Trust Issues

"Trust Issues" is a profound exploration of the psychological toll of fame and success. At its core, the song delves into Drake's struggle with paranoia, emotional isolation, and the difficulty of forming genuine connections in an environment where he suspects ulterior motives in those around him. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who uses a hedonistic lifestyle, filled with alcohol and money, as a coping mechanism for his deep-seated anxieties. He expresses a sweeping distrust, particularly towards women, fearing they might exploit his vulnerability for their own gain. However, the song also highlights a yearning for authenticity by singling out one person he feels he can trust, offering to let them into his guarded world. This contrast reveals a deep vulnerability beneath the confident exterior, a man grappling with the loss of old friendships and a sense of self-alienation. He feels disconnected from the person he was before fame, even expressing self-hatred for the persona he has created. Ultimately, the song is a candid confession of the loneliness and suspicion that can accompany a life in the spotlight, making it a powerful statement on the complexities of modern celebrity.

The song begins with a declaration of priorities, focusing solely on money and hometown pride, using youth as an excuse for a reckless, carefree attitude. This hedonistic lifestyle is immediately linked to substance use, specifically sipping on a mixed drink, which could be purple or pink, as a way to feel something or numb the pressures of life. The artist positions himself as being "on one," a state of being high or intensely focused, driven by ambition to acquire wealth.

A significant shift occurs as the narrative introduces a singular person who is exempt from a general feeling of mistrust. The artist confesses a deep-seated paranoia, especially towards women who might exploit him or "catch him slipping." This vulnerability is a stark contrast to the initial bravado. He offers to teach this one trusted individual how to mix his drinks, a metaphor for sharing a part of his guarded world and coping mechanisms. The repetition of not trusting others underscores a pervasive fear of betrayal, suggesting they might introduce something harmful or different into his life when his guard is down. The chorus devolves into the simple, haunting repetition of "trust issues," cementing it as the central theme and emotional burden.

The second verse delves deeper into the consequences of fame. The artist, Drizzy Drake, reflects on his changed relationships and the alienation he feels from people he once knew. He speaks of keeping his romantic partners away from the public eye ("never ever have my bitches sittin' courtside"), a defense mechanism to separate his private life from his celebrity persona. He laments how old friends now act like strangers, creating an emotional distance that makes genuine connection impossible, especially when true feelings are hidden. A profound sense of disillusionment sets in; new achievements no longer excite him, and he feels a sense of self-loathing, questioning the very persona he has created if it inspires negativity and distrust in others. Despite this, he continues to let people into his inner circle, albeit with precautions like demanding they leave their cell phones visible, a clear sign of his inability to trust anyone fully. This constant vigilance and the hate from others fuel his paranoia and weariness, making him scared to invest time in women and new relationships. The song concludes by circling back to the idea that in this one person, he sees the potential for something genuine that he is otherwise missing.

"Trust Issues" was originally released on June 21, 2011, as a free download on Drake's October's Very Own (OVO) blog. It was one of several tracks, including "Marvins Room," that he dropped to build anticipation for his second studio album, Take Care. While it became a fan favorite, the song was not included on the official album tracklist. The track was co-produced by Drake's longtime collaborator Noah "40" Shebib and T-Minus. The song was written by a team including Drake (Aubrey Graham), Noah Shebib, T-Minus (Tyler Williams), Lil Wayne (Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr.), Rick Ross (William Roberts), DJ Khaled, Nikhil Seetharam, and N. Cobey. It notably incorporates and reinterprets elements from the hook of DJ Khaled's song "I'm on One," which also featured Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne. Due to its immense popularity as a standalone track, "Trust Issues" was eventually given an official commercial release on August 2, 2019, as part of Drake's compilation album, Care Package, which collected many of his loosies and non-album tracks.

The rhyme and rhythm of "Trust Issues" are deliberately crafted to create a moody, conversational, and introspective atmosphere.

• Rhythm and Tempo: The song is built on a slow, down-tempo R&B beat, which establishes a melancholic and contemplative mood from the start. Drake's vocal delivery often floats over this rhythm, sometimes syncing with it and at other times lagging slightly behind, creating a laid-back, almost slurry feel that mirrors the theme of intoxication and emotional weariness. The pacing is unhurried, allowing the weight of the lyrics to sink in.
• Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme is generally loose and resembles free verse, avoiding rigid, predictable patterns like AABB. Instead, Drake uses a more conversational flow with frequent internal rhymes and slant rhymes (e.g., "slippin'" and "different"). This technique makes the lyrics feel more like a genuine train of thought rather than a structured poem. For instance, in the verse, "Same nigga that you knew way back when / You actin' like it's somebody you don't know / Tell me, how the fuck we 'posed to stay friends / When you got a bunch of feelings that you don't show?", the rhyme is more focused on the end sounds and emotional cadence than a strict pattern.

"Trust Issues" is a quintessential example of Drake's signature musical and lyrical style that defined his career in the early 2010s.

• Vocal Delivery: Drake employs his characteristic blend of singing and rapping, blurring the lines between the two. His delivery is melodic and crooning, conveying a sense of melancholy and introspection that enhances the song's emotional weight. This rap-sung dichotomy allows him to express both vulnerability and bravado within the same track.
• Atmospheric Production: The production, handled by Noah "40" Shebib and T-Minus, is minimalist and atmospheric. It features a slow tempo, smooth R&B melodies, and vacant-sounding beats that create a dark, sensuous, and contemplative sonic landscape, a hallmark of the "Toronto sound" that Drake popularized.
• Introspective Narrative: Lyrically, the song is a confessional, drawing heavily on personal anxieties and experiences with fame and relationships. This diaristic approach, where he explores themes of wealth, alienation, and emotional conflict, makes the listener feel like they are privy to his inner monologue.
• Interpolation: The song cleverly interpolates the hook from "I'm On One," another major hit Drake was featured on. By re-contextualizing the line "All I care about is money and the city that I'm from," he bridges his confident, chart-topping persona with the more vulnerable, paranoid narrative of "Trust Issues."

Despite never being an official single from an album upon its initial release, "Trust Issues" had a significant cultural impact. It was a viral hit in 2011, becoming a cornerstone of the burgeoning "PBR&B" or alternative R&B sound that Drake and The Weeknd were pioneering. The song's moody, introspective, and atmospheric style influenced a wave of contemporary R&B and hip-hop. The track's popularity led to several high-profile covers and remixes. Just days after its release, The Weeknd dropped his own remix on the OVO blog, followed by a mashup of both versions. Later that year, a then 17-year-old Justin Bieber released a cover version, omitting the explicit lyrics, which introduced the song to a wider pop audience. The song's themes and title became part of the cultural lexicon, often cited in discussions about modern relationships and the psychological effects of fame. Though it was initially a free download, its enduring popularity led to its inclusion on the 2019 compilation album Care Package, where it officially charted, reaching number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieving Platinum certification in Australia and Silver in the UK.

"Trust Issues" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that illustrate the song's central themes of paranoia and emotional guardedness.

• Alcohol and Mixing Drinks: The recurring motif of drinking—specifically "two white cups" filled with a drink that "could be purple, it could be pink"—symbolizes self-medication and escapism. The act of mixing the drink and offering to teach his trusted confidante how to do it is a powerful metaphor for intimacy and letting someone into his private, vulnerable world. It's a gesture of trust in an otherwise trustless environment.
• Cell Phones on the Table: The line "leave them cell phones on the table where we see them" is a direct symbol of the pervasive mistrust Drake feels. In an age of social media and instant information leaks, the cell phone represents a potential tool for betrayal, and his demand to have them in plain sight is a tangible manifestation of his paranoia.
• Courtside Seats: The declaration that he would "never ever have my bitches sittin' courtside" is a metaphor for the strict boundary he maintains between his public persona and his private life. Courtside seats represent the ultimate public display of a relationship, and his refusal to place anyone there symbolizes his effort to protect his personal life from the scrutiny and potential opportunism of the outside world.

Several recurring phrases and motifs are central to the structure and meaning of "Trust Issues."

• "Trust Issues": The titular phrase is the most significant recurring motif. It is repeated in a haunting, melodic chant in the chorus, acting as the song's emotional thesis statement. Its repetition drills home the central theme of paranoia and emotional guardedness, making it both a confession and a lament.
• "I'm on one": This phrase, interpolated from the DJ Khaled hit, is repeated at the beginning of the song. It serves as a motif for a hedonistic and intoxicated state, a shield of bravado that masks the vulnerability explored in the rest of the track. Its repetition establishes the external persona Drake projects.
• "You're the only one 'cause I don't trust these bitches": This line is repeated multiple times, becoming a critical hook. Its recurrence emphasizes the deep schism in Drake's mind between a single trusted individual and the rest of the world, whom he views with suspicion. The repetition highlights his isolation and the preciousness of finding one person to confide in.
• Drinking and Getting Faded: The act of drinking is a recurring lyrical motif mentioned at the beginning and in the transition to the second verse ("Let's call up on drank and let's all get wasted"). This motif reinforces the theme of escapism and using substances to cope with the pressures of fame and emotional turmoil.