Talk Up
Drake feat. Jay‐Z Lyrics

Ayy, ayy
Drake starts the song with an energetic vocalization

Lot of 6's in here tonight
Referring to his hometown Toronto's area code ‘416’, Drake mentions the presence of many people from Toronto in the party

Yeah, yeah, ayy
Drake repeats his previous vocalization

Ten of us, we movin' as one (movin' as one)
Drake and his ten companions are moving in a well-coordinated manner like a single entity

I'm so proud of who I've become
Drake feels content with his personal and artistic growth

You might think I've taken some lumps
Drake has experienced some hardships

Only if we talkin' 'bout sums (yeah)
However, he has overcome those difficulties mainly financially

Intentions are pure, they cannot tell me relax
Even though people mock him without reason, he remains genuinely sincere and doesn't lose his drive

My mentions are jokes, but they never give me the facts
Drake's online mentions, typically on social media, contain unserious content, and people often make up lies about him

This isn't that, can't be ignorin' the stats
Drake insists that the statistical data should be objectively analyzed to reach a conclusion rather than relying on mere opinions

Based off of that, they gotta run me the max
Drake deserves the maximum reward he can get as per his merit

They gotta run me the max, they gotta double the racks
He deserves twice the money he is currently making

They had it set up for real, but they didn't come with the slaps
People's expectations were high, but they didn't deliver satisfying results

When I heard the shit I was skippin' through that
As soon as Drake heard the low-quality music, he ignored it immediately

If I get it trippin', it's no comin' back
If Drake trips up, he won't be able to regain his previous success

I don't understand, these niggas gotta adapt
Drake is puzzled because nowadays, people neither make good music nor evolve with the changing times

You know where I'm at, I put the 6 on the map
Drake has made Toronto (the 6) internationally popular through his music

Your shorty was bent, she wanted to vent
Drake suggests that someone's girlfriend was intoxicated and wanted to confide in him

I promise it fell in my lap
He didn't look for such an opportunity, but it came to him naturally

My money is young, my problems are old
Drake's financial success is relatively new, but he has been dealing with classic problems that wealthy people face

I promise I'm bridgin' the gap
Drake will keep working hard to use his success and wealth to help the less fortunate and underprivileged people

Niggas provoke, this shit ain't a joke, man, nobody playin'
The situation is serious, and people shouldn't mess around or instigate trouble

He's at the top and he's at the top, but nobody stayin'
Jay-Z is one of the few remaining enduring and relevant rappers, but most rappers disappear after a few hits

These niggas around but they ain't around
There are many people in their circle, but they don't actually care for him or stand by his side

Say that they down, when they shit is down
They claim they are loyal and will always support him, but they disappear when he needs them the most

Yo, get close enough to HOV, smell like a kilo still
Jay-Z is still involved in illicit activities which are relatively popular, like drug trafficking

First album 26, I ain't need no deal
Jay-Z made a successful debut record at a young age without relying on any support from the music industry

Already a hood legend, I ain't need no shine
Jay-Z was already a local legend in Brooklyn's Marcy Projects without any media coverage

First Rollie flooded out, I ain't see no time, woah
He got a luxurious Rolex flooded with diamonds at an early age, but he hadn't been to prison yet

Stand-up niggas, we only duckin' indictments
Jay-Z surrounds himself only with loyal, honest people who don't hide from legal responsibilities or court subpoenas

Dope boys, Off-White, lookin' like soft white on 'em, heh
Jay-Z, a successful drug dealer, sells high-quality drugs and clothing with luxurious brands

We in the buildin', we came for a billion, ain't nobody playin'
Jay-Z and Drake have come to make more than financially normal people's lifetime earnings together, and they are serious about it

Live every word that I'm rappin'
Jay-Z is a man of his word, and he means everything he raps

Said I lost 90 bricks and it happened
Jay-Z suffered a significant loss in the drug business and didn't shy away from the truth even though admitting it was risky for him

You probably wouldn't believe
The situation was extraordinary and hard to imagine

Everything that you seein' right now if it wasn't live action
If this situation were a movie or a show and not happening in the current moment, people wouldn't believe it

I ain't on the 'Gram, they record who I am
Jay-Z doesn't use Instagram and similar platforms where people present their fake selves and lives. The streets acknowledge and recognize him

God to these dope boys, how you not be a HOV fan?
The drug dealers view Jay-Z as either their godfather, mentor or an elder of the game. It's almost impossible for them not to be his fan

I'm what Meech shoulda been
Jay-Z thinks he is the epitome of what Demetrius Flenory, a fame drug dealer, should have achieved

I'm what Supreme didn't become
Jay-Z thinks he led the right path and achieved more than drug kingpin Supreme McGriff

If Alpo didn't snitch, niggas'll be like Young
Albert Martinez, a drug dealer who got caught by the FBI and revealed many drug-fueled secrets along the way, is living comfortably after being released from jail, but he would have been living with more pride had he not snitched on his comrades. He could have been as respected in the streets as Young Jeezy.

I got your president tweetin', I won't even meet with him
Jay-Z's social/political activism and criticism of President Donald Trump have put him in significant media attention. Although Trump has tweeted about him, Jay-Z refuses to give him legitimacy and won't interact with him

Y'all killed X, let Zimmerman live, streets is done
The people who killed XXXTentacion got dealt with quickly, but George Zimmerman, who killed Trayvon Martin, is still alive and free. It shows the injustice present in the system and portrays a bleak future for the street environment

You know what I'm sayin'?
Jay-Z repeats the phrase to ensure his point is clear

Ayy, ayy, yeah
Drake backs Jay-Z with some energetic vocalization

You know what I'm sayin'?
Jay-Z is repeating his previous statement.

(Gyeah, gyeah, gyeah, gyeah)
Jay-Z concludes his verse with an exclamation and some vocalization.