Drake at 40: Three Albums, a Billboard First and a December Court Date

Drake turns 40 on Saturday, October 24, at the end of the biggest year of his career. Here is everything in Drake's 2026 so far, and what comes next.

In the past five months, the Toronto rapper has released three albums in one night, rewritten parts of the Billboard record book and put out an expanded edition of one of those albums. He has also picked up a new copyright lawsuit, and he is still waiting for a federal appeals court to hear his case against his own label's parent company.

Three albums in one night

On May 15, 2026, Drake (born Aubrey Drake Graham) released Iceman, his ninth studio album, through OVO Sound and Republic Records. It was his first solo album since For All the Dogs in 2023. The same night, he surprised fans with two more full albums, Habibti and Maid of Honour.

On the Billboard 200 chart dated May 30, Iceman, Habibti and Maid of Honour debuted at Nos. 1, 2 and 3. Billboard said no act had held the top three spots at once since the chart began publishing weekly in March 1956. Iceman opened with 463,000 equivalent album units in the United States, 449,000 of them from streaming, and stayed at No. 1 for its first four weeks.

It was Drake's 15th No. 1 album. That moved him past Jay-Z for the most among solo male artists and tied him with Taylor Swift for the most by any solo act.

"Janice STFU" breaks a Michael Jackson record

The Iceman track "Janice STFU" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was Drake's 14th chart-topper, taking him past Michael Jackson's 13 for the most Hot 100 No. 1s by a solo male artist. In the same week he placed 42 songs on the Hot 100 and became the first artist to reach 400 career entries on the chart.

Critics were cooler than the charts. At the time of writing, Iceman holds a score of 51 on Metacritic, which counts as "mixed or average" reviews. Reviewers often praised the production but faulted the 18-track album's length and its focus on old feuds.

Habibti (FOMO) and "Cold Shoulder"

Drake has kept Habibti going into the fall. On September 15 he premiered a short film, Fear of Missing Out. On October 2 he released Habibti (FOMO), an expanded edition with four new songs.

The reissue lifted Habibti from No. 116 back to No. 2 on the Billboard 200, with 71,000 units, and gave Drake his 18th No. 1 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. One new track, "Solar Eclipse" with Don Toliver, which is built on Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas," debuted at No. 5 on the Hot 100. Another, "Cold Shoulder" with Don Toliver and Yebba, is now the single for the new edition.

A new lawsuit over "Janice STFU"

On October 16, songwriter Aviel Calev Hirschfield, who records as GoodbyeCalev, sued Drake, OVO Sound, UMG Recordings and Universal Music Publishing in federal court in California. The complaint alleges that the chorus of "Janice STFU" copies a demo Hirschfield says he finished around January 25, 2026, and sent to Drake's team.

Drake's representatives told TMZ the claims are completely denied and called the suit "entirely fabricated." No court has ruled on the allegations.

The UMG appeal goes to court on December 4

Drake's larger legal fight is with Universal Music Group, which owns Republic Records. In January 2025 he sued UMG for defamation over how it released and promoted Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us." Lamar is not a defendant.

U.S. District Judge Jeannette Vargas dismissed the case on October 9, 2025. She ruled that the song's claims were opinion, and that a reasonable listener would not take them as statements of fact. Drake appealed in January 2026, arguing that the ruling sets an overly broad rule that leaves rap diss tracks beyond the reach of defamation law. UMG argues the song has to be read in the context of a rap battle and has asked the court to keep the dismissal in place.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has set oral arguments before a three-judge panel for December 4. A decision is not expected on the day.

What's next for Drake

• October 24: his 40th birthday. No plans have been made public. In September, he commented on a video of Jim Carrey roasting comedian Jeff Ross: "Wow this is now all I want for my birthday."
• The Habibti (FOMO) rollout continues with "Cold Shoulder."
• December 4: the Second Circuit hears his appeal against UMG.
• No tour yet. Drake has not announced a tour for Iceman, Habibti or Maid of Honour.

Drake enters his forties with the most Hot 100 No. 1s of any solo man, a share of the record for No. 1 albums by a soloist, and two cases still open in federal court. The charts settled his 2026. The courts have not settled it yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Drake release Iceman?

Drake released Iceman on May 15, 2026, on OVO Sound and Republic Records, the same night as Habibti and Maid of Honour.

How old is Drake?

Drake was born on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, so he turns 40 on October 24, 2026.

Is Drake going on tour in 2026?

As of October 20, 2026, Drake has not announced a tour for his new albums.

When is Drake's appeal against UMG?

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has scheduled oral arguments for December 4, 2026.

Why is Drake being sued over "Janice STFU"?

Songwriter Aviel Calev Hirschfield alleges the song's chorus copies his demo. Drake's team denies it, and no court has ruled.