Amid Drake filing a legal petition that accused Universal Music Group and Spotify of artificially inflating the commercial performance of “Not Like Us,” The Joe Budden Podcast took a trip down memory lane during a recent episode. Specifically, they debated this move in relation to Drizzy supposedly seeking to negotiate for a more bountiful contract and to his own profits in the industry. Budden brought up a conversation with Gamma CEO Larry Jackson, who alleged that the Toronto superstar’s catalog is worth more than the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s combined. This eventually led to a few different proposed pathways.
First, Joe Budden posited that Drake needs to “go in that corner” and renegotiate with absolutely everyone in his efforts to make his worth clear. But Ice pushed back on this narrative, positing that he could face an uphill battle if UMG refuses to pay him more or shuts his negotiations down. However, Budden argued that the OVO mogul most definitely has a way out if he isn’t happy with how the negotiations develop. Ish tied this in further with some other moves such as unconventional cover art, and that he meant this legal action as a “f**k you” to the label and as a way to get out of his contract.
The Joe Budden Podcast Discusses Drake’s Worth & Label Issues
Joe budden talks about the time former Apple Music executive Larry Jackson told him Drake catalogue is worth more than the 60s,70s,80s and 90s combined pic.twitter.com/VWvcKyVIxk
In fact, The Joe Budden Podcast took it a step further and theorized that these anti-label moves could extend to the quality of Drake’s recent output. Certified Lover Boy was all throwaways in the group’s opinion, and his perceived lack of effort might result from these supposed label issues. Of course, we doubt that The Boy himself would characterize his art as such, so this might reach a little farther across the aisle than necessary.
But to wrap things up, The Joe Budden Podcast – specifically its titular host – posited that too many parties have a “vested interest” in keeping Drake under a label structure. Whether or not this legal filing actually succeeds in court is a mystery for Father Time, but its implications and impact could still be massive. We’ll see whether or not this changes history or simply repeats it.
Drake can go on hiatus for three years only to still sell out a tour on the other side of the world, and it looks like his streaming numbers also reflect that. Moreover, DJ Akademiks recently made the claim that the Toronto superstar’s dominance in the music industry today mostly owes its success to the classic material he released six-plus years ago. “Also, he leveraged the fact that they’re eating so much off of his back catalog,” Ak expressed on stream. “That dropping frequently helps the back catalog. And, by the way, 80 to 85 percent of Drake’s current streams is from albums that dropped over six years ago. And I’m being very fair here. I love Drake, that’s my favorite artist. Bro, the labels look at him different.”
What’s most curious about DJ Akademiks’ assessment of Drake’s numbers is not only that he’s probably correct, but that this is likely true of most massive artists at his level of reach, popularity, acclaim, and most importantly, legacy. Kendrick Lamar can probably say the same thing. good kid, m.A.A.d. city is still on the Billboard 200. But we know that K.Dot sales are a dicey topic for Drizzy these days…
Of course, we’re talking about Drake’s legal petition against Universal Music Group and Spotify for allegedly inflating the commercial success of “Not Like Us.” There are a whole lot of angles to consider when it comes to this story, especially when stacked up against the almost simultaneous release of Kendrick Lamar’s new album GNX. We definitely haven’t heard the end of it, and we wouldn’t express shock if this extended the 2024 rap beef into all of 2025. Still, they’re not really connected beyond “Not Like Us” being at the center, as the legal petition fries bigger fish.
Regardless, it still recontextualizes both Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s commercial accomplishments. In this case, this doesn’t really have anything to do with the legal petition. Yet DJ Akademiks does bring up a reality that could one day inform the OVO mogul’s future at Universal Music Group – if they stay buddy-buddy afterwards, that is.
Drake has had a prolific 2023. This year, he toured North America and released his eighth studio album, For All The Dogs, along with a Scary Hours Edition. Despite the mixed reactions, Drake continued to dominate as both a solo artist and as a collaborator. His project included appearances from SZA, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Chief Keef, Bad Bunny, and more. Already, he’s lined up the first few months of 2024 for his upcoming co-headlining tour with J. Cole. However, between his own releases, he’s contributed numerous rap and sung guest verses throughout the year. Today, we are ranking each of Drake’s features in 2023 from worst to best. Take a look at the list below.
Drake is the very first voice on Young Thug’s Business Is Business, although he contributes twice to the tracklist. A somber and melodic intro, “Parade On Cleveland” is fitting for Thug’s first release since his indictment for racketeering-related charges against the YSL collective. Handling both a short verse and the song’s chorus, Drake makes multiple references to Thug’s incarceration. He sings lines like, “soon as I’m fresh out the box like a Tic-Tac.” Drake also proclaims that there will be a “parade on Bleveland as soon as I get home” before the song transitions into a collect-call between him and Young Thug. Although it is a solid album opener, “Parade on Cleveland” ultimately pales in comparison to their second collaboration on Business Is Business, as well as Drake’s other 2023 features.
5. Popcaan – “We Caa Done”
OVO signee Popcaan kicked off 2023 with a “Song Of The Summer” contender. “We Caa Done” brings Drake into the world of dancehall, a genre he has tackled on numerous occasions. While Drake does not contribute a full verse, he floats over the instrumental as he steals the show on the song’s chorus. The uplifting production allows plenty of space for Popcaan to provide his auto-tuned melodies, while Drake contributes a catchy chorus and carefree ad-libs. He sounds incredibly comfortable over dancehall, lending infectious vocals to the feel-good track.
This year saw the reunion between Drake and Nicki Minaj on the Pink Friday 2 highlight, “Needle.” The dancehall-fused track sees Drake opting to sing a heartfelt yet festive verse and chorus. He likens his love interest to a needle in the haystack of life while catchily singing, “I just wanna pull up the Maybach and bend your leg back.” Drake’s verse and chorus effortlessly assist Nicki Minaj in embracing her Trinidadian roots on the sincere yet danceable track. “Needle” differs from Drake’s previous features on Nicki Minaj tracks, but still showcases the duo’s timeless chemistry.
3. J Hus – “Who Told You”
One of 2023’s most anticipated collaborations saw Drake featuring on J Hus’s latest album, Beautiful And Brutal Yard. “Who Told You” is a summertime banger that displays both artists’ greatest strengths. Hus provides his signature afroswing cadences and humorous yet charming lyrics while Drake finds his pocket in the P2J-produced instrumental. He “knows the vibes,” weaving between rapping and singing about dancing with Lilah Pi. On “Who Told You,” Drake matches J Hus’s breezy afro swing flow as they ask, “who told you gangsters don’t dance?”
2. Young Thug – “Oh U Went”
Drake’s other 2023 feature on Young Thug’s album is significantly more upbeat. “Oh U Went” includes a lively and soulful trap beat produced by Metro Boomin. While Thug rides the beat with ease, it is Drake who steals the show. He flexes on other rappers in true Drake fashion, spitting bars like, “I got more soldiers than a military / I got more stones than a cemetery / I got more streams than y’all in February.” He also spits some clever punchlines like “If a n***a really try to jam me, get jammed first like the countdown.” It is a short yet effective verse as Drake makes his mark on “Oh U Went,” contrasting his style with Young Thug’s to make a standout moment on Business Is Business.
Undoubtedly Drake’s best feature of 2023 is his verse on Travis Scott’s “Meltdown.” One of the instant favorite guest appearances on Utopia, Drake and Travis recreate their magic that they had on songs like “Sicko Mode,” “Company,” and “Portland.” “Tensions is definitely rising,” Drake warns listeners as he declares that it is “T time” before spitting one of his most menacing verses. With an aggressive whisper, he flips the various phrasings of “T time” and tells his opps that they are “scared of the 6.” His villainous verse sends shots at Pusha T and Pharrell, reigniting his 2018 beef with the former. Drake’s show-stopping verse is accentuated by an ominous beat with triumphant horns and Star Wars lasers. His verse raises both the tension and the lyrical bar incredibly high with one of his meanest verses in recent memory.
Drake makes music for all moods, but his most emotionally transparent throwback songs hold a special place in the hearts of his diehard fans. Drake’s older material has aged well and is still considered the prime era of his career. Fans were ecstatic when he played some of his deepest album cuts and throwback hits at the Apollo Theater in New York earlier this year and at a recent performance for J. Cole’s Dreamville Festival in North Carolina. It was a reminder of how deep his catalog of music goes. This list of Drake songs focuses on his older tracks for when you’re “in your feelings.”
The tracks range from the beginning of his career to as recent as five years ago. The songs are listed chronologically and focus explicitly on Drake’s emotional vulnerability, which evokes the same feeling in the listener.
“I Get Lonely” (2010)
On 2010’s “I Get Lonely,” Drake made TLC’s “FanMail” his own. While the original version is a groovy R&B song, Drake’s version is slow and sensitive. He sings over the classic 40-produced sound of spacious, minimal R&B that never fails to bring out Drake’s softer side. The production and vocal tonality of Drake’s version is able to induce feelings of longing for companionship and stability. Because it is a cover, it often goes under the radar but deserves a place on a Drake songs list.
“Trust Issues” (2011)
Much like “I Get Lonely,” Drake’s “Trust Issues” reprises an existing song—but this time, it is his own. “Trust Issues” was released just a month after “I’m On One,” his 2011 collaboration with DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne. If “I’m On One” is the soundtrack to a night out at a club, then “Trust Issues” is the soundtrack to the quiet ride home late at night. “Trust Issues” is about Drake’s lack of trust in women and how fame has affected his relationships and his ability to rely on others. Drake’s relaxed instrumental and syrupy crooning are guaranteed to have one in their feelings.
“Shot For Me” (2011)
“Shot For Me” is one of Drake’s most underrated throwbacks on this list. In the song, Drake misses his exes and thinks about what could have been between them. He sings, “All the love that we made / Now you’re trying to find somebody to replace what I gave to you / It’s a shame you didn’t keep it.” He is clearly bothered by how his exes moved on when he sings, “First I made you who you are and then I made it / And you’re wasted with your latest.” It is one of Drake’s most sensitive songs on the list and mays the groundwork for similar releases in Drake’s catalog.
“Marvin’s Room” (2011)
Perhaps the most iconic in-your-feelings song ever, “Marvin’s Room” captures being so drunk and alone that it leads to calling an ex. It encapsulates a feeling of desperation for a past lover while also hating her new relationship. In the song, Drake still holds onto the good times they had together in hopes of her feeling the same way, which she does not. He sings, “I know you still think about the times we had / I say f*ck that n**** that you think you found / And since you picked up, I know he’s not around.” The instrumental perfectly soundtracks the feeling of basking in one’s alcohol-induced emotions. Drake’s regretful and agitated lyrics make for one of his most legendary throwbacks.
“Doing It Wrong” (2011)
“Doing It Wrong” is a classic ballad from Drake about the most demanding breakup challenges. In the song, Drake pours his heart out while singing about going through a difficult split. Though both parties care deeply about each other, they know that the relationship must end. He sings in the chorus, “So cry if you need to, but I can’t stay to watch you / That’s the wrong thing to do.” Lyrically, it is a sincere song that predates Drake’s toxic era. Sonically, it is the perfect song for late-night vibes as the warm and slow instrumental compliments Drake’s heartfelt singing, not to mention Stevie Wonder’s harmonica solo.
“The Motion” (2013)
This song was a bonus track on 2013’s Nothing Was The Same. “The Motion” is all about going through the motions of being a public figure. Drake raps about constantly traveling and conditional relationships that depend on him doing favors for others. These experiences clearly weigh on him, but he knows that it comes with the territory of being famous. The production is minimal and moody, and the song also includes guest vocals from Sampha. The combination of the instrumental, Sampha’s addition, and Drake’s vocals make for a laid-back track.
“From Time” (2013)
“From Time” is a reflective song that ranks high in Drake’s catalog. The instrumental is simple yet very layered and leaves room for the listener to ponder their own thoughts. In the song, Jhené Aiko steals the show with a beautiful chorus, playing the role of one of Drake’s exes who wants to reconnect. Drake responds to Jhené’s lyrics with thoughtful rhymes about his relationships with women and his parents. It is a special song that makes one think about their past and present feelings.
“Jungle” (2015)
The “rock me real slowly” sample that opens Drake’s 2015 song “Jungle” aligns perfectly with the downbeat tempo. The cozy production allows Drake to sing from the heart about a relationship that lost its spark. Everything about the song will have the listener in their feels, from the openness in Drake’s lyrics to the addictively sad production.
“My Side”
An underrated bonus track from If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, “My Side” has a hypnotizing reverse effect on its instrumental that will have one basking in their emotions. Drake’s sloppy rap flow captures the feeling of swirling in one’s own thoughts. He frustratingly raps about reevaluating his relationship with a woman. He states, “Why are we wasting our relationship on a relationship?” Drake is struggling to hold on or let go of her. “My Side” is the soundtrack to staying up late and fixating on one’s worries.
“Redemption” (2016)
“Redemption” is now seven years old and undoubtedly belongs in the list of Drake songs that’ll have you in your feelings. It is about feeling down when you miss an ex and thinking about what you would say to them at that moment. It is a relatable song about not wanting an ex to move on without you. He’s contemplative when he raps, “Why do I settle for women that force me to pick up the pieces? / Why do I want an independent woman to feel like she needs me?” He is also done with her by saying, “I gave your nickname to someone else.” “Redemption” is a transparent mix of emotions.
Overall, Drake’s back catalog of music is unmatched and has some of the greatest throwbacks to vibe to. This song list consists of some of his best and most vulnerable. Drake fans can catch him on tour during the summer when he hits the road with 21 Savage.
