Drake may already be preparing his next musical chapter despite releasing a large amount of new material throughout 2026. According to DJ Akademiks, the Toronto superstar recently revealed that he is still recording and currently has several unreleased songs he feels strongly about.
The update comes shortly after Drake celebrated his 40th birthday in New York City. The rapper marked the occasion with a large celebration attended by friends, collaborators and several familiar faces from the entertainment world, including Akademiks.
Following the birthday event, Akademiks discussed his conversations with Drake during a livestream and told viewers that new music is already in the works.
According to Akademiks, Drake told him he has been “cooking up” and is currently “sitting on some slaps.” The brief statement immediately sparked speculation among fans about what Drake could be preparing for 2027.
No specific songs, album title or release date were revealed, meaning it remains unclear whether the unreleased material will become part of another full-length project, a shorter EP-style release or a collection of individual singles.
The news is especially notable considering how active Drake has already been in 2026. The rapper released nearly 50 songs across several projects, including ICEMAN, HABIBTI and MAID OF HONOUR. He later expanded HABIBTI with additional material through the FOMO deluxe release.
That level of output would normally suggest an artist might take some time away from recording, but Drake appears to be doing the opposite. Recent reports have also shown him continuing to work on new music, reinforcing the idea that he may already be building material for his next era.
The phrase “sitting on some slaps” has also led some listeners to speculate that Drake could be preparing more rap-heavy material. HotNewHipHop suggested that the wording may point toward harder records rather than a project centered primarily around R&B, although Drake himself has not confirmed the musical direction.
That possibility would fit with some of the strongest reactions to ICEMAN. The album featured a mix of melodic records, aggressive production and lyric-focused performances, giving fans a version of Drake that balanced his singing with more traditional rap records.
Drake has also continued releasing individual songs following his major album drops. Recent tracks connected to the FOMO rollout include “Quebec,” “Classic PT2,” “Solar Eclipse” and “Cold Shoulder.”
His continued studio activity could also connect with the larger plans he has hinted at for 2027. Earlier this year, Drake indicated that another tour was being planned, suggesting that his current run of music could eventually lead into another major live cycle.
At the moment, however, there is no confirmation that the unreleased songs Akademiks referenced are tied to the tour or to a specific upcoming album.
Drake has built a reputation throughout his career for recording constantly and keeping a large vault of unreleased material. Songs have frequently appeared as leaks, surprise releases or additions to deluxe editions, meaning some of the music he is currently holding could surface in several different ways.
The latest update suggests that turning 40 has not slowed down Drake’s creative output. After one of the busiest release years of his career, he appears ready to continue recording instead of stepping away.
For now, fans do not know exactly when the new material will arrive, but according to Akademiks, Drake already believes he has more strong records ready to go.
With nearly 50 songs released in 2026 and more music apparently sitting in the vault, Drake could be positioning himself for another active year in 2027.