VIEWS by Drake Lyrics Meaning – Decoding the Layered Messages in a Hip-Hop Epistle
Lyrics
The answer is no, no, no-no-no, no, no
No, no-no-no, no, no
No, no, no, no
Question is, will I ever leave you?
The answer is no, no, no-no-no, no, no
No, no-no-no, no, no
No, no, no, no
Yeah, you feel the pressure, man, I know the pressure
And my wifey is a spice like I’m David Beckham
A lot of pent up aggression comin’ out of my section
OVO on me while y’all niggas was playin’ dress-up
And I know who gon’ take the fall with me
They right here on call with me, they all with me
You could throw curve balls but I got the glove fitted
They’ve been sayin’ it’s love, but it isn’t love, is it?
Toast to the days when they wasn’t out to get me
I worked at Jaydees Connections whenever Jason let me
Ceesay’s, I was buyin’ fitteds everyday
Kiddie’s Caribana, tryin’ not to catch a stray
I dropped out right before I graduate
Six credits left, my mama had her saddest day
“It’s only up from here, I promise, you just gotta wait”
And she took my word for it, that’s all I had to say
Lately I just feel so out of character
The paranoia can start to turn into arrogance
Thoughts too deep to go work ’em out with a therapist
I get a blank page when I try to draw a comparison
I’m gettin’ straight to the point with it
Need y’all to know that I never needed none of y’all niggas
Fuck bein’ all buddy buddy with the opposition
It’s like the front of the plane, nigga, it’s all business
But I haven’t flown with y’all boys in a minute
Look, they’d rather run up on me than towards their goals
My niggas still hit the club when it’s twenty below
Who you think runnin’ this show?
You saw it in me at twenty years old
The lingo start to sound like we talkin’ in code
I got a pure soul, I don’t do the hate
You don’t worry ’bout fittin’ in when you custom made
Me and Niko used to plot on how to make a change
Now me and Kobe doin’ shots the night before the game
Still drop 40 with liquor in my system
Numbers goin’ unlisted just to create some distance
I might see you on and off but I’ll never switch ya
Niggas quick to double cross like both of us Christian
Lamborghini got me feelin’ like I’m Christian Bale
And I never bend my morals for the ticket sales
Tippin’ scales, bars heavy like triple XL
I never tag no one in, I’d rather get you myself
Runnin’ through the 6, thumbin’ through the contracts
I’m possessed, you can see it under the contacts
They think I had the silver spoon but they’ll get it soon
I still got somethin’ left to prove since you left me room
Paint a plan for the family debt, we in the minus
And like it’s goin’ in a trunk, I put it all behind us
Where you tryna go? I got it, I’ll take us wherever
I’m a staple in the game, all my papers together
And my life is on display like Truman
They wanna pree the movements, gotta start to make ’em sooner
My exes made some of my favorite music
I dated women from my favorite movies
Karma’s such a thing of beauty
I’d share more of my story but you wouldn’t believe it
It’s far-fetched like I threw that shit a hundred meters
I keep it a hundred like I’m running a fever
I might take a breather but I won’t ever leave you
If I was you, I wouldn’t like me either
Drake, the Canadian maestro of mood, often entwines his words with a complexity that demands deeper reflection. ‘VIEWS’, akin to a musical soliloquy, is no different. Here, we find Drake in a contemplative state, unraveling his thoughts on loyalty, success, and the pressures that accompany his station.
The track wades through the waters of fame and identity, as Drake negotiates the gritty realities beneath the shimmering surface of celebrity life. Peeling back the layers of ‘VIEWS’ reveals a tapestry rich with personal anecdotes, audacious assertions, and the weighty considerations of an artist perennially in the spotlight.
Eternal Loyalty or Eternal Bondage?
From the outset, Drake poses a potent question, ‘Will I ever leave you?’ This refrain becomes a cornerstone of the song, embodying the ceaseless struggle between personal growth, steadfast loyalty, and possible entrapment. It’s a declaration of commitment not only to those close to him but perhaps also to his inner self, his beginnings, and his roots in the terrain of hip-hop.
The repetition of ‘no’ doesn’t just signify conviction; it echoes the inescapability of one’s past and identity. The question, haunting in its simplicity, leaves listeners contemplating the bonds they themselves cannot or choose not to sever.
Under Pressure: The Weights of Fame
The verse ‘Yeah, you feel the pressure, man, I know the pressure’ sheds light on Drake’s duel with fame’s demanding nature. It’s here that he unpacks the expectations laid upon him and the defensive stance he’s forced to adopt (‘I got the glove fitted’). Drake reveals the armor required to survive not only in the industry but as a constant focus of public attention.
There’s a duality to the pressures he describes—serving as both inspiration and a source of ‘pent up aggression.’ Drake uses this tension to fuel his ambition, distancing himself from unreality (‘niggas was playing dress-up’) and remaining grounded in his authentic experiences.
The Chains of Unforgotten Past
‘Toast to the days when they wasn’t out to get me’ marks a yearning for simpler times, a sentiment familiar to anyone whose rise to prominence has come with complications. He reminisces about his days at Jaydees Connections, signaling the nostalgia for when his dreams were just beginning to take flight.
Dropping out of school represents a pivotal life choice and him assuring his mother about his future success adds a personal and relatable touch. These lines also underscore a reality often overlooked by Drake’s listeners: the path he’s trodden is stained with sacrifices and the echoes of a past that continuously shape his present.
Who’s The Real MVP? The Hidden Value in ‘VIEWS’
Drake’s heavy basketball analogies (‘Me and Kobe doin’ shots the night before the game’) intertwine his narrative with the sport’s lexicon—suggestive of the competitive nature of his career and hinting toward strategic thinking. But the hidden gem lies in his reflections on success and the people around him.
The basketball references go deeper, nodding to loyalty and teamwork (‘niggas quick to double cross like both of us Christian’). These lines peel back the veneer of glitz, revealing Drake’s contemplations on trust, betrayal, and the solitary nature of maintaining one’s position at the top.
Echoes in a Mirrored Hallway: The Most Memorable Lines
‘You don’t worry ’bout fittin’ in when you custom-made’ typifies Drake’s self-assurance. Yet, it’s also an invitation to self-acceptance, as the rapper suggests emancipation through embracing individuality. This line, and many like it, lend ‘VIEWS’ an anthemic quality, granting listeners a phrase to hold aloft in moments of self-doubt.
Further, ‘My exes made some of my favorite music’ is not merely a nod to past relationships, but a broader acknowledgment of how experiences, however painful, contribute to one’s artistry and personal evolution. It’s a testament to the influence of life’s interactions on the canvas of our lives, a theme Drake explores with candor throughout the track.
