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Aubrey Drake Graham, professionally known as Drake or Drizzy, is considered one of the most influential rappers in the industry. The 38-year-old Canadian rapper was ranked number eight on Billboard’s list of 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time, published on August 2, 2023.
The rapper is renowned for using his lyrics to reflect on his experiences and struggles. His lines also explore themes of heartbreak, hustle and bustle, and industry dynamics. His bold lyrics have stirred up controversy and are subject to different interpretations. This article explores some of the rapper's lyrics that have been criticized by listeners and media.
Disclaimer: This article contains the author's opinion.
10 most talked-about Drake song lyrics of all time
1) This bit** lie ’bout gettin’ shots, but she still a stallion
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The controversial line from Circo Loco, his November 2022 song with 21 Savage, was widely interpreted as a shade to Megan Thee Stallion. The Savage crooner accused Tory Lanez, another rapper, of shooting Megan in the leg in 2020. Lanez was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in August 2023.
Megan tweeted shortly after the song dropped and asked people to stop using her shooting for clout.
2) We coulda waited, I wasn't rushin', difference in ages/ You're old enough, but you're still a baby
This line from the rapper's song, Jaded, released on June 19, 2018, reportedly alludes to his relationship with singer, Jorja Smith. The pair reportedly started dating when Drake was 30 and Jorja was 19.
While Jorja was of legal age, many found the lyrics questionable. Drake addressed allegations of being a ped*phile in his song, The Heart Part 6 as he sang:
"I never been with no-one underage ... Just for clarity, I feel disgusted, I'm too respected."
3) I love thick women ‘cause my aunt she rode equestrian
This line from Drake’s verse in J. Cole’s In The Morning, released in November 2010, seemingly refers to his aunt's body and still baffles listeners as to its meaning. The rapper has never given interpretation to the lyrics. Genius.Com explained the lyrics as:
"An equestrian refers to a horseback rider. Drake claims that his relative participated in this activity, which helped her conditioning and strengthened her body."
4) They hired a crisis management team, to clean up the fact that you beat on your queen/ The picture you painted ain’t what it seems
These lyrics are featured in the diss track Family Matters which was released on May 4, 2024. It is one of the tracks in the highly publicized feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. The rap song was released in reply to 6:16 by Lamar which seemingly throws shade at the Canadian rapper for having moles in his camp who want to bring him down.
In Family Matters, Drake uses the above lyrics to insinuate that Kendrick Lamar was guilty of domestic violence against his partner, Whitney Alford.
5) I heard that one of 'em little kids might be Dave Free/ Don't make it Dave Free's/ 'Cause if your GM is your BM secret BD/ Then this is all makin' plenty fu**in' sense to me
Perhaps one of Drake’s most controversial songs, Family Matters features lyrics that make bold allegations against the 17-time Grammy Award winner, Kendrick Lamar.
The lyrics of the diss track suggest that Lamar’s general manager and close friend, Dave Free had an affair with and impregnated Lamar’s baby mama Whitney Alford, and is the father of one of the Alright hitmaker’s kids. It is pertinent to note that there isn’t evidence to back up these claims.
6) Get inside and bend a d*** like the pope
The bold lyrics employ wordplay to seemingly refer to the late Pope Benedict who passed away in December 2022. The lyrics, which feature in Drake’s What Would Pluto Do track of December 2023, seemingly ascribe s*xual connotations to a title that is revered for spiritual and moral sanctity. Drake has not explained the meaning of the lyrics, leaving listeners to conclude on their own.
7) You go get fu**ed up and we just show up at your rescue/ Carry you inside, get you some water and undress you/ I give you my all and the next morning you'll forget who
These lyrics are featured in Drake’s rap track, Houstatlantavegas which was released on February 13, 2009. In the song, he raps about his love interest who is lost in a world he is not comfortable with and yet can’t do anything about.
The lyrics quoted above have been interpreted by Genius as Drizzy helping his love interest get her ready for bed after having a wild night. Listeners on SongMeaning gave another meaning to the lyrics seemingly alluding to s*xual relations when the lady is unconscious.
8) I’m tryna give Halle Berry a baby and no one can stop me
In June 2013, Drizzy was featured on Versace, a hit track by the Migos where he rapped with the above lyrics. The lyrics seem to suggest that the popular rapper had intentions of having s*xual relations with the Academy-Award-winning actress and would do anything for that.
Some netizens on X interpreted the lyrics as disregarding consent and others termed it disrespectful. The rapper hasn’t addressed the meaning of the lyrics.
9) You got my mind in a terrible place / Whipped and chained you like American slaves
In Slime You Out featuring SZA, Drake uses questionable lyrics alluding to whips, chains, and American slaves. In the rap song released in September 2023, the rapper seemingly relates the chains and whips used in the slave trade to expensive necklaces and cars that he could provide for his women. The song’s lyrics were criticized by listeners with some describing them as "gross".
10) I’ll slit your throat with the razor and do Rick Ross Air like that one flight from Malaysia.
Drizzy released The Heart Part 6 in May 2024 as a response to Kendrick Lamar’s diss tracks Meet the Grahams and Not Like Us which accused him of being a ped*phile.
In the lyrics above, Drake makes allusions to Rick Ross’ jet that emergency crash landed on May 3, 2024, and also the tragic disappearance of the MH370 flight in 2014.
The rapper’s controversial reference to the unfortunate incident caused backlash online. Some termed the lyrics as disrespectful while others described Drake as a "piece of scum".
Overall, Drake sometimes uses wordplay and bold lyrics in his songs that are subject to different interpretations and connotations.
