A braggadocious money-spending anthem, “10 Bands” finds Drake contemplating… Read Full Bio ↴A braggadocious money-spending anthem, “10 Bands” finds Drake contemplating his massive net worth and its consequences. Released along with its parent mixtape, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, on February 13, 2015, the track eventually became certified platinum on June 29, 2018.

While a fan favorite, “10 Bands” stirred up controversy for being written by Quentin Miller, revealed to be Drake’s ghostwriter for parts of "If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late". Hot 97 DJ Funk Flex played Miller’s reference version of the song, adding fire to the flame that became Drake and fellow rapper Meek Mill’s infamous and well-publicized beef.

After this song, Drake appeared on “6PM in New York”, “Pop Style” and “Work”, all Sevn Thomas productions.

10 Bands
Drake Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ten bands, fifty bands, hunnid bands, fuck it man
Let's just not even discuss it man, O-M-G
Niggas sleep, I ain't trippin' I'ma let 'em sleep
I ain't trippin' let 'em rest in peace

I can tell ya how it happened
I can tell ya 'bout them safe house nights out in Calabasas
I can tell you not a rapper

Tryna sell this story, I don't even open up the package
Who you with? What you claim?
I was paying mama's rent when I was turnin' seventeen
Sold it dirty like Diana, never clean
My ex ask me, "Where you movin'?", I said, "On to better things," yeah

Ten bands, fifty bands, hunnid bands, fuck it, man
Let's just not even discuss it, man, O-M-G
Niggas sleep, I ain't trippin' I'ma let 'em sleep
I ain't trippin' let 'em rest in peace

I been in the crib with the phones off
I been at the house taking no calls
I done hit a stride got my shit goin'
In the six cooking with the wrist motion
Drapes closed I don't know what time it is
I'm still awake I gotta shine this year
I could never ever let the streets down
Haven't left the condo for a week now, man

Ten bands, fifty bands, hunnid bands, fuck it, man
Let's just not even discuss it, man, O-M-G
Niggas sleep, I ain't trippin' I'ma let 'em sleep
I ain't trippin' let 'em rest in peace

I been on a mission haven't left the condo
This that OVO, that SZN, this that new Toronto
I get boxes of free Jordan like I play for North Carolina
How much I make off the deal, how the fuck should I know?
All my watches always timeless you can keep the diamonds
Treatin' Diamonds of Atlanta like it's King of Diamonds
Take a flick, I look like Meechy, look like Bleu DaVinci
I treat V Live like it's '07 in Magic City
Man, I told my city I'd be gone 'til November, then November came
Then I came, right back on my worst behav'
6 God put both hands together that's amazin' grace
6 God selfish with the love, I need all the praise
Woo, they got me feelin' like the one again
Woo, they got me feelin' like the one again
Yeah, shout goes out to Nike, checks all over me
I need a FuelBand just to see how long the run has been

Ten bands, fifty bands, hunnid bands, fuck it, man
Let's just not even discuss it, man, O-M-G
Niggas sleep, I ain't trippin' I'ma let 'em sleep
I ain't trippin' let 'em rest in peace

I been in the crib with the phones off
I been at the house takin' no calls

I done hit a stride got my shit goin'
In the 6ix cookin' with the wri-wri-wri-wri

Overall Meaning

"10 Bands" is a song by Canadian rapper, Drake which was released as a single in 2015 from his mixtape "If You're Reading This It's Too Late". Firstly, the song talks about Drake's success and the amount of money he has, with him constantly reiterating "Ten bands, fifty bands, hunnid bands, fuck it, man/Let's just not even discuss it, man, O-M-G." The word "bands" is a slang term for $1,000, and Drake is saying he has so much money he doesn't need to talk about it, and it doesn't matter to him anymore. Another notable theme of the song is how Drake's success has changed his life, the people he interacts with, and his surroundings, with him rapping, "I been on a mission haven't left the condo, This that OVO, that SZN, this that new Toronto". This line shows his dedication to his music, as he's been staying indoors to focus on it, and he also represents his record label, OVO or October's Very Own, and his hometown Toronto.

Drake also touches on the topic of loyalty in the song, particularly towards his past relationships with women, his family, and his friends. For instance, "My ex ask me where I'm movin', I said, "On to better things," yeah" shows how he is not afraid to move on from his past relationships when he knows they're no longer the right fit for him. Despite his wealth, Drake still values relationships over material possessions, which is evident in lines like "All my watches always timeless you can keep the diamonds", he is saying that his relationships are more important than flashy jewelry.

Overall, "10 Bands" is a song that highlights Drake's immense success and how it has changed his life. He addresses his wealth, dedication to his music, and loyalty to his relationships. This song perfectly captures how Drake is feeling at the top of his game- reflective, appreciative, humble, but also headstrong and determined.

Line by Line Meaning

Ten bands, fifty bands, hunnid bands, fuck it man
I have a lot of money, so whether it's ten, fifty, or a hundred bands, it doesn't matter to me. Let's not even talk about it.

Let's just not even discuss it man, O-M-G
There's no need to talk about my wealth. It's not important to me.

Niggas sleep, I ain't trippin' I'ma let 'em sleep
Some people may not see the work I'm doing, but I'm not bothered by that. They can rest while I keep working.

I ain't trippin' let 'em rest in peace
I'm not worried about people sleeping on me because I know my talents and hard work will speak for themselves eventually.

I been in the crib with the phones off
I've been isolating myself from distractions so I can focus on my work.

I been at the house taking no calls
I'm not letting distractions, like phone calls, interfere with my work or personal time.

I done hit a stride got my shit goin'
I'm in a good rhythm and things are going well for me right now.

In the six cooking with the wrist motion
I'm in Toronto (also known as the 6ix) and cooking up music with my skilled wrist movements.

Drapes closed I don't know what time it is
I'm so focused on my work that I've lost track of time.

I'm still awake I gotta shine this year
I'm determined to succeed and make things happen this year no matter what.

I could never ever let the streets down
I have a responsibility to my community and my fans to continue to create and succeed.

Haven't left the condo for a week now, man
I've been so focused on my work that I haven't even left my home in a week.

This that OVO, that SZN, this that new Toronto
I'm representing Toronto and my record label OVO with this new music.

I get boxes of free Jordan like I play for North Carolina
I have a lot of endorsements and connections, including free shoes from Jordan like a famous basketball player.

How much I make off the deal, how the fuck should I know?
I'm making so much money that I don't even need to keep track of how much I'm making from specific deals.

All my watches always timeless you can keep the diamonds
I value classic and iconic timepieces over flashy diamond-covered watches.

Treatin' Diamonds of Atlanta like it's King of Diamonds
I'm showing off my wealth and success at a strip club in Atlanta, just like the famous King of Diamonds club.

Take a flick, I look like Meechy, look like Bleu DaVinci
I look good enough to take a picture with my friends Meechy and Bleu DaVinci, both known for their stylish looks.

I treat V Live like it's '07 in Magic City
I'm enjoying myself at a strip club and reminiscing about the good times I had at Magic City in Atlanta in 2007.

Man, I told my city I'd be gone 'til November, then November came
I promised to leave and come back to my hometown, and now November has already come and gone.

Then I came, right back on my worst behav'
I may have promised to come back, but I'm still acting out and doing my own thing.

6 God put both hands together that's amazin' grace
I am thankful for my own success and attribute it to a higher power (often referred to as 6 God).

6 God selfish with the love, I need all the praise
I am proud of my accomplishments and want to receive recognition for my hard work.

Woo, they got me feelin' like the one again
I am feeling confident and successful once again, just like in the past.

Yeah, shout goes out to Nike, checks all over me
I am showing off my endorsements from Nike, with their logo (the check) all over me.

I need a FuelBand just to see how long the run has been
I am always working hard and pushing myself to my limits, and I need a fitness tracker to see how much progress I've made.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Quentin Miller, Matthew Samuels, Adam Feeney, Aubrey Drake Graham, Rupert Thomas

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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