Drake’s 8th studio album “For The Dogs” debuts on Spotify with more than 109 million streams after 24 hours.
It is the 4th biggest rap debut of all time, despite releasing at 6am and missing six hours of tracking.
He becomes the first artist in Spotify history to have three albums to do so.
The rapper is expected to tie Michael Jackson as the male soloist with the most #1 hits in Hot 100 history.
Not without controversy, The Pet Shop Boys have expressed surprise and disappointment that Drake included an interpolation of their song “West End Girls” on his new track “All the Parties” without seeking permission or giving them credit. This iconic synth-pop song by the legendary British duo was their debut single back in 1984 and achieved great success.
The song not only became a chart-topping hit in both the United States and the United Kingdom in 1986 but also solidified their place in music history. It was prominently featured on their debut album, “Please.”
Drake’s use of the familiar melody from “West End Girls” is evident in “All the Parties.” In the track, Drake’s voice emerges from an ethereal soundscape, with autotune adding a modern twist to the classic lyrics: “It’s 6, our town a dead-end world, East End boys and West End girls, yeah.” Drake repeats this iconic line, reminiscent of the original recording by the Pet Shop Boys nearly four decades ago.
The Pet Shop Boys have wasted no time expressing their feelings about this unexpected inclusion. They released a statement via a tweet saying, “Surprising to hear Drake singing the chorus of ‘West End Girls’ in the track ‘All the Parties’ on his new album. No credit given or permission requested.”
The story of “West End Girls” itself is one of evolution and transformation. Initially a minor hit, the Pet Shop Boys breathed new life into the track when they teamed up with producer Stephen Hague for their album “Please.” The song’s fusion of influences from Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s “The Message,” T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land,” and James Cagney gangster films created a distinctive meditation on London club culture.
Over the years, “West End Girls” has received critical acclaim, earning a place on Rolling Stone’s lists of the “200 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time” and the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time,” ranking at Number 65 and 433, respectively.
Despite criticism and pending legal issues with Drake’s new album, Chart Data reports that ‘For All the Dogs’ aiming for #1 debut on the Billboard 200 with 400-450K units first week. His biggest debut since ‘Certified Lover Boy’ according to Hits Daily Double.
Several tracks from Drake’s ‘For All The Dogs’ are currently tracking to occupy the entire top 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 (dated October 21).
The album is aiming to occupy 9 of the top 10 overall, with the lowest track challenging “Paint The Town Red” to occupy the top 9.
