Believe Me
by Lil Wayne (featuring Drake)

Album: Single release only (2014)
Charted: 36 26
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Songfacts®:

  • This steady-moving rap number was released as the first single from Tha Carter V. It features a guest appearance from frequent collaborator and Young Money associate Drake, with production from Boi-1da and Vinylz (Drake's "5AM In Toronto").
  • The song is very much a braggadocio track with the two MCs proclaiming they are the best in the rap game and there's no competition in sight. Whilst Drake claims he is popular as everyone believes in his talent, Weezy's verses are more tough-minded and violent as he spits threats to those who disrespect him, while boasting that hell will freeze over before he loses any of his influence.
  • Wayne's live debut of the song the night after its release was in unlikely circumstances. As Floyd Mayweather walked out to the ring for his bout with Marcos Maidano, he was accompanied by Lil Wayne performing the track.
  • Speaking with Revolt TV, Boi-ida explained the process of creating the song's beat. "Vinylz had a beat and told me to check it out [so] I just added a few things to it and I pretty much sent it over to Drake when it was done then like, I don't know what went on but suddenly, maybe like a month later, Drake and Wayne had the record," he recalled. "I think he must of brought the beat to Wayne and then they worked on the record together."

    Vinylz added that the beat was created with no one specific in mind. "The way me and 1da work, we never make a beat specific for anyone. We just do us," he explained. "A lot of people complain about rappers these days sounding the same and using the same flows, but the producers are also responsible for that too because they're making the same type of beats. So, it ends up making the rapper just wanna do the same s--t. So every time we work, we just try something brand new."
  • The song was Drake's 14th #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. It meant that the Toronto MC overtook Usher's 13 visits to the summit to become the artist with the most leaders in that chart's history.

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