No Friends In The Industry

Album: Certified Lover Boy (2021)
Charted: 11
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Here, Drake takes issue with his hip-hop peers who disrespect him. Their beefs are futile because his numbers speak for themselves; the debate about him being the G.O.A.T. is already settled in his favor.

    Drake adds that he has a tight relationship with his crew and doesn't need any other friends outside his inner circle.
  • Throughout the song, Drake addresses several feuds, notably with Kanye West. He teases Yeezy, telling him that while he remains close to his crew, the Chicago MC's camp isn't so airtight.

    And your circle shrinkin', see some boys escapin'
    Rest of them is guilty by association


    Drake may be referencing Kanye's friend Kid Cudi collaborating on another Certified Lover Boy cut, "IMY2." Drake and Cudi had a public falling out back in 2016, but now they've patched things up.
  • Vinylz, Nik D and OZ's production samples Three 6 Mafia's 1999 track "Niggaz Ain't Barin Dat."
  • Drake, Vinylz, Nik D and OZ are credited as writers along with Gregory Williams and Bobby DeBarge of the R&B/funk band Switch. Williams and DeBarge are listed because "No Friends" samples Switch's 1979 single "I Call Your Name."
  • This was one of four placements Oz landed on Certified Lover Boy. While the other three came from the Swiss producer working at home making beats and sending them to Drake, he built this one differently. Oz told Billboard: "Nik D and I built the melody side, and we created a sample. Then I sent it to Vinylz, and he did the rest by adding the drums and other stuff... We made the melodies and sample, but Vinylz added the fast hi-hats, like a Memphis type of beat."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Divided Souls: Musical Alter Egos

Divided Souls: Musical Alter EgosSong Writing

Long before Eminem, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj created alternate personas, David Bowie, Bono, Joni Mitchell and even Hank Williams took on characters.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.

90s Metal

90s MetalFact or Fiction

Test your metal - Priest, Maiden, and Beavis and Butt-head show up in this one.

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Guy Clark

Guy ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the artists who have looked to Clark for insightful, intelligent songs.