Drake’s latest release, “Nice for What,” unabashedly celebrates the feminine form by showcasing strong, smart, beautiful and intelligent women in a way that hasn’t been seen in a while (especially from the male perspective). What’s most refreshing about the song and accompanying visuals is just how much Drake took himself out of the equation in delivering this masterpiece.
From the first frame of the video, juxtaposed over the Big Freedia sample to end all samples, the viewer knows this is not going to be the type of video they thought it was going to be. Then again, Drake has proven time and time again in his illustrious career that he is not your typical rapper, nor does he have a desire to be. From his willingness to discuss his emotional connections and heartbreaks with the women of his past, to his openness with the difficult balance many children of divorce face, Drake has always managed to strike an emotional chord with his listeners — whether they want to admit it or not. So, it’s no wonder “Nice for What” does just that. Each frame in the video, directed by Toronto’s own Karena Evans (a prolific storyteller in her own right), features women with connections to Drake and his music, and in that aspect, can be seen as a way for Drake to directly communicate with the women all over the world who love his music.
So, here are seven lessons I peeped from my listening session of what is sure to be the summer ’18 anthem for all women.
1. Independent women deserve confident partners who recognize what they bring to the table.
When Drake says, "I've been peepin' what you bringin' to the table / Workin' hard, girl, everything paid for," this is a direct call out to all the independent women who love his music. We’ve known since, at least, "Fancy" on his debut album, that Drake loves him an independent woman, and we’ve also known from watching his partners through the years, that independent women love him — probably because he doesn’t shy away from constantly celebrating them (looking at you, Rihanna and that 2016 billboard).
2. It’s okay to be proud of your accomplishments.
Drake ends the first verse with this nugget: "You showing off but it’s alright / It’s a short life," showcasing that he understands what independent women have to go through, when the perceptions of others misconstrue their pride in securing the bag and taking care of themselves, to that of having a big ego. It’s a short life. It’s alright to be proud of what you’ve done. I know I, for one, get tired of hearing “be humble” when I acknowledge the work put in and ground gained. Ladies, it’s OK to be proud of yourself. You earned it!
3. You’re already your best self and you don’t need anyone’s validation.
In today’s social media-heavy world, it’s easy to get distracted by the mentions and lose track of the important thing: being your absolute best self. I think that’s why I love this line so much.
I think that’s why I love this line so much:
"That's a real one, in your reflection / Without a follow, without a mention"
To Drake’s point, real recognizes real, and truly independent women have a tribe that respects their vibe; these tribes may not always have platforms and 1M followers, but they are the ones there when all the lights fade. Keep your circle tight and utilize more than a follower count to determine people’s intentions. Which brings me to the next point …
4. Make sure the people in your life are there for the right reasons.
This is a less obvious lesson and one that many have had to learn the hard way through failed connections and encountering people who are not as authentic as their online selves would suggest. To that, I say Drake is correct. They don't really be the same offline; it’s OK because every independent woman knows the real ones don’t have to ever like a pic online if they offer the support offline.
5. Never apologize for celebrating your wins
Every independent woman has experienced a myriad of things to get to where they are. I heard someone say once that “no one cares about your story until you’ve made it,” and what often ends up missing in the stories of success we see plastered across our screen daily is the struggle. But, the struggle is what makes the success so sweet. To that I say, celebrate the f*ck out of your wins because every day above the ground is reason to celebrate.
6. Hit the club like you hit those angles
Too often, celebrating life is seen as a hazard. With everything going on in the world, anytime you can celebrate anything, you should celebrate it. And for the women who, like me, felt Drake’s latest release on a spiritual level because, "You know dark days / You know hard times" — that video and song is for us, so lets make sure it gets all the praise it deserves.
And, finally:
7. If you’re going to celebrate anything (a culture, a gender, a place), it’s best to enlist people who have an intimate understanding and connection with the thing you’re celebrating.
There aren’t any lyrics here, just a shout out to Drake and his team’s intelligence to enlist women from all walks of life, and at different points in their careers, to tell this story. Hats off to Karena Evans, Olivia Wilde, Misty Copeland, Issa Rae, Rashida Jones, Jourdan Dunn, Tracee Ellis Ross, Tiffany Haddish, Yara Shahidi, Zoe Saldana, Elizabeth + Victoria Lejonhjärta, Letitia Wright, Bria Vinaite, Emma Roberts and Syd for giving us life and reason to celebrate, unabashedly.
