Drake has released his fourth single this year, a grime-leaning AXL Beats-produced track called “War.” The song can be found on OVO Co-Founder Oliver El-Khatib’s EL-KUUMBA TAPE VOL. 1, in collaboration with Kuumba International, and arrived with a ski resort-set video.
Lyrically, the song finds Drake reflecting on his beefs. The OVO head confirms that he and fellow Canadian star, The Weeknd, have mended their once-strained relationship.
“OVOXO link up, mandem drink up, me and the drillers/ Hawk and Sticks and Cash and Baka, Gucci, P and Gilla/ And the boy that sound like he sang on ‘Thriller,’ you know that’s been my ni**a/ Yeah, we just had to fix things, family, 6ix tings, we can’t split up,” he raps.
Drizzy even makes a nod toward Kylie Jenner dating rumors with the line, “Before I was ever around Kendalls, I was at ends though, dreamin’ up Enzos/ The woman I do end up with has to be a bad girl just like Munchy/ Can’t have no pretentious ting when I know this road gets bumpy.”
Perhaps most notably is Drake’s British drill style of rapping. The stylistic choice was so apparent, that “UK Drake” was even trending on Twitter Tuesday morning (Dec. 24), along with the likes of British grime rapper, Skepta.
“More Life is one of my favorite Drake projects so the return of UK Drake is welcomed,” one person tweeted.
“UK drake, Jamaican Drake, Atlanta Drake, it don’t fu**ing matter. Boy is a problem,” another wrote. “That tune hit.”
Drake has been in self-described ‘album mode’ since the summer. “War” follows his “Behind Bars” bonus track and two-song The Best in the World Pack EP, which contained “Omertà” and “Money in the Grave” featuring Rick Ross. Additionally, this year has seen Drizzy collaborate with fellow Toronto artist PartyNextDoor on “Loyal” and MC Kevin o Chris on the remixed “Ela E do Tipo.”
Watch the “War” music video below, which finds Drake and his OVO crew shredding some snow-covered mountains.