With yesterday's remix of Fetty Wap's "My Way," we're getting that feeling that this summer's gonna be Drizzy season yet again. Drizzy had the most successful 2014 of anyone who didn't put out an album, and he did it by dropping impromptu remixes on the ever-fashionable OVO soundcloud. First, the TOPSZN boys bumped up Tinashe's "2 On" to level 6, and, then, weekdays were forever changed as he flexed his vocals to the max on iLoveMakonnen's "Tuesday."
Both cases show Drizzy jumping on trending hits, and simultaneously catapulting the song as well as the original artist into the mainstream (and earning some easy work for himself). Last year wasn't Drake's first time in the remix game, though. For the past few years, Drake has created singles outta remixes, making stars out of buzzing artists in the process.
We've rounded up all of Drizzy's remixes since 2010, when he jumped on indie producer SBTRKT's "Wildfire." Since, he's co-opted some of the hottest tracks of the 10s.
Vote for your favorite remix, and tell us why in the comments.
COVER
Fetty Wap - "My Way"
Drake was feeling awfully cheeky yesterday. Early in the day, on the 'gram, he posted a clip of Fetty Wap's "My Way," which, even before Drizzy got his 6 hands on it, had the potential to echo the success of "Trap Queen," currently #3 on the Billboard 100. As he finished the clip with a signature selfie, we knew a remix was on the horizon, and that's just what we got a few hours later.
Thus, Drizzy presents your new summer soundtrack.
iLoveMakonnen - "Tuesday"
Last August, Drake invited us to "Have a Wonderful Tuesday," and jumped on iLoveMakonnen's "Club Goin' Up...," shortening the title to "Tuesday." Looking back, the song was an indelible part of Drake's dominant no-album 2014. Did you ever think a song about clubbing on a weeknight could be so damn emotional?
While Drake was a little late on Fetty Wap, he caught "Tuesday" at just the right time. Makonnen is now signed to OVO, a platform that will likely take him way higher than most of the oddball ATL rappers he came up with.
Tinashe - "2 On"
Drizzy wasn't the only one to take a jab at Tinashe's breakout hit, "2 On," but the opening Mustard bassline was all too inviting for a TOPSZN remix. Drake attempts to put on his buddy OB O'Brien, who gives us a throwaway verse about smashing his chick in his OVO-branded parka. Fortunately, Drake provided enough heat to keep this banging throughout the summer months.
Drake begins with unabashedly clever pun-work: "For like the past five years / All these niggas wanna shine / I got the flashlight here"--then segues into a melancholic suite about how his girl is too contemplative for her own good. Wait, actually he's just calling her a hoe...
Did Aubrey and O'Brien top Tinashe's original with Q?
Soulja Boy - "We Made It"
In 2013, everyone had heard of Soulja Boy--this was six years after "Crank That." But was anyone expecting him to have another hit? Drake, apparently, who was kind enough to keep Soulja's name on his "We Made It" "freestyle." Soulja says about five words in the song, and Drake provides all the "fixiiins," channeling Kenny Powers levels of brashness.
In May of 2014, Jay Z and Jay Electronica added their own freestyles to the Soulja Boy instrumental--unimaginable in a Drizzyless world.
Migos - Versace
Though Migos have had plenty of hits since, Drake helped turn "Versace" into one of the top songs of 2013. He also helped spread the Migosian triplet flow to the world, as he imitates here, and would continue to dabble with on Nothing Was the Same ("The Language"). It also continued the mutual fascination between Drake and Atlanta, who now feels the city adopted him. ATLiens: Is the 6 God Atlanta's honorary son?
Waka Flocka Flame - Round of Applause
"Round of Applause" ended up being one of the biggest tracks off Waka's second album, Triple F Life, largely because of Drake's feature. The Lex Luger-produced song was originally supposed to be a solo-single, though when Drake released his version on the always-percolating OVO soundcloud, it was immediately album worthy.
The two ended up putting out a video, which shows Drake's early experience in the strip club. He's been VIP at Diamonds of Atlanta ever since.
Future - Tony Montana
Future was red-hot on the mixtape circuit, but the success of his debut, Pluto, has to, in some part, be attributed to Drake jumping on "Tony Montana." To Future's credit, the ATL trap crooner influenced Drizzy to add a little Atlanta sauce to his own singing.
Again, Drake's remix replaced the original, and went on to build hype around an album that included massive hits like "Turn On the Lights" and "Magic." Three years later, Drake and Future are now prepping the hottest tour of the summer.
SBTRKT & Little Dragon - "Wildfire"
Though he only laid one verse on "Wildfire," it was enough to turn SBTRKT & Little Dragon's slimy bass monster into a hit. It also marked the beginning of Drake cosigning indie-electronic producers, often from the UK, such as James Blake. Over the past couple years, Drake has slowed, and sizzurp'd-down his flow, but if you wanna hear Drizzy go full steam at 140bpm, give "Wildfire" another rinse.