Drake and Jay don’t collaborate frequently, but when they do, it often ignites the world of Hip Hop. Jay was among the first major artists to endorse Drake and contribute a verse to his debut album, signaling the rise of a new star. Among their most significant collaborations are the tracks “Light Up” and “Pound Cake.” Which of these tracks resonates more?
Light Up
Drake’s hunger during that era was unmatched.
“This sh*t feels like when Fredro Starr was as Sunset Park stuntin’ hard in his yellow goose.”
He lets the world know he has arrived through sheer dedication, saying,
I keep thinkin’, how young can you die from old age?
They always tell me: “Nobody’s workin’ as hard as you”
And even though I laugh it off, man, it’s probably true
‘Cause while all of my closest friends out partyin’
I’m just here makin’ all the music that they party to
Hollywood can be a challenging environment, and Drake sheds light on how easy it is to lose oneself in the relentless pursuit of fame. Despite achieving recognition and success, he stays true to his authentic self, serving as a powerful reminder of the importance of authenticity amidst the glamour of stardom.
Yeah, that’s what life becomes when you’re doin’ you
Welcome to Hollywood, don’t let this town ruin you
And if you pillow-talkin’ with the women that are screwin’ you
Just know that she gon’ tell another nigga
When she through with you
Don’t get impatient when it takes too long
Drink it all, even when it tastes too strong
Yeah, I got to feel alive, even if it kills me
Promise to always give you me, the real me
Here, Hov also gave Drake some solid advice on how to navigate his newly found fame.
Drake, here’s how they gon’ come at you
With silly rap feuds, tryin’ to distract you
In disguise, in the form of a favor
The Barzini meeting, watch for the traitors, uhh
I done seen it all, done it all
That’s why none of these dum-dums could done him off
Fresh off the Kendrick beef, you can tell Drake is starting to truly understand the final part of Hov’s verse. He put Kendrick on his first tour initially and you see the thanks he got years later.
And to these niggas I’m like Windows 7
You let them tell it, they swear that they invented you
And since no good deed go unpunished
I’m not as cool with niggas as I once was
I once was cool as the Fonz was
But these bright lights turned me to a monster
Sorry, mama, I promised it wouldn’t change me
But I would have went insane had I remained the same me
Fuck niggas! Bitches, too!
All I got is this money — this’ll do
Remember when he said “You right about F*ck the big 3, its just big d.” on family matters? Full circle moment.
Pound Cake
Overly focused, it’s far from the time to rest now
Debates growing ’bout who they think is the best now
Took a while, got the jokers out of the deck now
I’m holdin’ all the cards and niggas wanna play chess now
Drake is fully focused and prepared to win, setting aside all distractions.
My classmates, they went on to be chartered accountants
Or work with their parents, but thinkin’ back on how they treated me
My high school reunion might be worth an appearance
Make everybody have to go through security clearance
Revenge is a dish best served cold. Drake describes how though he has forgiven his old classmates for the harsh treatment, he has not forgotten.
Look, fuck all that “happy to be here” shit that y’all want me on
I’m the big homie, they still be tryna lil’ bro me dog
Like I should fall in line
Like I should alert niggas when I’m ’bout to drop somethin’ crazy
And not say I’m the greatest of my generation
Like I should be dressin’ different
Like I should be less aggressive and pessimistic
Like I should be way more nervous and less dismissive
Like I should be on my best behavior
And not talk my shit and do it major like the niggas who paved the way for us
Like I didn’t study the game to the letter
And understand that I’m not doin’ it the same, man, I’m doin’ it better
Like I didn’t make that clearer this year
A clever way to demand respect. He is no fluke artist and doesn’t feel the need to dim his light so others can feel comfortable. His success definitely makes that clear.
‘Cause she supported since Hot Beats right before Wayne came and got me
Out of the backroom where I was rapping with Jas over beats that I shouldn’t have
In the hopes for the glory
He walked right past in the hallway
Three months later I’m his artist
He probably wouldn’t remember that story
But that shit stick with me
Always couldn’t believe when he called me
You never know, it could happen to you
The vivid window into his life on how a woman named Paris supported Drake before the fame. He then goes into describing how crazy is was that the guy who discovered and signed him walked right past him three months prior.
Going back to Hov’s verse, his pound cake references were legendary.
Cake, cake-cake, cake-cake, cake
500 million, I got a pound cake
Niggas is frontin’, that’s upside-down cake
Get ’em a red nose, they clown cakes
They shoulda never let you ’round cake
Look at my neck, I got a karat cake, uh
Now here’s the icing on the cake
Cake, cake-cake, cake-cake
Hov also reflects on the thriving era of his old Roc-A-Fella family dominance and discusses his views on Beanie Sigel’s emotional reluctance to acknowledge it.
Uh, I’m just gettin’ started, oh yeah, we got it bitch
I done made more millionaires than the lotto did
Dame made millions, Biggs made millions
Ye made millions, Just made millions
Lyor made millions, Cam made millions
Beans’a tell you if he wasn’t in his feelings
G.O.A.T. VERSES 
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