Talk Up
by Drake (featuring Jay-Z)

Album: Scorpion (2018)
Charted: 20
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song features both Drake and Jay-Z talking up their places on top of the rap game. Both artists boast about being proud of how they've overcome various obstacles in order to reach the pinnacle of their profession.
  • Jay's verse seems to have been recorded late in the day as in last two bars of his verse he references XXXTentacion's death. The singer/rapper was shot and killed in a robbery on June 18, 2018 and Scorpion was released eleven days later.

    Y'all killed X and let Zimmerman live
    Streets is done


    Jay-Z executive produced a six-part documentary series about the 2012 death of Trayvon Martin. The 17-year old high school student was fatally shot by neighborhood watch coordinator George Zimmerman, who was later acquitted of all charges. Here, Jay-Z expresses his displeasure with XXXTentacion's death while George Zimmerman remains free.

    Hova previously referenced Zimmerman during his verse on DJ Khaled's "Top Off."
  • This is the fifth time that the pair of rap behemoths have worked together. Their previous collaborations were Jay-Z's 2009 song "Off That," plus Drake's "Light Up," "Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2" and the single version of "Pop Style."
  • DJ Paul's classic southern production samples in the background the chorus of N.W.A.'s debut single "Dopeman." Three 6 Mafia founding member DJ Paul and Drake's father both share the same attorney, while he is a neighbor of Drake's mom. Infact, this collaboration came about after DJ Paul ran into Sandi Graham while going for a walk. He recalled to TMZ.com:

    "She told Drake, she was like, 'I met this really nice guy named DJ Paul.' And I've been knowing Drake forever, but out of sight, out of mind, he probably thought about it like 'Goddamn, Paul do have some hardass beats!'"

    "Me and Drake been talking about getting together forever, but we never did," he continued. "He probably thought about it like, 'Damn, I should hit up Paul.' And then he hit me up on Instagram [at] 4 in the morning."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Petula Clark

Petula ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Petula talks about her hits "Downtown" and "Don't Sleep In The Subway," and explains her Michael Jackson connection.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

U2 Lyrics

U2 LyricsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the lyrics of U2?

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.