A day after gifting dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel with a dazzling custom OVO Owl Chain in celebration of his sold-out concerts at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, Canadian rapper Drake has announced he’s working on a new solo album. The timing feels less like coincidence and more like a calculated cultural crossover, bridging dancehall royalty with hip-hop dominance. “Working on a new album, it’s a slap,” Drake casually revealed during a livestream with internet personality Adin Ross, confirming that the project will be a solo venture and the next chapter in his genre-bending career.
The gift—a glimmering golden chain encrusted with colourful diamonds and emblazoned with Drake’s signature owl logo—was a bold salute to Kartel, a Jamaican icon whose sonic influence has long shaped the Toronto rapper’s musical palette. In a video making rounds on social media, Kartel is seen proudly wearing the chain while quoting lyrics from Drake’s 2015 diss track “Back-to-Back,” an apt soundtrack to his back-to-back sold-out shows in New York—his first U.S. appearance in two decades. The gesture speaks volumes: it’s a crown passed from one cultural giant to another, acknowledging Kartel’s indelible imprint on global soundscapes. Drake has previously called Vybz Kartel “one of his biggest inspirations,” a sentiment he first shared in a 2016 interview that continues to echo today.
“Working on a new album right now, it’s a slap.” ?
— Drake on stream with Adin Ross pic.twitter.com/k7PPcnCFOp
— NFR Podcast (@nfr_podcast) April 14, 2025
Despite being incarcerated since 2011, Kartel remains a powerhouse in music, amassing over 2.9 million monthly listeners on Spotify and racking up millions of views across platforms. Meanwhile, Drake, who boasts over 78.9 million monthly Spotify listeners and remains one of the world’s top-streamed artists, has had a whirlwind year—from sparring with Kendrick Lamar to headlining London’s Wireless Festival this summer, where he will become the first artist to headline three nights with three different setlists. His last solo album For All The Dogs received mixed reviews, with critics calling it “tired” and “bloated,” but fans still streamed it into the millions, cementing his streaming dominance.
As Drake teases a “next chapter” that may leave fans “feeling uneasy,” the recent alliance with Kartel might signal a deeper dive into the roots of his Caribbean influences. Whether the new album features a direct collaboration or simply channels dancehall’s pulsating energy, one thing is clear: Drake isn’t just making music—he’s making statements. And with Kartel’s golden owl glinting in the spotlight, the legacy of dancehall continues to shine on a global stage.
