A Lyric Analysis For Drake's Remix Of "Wanna Know"

Drake shared four new singles on the latest episode of his Beats 1 show OVO Sound Radio — three of which in collaboration with Altanta rapper 21 Savage, "Two Birds One Stone," "Fake Love," and "Sneakin." At the end of the episode, Drizzy revealed that these three songs will appear in his December album, More Life. All four of the songs have serious diss track tendencies, specifically towards one of Drake's primary h8rs, Meek Mill. But his remix of the UK rapper Dave's (aka Santan Dave), "Wanna Know" seems like the ultimate clapback at Meek particularly because the Philly rapper also happens to have a diss track geared towards Drake called "Wanna Know" which was produced by Jahlil Beats and Swizz Beatz.

The song is a perfect mashup of both Drake's smooth, deadpan voice and Dave's super sexy British accent. But "Wanna Know" is not just a remix uniting two artists from different sides of the pond. Drake chose the song for a reason, and that reason seems to be to show Meek Mill that he's an international hit who is completely unstoppable. Sometimes I wish the 6 God would just forgive and forget his enemies, but then I remember we wouldn't get hits like "Wanna Know" and I take it back. Bring on the rage! The following is a lyrical breakdown of Drake's remix diss track.

He starts with the same ole, same ole — Drizzy wants his enemies to be jealous of him and he knows when they've been talking about him. He relishes the envy of his peers and says "I don't answer cause it's all there cause it better be."

Yeah, they try to send for me Envy and jealousy is everything I wish upon my enemies All that for them, right back at them What my mind keeps telling me Mind keeps telling me I hear everything, I don't answer cause it's all there cause it better be Trust me it better be, no long talking or settling

He then goes into a whole metaphor about wrestling. I believe the nub and gist of the metaphor is that Drake isn't trying to start anything, and he's not a fighter, but if somebody comes after him, namely Meek Mill, he's going to fight back. I'm sure Meek Mill is shaking in his Nikes.

Just when I've never won no wrestling But he's on a big belt medal ting Streets unruly More life for my brother's trying out better things, cause

Enter our pal, Dave, the cutie with a voice that sounds like velvet. In the chorus, he talks about how he and his woes are all in a frenzy to make money. They stay away from "hoes" because they don't want to spend money on relationships specifically when very recently the same women weren't interested — until Dave and crew started making money or "seeing dough." Then, Dave throws some fun UK slang in to the mix, "catties" and "mandem" which are Caribbean-based phrases for ladies and close male friends respectively, if Urban Dictionary is to be trusted.

Cause all my man are running to the money We be running like ay, ay, ay, ay And all my man are running from them hoes on the roads like whoa whoa whoa, whoa Like whoa, a month ago you didn't wanna know But now I'm seeing dough, these catties they be calling off my phoneAll these mandem, they applaud me on the road

Then, we head to a verse from Dave, which is great, because despite calling women "catties" and "hoes" which are both pretty derogatory, you can't fault him for that voice. Jeez.

I put corn in for my bro Mandem keep on talking on a low Mandem keep talkin on a low, but all my man are bros And all my man, all my man are bros My man dem will have your mandem on the ropes I'll have mandem on your road Mandem in a batch or on they own With a bat or with a pole I got mandem that will slap a man with both

According to TahmidCanRapSometimes from Genius.com, "corn" is London slang for bullets. So basically this entire verse is about how Dave has his mandem backs and they have his. If someone were to mess with him he would have his mandem stake out their "road" or neighborhood. His friends wouldn't hesitate to beat somebody up with a "bat or with a pole," so other crews better watch out. He goes on to talk about how he looks fly and ladies are always hitting him up saying, "Nike jacket on my back I'm looking cold/It's funny how these catties wanna know, but"

But what, Dave? He goes on to repeat the chorus, emphasizing that he's not interested in any catties, and then it's back to Drake and his attack on Meek Mill.

Free smoke, anybody want it they can get it No joke, call up landlord, n*gga that's broke I only link with the real ones, lord knows

Basically, Drake's saying, I've got that "juice," if you will, and anybody can get in on it but only if they are "real ones" unlike the unnamed Meek Mill.

On fo', I love to see a fake n*gga go broke I don't run to Twitter with the things I know I fall back to see how it unfold

According to Genius contributer, TurntTurc,"On fo' is a common way to say 'real shit' without cursing in many countries." Meanwhile, "run to Twitter" is a pointedly obvious reference to Meek, who likes to Tweet about how Drake doesn't write his own rhymes. So Champagne Papi claims he will relish in what he considers the inevitable fall of Meek Mill. Yikes. I can't be the only one who literally never wants to get on Drake's bad side?

Next, Drake talks about how there's a lot of people who didn't care about him until he made money. Fame is fickle, y'all, and so are people who only like you because of it.

Yeah, like whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa Like whoa, years ago they didn't wanna know But now I'm seeing dough

Drizzy ends his collaboration with a UK artist by mentioning that he can get women from any country he wants. Because what is a Drake song without lashing out another rapper followed by bragging about his own awesomeness? He reminds us that "catties" and "tings," both slang for women, are calling him and getting tickets to his shows. He even has UK women (area code +44) texting him on WhatsApp, an app used for international texting.

Catties they be calling up my phone Trying to get tickets to a show Yeah, I got U.K. tings on the WhatsApp now Like +44 on the road

The song ends with repetition from the chorus, but I think we all get the gist: Drake is great, Dave is great, they're both successful lady bait, and Meek Mill is Drake Enemy #1. Maybe someday Meek Mill and Drake will get over their lasting rap feud, but if they don't, I don't mind that much. With the feud comes angry rhymes and catchy songs any fan can get behind. Keep on, keeping on Aubrey Graham.

Images: Giphy (2), Santan Dave/Youtube