What’s Next

"What's Next" is a braggadocious anthem that serves as both a victory lap and a status update for Drake. At its core, the song is a confident assertion of his continued dominance in the music industry and a reflection on the unique pressures and privileges that come with his level of fame. The central theme is one of flexing—showcasing wealth, success, and an unassailable position at the top. Drake addresses the constant public scrutiny he faces, acknowledging that everyone, from fans to critics, is perpetually wondering about his next move. The chorus, which casually recounts his activities over several months—resting, stretching, and having sex—is a deliberately understated response to this intense curiosity. It suggests that while the world waits with bated breath, his life continues with an air of nonchalant ease, reinforcing his supreme confidence. The title itself becomes a rhetorical question, implying that whatever comes next will inevitably be another success.

The lyrics are filled with direct and indirect boasts about his opulent lifestyle, from owning a rare Patek Philippe watch to high-stakes gambling at the Wynn in Las Vegas. He positions himself not just as an artist but as a boss and an owner, someone who operates in the most exclusive circles. There's also a sense of defiance against critics and the narratives that form around him, particularly the idea that his fame came at the cost of "selling his soul." Drake dismisses this as a simplistic explanation for a career trajectory he has meticulously built. Ultimately, the song is a powerful statement of self-assurance, celebrating his achievements while eagerly looking toward a future he is certain he will conquer.

The narrative begins with a declaration of personal change, moving past pain with the help of liquor. There’s an immediate confrontation with the idea of losing status, symbolized by someone giving away their chain, which is equated to forfeiting one's fame. The perspective is that of someone who has ascended to the highest echelons of success, sitting in exclusive circles typically reserved for owners and powerful figures, a role he has fully embraced. He acknowledges a complex relationship, expressing deep affection but also an inability to be monogamous, highlighting a conflict between personal feelings and the realities of his lifestyle.

He boasts about possessing extremely rare and expensive items, specifically a luxury watch that only he and the late designer Virgil Abloh owned, underscoring his elite status. This theme of constant growth and improvement is central. He recounts navigating the pitfalls and challenges of his career, metaphorically “swerving them potholes” to protect both his luxury vehicles and his business deals. The lyrics touch upon the public's perception of fame, noting how quickly success is attributed to selling one's soul, a conspiracy theory he dismisses as mere public nosiness into the highs and lows of his life. The public's intense curiosity about his day-to-day activities is a recurring point.

In response to this public scrutiny, he offers a nonchalant summary of his recent life: resting during the summer, stretching (a reference to his recovery from a knee injury) around the New Year, and engaging in casual romance on Valentine's Day. This casual recounting builds up to the central, repeated question: what's next? It's a rhetorical query that suggests his life is a series of accomplishments and that the future holds even more, though the specifics are kept close to the chest. He remains in a state of perpetual motion and anticipation.

The second verse reinforces his unblemished record since being launched into stardom by his mentor, Lil Wayne, stating he has had "no fumbles." He proudly notes his position at the top of the charts, achieved without resorting to sales gimmicks like merchandise bundles. His opulent lifestyle is further detailed with references to high-stakes gambling at the Wynn in Las Vegas ("a million in chocolate chips") and customizing his luxury cars. He feels no need to embellish his success because the numbers speak for themselves. The song concludes by circling back to the public's insatiable curiosity and the initial themes of change and unshakable status, leaving the listener with the same sense of anticipation that he projects.

"What's Next" was released on March 5, 2021, as the lead single from Drake's fourth EP, Scary Hours 2. The song was written by Drake (Aubrey Graham) along with its producers, Jonathan "Supah Mario" Priester and Maneesh Bidaye. The creation of the beat was a swift process; Supah Mario created it during a session where he was making multiple beats and initially considered it a "throwaway." However, upon sending a pack of beats to Drake, the rapper immediately claimed it, telling Mario, "Yo, don't give this to nobody else. I'm using this. Send me the stems right now."

An earlier version of the track had leaked online on February 27, 2021. Notably, some of the lyrics and the chorus's melody interpolate an unreleased collaboration between Drake and Young Thug titled "What a Time to Be a Slime." The song was part of the Scary Hours 2 EP, which was intended to build anticipation for Drake's then-forthcoming album, Certified Lover Boy, the release of which had been delayed due to a knee injury Drake sustained in late 2020. It was later revealed that an original version of the song was intended to feature rappers Baby Keem and Playboi Carti. This version, with an additional verse from Baby Keem, was premiered by Drake on his OVO Sound Radio show in September 2021.

The rhyme and rhythm of "What's Next" are key to its confident and catchy feel. Drake employs a relatively straightforward but effective rhyme scheme that relies heavily on end rhymes, often in couplets, to create a memorable, flowing structure. For instance, in the refrain, he rhymes "today," "away," and "away," creating a simple AAAA pattern that makes the lines cohesive.

The song's rhythm is built around a classic trap beat with a moderate tempo. Drake's lyrical rhythm, or flow, plays dynamically against this instrumental backbone. He alternates between a more relaxed, conversational pace in the verses and a more declarative, rhythmic cadence in the chorus and refrain. His ability to sit comfortably in the "pocket" of the beat allows the lyrics to land with emphasis and swagger. The syncopation of the 808 bass and the rapid-fire hi-hat patterns create a sense of energy and momentum, while Drake's vocal delivery often remains cool and controlled, creating a compelling contrast. This interplay between the laid-back flow and the energetic beat is a hallmark of his style and contributes significantly to the song's confident, effortless vibe.

Drake's stylistic approach in "What's Next" combines a confident, laid-back vocal delivery with a hard-hitting, minimalist trap production.

Literary Techniques:

• Rhetorical Questions: The song's title and recurring refrain, "We'll see what's 'bout to happen next, okay?", functions as a rhetorical question that taunts the audience and asserts his unpredictability and control over his own narrative.
• Braggadocio: The entire lyrical content is an exercise in braggadocio, a staple of hip-hop where the artist boasts about their skills, wealth, and success. Drake uses specific, verifiable flexes (like the rare watch and his chart success) to ground his boasts in reality.
• Direct Address: Drake occasionally uses a direct address, seemingly speaking to a romantic interest ("I can't just be with you and only you") or a general detractor, which creates a more intimate and confrontational tone.

Musical Techniques:

• Vocal Delivery: Drake employs his signature melodic rap style, moving smoothly between rhythmic speech and sung cadences. His flow is fluid and conversational, making the extravagant lyrics feel almost casual and effortless.
• Production: The beat, produced by Supah Mario and Maneesh, is characterized by a "triumphant-sounding instrumental" and "grungy trap production." It features a bright, repetitive synth melody that oscillates between chords, layered over a hard-hitting 808 bassline and crisp, syncopated hi-hats and snares, typical of the trap genre.
• Ad-libs: The use of ad-libs like "okay?" and "ayy" punctuate the verses and chorus, adding rhythmic texture and reinforcing the song's confident, almost dismissive attitude.

"What's Next" made a significant cultural and commercial impact upon its release. The song debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Drake's eighth number-one single in the country. In a historic achievement, the other two tracks from the Scary Hours 2 EP, "Wants and Needs" and "Lemon Pepper Freestyle," debuted at numbers two and three respectively, making Drake the first artist in history to have three songs debut in the top 3 of the Hot 100 simultaneously. This feat solidified his status as a commercial juggernaut and chart record-breaker.

The song's music video, directed by Theo Skudra, was shot in Drake's hometown of Toronto and featured him at various iconic city landmarks, including the top of the CN Tower, Ripley's Aquarium, and the TTC subway system. This served to reinforce his identity as a global ambassador for the city. The track became a popular anthem of success and confidence, widely used on social media platforms and in sports contexts. Its confident, forward-looking theme resonated as people were looking ahead past the challenges of the previous year. Within Drake's discography, "What's Next" stands as a prime example of his ability to create viral, chart-topping trap bangers that blend lyrical bravado with infectious production.

"What's Next" is more direct in its flexing than it is reliant on deep symbolism, but it employs several powerful metaphors to convey its message of status and success.

• The Chain as Fame: The line, "I heard you was givin' your chain away / That's kinda like givin' your fame away," uses a rapper's chain—a common symbol of wealth and status in hip-hop—as a direct metaphor for their fame and standing in the industry. To give it away is to relinquish one's position and influence.
• The Owner's Box: Drake's declaration, "I sit in a box where the owners do / A boss is a role that I've grown into," uses the luxury box at a sports arena as a symbol for the highest tier of power and influence. It signifies that he has transcended being merely a player (an artist) to become an owner (a mogul), reflecting his business ventures and his role as an ambassador for the Toronto Raptors.
• Swerving Potholes: This phrase is a metaphor for navigating the dangers and pitfalls of the music industry and life in the public eye. It simultaneously has a literal meaning—protecting the wheels on his expensive cars—and a figurative one—protecting his career and business deals from potential setbacks.
• "A million in chocolate chips": This line is a clever metaphor for gambling chips at the Wynn Las Vegas casino, equating a million dollars in chips to something as casual and common as chocolate chips in a cookie, which emphasizes his immense wealth and nonchalant attitude towards money. The follow-up line, "And that's just how my cookie crumble," extends the metaphor, suggesting this high-stakes life is simply his reality.

The most prominent recurring phrase in "What's Next" is the title itself, which appears in the chorus as "We'll see what's 'bout to happen next, okay?" This phrase acts as the song's central thesis, encapsulating the theme of constant public anticipation surrounding Drake's career. Its repetition, punctuated by the nonchalant "okay?", transforms a simple question into a confident, almost taunting statement. It reinforces his control over his own narrative and the idea that he is always moving forward, keeping his audience guessing.

Another significant recurring motif is the word "okay," used as an ad-lib at the end of many lines in the chorus ("Summer, all I did was rest, okay? / And New Year's, all I did was stretch, okay?"). This repetition serves multiple purposes: it adds a rhythmic catchiness, but more importantly, it injects a sense of dismissive confidence and finality into each statement. It's as if he's preemptively ending any debate or questioning of his actions, presenting his life as a series of simple, settled facts. This casual affirmation is a key element of the song's swaggering and effortless tone.