When Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR released their joint album $ome $exy $ongs 4 U just over a month ago, fans immediately gravitated to “NOKIA.” The 6 God has now capitalized on that organic rise—releasing the track’s highly anticipated music video this week.
From the day of its release, listeners have been speculating about the visuals; specifically, when they would arrive and what they might look like. The 38-year-old rapper has specialized in turning his popular records into not just regular music videos but almost short films, such as 2019’s “No Guidance” with Chris Brown, 2022’s “Spin Bout U,” or 2023’s “You Broke My Heart.” So, expectations were high even before he mentioned that the “NOKIA” video had been shot on IMAX. This time around, Drake did something a little different.
The grayscale music video did focus heavily on women, but not in the party or roller rink manner that fans had predicted. Instead, there was elaborate choreography, with even Drizzy showing off a two-step. A woman walked through a miniature figurine version of Toronto, a welder sported a Chrome Hearts mask, Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made a cameo appearance and flexed with his Converse SHAI 001 signature sneaker, all while the five-time Grammy winner seemingly set up parties via his classic Nokia cellphone. There are, notably, no skits or cheeky elements though.
Watch the music video above.
Drake’s timing for the “NOKIA” music video couldn’t be any better. The record hit its peak position on the Billboard Hot 100 this week at No. 7, making it the second highest-charting song from $ome $exy $ongs 4 U; “Gimme A Hug,” the highest-charting song from the album, debuted at No. 6 on the long-running chart.
Meanwhile, the 21-song project has maintained a constant presence in the Billboard 200 since its release on Valentine’s Day. It debuted at No. 1 with 246,000 album-equivalent units in its first week and has remained in a tight race with Kendrick Lamar’s November 2024 album GNX. $$$4U marked PARTYNEXTDOOR’s first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 and his largest first-week sales performance in his career.
The album featured Yebba, Chino Pacas, and Pimmie, who got a solo performance on “Pimmie’s Dilemma.” Drake has already alluded to another solo album being on the way, though no date has been announced yet. With “NOKIA” as a reminder that neither a rap beef loss nor a constantly-slandered defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group has stopped his ability to make a hit, it will be interesting to see how his next solo effort performs.
TORONTO, CANADA – JANUARY 13: Rapper Drake is seen courtside during first half a game between the Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors at Scotiabank Arena on January 13, 2025 in Toronto, Canada.
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