Drake’s latest wave of NBA-related lyrics continues to dominate both music and sports conversations after “National Treasure” debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The track, featured on Drake’s new album Iceman, quickly became one of the most discussed songs from the release because of its direct shots at former Toronto Raptors star DeMar DeRozan. Now, the record has become one of the highest-charting songs from Drake’s historic week on Billboard.
According to Billboard, “National Treasure” opened with 31.7 million streams as Drake placed a staggering 42 songs on the Hot 100 chart in a single week. The Toronto superstar also broke Michael Jackson’s record for the most No. 1 songs among solo male artists after “Janice STFU” debuted atop the chart.
Still, “National Treasure” generated some of the loudest online reactions because of Drake’s pointed references to DeRozan and Toronto basketball history.
“We must’ve been dealin’ the spur of the moment / ’Cause why did we think you could get us a ring?” Drake rapped before referencing the Raptors’ championship run after trading for Kawhi Leonard.
The song also included several lines about “the 6ix,” including:
“But don’t stick around in the 6ix” and “Boy gotta dip out the 6ix, run out the 6ix, just like you did.”
Fans immediately connected the lyrics to DeRozan’s departure from Toronto after the Raptors traded him to the Spurs in the blockbuster Leonard deal.
Drake and DeRozan Rift Continues to Fuel Attention
The song’s success added another chapter to the growing tension between Drake and DeRozan, whose relationship publicly deteriorated during Drake’s feud with Kendrick Lamar.
For years, Drake and DeRozan appeared closely connected through the Raptors organization. Drake served as the team’s global ambassador while DeRozan became one of the franchise’s most beloved stars. That dynamic changed after DeRozan publicly aligned himself with Lamar during the rap battle between the two artists.
DeRozan later appeared in Lamar’s “Not Like Us” video and attended Lamar’s “The Pop Out” concert in Los Angeles, moments many fans viewed as Drake’s breaking point.
Drake previously addressed the situation during Vince Carter’s jersey retirement ceremony in Toronto in 2024. During the event, Drake joked that if the Raptors ever raised a DeRozan banner, he would “go up there and pull it down myself.”
“National Treasure” took the tension even further by directly questioning DeRozan’s ability to lead Toronto to a championship before Leonard arrived.
Drake Dominates Billboard With Historic Week
While “National Treasure” became one of the most viral tracks from Iceman, it represented only part of Drake’s massive Billboard showing.
The rapper claimed nine songs inside the Hot 100 top 10, including “Ran to Atlanta” with Future at No. 2 and “Whisper My Name” at No. 3, Billboard reports. The achievement allowed Drake to surpass previous Hot 100 records set by country star Morgan Wallen.
At the same time, NBA fans continued dissecting Drake’s sports references throughout the album, including additional lyrics aimed at LeBron James following James’ public support of Kendrick Lamar last year.
But among all the basketball references scattered across Iceman, “National Treasure” may have created the strongest reaction because it reopened one of the most emotional debates in Raptors history.
Drake Scores Billboard Top 10 Hit With Viral DeMar DeRozan Bars