Drake and 21 Savage Top the Billboard 200 with ‘Her Loss’

21 and The Boy are back, y’all, and clearly, “Jimmy Cooks” was just the warm-up. On November 4, Drake and 21 Savage dropped their first joint album together, Her Loss, through OVO Sound, cementing their status as hip-hop’s current hottest duo. The record debuted atop the Billboard 200 and sold an impressive 404,000 equivalent album units in its first week.

For those who were less than pleased with Drake’s experimental house album, Honestly Nevermind, long-time fans of the Canadian artist will likely resonate more with his newest effort with 21 Savage, as the trap beats, R&B samples, and hard-hitting bars are more reflective of old-school Drake.

Interestingly, both rappers have previously topped the Billboard 200 with collaborative albums: Drake and Future’s 2015 mixtape What A Time To Be Alive, and 21 Savage’s 2020 album with producer Metro Boomin, Savage Mode II, which served as a sequel to their 2016 Savage Mode EP.

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It’s not the first time Drake and 21 have teamed up together, though. Including  “Jimmy Cooks” from earlier this year, which went number one, Drake was featured on Savage’s songs “Sneakin'” and “Mr. Right Now” from 2016 and 2020, respectively. The two also found success on “Knife Talk” from Drake’s 2021 studio album Certified Lover Boy.

Their partnership is well-matched: 21’s signature aggression complements the moody sensitivities of Drake’s lyrics and vocals. But if Her Loss is proof of anything, it’s that Drake can still go hard on a trap beat. His strongest moments on the album are proof of his prevailing distinctive style – “On BS,” “Middle of the Ocean,” “Circo Loco,” and “Broke Boys.” 

“Treacherous Twins” is a moment of genuine loyalty and friendship between the two rappers. “You my treacherous lil’ twin, and you know that we locked in / And I love you like my kin, it’s whatever for you / I go up and down that road, I go anywhere you go / When you tell me life is good, I want better for you,” Drake sings on the chorus, depicting the rap duo’s ride-or-die relationship. “Who can I depend on like you? No one … I don’t show ID at clubs, ’cause they know that I’m 21,” Savage responds, referring to the perks of being in Champagne Papi’s inner circle.

Of course, a great rap album would be remiss without a little lyrical controversy. On “Circo Loco”, Drake has been criticized for his apparent Megan Thee Stallion reference when he raps, “This b*tch lie ’bout getting shots, but she still a stallion / She don’t even get the joke, but she still smiling.” The line, which alludes to Megan’s alleged shooting by Tory Lanez in 2020, prompted a fiery response from the Houston rapper. “Stop using my shooting for clout,” Megan tweeted. “Since when tf is it cool to joke about women getting shot… Ready to boycott bout shoes and clothes but dog pile on a black woman when she says one of y’all homeboys abused her.” 

Her Loss features quite a few heavyweight producers and previous Drake and 21 collaborators, including Tay Keith, Noah “40” Shebib, Lil Yachty, Boi-1da, OZ, and Metro Boomin, among others. Model Qui Yasuka is featured on the album’s cover.

Stream Her Loss on Spotify below.