If you know me, you know that I am a true Drake fan. Drake can mediocrely rap about bagels, and I would still be jamming to it in the car. So, when he released his new single, “Nice For What” a few days ago, I played that song twenty times in one day. The beats itself and production to me were simple and energetic, but I stayed for the meaning I received behind the song. In the song, Drake is talking to women saying that women do not have to apologize for being powerful and knowing what they want, especially towards men. The music video showcased Drake and a group of talented, known women in media. The women present in the video were Yara Shahidi, Misty Copeland, Tiffany Haddish, Syd, Rashida Jones, Issa Rae, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jourdan Dunn, Emma Roberts, Zoe Saldana, Elizabeth and Victoria Lejonhjarta, and Letitia Wright.
I recognize at times, that women are made to feel small in their occupations. When a woman is confident it can be seen as being aggressive, but when a man is confident it's immediately assumed as powerful. At this moment, equality is prevalent, but feeling small can also stem from generations of living in a patriarchal society where men are rewarded more through money, positions in power, and gender role differences. Through his music, Drake is giving respect out to women and appreciating our capabilities.
The music video and song exemplify different women of ages backgrounds who do their thing everyday and are motivated to spread that power. He showed mothers, students, athletes, entertainers, and a wide variety of things. A woman is a multitude of facets that create that own unique person. One of the lyrics that stood out was “I've been peepin' what you bringin' to the table, Workin' hard, girl, everything paid for, First-last, phone bill, car note, cable”. He’s stating that he is noticing that all these women are providing and working hard for what they want. And independence is a trait that is admired.
“You really pipin' up on these n*****/You gotta be nice for what to these n*****?”
This lyric stands out the most since it's incorporated in the song title. Drake is referring to the hypocrisy women face of being objectified and the double standards power. Why should women be held to a high standard of respecting men, when it should also be men respecting women. If an individual is not giving the validation and respect you deserve, then you have a right to not do the same. This woman in the song is independent so she does not need to rely on other people. The song is just a friendly reminder that a woman should give themselves more credit in the skills and abilities they have and no one should be given the power to diminish that.
