Fear by Drake Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Depths of Vulnerability in Hip-Hop
Lyrics
I think they call this, uh, venting
Yea
Look
Uh
This is me
Still the same
They want the hits
I play the game
No auto tune, but you can feel the pain
It all comes spilling out like I hit a vein
What up lil’ braw
What up slumville
I hope you know that y’all the reason I have fun still
The fans thinking that we all signed for one mill
Equal opportunities rapping, that shit is unreal
That ain’t how it works
That ain’t that how it goes
And I been getting high to balance out the lows
And I could use a writer to balance my flows
But I never share my thoughts,
This is all a nigga knows
And every time I try, it opens up my eyes
These verses are a chance to remembered and reprized
And I would be performing just as long as I’m alive
So every word I utter will be mine
Don’t believe the lies
Look me in my eyes
Please don’t be scared of me
Please don’t be scared of me
I remember you
This feeling isn’t new
So please don’t be scared of me
Please don’t be scared of me
Don’t take this the wrong way but
I never cried when Pac died
But I probably will when Hov does
And if my tears hold value,
Then I would drop one for every single thing he showed us
And I’ll be standing in a puddle
I stay away from niggas that could land me in some trouble
And I’ma keep it honest
Am so tired of being subtle
It’s just me, Forty, O, and Nich standing in a huddle
Staring at the members of my team
Who get questioned about they profit from this from million dollar scheme
Just know that am in debt for you defending all our dreams
I hope you tell your family this shit ain’t what it seems
But yall the reason for a lot of my devotion
You know I spend money because spending time is hopeless
And know I pop bottles ’cause I bottle my emotions
At least I put it all in the open
Don’t believe the lies
Look me in my eyes
Please don’t be scared of me
Please don’t be scared of me
I remember you
This feeling isn’t new
So please don’t be scared of me
Please don’t be scared of me
Oh oh oh oh oh uh
Look
Fuck all y’all
We ignore feelings here
Premature millionaires
Welcome to my realest year
Yeah
I swear we making a killer here
I should be on top of the world here just chillin’ here
Uh
But it’s funny having fans
Who find you before anybody ever has the chance,
And build you up so you could be the biggest in the game
And realize when your there, sometimes the shit don’t feel the same
Yeah
And plus things are just so real at home
People think I’ve changed just because my appeal’s grown
And now security follow me everywhere
So I’m never actually am alone, I just always feel alone
I think I’m scared of what the future holds
I was wishing for some things and now am used to those
Every girl I meet thinks I’m fucking groupie hoes
The honesty of my music has left me too exposed
All my old friends think I got a new crowd
And people seem to notice every time I do smile
I guess that mean they come few and far between
Even though am living out what you would call the dream
Yeah
And my uncle ain’t even messaging me
And him missing in my life is kind of messing with me
I hope this isn’t one of those forever things
It’s funny how money can change everything
Don’t believe the lies
Look me in my eyes
Please don’t be scared of me
Please don’t be scared of me
I remember you
This feeling isn’t new
So please don’t be scared of me
Please don’t be scared of me
Oh oh oh oh oh uh
A haunting introspection set to a gripping melody, ‘Fear’ by Drake stands as a testament to the complexities of fame, success, and the inner turmoil that often accompanies them. In an industry often characterized by braggadocio and superficiality, ‘Fear’ serves as a poignant departure, inviting listeners into the more recondite chambers of Drake’s psyche.
By dissecting the lyrics of ‘Fear,’ we unearth the gravity of an artist grappling with the perils of public life and the weight of expectations. At once a confession and a call to understanding, the track delves into themes of loneliness, change, and the ceaseless quest for authenticity amidst a life that’s anything but ordinary.
The Struggle for Authentic Self-Expression
Drake lays bare the constant battle for genuine self-expression in the limelight, particularly in an industry that calls for hits and showmanship. ‘No auto tune, but you can feel the pain’ captures his resolve to present his true self, vulnerabilities included. It’s a powerful declaration that what spills from him in his music is not synthesized emotion but raw, unfiltered humanity.
Acknowledging his connection to his roots – ‘What up lil’ braw, What up slumville’ – Drake credits his community as a touchstone that keeps him grounded. Despite the presumed glitz of a rap career, he corrects misconceptions of overnight wealth and commercial rap culture, alluding to a much grittier reality under the gloss of fame.
Navigating the Heights and Lows of Stardom
In a candid confession, Drake admits that the highs of his career often come balanced by deep lows – ‘And I been getting high to balance out the lows.’ Here, he touches on the self-medication that many in the limelight undergo to cope with their shifting mental state, unpacking the loneliness that success can often foster.
Moreover, his reluctance to share his thoughts (‘But I never share my thoughts, This is all a nigga knows’) may signal an internal clash between the desire for privacy and the demands of a career built on personal revelation.
Unpacking the Hidden Meaning Behind Pop Bottles and Puddles
On the surface, ‘Fear’ touches on familiar hip-hop tropes: the wealth, the fame, the superficial trappings of success. Yet, when Drake raps about popping bottles ’cause I bottle my emotions,’ he introduces a duality that refutes the celebratory nature of the action for a more sobering confession – numbing the heartache that the revelry is supposed to mask.
The notion that he would cry for a mentor like Jay-Z (‘Hov’), while not for Tupac, reveals a personal connection to certain figures in hip-hop and the inspiration they provide, becoming parts of Drake’s emotional narrative that fans might not typically see.
The Specter of Isolation in ‘Fear’s’ Most Memorable Lines
‘But I’m never actually am alone, I just always feel alone’ – perhaps one of the most memorable lines of ‘Fear,’ these words strike a chord with anyone who has felt the pangs of isolation in a room full of people. Drake conveys that sense of disconnect that often accompanies fame: surrounded by fans and security but bereft of true companionship.
This line, emblematic of the song’s essence, resonates beyond music, touching on the universal human experience of loneliness amidst a world that is more connected than ever yet often fails to foster genuine bonds.
The Dream and the Nightmare: Drake’s Revelation
Through ‘Fear,’ Drake reflects on the consequences of dreams achieved. ‘Even though am living out what you would call the dream’ belies the recognition that this ‘dream’ comes packaged with unforeseen hardships and altered relationships – the fading smiles, the estranged family members, and the misunderstood intentions.
Drake’s musings on the dissonance between public perception and personal truth (‘It’s funny how money can change everything’) confront the listener with the dichotomy of desiring success while lamenting its transformative impact on one’s life and relationships.
