What's Next (Drake song)
"What's Next" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Drake | ||||
from the EP Scary Hours 2 | ||||
Released | March 5, 2021 (2021-03-05) | |||
Genre | Trap | |||
Length | 2:58 | |||
Label |
| |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Drake singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"What’s Next" on YouTube | ||||
"What's Next" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on March 5, 2021, as a single from Drake's fourth EP Scary Hours 2, through Republic Records and OVO Sound.[1]
With the song's debut at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100, it became Drake's eighth US number-one single in the country. Additionally, it became his fourth song to debut atop the chart.[2]
Background
An earlier version of the song surfaced on the internet on February 27, 2021.[3] It was noted that various lines of the song resembled those of on an unreleased track with Young Thug titled "What a Time to Be a Slime".[4] On March 3, 2021, Drake took to his social media to announce the release of his upcoming EP Scary Hours 2 on March 5, as well as the return of OVO Sound Radio the next day.[5] The song was released as track one of the EP.[6]
In May 2021, rapper Baby Keem revealed he was originally intended to be featured on the single alongside American rapper Playboi Carti (who Drake would later work with on the track Pain 1993.[7] In the early morning of September 4, 2021, a day after the release of Drake's Certified Lover Boy, Drake premiered the original version of What's Next with Baby Keem on his radio show.[8] The original version includes all vocals from the released version, with an additional verse from Keem.
Composition
The song was described as Drake being "on his rapping shit" and "in flex mode", with a "grungy trap production" and a "triumphant-sounding instrumental". Lyrically, the rapper shows off "grandiose flexes that only he could relate to".[9][10]
Music video
An accompanying music video was released alongside the single and was directed by Theo Skudra. The video was shot in early March 2021 in Toronto[11] and shows Drake dancing at different sites of the city, including the top of the CN Tower, as well as the TTC Subway, Yonge-Dundas Square, and Ripley's Aquarium of Canada.[10][12]
Commercial performance
The song debuted atop the US Billboard Hot 100 on the chart dated March 20, 2021, dethroning Olivia Rodrigo's "Drivers License" which ruled for eight consecutive weeks.[2] The remaining tracks from the Scary Hours 2 EP, "Wants and Needs" and "Lemon Pepper Freestyle", managed to debut at number two and three, respectively, thus making him the first artist in history to have three songs debut in the top 3 of the Billboard Hot 100.[2]
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[1]
- Aubrey Graham – lead vocals, songwriting
- Jonathan Priester – songwriting, production
- Maneesh Bidaye – songwriting, production, additional production
- Noah Shebib – mixing, studio personnel
- Noel Cadastre – recording, studio personnel
Charts
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[44] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada)[45] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[46] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Country | Date | Format | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | March 9, 2021 | Rhythmic contemporary radio |
| [47] |
See also
References
- ^ a b "What's Next / Drake". Tidal. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ a b c Trust, Gary (March 15, 2021). "Drake Makes Historic Hot 100 Start at Nos. 1, 2 & 3, Led by 'What's Next'". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ Araash (February 27, 2021). "New Drake Song 'What's Next' Surfaces Online". HipHopNMore. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ A., Aron (February 27, 2021). "Drake's Unreleased Song "What's Next" Surfaces". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ Kaufman, Gil (March 4, 2021). "Drake Teases Second 'Scary Hours' Release". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ Minsker, Evan (March 5, 2021). "Drake Shares 3 New Songs on Scary Hours 2 EP: Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ "Baby Keem Reveals He Was Supposed to be on "What's Next," Talks Connecting with Drake". Complex Networks.
- ^ YouTube, a Google company. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-09-05.
- ^ Coleman II, C. Vernon (March 5, 2021). "Drake 'What's Next' Lyrics". XXL. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ a b Duong, Paul "Big Homie" (March 5, 2021). "Drake "What's Next"". Rap Radar. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ Caraan, Sophie (March 3, 2021). "Drake Reportedly Seen Filming New Music Video in Toronto". Hypebeast. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ Navjosh (March 5, 2021). "Drake Shares 'What's Next' Music Video: Watch". HipHopNMore. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ "Drake – What's Next". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ "Drake – What's Next" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ^ "Drake – What's Next" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
- ^ "Drake Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 10. týden 2021 in the date selector. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ "Track Top-40 Uge 10, 2021" (in Danish). Hitlisten. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
- ^ "Top Singles (Week 9, 2021)". SNEP. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "Drake – What's Next" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ "Drake Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
- ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
- ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 10" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ "2021 10-os SAVAITĖS (kovo 5-11 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. 12 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- ^ "Drake – What's Next" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 15, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ "Singel 2021-W10". VG-lista. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
- ^ "Drake – What's Next". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202110 into search. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 10". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ "Drake – What's Next". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ "Drake Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
- ^ "Drake Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
- ^ "Drake Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ "Drake Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
- ^ "Canadian Hot 100 - Year End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "Global 200 – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Drake – What's Next". Music Canada. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "British single certifications – Drake – What's Next". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
- ^ "Top 40-Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021.
- v
- t
- e
(Mixtape / EP)
- "Successful"
- "Best I Ever Had"
- "I'm Goin' In"
- "Every Girl"
- "BedRock"
- "Fireworks"
- "Over"
- "Up All Night"
- "Fancy"
- "Miss Me"
- "Find Your Love"
- "9AM in Dallas"
- "Over My Dead Body"
- "Headlines"
- "Crew Love"
- "Take Care"
- "Marvins Room"
- "We'll Be Fine"
- "Make Me Proud"
- "HYFR (Hell Ya Fucking Right)"
- "The Motto"
- "Tuscan Leather"
- "Furthest Thing"
- "Started from the Bottom"
- "Wu-Tang Forever"
- "Worst Behavior"
- "From Time"
- "Hold On, We're Going Home"
- "The Language"
- "Too Much"
- "Pound Cake / Paris Morton Music 2"
- "All Me"
It's Too Late
- "Energy"
- "Preach"
- "Jumpman"
- "Controlla"
- "One Dance"
- "Pop Style"
- "Too Good"
- "Hotline Bling"
- "Free Smoke"
- "No Long Talk"
- "Passionfruit"
- "Gyalchester"
- "Portland"
- "KMT"
- "Glow"
- "Fake Love"
- "God's Plan" / "Diplomatic Immunity"
- "Survival"
- "Nonstop"
- "Elevate"
- "Emotionless"
- "I'm Upset"
- "8 Out of 10"
- "Mob Ties"
- "Can't Take a Joke"
- "Talk Up"
- "Jaded"
- "Nice for What"
- "That's How You Feel"
- "In My Feelings"
- "Don't Matter to Me"
- "Trust Issues"
- "Paris Morton Music"
- "Chicago Freestyle"
- "Toosie Slide"
- "Time Flies"
- "Pain 1993"
- "War"
- "Desires"
- "What's Next"
- "Wants and Needs"
- "Lemon Pepper Freestyle"
- "Champagne Poetry"
- "Papi's Home"
- "Girls Want Girls"
- "In the Bible"
- "Love All"
- "Fair Trade"
- "Way 2 Sexy"
- "TSU"
- "N 2 Deep"
- "No Friends in the Industry"
- "Knife Talk"
- "7AM on Bridle Path"
- "Race My Mind"
- "Fountains"
- "Falling Back"
- "Sticky"
- "Massive"
- "Jimmy Cooks"
- "Rich Flex"
- "Major Distribution"
- "On BS"
- "Spin Bout U"
- "Circo Loco"
- "Pussy & Millions"
- "Jumbotron Shit Poppin"
Scary Hours Edition
- "Virginia Beach"
- "Amen"
- "Calling for You"
- "Fear of Heights"
- "Daylight"
- "First Person Shooter"
- "IDGAF"
- "7969 Santa"
- "Slime You Out"
- "8AM in Charlotte"
- "Gently"
- "Rich Baby Daddy"
- "Evil Ways"
- "You Broke My Heart"
Lamar feud
- "Push Ups"
- "Taylor Made Freestyle"
- "Family Matters"
- "The Heart Part 6"
- "Forever"
- "0 to 100 / The Catch Up"
- "Charged Up"
- "Back to Back"
- "Right Hand"
- "Summer Sixteen"
- "Sneakin' "
- "Two Birds, One Stone"
- "No Frauds"
- "Signs"
- "Yes Indeed"
- "Duppy Freestyle"
- "Only You Freestyle"
- "Laugh Now Cry Later"
- "Bubbly"
- "Search & Rescue"
- "On the Radar Freestyle"
- "Wah Gwan Delilah"
- "It's Up"
2009 |
|
---|---|
2010 |
|
2011 |
|
2012 |
|
2013 |
|
2014 |
|
2015 |
|
2016 | |
2017 |
|
2018 |
|
2019 |
|
2020 |
|
2021 |
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2024 |
|