4PM In Calabasas
Drake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All you self promoters are janky
We established like the Yankees
This whole fucking game thank us
We movin' militant but somehow you the one tankin'
No limit to where I can take it
And you know me as a Cris bottle sender
Check picker upperI thought we looked out for one another
Saw us all as brothers in the struggle
Too blessed to be humble
I guess it's different in the city I come from
All the sudden I got people showing how much they truly resent me
They whole demeanor just spells envy
They tryna tempt me
The higher I get, the less they accept me
Even had the OG's tryna press me
Ha-ha-ha-ha
No way out 'cause I'm already in it
I'm not attending when I do a show and get a ticket
Good business can clean millions, I got the vision
I been had it since No Scrubs and No Pigeons
Even back when I wasn't as poppin'
When they told me take an R&B nigga on the road and I told 'em no and drew for Kendrick and Rocky
I tried to make the right choices with the world watching
"Mike never tried to rap like Pac
Pac never tried to sing like Mike"
Those my dad's words to me when I asked him how to make it in life
And I always said my mother gave the greatest advice
Yeah, look at me now, they look at me like the golden child
Can't nobody hold me down, especially not right now
Certain shit is just too wild to reconcile
Take that, take that no love in they heart so they fake that
DiCaprio level the way they play that, damn nigga, what is that
And you even hit my line like where you been at
It's always on some shit like when can I get a favor
Or where my bitch at, like I'm about to tell you where she been at
Costa Careyes, I got her kidnapped
She ain't sorry and I ain't sorry, it's too late for sorry
Green, White and Red on my body 'cause I'm dipped in Ferrari
All she wanna do is get high and listen to PARTY
She complain, I tell the driver to drop her at Barneys
My summer diet is just Rose and calamari
Look now you got me started
I'm the black sheep, rest in peace to Chris Farley
I got a lot to lose 'cause in every situation
I'm the bigger artist, always gotta play it smarter
Y'all shook up, I'm here on the cookup
Cameras pointing every time I look up
That's why I gotta duck behind Chubb shoulder just to hit the Kush up
Sponsorship dollars is sky high
He be like, "Drake, will you please stop smoking la la?"
"Chubbs, why try, I'm a thug, I'ma die high"
Got the Rose pink tinted lenses, it's a Wednesday
Architects takin' dimensions, they redoin' the entrance
Yeah, redoin' the entrance
Kinda like when you niggas drop on some again and again shit
And you still never quite get it
Meantime Drizzy over there, tryna make you
Make you dance to this, yeah I make you dance to this
I rode big body, widebody, Calabasas road winder
Sunshinin', waxed tires
See Kris Jenner, I beep twice and I wave
The rest of you boys I blow Keysh right in your face
Pistol by my bed, I'm sleep but I'm awake
For that one night when niggas try to reach inside my safe
Don't push me 'cause I'm way too uneasy nowadays
These guys move so greasy nowadays
I tell you my life and y'all don't believe me when I say it
Save my stories for down the line, I'm too ahead of the curve every time
Just total the hits and see what you find
You SWV 'cause you weak and I'm always always on your mind
Yeah
And we can't stop
Make you dance to this
I'ma make you One Dance to this
A-ha-ha-ha-ha
Bod breed bod boy
Uh-huh, yeah
That's right
Yeah
In "4PM In Calabasas," Drake is taking shots at his critics and those in the industry who he believes are jealous of his success. He compares himself to the New York Yankees, a team that has been established for a long time and has seen continued success. Drake feels that he and his crew are responsible for the success of the rap game and that others should be grateful for their contributions. However, instead, he feels the resentment and envy from others and is being constantly tested by those who are trying to bring him down.
The rapper touches on the struggles he has faced in reaching his present position and the challenges of making the right decisions in a cut-throat industry. He mentions how hard he has worked to get where he is and how he has not compromised on his music or his values. While he acknowledges that the fame and success can be overwhelming and sometimes isolating, he is firm in his convictions and holds his head high.
In the latter half of the song, Drake takes a more playful tone, referencing several celebrities in the lyrics. He flexes his wealth and status by mentioning a private luxury resort in Mexico, Costa Careyes. He boasts about his expensive wardrobe, the company he keeps with Kris Jenner, and the pink tinted lenses on his glasses. The song ends with Drake reminding listeners of his enduring dominance in the rap world, promising to make them "dance" to his beats and asserting his place as one of the greatest hitmakers of his generation.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah
Acknowledging agreement or understanding
All you self promoters are janky
Critiquing individuals who promote themselves dishonestly or with questionable motives
We established like the Yankees
Asserting dominance and success similar to the renowned baseball team
This whole fucking game thank us
Claiming responsibility for the success and influence in the music industry
We movin' militant but somehow you the one tankin'
Operating strategically and cautiously, while others fail to thrive
No limit to where I can take it
Unrestricted possibilities and potential for success
And you know me as a Cris bottle sender
Recognizing the reputation of sending expensive Champagne bottles as gifts
Check picker upper
Acknowledging the supportive role of being there for others
I thought we looked out for one another
Believing in mutual support and unity
Saw us all as brothers in the struggle
Viewing everyone as comrades facing similar hardships
Too blessed to be humble
Acknowledging abundant success but still remaining confident and proud
I guess it's different in the city I come from
Noticing a contrasting attitude and behavior in the place one originates from
All the sudden I got people showing how much they truly resent me
Suddenly experiencing revealed animosity and resentment from others
They whole demeanor just spells envy
Their entire attitude signifies jealousy
They tryna tempt me
Attempting to entice or provoke a negative response
The higher I get, the less they accept me
As one achieves more success, others become less accepting or supportive
Even had the OG's tryna press me
Even older, influential figures attempted to intimidate or confront me
No way out 'cause I'm already in it
Feeling trapped or unable to escape a certain situation
I'm not attending when I do a show and get a ticket
Not just present physically, but truly engaged and embracing the experience
Good business can clean millions, I got the vision
Recognizing the potential wealth and success of smart business decisions
I been had it since No Scrubs and No Pigeons
Been successful and influential in the industry since the era of popular songs 'No Scrubs' by TLC and 'No Pigeons' by Sporty Thievz
Even back when I wasn't as poppin'
Even during a time when I wasn't as popular or renowned
When they told me take an R&B nigga on the road and I told 'em no and drew for Kendrick and Rocky
Rejecting the suggestion to tour with an R&B artist and instead choosing to support and collaborate with more prominent rappers like Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky
I tried to make the right choices with the world watching
Making carefully considered decisions while being aware of the public scrutiny
"Mike never tried to rap like Pac
Pac never tried to sing like Mike"
Those my dad's words to me when I asked him how to make it in life
Recalling advice from my father that both Michael Jackson and Tupac Shakur embraced their unique talents rather than imitating each other
And I always said my mother gave the greatest advice
Valuing the wisdom and guidance received from my mother
Yeah, look at me now, they look at me like the golden child
Now, people admire and see me as an exceptional and favored individual
Can't nobody hold me down, especially not right now
Feeling unstoppable and refusing to be restrained, particularly in the current moment
Certain shit is just too wild to reconcile
Some things are simply too extreme or difficult to come to terms with
Take that, take that no love in they heart so they fake that
Expressing disregard for those who pretend to have love or care but truly don't
DiCaprio level the way they play that, damn nigga, what is that
Observing people's behavior mirroring Leonardo DiCaprio's acting skills, questioning their authenticity
Y'all don't hear no songs then hit my phone like you did that
Noticing how people don't support or acknowledge his work until they see his success, then suddenly reach out
And you even hit my line like where you been at
Even reaching out and asking where he has been, despite their previous lack of interest
It's always on some shit like when can I get a favor
Consistently seeking personal favors or advantages from him
Or where my bitch at, like I'm about to tell you where she been at
Asking about the whereabouts of his partner, as if he would openly disclose that information
Costa Careyes, I got her kidnapped
Referring to a location and jokingly claiming to have his partner forcefully taken there
She ain't sorry and I ain't sorry, it's too late for sorry
Neither him nor his partner have any regrets or apologies, considering it too late for apologies altogether
Green, White and Red on my body 'cause I'm dipped in Ferrari
Wearing the colors of the Italian flag (green, white, and red) to symbolize his affiliation with Ferrari luxury cars
All she wanna do is get high and listen to PARTY
All his partner desires is to get intoxicated and enjoy the music of PARTYNEXTDOOR
She complain, I tell the driver to drop her at Barneys
When she starts complaining, he instructs the driver to take her shopping at the upscale department store, Barneys
My summer diet is just Rose and calamari
Indicating a preference for drinking Rosé wine and consuming calamari during the summer
Look now you got me started
Reacting to provocation and becoming fully engaged in the situation
I'm the black sheep, rest in peace to Chris Farley
Identifying himself as an outsider or unconventional figure, paying tribute to the late comedian Chris Farley
I got a lot to lose 'cause in every situation
Having a significant amount of potential loss in any given scenario
I'm the bigger artist, always gotta play it smarter
Being the more prominent and successful artist, therefore needing to make wiser choices
Y'all shook up, I'm here on the cookup
Others feeling intimidated or nervous, while he remains confident and focused on his music
Cameras pointing every time I look up
Constantly being scrutinized and observed by cameras whenever he is in public
That's why I gotta duck behind Chubb shoulder just to hit the Kush up
Needing to hide behind his friend Chubbs to smoke marijuana discreetly
Sponsorship dollars is sky high
Having lucrative sponsorship deals worth a significant amount of money
He be like, "Drake, will you please stop smoking la la?"
His friend Chubbs requesting him to refrain from smoking marijuana
"Chubbs, why try, I'm a thug, I'ma die high"
Responding to Chubbs' request by asserting his identity as a tough individual who will continue to use marijuana
Got the Rose pink tinted lenses, it's a Wednesday
Wearing sunglasses with pink-tinted lenses, emphasizing the day of the week
Architects takin' dimensions, they redoin' the entrance
Professionals in the construction field measuring and redesigning the entrance
Kinda like when you niggas drop on some again and again shit
Similar to when certain rappers release repetitive and unoriginal music
And you still never quite get it
Despite repetitively creating similar music, they still don't fully understand the lack of success or impact it has
Meantime Drizzy over there, tryna make you
Meanwhile, he is striving to create music that captivates and moves his listeners
Make you dance to this, yeah I make you dance to this
Creating music that is enjoyable and makes people want to dance
I rode big body, widebody, Calabasas road winder
Driving a large vehicle with a wide body on the winding roads of Calabasas
Sunshinin', waxed tires
Enjoying a sunny day while driving with well-maintained tires
See Kris Jenner, I beep twice and I wave
Spotify founder Daniel Ek spotting Kris Jenner and greeting her by beeping his car horn twice and waving
The rest of you boys I blow Keysh right in your face
Expressing superiority and dismissing his competitors by blowing smoke in their faces
Pistol by my bed, I'm sleep but I'm awake
Keeping a firearm by his bedside, feeling both relaxed and vigilant at the same time
For that one night when niggas try to reach inside my safe
Being prepared for a situation where individuals may attempt to steal from his safe
Don't push me 'cause I'm way too uneasy nowadays
Warning others not to provoke him because he is extremely cautious and anxious in the present time
These guys move so greasy nowadays
Commenting on the dishonest and deceitful behavior of certain individuals in the music industry
I tell you my life and y'all don't believe me when I say it
Sharing aspects of his life, but facing disbelief and skepticism from others
Save my stories for down the line, I'm too ahead of the curve every time
Choosing to keep his experiences and anecdotes for future reference, as he is consistently ahead of current trends and developments
Just total the hits and see what you find
Suggesting that one should analyze and evaluate his numerous successful songs to understand the extent of his impact
You SWV 'cause you weak and I'm always always on your mind
Comparing someone's weakness to the R&B group SWV and emphasizing that they constantly think about him
Yeah
Acknowledging agreement or understanding
And we can't stop
Expressing determination and persistence
Make you dance to this
Creating music that is enjoyable and makes people want to dance
I'ma make you One Dance to this
Promising to create a song that will make people want to dance
A-ha-ha-ha-ha
Expressing amusement or laughter
Bod breed bod boy
Referring to oneself as a high-quality or superior individual
Uh-huh, yeah
Affirming agreement or understanding
That's right
Confirming correctness or accuracy
Yeah
Acknowledging agreement or understanding
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Adam King Feeney, Allen Ritter, Anderson Hernandez, Aubrey Graham, Brian Morgan, Clifton Chase, Edward Fletcher, Gregory Prestopino, Mathew Wilder, Melvin Glover, Oliver Scott, Ronnie Wilson, Sylvia Robinson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Shaftya_McNasty
“The Higher I get the less they accept me “ shit hits even harder today.
@rockstar-ov4lp
yes
@perfectwoman266
if i was Drake i would drop this again
@kimbahhh
facts bro
@Stopthecapmedia
Facts
@ssemambojackson2073
Big D
@prymae
Its 2024 and it's still 🔥
@TheDigitalDomain123
agree
@Ze_Moose
He mentioned Kendrick in this song 😳
@Dannkyg
Goat