My MBA BFF, T, likes to slyly insert Drake lyrics into our conversations. But he doesn’t do it to just me. He does it to everybody. At first, I gave him a hard time. I thought that it was silly, and dumb, and not funny, but then something changed. Somewhere during out first term together, it became a game, then it became fun, and we couldn’t stop. It was the unspoken game, working to out do each other with out admitting it. The icing on the cake was when I was standing in his kitchen, and his mom, walking past me to the door headed to Bible study, said “Take care.” His mom Drake lyric-ed me. Was she aware of it? No. Take care is a common salutation, but she said it. When reading an article on Rap Genius about the "Drake and Future" album, T asked if it counted. Of course it did. Anything Drake counts. The following is a list of the top 10 Drake lyric quotes to use in casual conversation and suggestions on how to do it.

1. Nothing was the same

This one is great for when someone tells you something surprising. This one was said to me when I told T I had never played Monopoly before. It’s a great way to sound over-dramatic, too. People will look at you funny if you use this one too willy-nilly. Moral of the story, pick your moment, and then commit to it.

2. "Worst behavior"

This one caught me off guard the first time it was used on me. It’s an easy one to slip in and not be caught with. You can just interject it and let it hang there. Most people, especially people who don’t listen actively to Drake, won’t even get it.

3. "What a time to be alive"

Again, a great interjection, or comment on a situation. It’s an easy one to use either sarcastically or genuinely.

4. "If you’re reading this, it’s too late"

This one I use all the time. I probably overuse it. I tag it on the end of most emails, Facebook messages, and sometimes even texts to T. It’s too easy. I even got him a birthday card that said “If you’re reading this, it’s your birthday.” This one, for fairly obvious reasons, is better in print. It doesn’t work as well in person. You can pull it off, but you have to do it just right. You have to have just the right opportunity. Recommended usage is definitely in print, unless you want people looking at you like you’re crazy and “reading what?’

5. "Best I ever had"

This one is easy. You can use it referencing anything you want, anything you think was the best. It is also really easy for it to sound sexual. If that’s what you’re going for, great, but be careful or you’ll make your accounting lecture sound dirty, just saying, been there.

6. "Thank me later"

I probably use this more than I should. Warning, it can make you sound snarky if you don’t do it right. If you’re down to sound like a dick, go for it, but I figured I’d warn you. I definitely sound snarky when I say it to T, which I do a lot. It’s an easy one. You can totally use this one on acquaintances and even strangers. Instead of just saying thank you, you said, Thank me later. This will probably leave them scratching their heads, but it’s funny, well as long as you don’t say it all bitchy-condescending toned, nobody likes that. This is one that is a great end to an email with. You can put it as is, an incomplete sentence if that’s how you roll, or flush it out to a “you can thank me later.” I say both count, some may disagree, but whatever, I don’t like to write like a complete savage, most of the time.

7. "Zero to 100 real quick"

This one sounds like a said expression. T and I already say “real quick.” I’ve learned that people not from Oregon think that sounds funny. But it doesn’t sound out of place for us to say it. If you would normally say “really quickly” people might notice the change. This is a great one to use to for situations that change quickly, or mood swings, PMS, you name it.

8. "Started from the bottom"

This one seems easy to use. In theory it should be, but it isn’t as easy as you’d think. It has to be just right. The only time I’d be successfully used was when T and I were having a heart to heart, and he referenced having a level zero, a starting place, a rock bottom, and I wrecked the moment by responding with a “started from the bottom now we’re here” and all he could say was, “Guess we both should have seen that coming.” The conversation needed to interject this one is just too rare, and when it does come up, it doesn’t always mean it is the appropriate time to use it. Judgement is important. Had I been talking with anyone other than T, I wouldn’t have used it. I would have looked like an asshole.

9. "I’m so proud of you"

Speaking of looking like an asshole, this one can make you look like a real dick if you use it at the wrong time, or in a situation where you’re saying to say it, and get caught. T did this to me. We were having another heart to heart, we tend to do that, and then he randomly said, "I’m so proud of you." I had no idea for what or why. He was referencing the Drake song “Make Me Proud” and it made me question the few times that he’s told me that he’s proud, which is why I ask you to only use this one if you mean it. Then you get to be a nice person, but also sneak Drake in there.

10. "Take care"

This one is the best, and easiest. Unless you’re in the know, you’d never even notice, you’d just think that someone was being nice to you. T says this one to me almost every time he hugs me goodbye. I sometimes wonder if he said it before he started listening to Drake, was this always his salutation of choice, or is this just his constant Drake plug? I might never know. Today I said it to an old friend when I was leaving our lunch date. I waved, saying “take care” as I walked away giggling to myself about the joke, and she was none the wiser. This is the hardest one for people to detect. Which I think equates to being the most fun to use. You can say it to anyone, anytime you’re saying goodbye. You can use it in emails, even as your email signature. No one will ever be the wiser.

So, now you have the tools you need to be in on the joke. It all started because T loved Drake’s music, and slowly evolved into this. Apparently there is an app that lets you respond in Drake lyrics. T had it for a while. He loved it, and said it made it too easy, and the people he was texting got tired of it real quick. On the flip side, be prepared for people to not catch on. The joke is really all your own. Hopefully you have a BFF you gets your silly jokes, and can share in this little game. But regardless, take care.