Even if Drake were to scrap his upcoming album ICEMAN and quietly step away from the booth, the longevity of his catalog alone would still place him at the summit of Hip-Hop’s commercial landscape. Proof of that arrived this week, as his 2011 classic Take Care reportedly emerged as the highest-selling hip-hop album in the United States.
According to Complex Music, Take Care is projected to re-enter the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 at No. 17—its highest chart placement in 14 years. The album sat at No. 22 last week, climbing an impressive 27 spots for its 670th week on the chart. Per HITS Daily Double, the project is expected to move just over 24,000 album-equivalent units this week, driven primarily by sustained streaming activity.
The resurgence highlights what fans and critics alike have long known. Take Care isn’t just a beloved Drake album, it’s a cornerstone of modern Hip-Hop and R&B. Its emotional transparency, genre-blending production, and introspective songwriting helped redefine what mainstream rap could sound and feel like in the early 2010s. More than a decade later, listeners are still pressing play, reaffirming its timeless appeal.
While many fans view Take Care as Drake’s first true cultural milestone, it wasn’t technically his debut. That distinction belongs to 2010’s Thank Me Later, which arrived after a prolific mixtape run that laid the foundation for his ascent. From Room For Improvement (2006) to Comeback Season (2007), and ultimately the breakthrough moment of So Far Gone in 2009, Drake’s rise felt calculated, relentless, and inevitable. Take Care simply cemented what was already in motion.
Recently, Drake himself has been reflecting on that journey. He shared a photo marking the day he signed his first record deal, calling it “the day [his and OVO’s] lives changed”. The moment felt less like nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake and more like a quiet acknowledgment of how far he’s come. In addition to how much weight his legacy now carries.
Does this renewed reflection signal a focused and inspired return with ICEMAN? Or could expectations outweigh execution? That remains to be seen. What’s certain, however, is that Take Care continues to resonate across generations, proving that true classics don’t age. In fact, they evolve with their audience. Regardless of what comes next, Drake’s past is still very much present. And if this week’s numbers are any indication, the love for Take Care isn’t fading anytime soon.
