Top 5 Countdown of Drake Songs Featuring Female Artists - Including His Girlfriend Rihanna [VIDEO]
Drake, who is regarded as a "sensitive rapper" for his soft, deep voice and keen choice of mellow sound, often talks about relationships and breakups that coexist in love. In order to make that happen in music and to appear more realistic for the audience, he had enlisted some of the most acclaimed female recording artists, including his current lover, Rihanna. Check out the top 5 countdown of the Canadian rapper's hit collaborations!
#5 "Up All Night" featuring Nicki Minaj from Thank Me Later (2010)
The track off his debut album is full of silly puns, featuring his label mate Nicki Minaj. Labeled contemporary R&B, the Young Money collaboration is topped off with menacing strings. It also contains hints of spacey synths and clatters with reverbed percussion. "Up All Night" was one of the most popular songs to download from Thank Me Later.
#4 "Fireworks" featuring Alicia Keys from Thank Me Later (2010)
Considered as one of the most anticipated songs off Thank Me Later, it features the chorus from Alicia Keys, who collaborated with Drake on her single "Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)" before. The YMCMB rapper previously explained the track. "The song itself is the first song on the album; I think it's the biggest indicator of what the album is gonna be like," he said. "That's why I picked that song to go first, and that's why I wrote the first verse like that. It's really where I am in my life right now. I know they're looking forward to the album, so I want them to get a feel of how the story starts off." The song begins with the actual sound of fireworks in the background. Drake then talks about his life, joking that his 15 minutes of fame started about an hour ago. "It truly is a story," he added. "At no point in the album does it fall off and become about some songs I slapped together. It's all a story from beginning to end. Just like 'So Far Gone' was. It's that time."
#3 "From Time" featuring Jhené Aiko from Nothing Was the Same (2013)
Produced by Noah "40" Shebib and Chilly Gonzales, the nostalgic and emotional song is off Drake's third studio album NWTS, which is full of successful singles. It is also co-written by the rapper himself and features guest appearance from Californian singer Jhené Aiko. There was a speculation that the track would be titled, "Momentous Occasions." The piano harmonies nicely compliment the song, which is about a conversation between Drake and his old flame. "From Time" is the Canadian rapper's personal favorite, as he previously tweeted: "40. Gonzales. Jhene Aiko. Might be my new favorite song. @JheneAiko @chillygonzales @OVO40."
#2 "Make Me Proud" featuring Nicki Minaj from Take Care (2011)
This is another collaboration with female emcee Nicki Minaj. Drake first revealed the song's title via Twitter, released the track on his OVO blog and premiered it on Hot 97. "Make Me Proud" is a love note to the Young Money rapper's main chick, asserting that fact that she is the queen of the game. Drake's verse is deliberately ambiguous, although it is assumed that he might be talking to the Trinidadian rapper. Furthermore, the track is considered as an addition to the publicity stunt from Drake and Nicki Minaj since their collaboration on "Moment 4 Life." It received platinum certification by the R.I.A.A. for U.S. sales, exceeding 1,000,000 copies.
#1 "Take Care" featuring Rihanna from Take Care (2011)
The worldwide successful hit samples Jamie xx's 2011 remix of Gil Scott-Heron's version of "I'll Take Care of You," which was originally recorded by Bobby Bland in 1959. The track features the vocals from real-life girlfriend Rihanna, and it is the second collaboration of the pair after the Barbadian singer's hit "What's My Name?" With pounding bass drum and sparse piano melody, it tells the story of two lovers acknowledging they have been hurt in their past but are ready to move on to have a new relationship together by looking after one another. Drake previously explained the concept of his simple and minimalistic visual: "It's all basically the ups and downs of a relationship but represented in icebergs and fire and animals and just pulsating movement and then you've got me and Rihanna very intimate." The couple is seen embracing each other, and the Canadian rapper kisses his lover on the forehead towards the end.
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