New York, NY (Top40 Charts) The world's most-streamed artist, Canadian hip-hop star Drake, has turned to a number of BMG-signed songwriters and artists for his dramatic musical excursion into electronic music on his new album, Honestly, Nevermind.
Since its release on June 16, the album broke several records including the record for first-day streams globally for a dance record on Apple
Music and hit charts around the world. Honestly,
Nevermind debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200 while topping the charts in the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, and landing Top 10 positions in the UK, Germany, Australia, and across Continental Europe.
The album includes an exclusive feature from multi-Platinum certified BMG songwriter
21 Savage ('Jimmy Cooks'), and production from a variety of BMG publishing clients who co-wrote and/or co-produced six of the album's 14 songs, making BMG the first publisher in Continental
Europe with six cuts on a
Drake album.
Dutch writer and producer Beau Nox co-wrote and co-produced five of the album's tracks including lead single 'Falling Back', as well as 'Calling My Name', 'Flights Booked', 'Overdrive', and 'Tie That Binds'.
His compatriots Vlado and Ginton were responsible for producing 'Tie That Binds' with Ginton also contributing a stunning guitar solo. Vlado has previously worked with internationally known electronic music producers and DJs including
Marshmello and Steve Aoki.
Berlin-based Beatgees contributed to 'The Keeper'. The producer team have been working with BMG since 2016 and are an established name in the German-language pop and hip-hop industry, working with Helene Fischer, Tim Bendzko, Sido, Bozza, Yvonne Catterfeld,
Andreas Bourani, and
Alice Merton among others.
BMG recording artist Ry X produced 'Sticky', one of the album's first two singles. The artist behind the 2014 breakthrough EP Berlin, has just released his highly anticipated third studio album Blood Moon via BMG.
Drake's adoption of European electronic sounds has not been without controversy.
The New York Times wrote, "An album of entrancing club music, it's a pointed evolution toward a new era for one of music's most influential stars. It is also a
Drake album made up almost wholly of the parts of
Drake albums that send hip-hop purists into conniptions."
Responding to the criticism
Drake said, "It's all good if you don't get it yet. It's all good. That's what we do, we wait for you to catch up. We're in here though, we caught up already. On to the next. My goodness!"
