On October 16, 2023, in what seems like recognition long overdue, rap legend J Cole finally received his first #1 song. “First Person Shooter” off of Drake’s controversial new album, “For All the Dogs,” granted the North Carolina rapper the honor when it rose to the top of Billboard’s Hot 100.
“First Person Shooter,” currently standing at 41 million streams on Spotify, was one of the standout tracks on the album. The song appears at the beginning of the record and rides a typical old-school Drake beat. The two G.O.A.T. contenders go back and forth, exchanging verses and boatsful bars. Cole drops a self-aware and cocky line when he brags, “Love when they argue the hardest MC / Is it K-Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me? / We the big three, like we started a league, but right now, I feel like Muhammad Ali.”
Many weren’t expecting the #1, despite Cole’s wide admiration. Until the news broke, most stats pointed to Yeat’s “IDGAF” feature surpassing and taking Cole’s number one spot. “First Person Shooter” narrowly beat the rage banger, pushing it to second place on the Billboard Hot 100. Abroad, Cole has had a different luck. On Billboard’s Global 200, the two songs switch places, with Cole in second. On Spotify, “IDGAF” proudly sits at the top of all U.S. charts.
With “First Person Shooter,” Drake is now tied with Michael Jackson for having the most #1 songs in Billboard history. The two music legends now have 13 songs to reign at the top of the charts. Although it is an undeniable achievement, some have thrown water on the comparison and defended the King of Pop’s record. Twitter user NANA explained that “Michael Jackson was not part of an era that belonged to streaming. His numbers were STRICTLY sales.”
Fans of Cole are overjoyed that he is finally getting his respect but feel it’s too little too late. Many ask themselves: How doesn’t he have more #1’s?
Jose Zamora is a writer and creator from Boston, MA. He has been a music nerd since middle school when he started his record collection. His passion for Hip-hop began when he discovered legends like Nas and Gang Starr and became obsessed with up-and-coming acts like Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Mob.
He is a recently graduated, up-coming journalist, passionate about music and culture. He is always keeping an eye out for the next big thing and is eager to put their talent in the spotlight for others to enjoy. He believes firmly that “Good art deserves to be talked about.”
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