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Rb Hip Hop

OVO Affiliate Preme Celebrates Drake’s ‘Nokia’ Success: ‘They Said We Were Dead’

After the release of the music video, "Nokia" has shot up the charts.

Drake
Drake
Norman Wong

Preme, one of Drake‘s oldest friends and collaborators, has weighed in on the recent success of the Toronto rapper’s song “Nokia.”

He recently tweeted a screenshot of Apple’s Top 100: Global chart showing that “Nokia” has taken over the No. 1 spot, beating out Kendrick and SZA‘s “Luther,” and proclaimed that Drake is here to stay as he referenced his much-publicized UMG lawsuit, K-Dot’s Super Bowl halftime performance, and pundits that said Drake should take a break from dropping music.


“They said we were dead,” he said. “They said it was over. They said Super Bowl was checkmate. They said he should take a few years off and disappear. Back on top even while beefing with the label and it’s only April! This why y’all hate the boy.”

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Later he added, “The best revenge is success.”

“Nokia” has gotten a bit of a stimulus package from the release of the music video. This song is now headed to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, which is the song’s peak so far since it debuted at No. 10 the week of March 1, 2025.

Filmed using IMAX cameras, the video received some mixed reviews, most notably from popular streamer Kai Cenat who suggested the video should’ve featured vibrant colors as opposed to the black and white aesthetic Drake decided to go with instead. “We’re looking for color, we’re looking for arcades, we’re looking for roller skating rinks,” he said, “That’s what it gave me. We’re looking for going to modern day to as soon as the beat changes, we’re in the ’90s now. You see the vision?”

Directed by Theo Skudra, “Nokia” currently has 7 million views on YouTube and counting.

This article first appeared on Billboard U.S.

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Jessie Reyez at the SOCAN Awards in Toronto on Oct. 26, 2027.
SOCAN

Jessie Reyez at the SOCAN Awards in Toronto on Oct. 26, 2027.

FYI

Music News Digest: Jessie Reyez,  Maestro Fresh Wes Star at SOCAN Awards 2026

Also this week: Massey Hall launches new free showcase series In Rotation, CIMA leads a Canadian business mission to Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) and Juliann Kuchocki and more.

Last night (Oct. 26), almost 600 music creators, publishers, and industry leaders gathered at Rebel on the Toronto waterfront to celebrate the 36th SOCAN Awards.

This year's winners list was topped by globally renowned screen composer Andrew Lockington and superstar Drake, with five awards each. Though he was not there in person, Drake earned his sixth SOCAN songwriter of the year – performer award, along with four additional rap and R&B Music Awards, and Andrew Lockington won for screen composer of the year, and a most streamed film music award for Atlas, alongside honours for his work on the Taylor Sheridan series’ Landman, Mayor of Kingstown and Special Ops: Lioness.

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