Can’t Take A Joke

"Can't Take A Joke" is a multi-layered track that primarily serves as a declaration of Drake's dominance in the music industry and a commentary on the pressures of his fame. The song's title and recurring chorus line, "I be tryna laugh with the bros 'bout the opps that we know, but they can't take a joke, 'cause it's not one," encapsulate the central theme. Drake is suggesting that his dismissive attitude towards his rivals is perceived as a joke by him and his inner circle, but for his opponents, the threat to their careers and status is very real. It's a power play, where Drake positions himself as being so far ahead that he can afford to be flippant, while his rivals are forced to take his every move seriously.

Lyrically, the song explores the dichotomy of his public and private life. He references his luxurious lifestyle in Hidden Hills and his international travels, juxtaposed with the emotional toll of online criticism and the need to protect his family from the public eye. The line "Back and forth to Italy, my comment section killin' me" was written during a time of intense public scrutiny following Pusha T's diss track "The Story of Adidon," which revealed the existence of Drake's son. This adds a layer of vulnerability to the otherwise confident track, suggesting that even at the height of his success, he is not immune to public opinion.

Ultimately, "Can't Take A Joke" is an anthem of defiance and self-assurance. Drake asserts his resilience, his work ethic, and his loyalty to his crew, while simultaneously issuing a warning to his detractors. It's a sonic representation of his 'Scorpion' persona: guarded, powerful, and ready to strike when provoked.

The song opens with an immediate sense of arrival and status, depicting a journey in an UberX to the exclusive neighborhood of Hidden Hills, a place synonymous with wealth and celebrity. This isn't just a physical journey; it's a metaphor for having reached a certain echelon of success where the rules are different. The lyrics suggest that anyone who ventures into this territory understands the high stakes and the unspoken codes of conduct. Drake paints a picture of a life lived under a microscope, where he stands alone, trying to establish his own standards and navigate the pressures of fame. He reflects on past struggles, acknowledging that he has been metaphorically 'kicked when I was down,' but dismisses these past hardships as irrelevant to his current powerful position. There's a strong assertion of dominance as he talks about displacing rivals, forcing them to relocate and warning them to stay out of his way for their own good. The chorus reinforces this theme of loyalty and confrontation. He's surrounded by his close-knit crew, always ready for action ('kitted to the toes'). Every time he enters the studio, a hit is guaranteed. He attempts to find humor in the conflicts with his adversaries, but they can't take the 'joke' because the threat is very real. This inability to see the humor is attributed to a strict code of conduct and the constant need to uphold a certain reputation, which makes him a target for those wanting to usurp his position. The second verse delves deeper into the psychological toll of his fame. He mentions frequent trips to Italy, which is later revealed to be where his son and his son's mother were living. This line is immediately followed by the frustration of dealing with the relentless negativity in his comment sections online. He expresses a deep passion that he feels is misunderstood by the public, who only see a fraction of his reality. He gives a shout-out to his 'Reps Up' crew, describing their aggressive and impactful presence, clarifying that when he says they are 'crashing,' it's not by accident but a deliberate act of making their presence felt. The song then shifts to his relentless work ethic. He's still in the studio at 6:45 in the morning, a time when his detractors are just starting their mundane workdays. This highlights a stark contrast between his dedication and their critique from the sidelines. He feels a profound need to live up to the persona he projects in his music, driven by an unyielding sense of pride. The verse concludes by circling back to his resilience, reiterating that past struggles no longer matter. While his opponents 'throw in the towel' in defeat, he's enjoying the high life, dining on yellowtail at the upscale restaurant TAO. He ends with a final warning to his critics, telling them to watch what they say, especially to his face, and to keep their distance for their own well-being.

"Can't Take A Joke" is a song from Drake's fifth studio album, Scorpion, which was released on June 29, 2018. The album is a double-disc project, with the first side being primarily hip-hop and the second side leaning more towards R&B and pop. "Can't Take A Joke" appears on the A-side of the album. The song was written by Drake (Aubrey Graham) and Max Eberhardt. The production was handled by ModMaxx. The connection between ModMaxx, a former professional snowboarder, and Drake's camp came through the OVO signee Roy Woods, who introduced ModMaxx to Drake's longtime collaborator, Noah "40" Shebib. The beat for "Can't Take a Joke" was one of several that ModMaxx submitted for the project. The recording engineers for the track were Noah "40" Shebib and Noel Cadastre, with Noel "Gadget" Campbell credited as the mixing engineer. The creation of Scorpion was notably influenced by Drake's highly publicized beef with rapper Pusha T, who had revealed that Drake had a son. Lyrical themes on the album, including those in "Can't Take A Joke," touch upon the pressures of fame, claustrophobia, and Drake's rise in the music industry, which were all amplified during this period.

"Can't Take A Joke" is characterized by a confident and steady rhythmic flow over a trap-influenced beat. The song maintains a consistent tempo, creating a hypnotic and head-nodding groove. Drake's delivery is precise, and he often uses a conversational rhythm that makes his boasts and threats feel more personal and direct.

The rhyme scheme is predominantly based on couplets, with Drake often rhyming the last words of consecutive lines. For example:

"UberX to Hidden Hills, give me somethin' I can feel
If they come to Hidden Hills then I know they know the deal"

He also employs internal rhymes and slant rhymes to add complexity to his verses. For instance, in the lines, "Back and forth to Italy, my comment section killin' me / I swear I get so passionate, y'all do not know the half of it," the near rhyme of "Italy" and "killin' me" and the internal rhyme of "passionate" and "half of it" create a more intricate and musical sound.

The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm is a key feature of the track. Drake's flow often weaves in and out of the beat, sometimes riding it directly and at other times lagging slightly behind or pushing ahead. This creates a dynamic tension that keeps the listener engaged and adds to the song's confident and slightly swaggering feel. The chorus features a more repetitive and anthemic rhythm, making it a memorable and catchy centerpiece of the song.

Drake's "Can't Take A Joke" employs a variety of stylistic techniques to create its confident and confrontational tone.

• Vocal Delivery: Drake's vocal delivery is a key element. He oscillates between a conversational, almost nonchalant flow and a more melodic, sing-song cadence. This creates a dynamic texture and allows him to convey both casual arrogance and underlying intensity. The flow has been described as having a "singing melody to it," which is a characteristic of his style.
• Ad-libs and Interjections: The song is punctuated with ad-libs like "Ayy" and the producer's tag "Ayo, blast that shit, Maxx!". These interjections add to the song's energy and create a sense of immediacy, as if the listener is in the studio with him.
• Direct Address: Drake frequently uses direct address, speaking to his rivals and critics. Lines like "Man, just stay up out my way" create a confrontational atmosphere and make the listener feel like a direct recipient of his message.
• Braggadocio: The lyrics are filled with braggadocio, a staple of hip-hop. He boasts about his wealth, success, and the power he wields in the industry. This is evident in lines like, "If I touch studio then we got one," implying that every song he records is a hit.
• Rhythmic Wordplay: Drake uses rhythmic wordplay to make his lines more memorable and impactful. For example, the line, "Niggas think they run the town 'til we run 'em out of town," uses repetition and a slight variation to create a powerful and dismissive statement.

"Can't Take A Joke" was a notable track from Drake's highly successful 2018 album, Scorpion. Upon its release, the album broke several streaming records, including Spotify's one-day global record for album streams with 132.45 million streams and Apple Music's single-day record with 170 million streams. "Can't Take A Joke" itself performed well on the charts, reaching number 16 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 and number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It also charted in several other countries, including Australia, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. The song has been certified Gold in Australia and Canada, and Silver in the United Kingdom.

As part of the Scorpion album, the song contributed to Drake's continued dominance in the pop culture landscape. The album's release was a major cultural event, fueled by the ongoing public feud between Drake and Pusha T. Many of the songs on the album, including "Can't Take A Joke," were analyzed by fans and critics for potential references to this conflict. While not released as a single, the song is a fan favorite and is often cited as one of the standout tracks on the A-side of the album. It is representative of a significant period in Drake's career where he addressed his personal and professional challenges with a defiant and confident musical style. Drake's broader cultural impact includes influencing modern pop culture through memes, social media trends, and even challenging traditional notions of masculinity by openly expressing vulnerability in his music.

"Can't Take A Joke" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that enhance its themes of power, isolation, and defiance.

• Hidden Hills: The song opens with a trip to "Hidden Hills," a wealthy, gated community in California. This location symbolizes the pinnacle of success and exclusivity. By starting the song here, Drake immediately establishes his elite status. It's not just a place, but a state of being, where the unwritten rules of the powerful apply.
• The "Joke": The central metaphor of the song is the "joke" that his opponents can't take. This isn't a literal joke, but rather Drake's seemingly casual and dismissive attitude towards his competition. The metaphor highlights a power imbalance; for Drake, the beef is a source of amusement, but for his rivals, it's a serious threat to their careers. This illustrates his confidence and perceived superiority.
• "Crashing it": When Drake says his crew is "crashing it and splashin' in," he clarifies, "I do not mean a accident." This metaphor portrays his team's actions as deliberate and impactful disruptions. They are not passive participants but an active force that makes a significant and sometimes destructive entrance, asserting their dominance in any environment.
• Working at 6:45 AM: The image of Drake still in the studio at 6:45 AM while his "haters either on they way to work or they arrived" serves as a powerful symbol of his relentless work ethic. It contrasts his passion and dedication with the mundane lives of his critics, suggesting that his success is a direct result of his hard work, while their criticism comes from a place of envy and inaction.

The most prominent recurring phrase in "Can't Take A Joke" is the title line itself: "I be tryna laugh with the bros but they can't take a joke." This phrase is repeated in the chorus and serves as the central theme of the song. It encapsulates Drake's dismissive attitude towards his rivals and the power dynamic he perceives between them. The repetition of this line emphasizes his belief that his opponents are overly sensitive to his perceived slights because they recognize the real threat he poses to their careers.

Another recurring motif is the idea of being "kicked when I was down, none of that shit matter now." This line appears in both the first and second verses, highlighting Drake's resilience and his journey from a position of vulnerability to one of power. By repeating this, he underscores that past struggles no longer affect him and that he has emerged stronger from his adversities.

The theme of loyalty and camaraderie with his crew is also a recurring element, particularly in the chorus with the line, "Skid around ends with the bros and I'm kitted to the toes." This reinforces the idea of a tight-knit inner circle that is always ready for conflict, presenting a united front against their adversaries. This motif of brotherhood and preparedness is a common theme in Drake's more confrontational tracks.