Drake and Future successfully created a moment with What A Time To Be Alive, successfully dodging leaks and getting rap fans everywhere tuned in to a a good old-fashioned radio show. Of course, the main difference with doing this in 2015 is the project could instantly be discussed on a major scale, with fans everywhere tweeting out lyrics as they happened.
Amidst the diamond emojis, you probably caught plenty of name drops in the lines highlighted on the project. Combing through it a couple of days later, there are a good 27 shout-outs to various athletes, musicians, and close friends throughout the 11-track burst, and we've decided to break them all down for you. (Interestingly, while known for his subliminals, and present for less of the project, it turns out Drake is much more likely to call people by name)
Click through to see the many faces of the people of What A Time To Be Alive.
Song: "Digital Dash"
Gucci Mane
"Gucci get out it's a problem"
Song: "Digital Dash"
Who said it: Drake
Drake's first interaction with Gucci Mane was his appearance on the Cold War series. A couple years later, he gave Guwop props when he filmed an Instagram clip rapping along to "Trap House 3" on a plane. Despite being among those targeted in Gucci's infamous Twitter rampage, Drake rightfully isn't holding any grudges and is hoping for Wop to make it out of jail soon.
Diddy
“I might put Diddy on my next
Song: "Digital Dash"
Who said it: Drake
Much like the Charlamagne nod on “Back To Back,” Drake has proposed a truce with Diddy, who was rumored to have gone off on him in a dispute over the “0 to 100” beat. Still, he makes sure to throw some subtle shade in with the extended hand, following the line up with, "I might could fit you in on a Wednesday," making it clear who's doing who the favor.
Item #1
Karrueche Tran
“This for my dogs who go Karrueche with the chopsticks”
Song: "Live From The Gutter"
Who said it: Drake
While every now and then they appear to make amends, Drake and Chris Brown haven't been the same since that infamous bottle-throwing incident. Drake is still finding new ways to get under the singer's skin, presumably doing so with this reference to Karrueche, Brown's recent ex who has caused him to get “in his emotions” time and time again. DJ Esco, who worked alongside Drake and Future on the LP, was recently rumored to be dating Tran. While the story may be entirely fictitious, Drake doesn't hesitate to take advantage of what's in the air.
Michael Jordan and Manu Ginobli
Michael Jordan and Manu Ginobli
"Chi-town chi-town Michael Jordan just said text me"
"I hit that Ginobili with my left hand up like woo"
Song: "Jumpman"
Who said it: Drake
Drake is always finding inventive ways to brag, and iMessaging with Michael Jordan is the type of weirdly specific but very enviable activity we expect from Drake at this point. On a song called "Jumpman," it had to be said. Elsewhere he shouts out Manu Ginobli, who we know has a far better shot than Drizzy himself.
Serena Williams
“I got racks like Serena”
Song: "Big Rings"
Who said it: Future
Strangely, it's Future and not Drake who drops the first Serena Williams line and only acknowledgement by name. Drizzy naturally chooses to allude to his relationship with the tennis star with "Just walked in with a girl that’s making triple what I’m making" (shout out to all my boss bitches?). While it works independently of the gossip, it's safe to assume Future's reference is no accident.
Item #1
Young Scooter
"Scooter in here with the zombies"
Song: "Digital Dash"
Who said it: Drake
Recorded in Atlanta with Metro Boomin overseeing the process, its no secret that What A Time To Be Alive is a project that sees Drake coming into Future's world. He makes sure to pay homage to the city on the first track, shouting out Zone 6, Kirkwood, and Lil Mexico, while also giving a nod to Future's close collaborator and fellow regional representer, Young Scooter.
Quentin Miller
Quentin Miller
"I might take Quentin to Follies"
Song: "Digital Dash"
Who said it: Drake
While there are countless references to Magic City, the strip club that Future's touring DJ and good friend Esco has a residency at, Drizzy brings up yet another popular strip joint in the area, Follies. The line also serves as his first on-record acknowledgement of Quentin Miller, the Atlanta-based writer who co-wrote multiple tracks on his last mixtape. After artfully dodging the ghostwriting debate with some powerful diss records, Drake has decided to slip in a quick reference to Quentin toprove he has nothing to hide.
Usher and DJ Mustard
Usher and DJ Mustard
"You don't have to call I hit my dance like Usher / I just found my tempo like I'm DJ Mustard"
Song: "Jumpman"
Who said it: Drake
While many of Drake's name-drops have some kind of personal significance to him, this one is just some simple wordplay. He has worked with both artists, hopping on the Mustard train a little late, but with a memorable verse on YG's "Who Do You Love?". The Usher collab is all the way back on a 2010 Khaled cut, "Fed Up". Does that really count? Maybe not, but it does exist.
Item #3
Big Meech, J-Bo, OG India, and Suga
"Yeah, last time they seen this shit it was BMF/ I know Big Meech and J-Bo, they were there/ I know OG India and Suga were there"
Song: "Plastic Bag"
Who said it: Future
Starting off his verse on "Plastic Bag," Future references some Atlanta history, name-checking founding member of Black Mafia Family, Big Meech and J-Bo, who migrated from Detroit to ATL, frequenting strip clubs where wll known dancers, OG India and Suga would dance. India actually reacted to the shout-out on Instagram (as well as the alleged Meek Mill diss). She wrote of the BMF days as "an Era that will never be forgotten The real Trash bags💰💰💰".
Song: "30 For 30 Freestyle"
Keyshia Cole, T.I., Young Dro
"Was destined for this shit when I was 'round Keyshia Cole and T.I/ And Young Dro was popping off with 'Ain't I'"
Song: "30 For 30 Freestyle"
Who said it: Drake
Drizzy gets a few names off right at the ed of the album, recalling time spent with Keyshia Cole and T.I. He mentions it was at the time of Yung L.A.'s popular single, "Ain't I," which featured close Tip affiliate, Young Dro (and T.I. himself). In the next bar, he also slyly references Dro's verse from the rhyming "Ain't I" with "macarena".
Item #1
OVO Johnny Roxx
"Roxx got a case but they get off again"
Song: "Change Locations
Who said it: Drake
If you've been following Drake's Instagram account, you'll probably notice that he's adopting something of a mob boss look, bulking up both his body and his beard. OVO Johnny Roxx is responsible for the former, serving as the rapper's personal trainer. From Baka to P Reign, Drake's crew haven't always had the easiest time with the law, but Drizzy always seems to do his part to help his friends out. Judging by the line, it seems Roxx may have found himself in some trouble recently, but whether or not it was Drake's doing, he's off the hook for the time being.
Lebron James, Steph Curry, Don "Magic" Juan
Lebron James, Steph Curry, Don "Magic" Juan
"Franchise tag on me Bron Bron / Steph Curry wrists n*gga, Oakland/ Percies for the bitches, Bishop magic Don Juan"
Song: "I'm The Plug"
Who said it: Future
Lebron, Steph Curry, and Don "Magic" Juan all already have a quite a few rap shoutouts to their names, but Future is probably the first person to put them back to back in a verse.
Song: "Digital Dash"
DJ Esco and Metro Boomin
"Esco and Boomin they got it on smash"
Song: "Digital Dash"
Who said it: Drake
Future has explained that DJ Esco and Metro Boomin were integral to the songwriting process of DS2, providing ideas for the arrangement of Future's vocals in the editing process. Chances are, Future's parts on the new project were similarly sliced and placed by the creative team of Esco and Boomin, with the latter filling the executive producer role and contributing most of the beats. It's only right that the two get a nod from Drake (and we assume they gave him some songwriting advice as well).
Noah "40" Shebib
"When the higher-ups have all come together as a collective/ With conspiracies to end my run and send me a message/ 40, did you get the message?/ Cause I just checked my phone and I didn't get it"
Song: "30 To 30 Freestyle"
Who said it: Drake
40 has been Drake's right-hand man from early on, so it was only right that the producer show up before the end of the project. "30 To 30 Freestyle" finds Drake at his most unapologetically Drake, which means he's throwing plenty of subliminals and name-checking his day-ones. He does both of these in the above line, calling out schemers trying to knock him from his spot, and posing a question to his in-house producer, who hilariously responded on Twitter.
I didn't get it....
Item #2
Peyton & Eli Manning
"Peyton and Eli, when n*ggas called me they brother, the season start/ And I don't wanna see you end up with nothing/ Y'all throw the word "family" around too much in discussion"
Song: "30 For 30 Freestyle"
Who said it: Drake
Peyton and Eli Manning are both star quarterbacks in the NFL, and always one to use sports metaphors, he compares their relationship to his own competitions in the rap game. According to Drizzy, claiming family doesn't mean he'll take it easy on you.
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
"So much legal action like I'm Michael Jackson"
Song: "30 For 30 Freestyle"
Who said it: Drake
"Bout to go Thriller, Mike Jackon on these n*ggas/ All I need's a fucking red jacket with some zippers". Drake's WATTBA nod isn't the first time he's compared himself to MJ, but while his Thank Me Later line is a simple brag, he's now seeing some of the less attractive elements of fame, possibly referencing the woman who claimed Drizzy's team had threatened her.
PartyNextDoor
PartyNextDoor
"Yeah, not here to fight wars/ But n*ggas wanna talk high scores/ PARTY just dipped off in a white Porsche/ And I just came from dinner where I ate some well-done seared scallops that were to die for"
Songs: "30 To 30 Freestyle"
Who said it: Drake
PARTNEXTDOOR is currently the biggest artist on the OVO roster, so he very well deserves a flex line on Drake's latest. In yet another hilariously specific brag, Drizzy denotes that the whole OVO team is winning, giving PARTY a foreign whip bar while he reserves the gourmet fish for himself.