Money In The Grave (Drake ft. Rick Ross)

"Money In The Grave" is a powerful and defiant anthem centered on the themes of legacy, wealth, and loyalty. The core message revolves around the idea that the success and riches Drake and Rick Ross have accumulated are so integral to their identity that they wish to take them to the afterlife. This isn't a literal desire to be buried with cash, but a potent metaphor for protecting their hard-earned legacy from those who might try to exploit it after they're gone. The song serves as an unapologetic celebration of their achievements, a testament to their hard work, and a declaration that their influence and status are non-negotiable and eternal. It's a mix of boasting about their elite status and reflecting on the journey and the principles, like loyalty to their team, that got them there.

The song opens with Drake reflecting on his vast success, pondering where to even begin telling his story. He alludes to a life of luxury and complexity, managing secrets and celebrating the prosperity of his close friends who have risen with him. He speaks of his immense wealth, with large sums of money both secured and continuously flowing in. He acknowledges the significant gap between his status and that of his competitors, emphasizing his focus on maintaining his financial success not just in this life, but in the next. This leads to the central, powerful declaration of the hook: when he passes away, he wants his fortune buried with him, a testament to his hard-earned legacy.

The chorus is a bold statement of dominance and self-assurance. Drake asserts his need to put rivals in their place, having already surpassed them in the race for success. He entertains the idea of tattooing "Realest N***a" on his face as an ultimate mark of his authenticity. He gives a shout-out to the song's producer, Lil CC, acknowledging the beat's heavy bass. He then contrasts his past, where he might have tried to "save" women, with his current detached and focused mindset. The core idea is that he has given so much, he refuses to die without his wealth intact.

In the second verse, Drake reaffirms his unshakable position at the top of the music industry. He's been there for a long time and remains there, unthreatened by those who wish to trade places with him. He expresses contentment with his status and references his deep-seated connections ("Mob ties") that ensure his safety and influence. He solidifies his main theme by instructing his inner circle to remember his wish: to be buried with his money.

Rick Ross enters with a verse that complements Drake's themes, painting a vivid picture of his own opulent and gritty journey to the top. He contrasts his lavish lifestyle with the small-mindedness of others, detailing half-a-million-dollar deals and the constant attention he receives. Ross reinforces the idea that his success is on a different level, suggesting that others aren't truly 'living' in the way he is. He echoes Drake's sentiment, stating his own riches should be buried with him. His verse details a hustler's mentality, from evading legal trouble to making deals that are treated with the respect of a boss. He flaunts his wealth and influence, asserting that his success is deeply ingrained in his very being.

"Money In The Grave" was released on June 15, 2019, as part of a two-song EP titled The Best in the World Pack, alongside the track "Omertà". The release was a surprise drop to celebrate the historic first-ever NBA Championship win for Drake's hometown team, the Toronto Raptors, for whom he is a global ambassador. Drake had promised fans new music following the team's victory against the Golden State Warriors. The song's production was handled by a team including Lil CC (Cydney Christine), Ljay Currie, and Asoteric. For Lil CC, a model who was just beginning her production career, this was her first major placement. She had sent Drake a pack of beats after a chance meeting, and he chose the one she had named "Money in the Grave". Drake reportedly paid $20,000 for the beat on the spot. Rick Ross's feature was reportedly a last-minute addition, continuing a long and successful history of collaboration between the two artists. The song marked one of Drake's first releases under his own Frozen Moments, LLC, licensed to Republic Records, signaling a move away from his longtime labels Cash Money and Young Money Records.

The song's rhythmic and rhyming structure is central to its hypnotic and assertive feel. The tempo is typical for a trap song, creating a confident swagger. The rhythm is driven by the heavy, booming 808s and rapid-fire hi-hat patterns. Drake and Rick Ross utilize a conversational yet precise lyrical rhythm, often using end rhymes to punctuate their lines and create a memorable flow. The rhyme scheme is generally not a strict, repeating pattern, favoring a more free-flowing structure that feels like a confident monologue. For example, in the first verse, Drake rhymes 'start', 'dark', 'large', and 'bars', creating a chain of related sounds that holds the section together. The chorus employs a more consistent rhyme scheme (grave/place/race/face and bass/away/gave), which makes it exceptionally catchy and anthemic. This interplay between the complex, syncopated drum programming and the artists' steady, self-assured vocal cadences is what gives the track its signature head-nodding quality.

"Money In The Grave" employs several stylistic techniques to create its powerful and defiant tone:

• Musical Style: The song is a quintessential trap anthem, characterized by its deep 808 bass, skittering hi-hats, and an overall dark, cinematic atmosphere. The beat, produced by Lil CC and others, features a prominent, repetitive synth melody that creates a sense of brooding tension and inevitable triumph. Drake specifically shouts out the producer in the lyrics with "Lil CC let it slap with the bass," highlighting the beat's importance.
• Vocal Delivery: Both Drake and Rick Ross use a confident, declarative vocal delivery. Drake's flow is assertive and rhythmic, emphasizing his dominance. Rick Ross's signature deep, gravelly voice adds a layer of gravitas and luxury to his verse, creating a compelling textural contrast.
• Braggadocio and Hyperbole: The lyrics are filled with braggadocio, a cornerstone of hip-hop. Lines like "Really just lapped every n***a in the race" and the consideration of tattooing "Realest N***a" on his face are hyperbolic boasts meant to assert supreme confidence and status.
• Narrative Voice: The song is told from the first-person perspective of two artists at the pinnacle of their careers, reflecting on their journey and solidifying their position. This direct address creates an intimate and powerful connection with the listener, making the declarations feel personal and resolute.

"Money in the Grave" had a significant cultural impact upon its release. It debuted at a high position on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart, eventually reaching the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. The song became a massive streaming success and was Drake's 26th No. 1 on Billboard's Rhythmic Songs chart. Released to celebrate the Toronto Raptors' first NBA championship, the song became an anthem for the team's victory and for personal success and celebration in a broader sense. Its central line, "When I die, put my money in the grave," became a widely quoted lyric on social media and a popular meme. The track was also a milestone for its producer, Lil CC, launching her career, and it marked another successful collaboration in the long history between Drake and Rick Ross, who had previously created hits like "Aston Martin Music" and "I'm On One". The song has amassed over a billion streams on Spotify, marking a significant achievement for both artists. The stylish black-and-white music video, directed by Theo Skudra, further cemented the song's iconic status with its stark visuals of graves, luxury, and celebration.

The song is built around a central, powerful metaphor:

• Money in the Grave: This is the most significant symbolic element. It doesn't represent a literal desire for a lavish burial, but rather the idea of securing one's legacy. The money symbolizes a lifetime of hard work, achievement, and success. By wanting it "in the grave," the artists are expressing a wish for their accomplishments to be inseparable from their memory, protected from outsiders and detractors who might want a piece of it after they are gone. It’s a defiant statement that their wealth and status are theirs eternally.
• The Grave: The grave itself symbolizes the finality and permanence of their legacy. It is a place where their success is sealed and beyond the reach of others. The black-and-white music video, which features an excavator digging a grave and scenes in a church full of coffins, visually reinforces this somber yet powerful imagery.
• Saving Hoes with a Mask and a Cape: This line is a metaphor for Drake's past self. The "mask and cape" symbolize a naive, perhaps more heroic or chivalrous persona he once adopted. He is shedding this past identity for a more guarded and self-interested one, indicating a shift in his priorities from saving others to protecting himself and his assets.

The most significant recurring motif is the titular phrase and central hook: "When I die, put my money in the grave." This line is repeated multiple times in the chorus and referenced in the verses by both Drake and Rick Ross. Its repetition drills the song's central theme of eternal ownership over one's legacy into the listener's mind. It functions as the song's thesis statement, a defiant and memorable declaration of intent. Another recurring idea is being "still on top." Drake repeats this phrase to emphasize his sustained dominance in the music industry, highlighting his longevity and invulnerability to competitors who "wanna swap." This motif reinforces the theme of unparalleled success and the refusal to relinquish his position.