New Bestie
| "New Bestie" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Drake | |
| from the album Maid of Honour | |
| Released | May 15, 2026 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 4:19 |
| Label | |
| Songwriters |
|
| Producers |
|
| Audio video | |
| "Where's Your Stuff" on YouTube | |
"New Bestie" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake, released May 15, 2026, as a track on his album Maid of Honour.[1]
Background
[edit]Longtime Drake collaborator Gordo told Rolling Stone that he produced "New Bestie" alongside several other club-oriented tracks on Maid of Honour, but noted that Drake personally reworked much of the production on the song beyond what Gordo had initially submitted, as stated by Complex.[2]
Composition and style
[edit]Critics described "New Bestie" as blending dancehall and Afrobeats influences. Medium's Josh Herring wrote that the song is "subtle" and "afro-inspired," eventually "pick[ing] up into full afrobeat via the Caribbean," describing the effect as being "practically transported to Jamaica."[3] The Fader's Hajin Yoo wrote that the track "shifts into a Jersey club beat" midway through, with Drake's "patois-inflected delivery" recalling dancehall artist Vybz Kartel and Drake's own More Life era.[4] Pitchfork's Alphonse Pierre characterized the song as a breakup anthem that could be read as an allegory for Drake's "crumbling relationship with hip-hop," writing that Drake "sounds more hurt by the possibility of losing his spot than he ever did about losing Lorraine or Bria or Erika."[5]
Reception
[edit]Reception to "New Bestie" was largely positive, though not unanimous. Billboard's Armon Sadler ranked it fifth among the album's 14 tracks, writing that the song "takes elements of More Life and Honestly, Nevermind and creates musical excellence," praising "the groove, the beat-switch, the patois."[6] The Fader's Hajin Yoo was similarly enthusiastic, writing "I never thought I'd say this again, but I love this Drake song!"[4] The Fader also included "New Bestie" among its favorite tracks from Drake's three simultaneous releases, despite ultimately leaving it off a separate feature reimagining the albums as a single, condensed record "in service of thematic consistency."[7]
Differently, Anthony Fantano, writing for The Needle Drop, was critical of the song, describing it as "another very low-key, sleepy, forgettable, watered-down dancehall cut" and arguing that Drake was "not really adding any variation or exploration to this sound as he continues to attempt it."[8]
Charts
[edit]| Chart (2026) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Hot 100 (Billboard)[9] | 50 |
| Global 200 (Billboard)[10] | 125 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 72 |
Credits and personnel
[edit]Attributed by several sources.[12][13][14][15][16]
- Aubrey Drake Graham – songwriter, producer
- Diamante Blackmon – songwriter, producer
- Samuel Jimenez – songwriter, producer
- Francisco Zecca – songwriter, producer
- Johannes Klahr – songwriter, producer
- Richard Zastenker – songwriter, producer
- Max Waller – songwriter, producer
- Marlon Betancourth – songwriter, producer
- Justin Junagadala – songwriter, producer
- Hadi Hassan – songwriter, producer
- Alejandro Villacorta – songwriter
- Joshua Parker – songwriter, producer
- Jonathan Zibi – songwriter, producer
- Andro Andro – producer
References
[edit]- ↑ "Popcaan Gets First Drake Album Feature, But He's Not The Only Caribbean Link". DancehallMag. May 15, 2026. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ Mahadevan, Tara (May 19, 2026). "Gordo Says He Knew Drake Was Dropping 2 Albums at Once, But Third One Was a Surprise". Complex. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ Herring, Josh (May 19, 2026). "Maid of Honour by Drake | Album Review". Medium. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- 1 2 Yoo, Hajin (May 15, 2026). "5 Drake songs you should actually listen to from his new albums". The FADER. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ Pierre, Alphonse (May 19, 2026). "Maid of Honour". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ Sadler, Armon (May 18, 2026). "Drake's 'Maid of Honour' Album: All 14 Tracks Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ Medithi, Vivian (May 20, 2026). "What if Drake had dropped one perfect album?". The FADER. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ Fantano, Anthony (May 21, 2026). "Drake - Maid of Honour + Habibti". The Needle Drop. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Drake Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Drake Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Drake Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- ↑ Cole, Alexander (May 14, 2026). "Drake "ICEMAN," "HABIBTI," & "MAID OF HONOUR" Full Credits: Every Feature & Producer". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved May 17, 2026.
- ↑ Lopez, Julyssa (May 19, 2026). "Gordo Says He Had No Idea Drake Was Dropping Three Albums". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ↑ Staff (May 23, 2026). "'My principal asked, 'Are you on the Drake album?'': Toronto teen producer lands on rapper's new trilogy". CityNews Toronto. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
- ↑ "Every Known Sample & Producer Credit on Drake's MAID OF HONOUR". May 28, 2026. Retrieved June 2, 2026 – via YouTube.
- ↑ "Avex Makes Its Mark on Drake's Album Trifecta". HitsDailyDouble. June 8, 2026. Retrieved June 13, 2026.