"What's Next" is a song by Canadian rapper

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. It was released on March 5, 2021, as a single from Drake's fourth EP ''

Scary Hours 2 ''Scary Hours 2'' is the fourth extended play by Canadian rapper Drake and a sequel to his second extended play ''Scary Hours'' (2018). It was released on March 5, 2021, and features two collaborations with American rappers Lil Baby and Rick Ross. ...

'', through

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and OVO Sound. With the song's debut at the top of the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100, it became Drake's ninth US number-one single in the country. Additionally, it became his fourth song to debut atop the chart.

Background

An earlier version of the song surfaced on the internet on February 27, 2021. It was noted that various lines of the song resembled those of on an unreleased track with

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titled "What a Time to Be a Slime". On March 3, 2021, Drake took to his social media to announce the release of his upcoming EP ''Scary Hours 2'' on March 5, as well as the return of OVO Sound Radio the next day. The song was released as track one of the EP. In May 2021, rapper

Baby Keem Hykeem Jamaal Carter Jr. (born October 22, 2000), known professionally as Baby Keem, is an American rapper and record producer. He initially gained major recognition following the release of his single "Orange Soda", from his second mixtape ''Di ...

revealed he was originally intended to be featured on the single alongside American rapper Playboi Carti (who Drake would later work with on the track Pain 1993. In the early morning of September 4th, 2021, a day after the release of Drake's Certified Lover Boy, Drake premiered the original version of What's Next with Baby Keem on his radio show. The original version includes all vocals from the released version, with an additional verse from Keem.

Composition

The song was described as Drake being "on his rapping shit" and "in flex mode", with a "grungy trap production" and a "triumphant-sounding instrumental". Lyrically, the rapper shows off "grandiose flexes that only he could relate to".

Music video

An accompanying music video was released alongside the single and was directed by Theo Skudra. The video was shot in early March 2021 in

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and shows Drake dancing at different sites of the city, including the top of the CN Tower, as well as the TTC Subway and Ripley's Aquarium of Canada.

Commercial performance

The song debuted atop the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 on the chart dated March 20, 2021, dethroning Olivia Rodrigo's "

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" which ruled for eight consecutive weeks. The remaining tracks from the ''

'' EP, "Wants and Needs" and "Lemon Pepper Freestyle", managed to debut at number two and three, respectively, thus making him the first artist in history to have three songs debut in the top 3 of the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

Personnel

Credits adapted from

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. *

Aubrey Graham Aubrey Drake Graham ( ; born October 24, 1986) is a Canadian rapper and singer. An influential figure in contemporary popular music, Drake has been credited for popularizing singing and R&B sensibilities in hip hop. He gained recognition by ...

– lead vocals, songwriting * Jonathan Priester – songwriting, production * Maneesh Bidaye – songwriting, production, additional production *

Noah Shebib Noah ''Nukh''; am, ኖህ, ''Noḥ''; ar, نُوح '; grc, Νῶε ''Nôe'' () is the tenth and last of the pre-Flood patriarchs in the traditions of Abrahamic religions. His story appears in the Hebrew Bible (Book of Genesis, chapters 5– ...

– mixing, studio personnel * Noel Cadastre – recording, studio personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

References

{{Drake songs 2021 singles 2021 songs Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Canadian Hot 100 number-one singles Drake (musician) songs OVO Sound singles Republic Records singles Songs written by Drake (musician) Billboard Global 200 number-one singles