“Best I Ever Had” by Drake

From the onset, Drake lets it be known that “Best I Ever Had” isn’t a playa song but rather one directed towards a particular female. Said individual’s name is never actually dropped therein. But letting the cat out the bag early, it is a lady whom he dated in the aughts who goes by the name of Nebby. 

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Drake's Best I Ever Had at Lyrics.org.

So even though, according to at least one reputable celebrity dating site, he and she broke up a couple of years before this track’s release, theirs was still a romance he decided to immortalize in song.

Chorus of “Best I Ever Had”

So in the chorus, we’re introduced to Drake’s basic feelings in terms of this relationship. For starters, the addressee encapsulates everything he has ever dreamed of in the ideal woman.  Moreover, he can perceive himself doing “big” things with her by his side. 

Furthermore, he can actually envision the two of them spending their lives together. Also she’s not to type to just let Drake bonk her at any given time. Rather the vocalist has to butter her up, and he enjoys the playing that type of game with her. But of course the passage is highlighted by the titular statement, i.e. the vocalist coming to the conclusion that female this is ‘the best he ever had’. That’s another way of saying that, all things considered, he deems her superior, in terms of compatibility, to any other female he has ever dated. 

And we can presume that even by this early point in his music career Drake had already dated quite a few of them, even though the lyrics don’t go there.

Lyrics of "Best I Ever Had" by Drake

Verse 1

At the beginning of the first verse, Drake reveals that the addressee has a roommate. So he proceeds to tell her that she should call when she’s alone. That way he can do it to her as she likes. And whereas it may seem strange to start off a love song by alluding directly to sex, remember that this is hip-hop.

Later, Drake lets the addressee know that he considers her most beautiful when she’s makeup free. And overall he expresses a strong affinity for her throughout the verse. And besides her beauty and style, another thing he appreciates is her independence. So for instance, when rumors circulate that he may be cheating or whatever, she doesn’t react adversely to them.

Verse 2

The second verse commences with Drake rather commenting on his own hotness. This was back before he had ever dropped a studio album, but Drizzy is already able to celebrate his mass appeal, i.e. the anticipation that has been built up concerning said release. 

Additionally, Aubrey was able to envision the superstar status he was set to achieve. And going back to the shorty, she’s the type who is there at all of his shows, encouraging him along the way. And on top of such being symbolic of her undying support, on a sexual note it also gets the Champagne Papi hot.

“Best I Ever Had” is a Love Song

Then, as far as the general applicability of the track goes, in the outro it is revealed to be representative of a true love song, i.e. the one you ‘dedicate to that special somebody’. And generally speaking, it is biggin’ up the type of female partner who is sexy, loyal and wise. And as for Drake, as noted earlier, that special someone who inspired this song was Nebby.

Drake explains "Best I Ever Had"

“Best I Ever Had” Facts

Artist(s): Drake
Album/EP: “Thank Me Later”

Genre(s): R&B

Was “Best I Ever Had” a single release?

Yes. It was recorded for Drake’s debut EP “So Far Gone”. It is also on his debut studio album, “Thank Me Later”

Writing

The song was written by Drake in collaboration with:

  • Danny Hamilton
  • Nakia Coleman
  • Dwayne Carter
  • Matthew Samuels

Production: Boi-1da

When did “Best I Ever Had” come out?

It was released for download on February 13 of 2009. It saw it’s proper release as a single on June 16 of 2009.

Awards/Honors

It was nominated for the Best Rap Song at the Grammys in 2010. The other nominees were as follows:

  • “Day ‘n’ Nite” (Kid Cudi)
  • “Dead and Gone” (T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake)
  • “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” (Jay-Z)
  • “Run This Town” (Jay-Z featuring Rihanna and Kanye West) – Winner

“Best I Ever Had” was also nominated in the “Best Rap Solo Performance” category with the following songs:

  • “Beautiful” (Eminem)
  • “Day ‘n’ Nite” (Kid Cudi)
  • “Casa Bey” (Mos Def)
  • “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” (Jay-Z) – Winner

Chart Performance

  • UK (123)
  • US (2)

Controversies/Legal Issues

On June 24 of 2010, there was a law suit by Playboy Enterprises against Drake for copyright infringements. They alleged the song had sampled a 1985 hit, “Fallin’ in Love” by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds’. “Fallin’ in Love” was a song copyrighted to Playboy Enterprises.

An American hip hop artist and producer, Kia Shine claimed he co-wrote the “Best I Ever Had”; hence he was entitled to part ownership of the song. Earlier, Shine had done a mixtape track, “Do It for the Boy” for rapper, Lil Wayne. Drake admitted he sampled parts of the song “Do It for the Boy” in “Best I Ever Had” but did not agree with Shine’s claims of being a co-writer.

Covers

  • Lisa Scinta (2010)
  • Unwrapped ft. Tony Royster Jr. (2009)

Sampling:

  1. Jacob Sartorius – “Sweatshirt” (2016)
  2. Jake Miller – “My Couch” (2013)
  3. Madteo – “1 4 U” (2019)
  4. Trey Songz – “Best I Ever Had” (2009)
  5. Wiz Khalifa – “Ode to Naked Pop Stars” (2009)
Best I Ever Had

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