Grammys by Drake Lyrics Meaning – The Raw Ambition of Triumph Over Titles

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Drake's Grammys at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Jheez
Yeah
Right
Look
Look

Tell me how you really feel
Tell me how you really feel
I would ask you what’s the deal
But you don’t even got a deal
Most niggas with a deal
Couldn’t make a greatest hits
Y’all a whole lot of things
But you still ain’t this
I don’t know no one
That could tell me what to do
Heard you never claimed the hood
Heard the hood claimed you
That can’t sit well
Oh well, ship sailed
Still mine, all mine
Cosign, cosign
I pull up in yachts so big
That they try to hit me with boat fines
Hype Williams, Big Pimpin’, yeah
Just like the old times
Same niggas from the old days
Lot of sides on the same side
OVO, we a gold mine
But I’m going gold no time
Doing plat’, plat’ only
Boys better back off me
Hall of fame, hall of fame
Like I’m shirt off, like I’m shirt off
Like I’m shirt off shorty
Whole city going crazy
Whole city going crazy
Top 5, no debating
Top 5, top 5, top 5
And the whole city rate me
And I’m back inside The Matrix
And I said that we would make it
Aim squad with some traitors
Knew my niggas from the basement
This ain’t no met-along-the-way shit
We done really put some days in

I’m like “Why you so excited?” You know what I’m sayin’?
What happened?
Did he win the Grammy? Goddamn
He actin’ like he fuckin’ won a trophy and shit
This nigga turnt the fuck up

They gon’ think I won a Grammy
They gon’ think I won a Grammy
Swervin’ off, panoramic
I’m hangin’ out, they can’t stand me
They gon’ think I won a Grammy
They gon’ think I won a Grammy
They gon’ think I won a Grammy
They gon’ think I won a Grammy
I’m showin’ out, they can’t stand me
I’m showin’ out, they can’t stand me
I’m swervin’ off, they can’t stand me
I’m err off, can’t stand me
They gon’ think I won a Grammy
They gon’ think I won a Grammy
They gon’ think I won a Grammy
They gon’ think I won a Grammy

Gonna peel off like a bandit
I’m noddin’ off on a Xanax
Get pissed off, start airin’ it
Get a head start, ain’t friendly
I stand out, I don’t blend in
When I say that I meant that
I don’t want to talk to you has beens
I don’t features from nan them
I don’t want features or nothin’
You can’t even get on my guest list
They want me to go to the Met Gala
I want a Percocet and a gallon
The Actavis, Hi-Tech, it don’t matter
We sittin’ right on the courtside
I know the players on both sides
I’m cashin’ out, fuck a cosign
I wear the chain like a bow tie
I wear the ring like a fo’-five
Keep the fo’-five for the poor guys
Black tint, low profile
Celebratin’ everyday
‘Cause I’m really really fresh out the coke house
Countin’ up every single day
‘Bout to bring a whole ‘nother whip out

They gon’ think I won a Grammy
They gon’ think I won a Grammy
Swervin’ off, panoramic
I’m hangin’ out, they can’t stand me
They gon’ think I won a Grammy
They gon’ think I won a Grammy
They gon’ think I won a Grammy
They gon’ think I won a Grammy
I’m showin’ out, they can’t stand me
I’m showin’ out, they can’t stand me
I’m swervin’ off, they can’t stand me
I’m err off, can’t stand me
They gon’ think I won a Grammy
They gon’ think I won a Grammy
They gon’ think I won a Grammy
They gon’ think I won a Grammy

In the relentless pace of the music industry, artistry often intertwines with accolades, and success is measured not just by creative output but by the hardware an artist collects. Drake’s ‘Grammys,’ a potent cut from his fourth studio album ‘Views,’ tackles this notion head-on, delving into the tension between critical recognition and artistic self-worth.

Through a keen examination of ‘Grammys,’ we unravel a narrative that goes beyond the gilded grandeur of its title, offering a critique of the music industry and a personal assertion of success. It’s a declaration draped in swag and self-assurance that provides listeners with a peek into the psyche of one of hip-hop’s most dominant forces.

The Triumph of Self-Made Success Over Institutional Approval

The repeated hook, ‘They gon’ think I won a Grammy,’ serves as a metaphor for the perceived level of success one can achieve without industry validation. Drake challenges the concept of awards as the ultimate barometer of an artist’s worth, asserting his influence can rout industry traditions.

While many artists aspire to the recognition a Grammy award represents, Drake turns this on its head, suggesting that the illusion of having won is parallel to displaying markers of success that are generated from actual impact and public admiration.

Decoding the Shouts to Hood Allegiance and Industry Cynicism

‘Heard you never claimed the hood / Heard the hood claimed you,’ reflects Drake’s criticism of inauthentic story-telling in rap. It’s a swipe at artists who leverage street credibility they haven’t earned, contrasting his own narrative of genuine connection with his origins.

This notion of authenticity versus artificiality ramps up as Drake discusses the industry deals that often tie down and compromise artists, emphasizing his independence from such constraints and consequently, the freedom to be true to his artistic vision. It’s a boast in its most raw form—asserting dominance through adherence to personal truth.

Uncovering ‘Grammys’ Hidden Critique of the Star-Making Machine

Beyond a superficial reading of braggadocio, ‘Grammys’ operates as a sardonic take-down of the music industry’s assembly-line production of stardom. By juxtaposing his success with others’ dependency on labels and accolades, he underscores a broader commentary on the nature of fame and achievement.

Drake taps into the paradox of desire: the relentless craving for validation from the very institutions many artists feel confined by. His lyrics function as a testament to carving one’s destiny in an industry notorious for its rigid hierarchies and capricious tastes.

A Kaleidoscope of Memorable Lines: Flaunting Fame and Fortitude

‘Y’all a whole lot of things / But you still ain’t this,’ Drake raps with a blatant air of superiority. This line and others such as ‘Top 5, no debating / Top 5, top 5, top 5’ are piercing reminders of his standing in the hip-hop hierarchy—an unapologetic celebration of his earned place within the annals of rap royalty.

Such lines resonate as anthems of vindication for those who see themselves in Drake’s journey. These memorable snippets are not just boastful claims—they are shared sentiments with anyone who associates their own grind with his.

Reveling in the Spoils of Success: A Study in Hip-Hop Hedonism

Drake’s verses teem with the decadent imagery of a lifestyle few can imagine, yet many aspire to. From ‘panoramic’ views to courtside seats, the rapper delineates a glamorous tableau that forms a stark contrast with the often grim narratives of struggle that permeate the genre.

In embellishing these hedonistic details, Drake’s ‘Grammys’ does more than just tout success. It serves as a manifestation of his ethos—luxury as both a reward for toil and a strategic, rebellious symbol against the staid metrics of success defined by the music industry elite.