The Ride

Album: Take Care (2011)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Drake closes Take Care with another gripe about fame, a theme that runs throughout much of the album. "I hate when people say they feel me, man," he spits.
  • The song was co-produced by Toronto-based R&B singer Abel Tesfaye, a.k.a. the Weeknd, who also provides vocals on the track. Tesfaye also contributed to another Take Care cut, "Crew Love." Tesfaye recalled to Complex magazine: "We were making the drum loop and...oh, man, I had smoked I don't know how much weed. Even Drake, he came into that session and we were all smoked out. It was terrible how much weed smoke was in that room. I was surprised I could even hit a note. I had sung this melody—it wasn't a hook, just an unfinished lyric. And he liked it so much, he was like, "I need to have this, man.... I know I've already taken 'Shot For Me' and 'Crew Love' and this and that." And me, I was hungry at that time. I was like, 'Dude, take anything.' At that point I was like, 'Hell, yeah.'"
  • This has a soulful Hip-Hop vibe, which according to Drake's right-hand man Noah "40" Shebib was what attracted the Toronto MC to the track. He explained to MTV News: "It was a vibe that the Weeknd caught, and it was just so crazy that Drake wanted to rap on it — as simply put as that."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

John Kay of Steppenwolf

John Kay of SteppenwolfSongwriter Interviews

Steppenwolf frontman John Kay talks about "Magic Carpet Ride," "Born To Be Wild," and what he values more than awards and accolades.

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's Songs

Macabre Mother Goose: The Dark Side of Children's SongsSong Writing

"London Bridge," "Ring Around the Rosie" and "It's Raining, It's Pouring" are just a few examples of shockingly morbid children's songs.

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"They're Playing My Song

As a songwriter and producer, Narada had hits with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Starship. But what song does he feel had the greatest impact on his career?

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Desmond Child

Desmond ChildSongwriter Interviews

One of the most successful songwriters in the business, Desmond co-wrote "Livin' La Vida Loca," "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Livin' On A Prayer."