Meaning of “Look What You’ve Done” by Drake

Today we’re stepping back in time a bit by looking at a song (“Look What You’ve Done”) that wasn’t even released as a single from Drake’s sophomore studio album, “Take Care”. That project was released through Birdman’s Cash Money Records, Lil Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment and Republic Records on 15 November 2011. 

The album itself was a notable hit, performing even better than Drizzy’s debut LP, 2010’s “Thank Me Later”, which was also very successful.

Drake wrote this song with its producers, Chase N. Cashe and 40. The latter was a mainstay in Aubrey’s career throughout its first decade but has since worked with other artists besides slowing down a bit. 

And speaking of which, the reason why we’re compelled to write about “Look What You’ve Done” now is because on the 26th of July, 2023 the song made headlines as Drake performed it at Madison Square Garden and dedicated it to his mother, Sandi Graham, who actually appeared on stage and participated in the associated skit.

The Lyrics of “Look What You’ve Done”

The first verse of this song centers on Drake’s relationship with his mom, while the second focuses on his uncle, i.e. her brother. And what the title points to is Graham attributing his success to the support they provided him prior to becoming a music star.

As depicted in the first verse, Drake would sometimes get into fights with his mom. But throughout it all he felt sympathy for her, due certain health conditions she had to contend with. 

So one of the ways Sandi contributed is by inspiring Drizzy to work harder, since she was not physically able to do so herself. It may also have been that the young Aubrey was concerned about paying her medical bills. So at the time, i.e. prior to making it big, he was even considering taking up a life of crime.

But then, out of nowhere, the rapper caught the attention of Lil Wayne who by that time, i.e. the late aughts, had established himself as an A-list hip-hopper in the game. To note, by that point Aubrey had already been a professional actor for about a decade, co-starring on a Canadian television show called Degrassi: The Next Generation, but the money he earned from that endeavor admittedly wasn’t much. 

And to make a long story short, a little while after getting down with Wheezy – i.e. this song being dropped just two years after Drake signed with Young Money – he was able to make his mom right for holding him down all those years.

Verse 2

The second verse is in honor of Drake’s maternal uncle. Not much is known about him, except what Aubrey has relayed in songs such as this one. And as depicted, he basically served as the rapper’s dad, as his biological father was not able to be around due to legal issues.

But more importantly in relation to the success story which would become Graham’s life, unc is the one who convinced him that he “would be a star”, whether it was through acting or music. And Drake actually remembered that encouragement at a time in his life when he was dealing with self-esteem issues and things of such. 

Even though his uncle was obviously doing better financially than his mom, dude still dealt with monetary problems. So now it makes Drake proud to not only be able to pay him back but also make him right, as he doesn’t perceive he could have succeeded without his uncle’s support. And so it is with the chorus of the song, i.e. Drizzy now being able to look back with his loved ones and celebrate what they’ve accomplished together via his come-up, even if he’s the only one in the limelight.

“Is this s–t real? Should I pinch you?
After all the things that we been through, I got you, yeah
Look what you’ve done, look what you’ve done
Look what you’ve done for me now, yeah
You knew that I was gon’ be somethin’
When you’re stressed out and you need somethin’, I got you, yeah
Look what you’ve done, look what you’ve done
Look what you’ve, look what you’ve”

The song eventually ends with an outro held down by Drake’s grandmother.  And what she does is go about thanking him for putting her in a “comfortable place”. So obviously, one of the subthemes of this piece revolves around Drizzy illustrating that he does in fact take care of his people. 

But it also shows that he truly was appreciative for making it as a musician, so much so that Drake was compelled to dedicate an entire song to a couple of key figures that helped him along the way, which is not a common occurrence in the music industry.