D4L Freestyle
by Drake (featuring Future & Young Thug)

Album: Dark Lane Demo Tapes (2020)
Charted: 19
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • D4L was an Atlanta hip-hop quartet whose name stood for "Down For Life." They are best known for their 2005 single "Laffy Taffy," which topped the Hot 100. Here, Drake pays tribute to the rap group.
  • D4L comprised Fabo, Mook-B, Stoney, and Shawty Lo. Here, Drake shouts out Stoney, also known as Stuntman.

    D4L, Stunna Man, man, what's hannenin'?

    D4L popularized the phrase "what's hannenin'" on their 2005 track "I'm Da Man." Drake later interpolated the term at the start of his 2010 cut "Miss Me."

    I said "Tell me what's really goin' on"
    Drizzy back up in this thing, I'm ready, what's hannenin'?
  • Future and Young Thug join Drake on the track, and each give shout-outs to the labels they founded:

    FBG, OVO, what's hannenin'?
    YSL bandana, man, what's hannenin'?


    Future's label is "Freebrand" or "FBG." Drake reps his "OVO," and Young Thug's label is Young Stoner Life, otherwise known as "YSL."
  • The rest of "D4L" is braggadocios rapping, as the three artists flex about their luxury lifestyles and all the women drawn to them.
  • Drake and Future are regular collaborators; their other joint recordings include the mixtape What A Time to Be Alive, which they released in 2015, and the 2020 single "Life Is Good."

    This is the third time Drake and Young Thug have worked together on disc. Thugger previously contributed to Drizzy's 2017 More Life tracks "Sacrifices" and "Ice Melts."
  • Regular Future collaborator Southside supplied the beat. It's a remix of another of his productions, Dreezy and 2 Chainz's January 2018 track "2nd to None."

Comments: 1

  • Piper from San Francisco"my stool is loose, I share a needle with goose, try to cheese, try to fry, yesterday is the only goodbye....."

    DL4 2020, we live it here on the streets, came down from Portland and I sing this song every night, really gets in my blood, almost cry when I hear the words yesterday is the only goodbye, D rake from Canada
see more comments

Editor's Picks

90s Music Quiz 1

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Al Jourgensen of Ministry

Al Jourgensen of MinistrySongwriter Interviews

In the name of song explanation, Al talks about scoring heroin for William Burroughs, and that's not even the most shocking story in this one.

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"

Neal Smith - "I'm Eighteen"They're Playing My Song

With the band in danger of being dropped from their label, Alice Cooper drummer Neal Smith co-wrote the song that started their trek from horror show curiosity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Don Brewer of Grand Funk

Don Brewer of Grand FunkSongwriter Interviews

The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.

La La Brooks of The Crystals

La La Brooks of The CrystalsSong Writing

The lead singer on "Da Doo Ron Ron" and "Then He Kissed Me," La La explains how and why Phil Spector replaced The Crystals with Darlene Love on "He's A Rebel."

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the Song

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the SongSong Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.