Search & Rescue

"Search & Rescue" is a deeply introspective and vulnerable track that explores Drake's feelings of loneliness and his desire for a genuine, committed relationship. The song's central theme is a plea for a partner to save him from the superficiality and isolation that his fame and lifestyle have created. Drake outlines the specific qualities he seeks in a woman: patience, ambition, honesty, and trust. He wants a partner to build a life with, not someone who is attracted to his wealth or fame. The lyrics convey a weariness with the casual and often transactional nature of modern relationships, as he expresses a desire to be taken "out the club, take me out the trap" and "off the market." This signifies a longing for a deeper, more private connection away from the public eye. The song also touches on his own shortcomings, particularly his difficulty in expressing love through words, admitting he often resorts to materialistic gestures ("That's why I American Express my love for you"). This reveals a layer of self-awareness about his emotional unavailability and his hope that the right person can help him overcome it. The title itself is a metaphor for his emotional state; he is lost in the wilderness of his celebrity life and is sending out a call for someone to find and rescue him.

The narrative opens with a clear and direct expression of need for a specific kind of partner. The protagonist, Drake, is searching for someone patient, someone who is a partner in building wealth rather than a drain on his finances. He acknowledges that his usual social circles are unlikely places to find this person, yet he finds himself preoccupied with thoughts of her. He uses the metaphor of being a "pitbull" to describe his own intense nature but softens this by expressing a desire to take this ideal partner on a holiday, showing a tender side. The core plea of the song is a call to be rescued from his current lifestyle—the clubs, the superficiality, the metaphorical "trap" of his fame. He wants to be taken "off the market" and "off the map," signaling a deep desire for a committed, private relationship, so much so that he can definitively tell his friends that his single life is over.

A notable interlude features a sampled conversation between Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner, where Kim expresses her realization that she has come too far in life to not be happy. This sample thematically aligns with the protagonist's own quest for genuine fulfillment beyond his success. Following this, the song delves into the protagonist's struggles with expressing love. He admits his inadequacy in verbalizing his feelings, stating that his primary way of showing affection is through lavish spending, humorously summarized by the line, "That's why I American Express my love for you." This highlights a conflict between his emotional vulnerability and the materialistic ways he has learned to communicate affection. He feels as though his love is being tested and is at a loss for how to properly confess it. He asks for guidance, admitting that his default solution to problems is often superficial, like going to the mall. He offers his world but acknowledges its limitations, suggesting a newfound self-awareness.

The song reiterates the desired qualities in a partner: patience, financial ambition, and a lack of concern for his fame. This recurring list emphasizes the sincerity and importance of these traits to him. As the song progresses, a more direct and assertive communication style is requested from his potential partner. He dismisses casual, low-effort messages like "WYD" (What you doing?), instead asking for more concrete and meaningful interaction, symbolized by sending a picture. This shift indicates a weariness with the ambiguous and non-committal nature of modern dating. He wants clear intentions and consistent effort, someone who won't be "missing" when he needs them. The track concludes by circling back to the central theme of being rescued, a final, lingering plea that underscores the depth of his loneliness and his yearning for a love that can save him from himself and the isolating aspects of his life.

"Search & Rescue" was officially released as a single on April 7, 2023, through OVO Sound and Republic Records. Drake first teased the song, then believed to be titled "Rescue Me," on his Instagram on March 25, 2023. The full track later premiered on "The Fry Yiy Show" on his Sirius XM radio station, Sound 42, on March 31. The song was recorded in 2022 at studios in Toronto and Nassau.

The production team behind the track is extensive, including Bnyx, BeautifulMvn, SadPony, and Wesley Curtis as the main producers, with co-production credits for Drake's longtime collaborator Noah "40" Shebib and rapper Lil Yachty. The song features a laid-back, rhythmic keyboard loop over which Drake delivers his vocals in a style described as hovering above a "morbid, anxious piano figure."

The most talked-about element of the song's creation is its sample of a conversation between Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner. The audio is taken from the 2021 season finale of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, where Kim discusses her decision to divorce Kanye West, stating, "I didn't come this far, just to come this far and not be happy, remember that." This choice of sample immediately sparked speculation about whether Drake was trolling his former rival, Kanye West. However, Drake's father, Dennis Graham, publicly denied these claims, stating it was "just a song" and not an intentional jab at West. An earlier version of the song featuring a verse from rapper Lil Durk also leaked online in June 2023.

"Search & Rescue" features Drake's characteristic conversational and fluid rhythmic flow, which blurs the lines between rapping and singing. The tempo is slow and deliberate, matching the song's contemplative and somber mood. The underlying beat provides a steady, head-nodding rhythm, but it remains subdued, allowing Drake's vocals and the piano melody to be the central focus. The drum pattern is sparse, often relying on a simple two-step hi-hat pattern and a rimshot, with the kick drum used sparingly, which prevents the rhythm from becoming overpowering and maintains the intimate atmosphere.

The rhyme scheme is generally loose and follows a free verse structure, which is common in Drake's more narrative-driven and introspective tracks. He prioritizes a natural, speech-like cadence over complex or rigid rhyme patterns. However, he employs internal rhymes and slant rhymes to maintain musicality and connect his lines. For example, in the lines, "Someone to get money with, not take it from me, look / They don't even need to be as famous as me / I don't think I'll meet 'em at the places I be," the rhymes on "me" create a sense of cohesion without feeling forced. This interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm creates a seamless and immersive listening experience that feels both personal and polished.

Musically, "Search & Rescue" employs a minimalist and atmospheric production style. The foundation of the track is a "laidback" keyboard loop and a "morbid, anxious piano figure" that creates a melancholic and introspective mood. The beat, credited to producers like BNYX and SadPony, is characterized by its rhythmic but sparse quality, featuring aggressive claps and sparing use of a kick drum, which is typical for many of Drake's more emotional tracks. Drake's vocal delivery is a signature blend of singing and rapping, delivered in a near-monotone style with slight use of autotune, enhancing the song's vulnerable and contemplative feel.

A key stylistic choice is the prominent use of a vocal sample from Kim Kardashian. This serves as a form of intertextuality, drawing on external pop culture events to add a layer of meaning and controversy to the track. It functions as a thematic bridge, aligning Kim's pursuit of happiness with Drake's own. Lyrically, Drake uses direct address, speaking to a hypothetical future partner. He employs repetition effectively, with the chorus acting as a mantra for his desires ("Come and rescue me"). The contrast between his vulnerable pleas and his self-aware admissions of emotional inadequacy (e.g., expressing love via credit card) is a powerful literary technique that creates a complex and relatable persona.

Upon its release, "Search & Rescue" garnered significant cultural attention, primarily due to the controversial sample of Kim Kardashian discussing her divorce from Kanye West. This creative choice immediately fueled widespread discussion and media coverage, with many interpreting it as a direct taunt towards West, reigniting interest in their long-standing and complex rivalry. The song debuted and peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, blocked from the top spot only by Morgan Wallen's "Last Night." It also performed well internationally, reaching the top 10 in the UK and Ireland, and charting across Europe and Australia. The track later reached number one on the US Rhythmic radio chart. Critically, the song received mixed reviews; some praised its production and Drake's return to a more vulnerable, emotional style, while others found the lyrical content weak and overshadowed by the Kardashian sample stunt. The song ultimately was not included on Drake's 2023 album, For All the Dogs. The cultural conversation around the track was further amplified when Kim Kardashian herself attended a Drake concert in August 2023 and was filmed shouting the sampled line, embracing its connection to the song.

The central metaphor of the song is encapsulated in its title, "Search & Rescue." This phrase symbolizes Drake's profound feeling of being lost and emotionally stranded within his own life of fame and excess. He is not in physical danger, but in a state of emotional distress, and he is sending out a distress signal for a partner to save him. The repeated plea, "Come and rescue me," reinforces this idea of needing salvation from his circumstances.

Further metaphors include being taken "out the club, out the trap" and "off the market, off the map." The 'club' and 'trap' symbolize the superficial and often toxic lifestyle associated with his celebrity status. Being taken 'off the market' is a straightforward metaphor for entering a committed relationship, while being taken 'off the map' suggests a deeper desire for privacy and a life away from the constant scrutiny of the public eye. Drake also refers to himself as a "pitbull," a metaphor for his intense, possibly aggressive or defensive, personality, which he immediately contrasts with a tender desire to "take you on a holiday," showing his complex nature. His admission of using his American Express card to express love is a metaphor for his emotional disconnect, where material wealth has become a substitute for genuine verbal affection.

The most significant recurring phrase in "Search & Rescue" is the direct plea, "Come and rescue me." This line, a central part of the post-chorus, functions as the song's emotional core and thesis statement. Its repetition emphasizes the depth of Drake's feeling of being lost and his urgent desire for a stabilizing, loving presence in his life. It's a cry for help that shifts from a simple want to a profound need.

Another key recurring motif is the list of qualities Drake desires in a partner: "I need someone to be patient with me / Someone to get money with, not take it from me / They don't even need to be as famous as me." This list is repeated in the chorus, drilling down the specific, non-superficial traits he values. By repeating this list, Drake underscores that his search is not for just anyone, but for a specific type of person who can understand and complement his life without being consumed by his fame or wealth. The repetition of wanting to be taken "off the market" and "off the map" also serves as a powerful motif, reinforcing his yearning for commitment and a retreat from public life.