What's Next (Drake song) explained

"What's Next" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on March 5, 2021, as a single from Drake's fourth EP Scary Hours 2, through Republic Records and OVO Sound.

With the song's debut at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100, it became Drake's eighth US number-one single in the country. Additionally, it became his fourth song to debut atop the chart.^[1]

Background

An earlier version of the song surfaced on the internet on February 27, 2021.^[2] It was noted that various lines of the song resembled those of on an unreleased track with Young Thug titled "What a Time to Be a Slime".^[3] On March 3, 2021, Drake took to his social media to announce the release of his upcoming EP Scary Hours 2 on March 5, as well as the return of OVO Sound Radio the next day.^[4] The song was released as track one of the EP.^[5]

In May 2021, rapper Baby Keem revealed he was originally intended to be featured on the single alongside American rapper Playboi Carti (who Drake would later work with on the track Pain 1993.^[6] In the early morning of September 4, 2021, a day after the release of Drake's Certified Lover Boy, Drake premiered the original version of What's Next with Baby Keem on his radio show.^[7] The original version includes all vocals from the released version, with an additional verse from Keem.

Composition

The song was described as Drake being "on his rapping shit" and "in flex mode", with a "grungy trap production" and a "triumphant-sounding instrumental". Lyrically, the rapper shows off "grandiose flexes that only he could relate to".^{[8] [9]}

Music video

An accompanying music video was released alongside the single and was directed by Theo Skudra. The video was shot in early March 2021 in Toronto^[10] and shows Drake dancing at different sites of the city, including the top of the CN Tower, as well as the TTC Subway, Yonge-Dundas Square, and Ripley's Aquarium of Canada.^{[9] [11]}

Commercial performance

The song debuted atop the US Billboard Hot 100 on the chart dated March 20, 2021, dethroning Olivia Rodrigo's "Drivers License" which ruled for eight consecutive weeks.^[1] The remaining tracks from the Scary Hours 2 EP, "Wants and Needs" and "Lemon Pepper Freestyle", managed to debut at number two and three, respectively, thus making him the first artist in history to have three songs debut in the top 3 of the Billboard Hot 100.^[1]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[12]

• Aubrey Graham – lead vocals, songwriting
• Jonathan Priester – songwriting, production
• Maneesh Bidaye – songwriting, production, additional production
• Noah Shebib – mixing, studio personnel
• Noel Cadastre – recording, studio personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "What's Next"

Chart (2021)	Peak position
Denmark (Tracklisten)[13]	34
France (SNEP)[14]	74
Iceland (Tónlistinn)[15]	25
Italy (FIMI)[16]	88
Lithuania (AGATA)[17]	12
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18]	12
Norway (VG-lista)[19]	27
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[20]	26
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[21]	47

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for "What's Next"

Chart (2021)	Position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[22]	68
Global 200 (Billboard)[23]	179
US Billboard Hot 100[24]	68
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[25]	29
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[26]	32

See also

• List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 2021

Notes and References

1. Drake Makes Historic Hot 100 Start at Nos. 1, 2 & 3, Led by 'What's Next'. Trust. Gary. Billboard. March 15, 2021. March 15, 2021.
2. Web site: New Drake Song 'What's Next' Surfaces Online. Araash. HipHopNMore. February 27, 2021. March 5, 2021.
3. Web site: Drake's Unreleased Song "What's Next" Surfaces. A.. Aron. HotNewHipHop. February 27, 2021. March 5, 2021.
4. Drake Teases Second 'Scary Hours' Release. Kaufman. Gil. Billboard. March 4, 2021. March 5, 2021.
5. Web site: Drake Shares 3 New Songs on Scary Hours 2 EP: Listen. Minsker. Evan. Pitchfork. March 5, 2021. March 5, 2021.
6. Web site: Baby Keem Reveals He Was Supposed to be on "What's Next," Talks Connecting with Drake. .
7. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210905011341/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CJ6SGiJY6A . 2021-09-05. YouTube, a Google company . YouTube.
8. Web site: Drake 'What's Next' Lyrics. Coleman II. C. Vernon. XXL. March 5, 2021. March 5, 2021.
9. Web site: Drake "What's Next". Duong. Paul "Big Homie". Rap Radar. March 5, 2021. March 5, 2021.
10. Web site: Drake Reportedly Seen Filming New Music Video in Toronto. Caraan. Sophie. Hypebeast. March 3, 2021. March 5, 2021.
11. Web site: Drake Shares 'What's Next' Music Video: Watch. Navjosh. HipHopNMore. March 5, 2021. March 5, 2021.
12. Web site: What's Next / Drake. Tidal. March 5, 2021.
13. Web site: Track Top-40 Uge 10, 2021. Hitlisten. da. March 17, 2021.
14. Web site: Top Singles (Week 9, 2021). SNEP. 27 February 2021.
15. Web site: Tónlistinn – Lög. The Music – Songs. is. Plötutíðindi. July 4, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210322061002/http://plotutidindi.is/lagalistinn/. March 22, 2021. dead.
16. Web site: Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 10. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. it. March 13, 2021.
17. Web site: 2021 10-os SAVAITĖS (kovo 5-11 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100. lt. AGATA. 12 March 2021. 27 March 2021.
18. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. March 15, 2021. March 13, 2021.
19. Web site: Singel 2021-W10. VG-lista. March 12, 2021.
20. Web site: ČNS IFPI. IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202110 into search.. March 15, 2021.
21. Web site: Veckolista Singlar, vecka 10. Sverigetopplistan. March 13, 2021.
22. Canadian Hot 100 - Year End 2021. Billboard. December 2, 2021.
23. Global 200 – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 2, 2021.
24. Web site: Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 2, 2021.
25. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 2, 2021.
26. Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 2, 2021.
27. Web site: Top 40-Rhythmic Future Releases. https://web.archive.org/web/20210310033557/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases. All Access. March 10, 2021.