, who has 19 chart-toppers, and the Beatles, with 20, remain ahead of him. This record underscores Drake’s ongoing supremacy in the streaming era, where surprise album releases and viral moments have become his trademark approach. Industry observers note that his ability to leverage digital platforms for instant impact has redefined how success is measured in modern music.

In addition to that achievement, Drake has surpassed Morgan Wallen’s 2025 benchmark for the most Hot 100 entries in a single week, landing an impressive 42 songs on the chart. Wallen had previously set that record with 37 entries, breaking his own earlier mark of 36. For context, Wallen had also tied Taylor Swift’s record for the third-most entries, with both artists seeing 32 songs debut in 2025 and 2024, respectively. Drake’s own personal best for weekly entries was previously 27 tracks in 2018. Within the top 10, the rapper now occupies nine spots, with only Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” holding steady at number five. This extends his career total of top 10 hits to 90. Furthermore, Drake has become the first artist ever to surpass 400 career entries on the Hot 100, a testament to his prolific output and sustained popularity. As music industry analyst Dr. Elena Torres from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music explains, “Drake’s ability to consistently flood the charts with new material while maintaining high streaming numbers is unprecedented. It reflects a deep understanding of how digital platforms reward frequency and surprise releases.” This dominance is partly attributed to his strategic use of livestreaming and social media to build hype before drops.

Drake’s recent success is largely driven by his trio of albums—“Iceman,” “Maid of Honour,” and “Habibti”—all released on May 15. The rapper, whose 2022 album “Honestly, Nevermind” marked a shift toward dance music, had been teasing “Iceman” for nearly two years, debuting songs through multiple livestreams before they appeared on streaming platforms. In his fourth livestream, just hours before “Iceman” dropped, he surprised fans by announcing the simultaneous release of two additional albums. Over the following weekend, these projects made history by debuting at numbers one, two, and three on the Billboard 200, respectively. “Iceman” earned 463,000 equivalent album units, securing Drake’s 15th chart-topper and surpassing Jay-Z’s record for the most number-one albums among solo male artists and R&B/hip-hop acts. This also ties him with Taylor Swift for the most number-one albums among solo performers, with only the Beatles’ 19 chart-toppers still ahead. Notably, Jay-Z, who held the previous record with 14 number-one albums, is a longtime collaborator and mentor to Drake, having featured on tracks like “Light Up” from Drake’s 2010 debut album “Thank Me Later.” Jay-Z’s influence on Drake’s career, from early co-signs to business advice, has been well-documented, making this record-breaking moment a passing of the torch in hip-hop royalty.