Love Me

"Love Me" is an unapologetic anthem of hedonism, sexual braggadocio, and a defiant stance against detractors. The central message, articulated in the chorus by Drake, is that the adoration of women outweighs any criticism from 'haters.' The song is a celebration of a lifestyle of excess, revolving around what Lil Wayne summarizes as 'Pussy, money, weed.' Lyrically, the track explores themes of polyamory and expresses a deep distrust of women, viewing relationships as transactional and purely physical. Lil Wayne's verses are filled with graphic, often misogynistic depictions of sexual encounters, portraying women as objects of pleasure who exist solely for his gratification. When a woman in the song seeks a deeper emotional connection, Wayne crudely rebuffs her, emphasizing his emotional detachment. The song, therefore, serves as a polarizing testament to a particular vision of fame and success within the hip-hop world, embracing its flaws and controversies as a badge of honor.

The song is a raw and unapologetic exploration of a lifestyle defined by excess, power dynamics, and a defiant dismissal of critics. It opens with Future's heavily auto-tuned hook, setting a hedonistic scene fueled by 'good kush and alcohol.' This refrain, repeated throughout the track, becomes an anthem for indulgence. The core message, delivered by Drake in the pre-chorus, is a blunt statement of priorities: as long as he is adored by women, the opinions of 'haters' are irrelevant. This sentiment establishes the song's central theme of finding validation through sexual conquest and material success rather than public approval.

Lil Wayne's verses delve deep into this worldview with graphic and explicit detail. He portrays his relationships as purely transactional and physical. In his first verse, he describes a woman who is infatuated with him, but he makes it clear that his interest is purely carnal. When she expresses a desire for a deeper emotional connection, he crudely dismisses her, demanding only physical satisfaction before silencing her. This interaction starkly illustrates his emotional detachment and the power imbalance in his relationships. He sees women not as partners, but as objects for his pleasure, a point he reinforces with lines comparing their devotion to a 'strict diet' of him.

The second verse intensifies this provocative and misogynistic narrative. Wayne uses crude and degrading language to describe women and their anatomy, explicitly stating they cannot be treated 'like ladies.' His imagery is often shocking, such as hoping his name tastes like sardines to his detractors and describing his sexual encounters with a cold, almost clinical detachment. He boasts about his promiscuity and his ability to remain unaffected by criticism, stating that his haters 'can't knock me off the hinges.' This defiance is a key element of his persona in the song—a man who is completely secure in his controversial lifestyle. The recurring theme is that the love and adoration of these women provide all the validation he needs, rendering all other judgments meaningless. The song concludes by reinforcing the central hook, a final declaration of loyalty to this self-contained world of indulgence and the women who inhabit it, solidifying its status as a defiant anthem of unrepentant hedonism.

"Love Me" was released on January 18, 2013, as the second single from Lil Wayne's tenth studio album, I Am Not a Human Being II. The song was written by Lil Wayne (Dwayne Carter), Drake (Aubrey Graham), Future (Nayvadius Wilburn), and its producers Mike WiLL Made-It (Michael Williams) and A+ (Asheton Hogan). The track was recorded in 2012 and leaked online in late December of that year after being premiered by Cash Money's in-house DJs. An interesting piece of trivia is that the single's artwork was designed by Kanye West's creative company, DONDA. Wayne explained that West chose a moth/butterfly motif to represent the many forms, changes, and beautiful, enigmatic stages of life. A different version of the song, featuring only Drake and Future, was later released on producer Mike WiLL Made-It's 2013 mixtape, #MikeWillBeenTrill.

The song's structure is built around a relaxed, mid-tempo trap beat. The rhythm is hypnotic and woozy, contributing to the song's intoxicated, hedonistic atmosphere. The lyrical rhythm, particularly in the chorus and pre-chorus delivered by Future and Drake, is melodic and syncopated, flowing smoothly over the beat. Lil Wayne's verses feature a more varied and complex rhythmic delivery. He alternates between straightforward flows and more syncopated, off-kilter patterns. The rhyme scheme is generally simple and direct, often relying on couplets (AABB) and frequent internal rhymes to maintain momentum. For example, in the line, "She don't want money, she want the time we could spend / She said 'cause I really need somebody, so tell me you're that somebody'," Wayne uses a simple end rhyme. He also uses repetition effectively for emphasis, as seen in the recurring chorus lines. The interplay between the melodic, sung hooks and Wayne's aggressive rap verses creates a dynamic texture that enhances the song's impact.

"Love Me" is characterized by its woozy, atmospheric trap production and heavily Auto-Tuned vocals, which create a downcast and ponderous sound. The song is a posse cut that effectively combines the distinct styles of its three artists into a cohesive, radio-ready hit. Musical techniques include Future's signature melodic, warbling hook, which provides a catchy, memorable anchor for the track. The beat, produced by Mike WiLL Made-It and A+, is synth-heavy and creates a lullaby-like, almost sad, backdrop that contrasts with the explicit lyrics. Literary techniques are present in Wayne's verses. He employs antanaclasis, a type of pun where a word is repeated with a different meaning, in the line: "But it's like as soon as I cum, I come to my senses." He also uses explicit similes and metaphors, such as "pussies like craters" and "my dick feel like morphine," to create shocking and graphic imagery. The narrative voice is one of unwavering, aggressive braggadocio, which, despite being a common trope, is pushed to an extreme through its graphic and unapologetic nature.

"Love Me" was a significant commercial success, peaking at number nine on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Lil Wayne's 18th top-ten hit and Future's first. Its success solidified the radio-ready potential of its star-studded combination, influencing future collaborations in hip-hop that prioritized big names. Despite being largely panned by critics for its misogynistic lyrics, the song became a cultural phenomenon and a party staple. Its downcast, atmospheric sound was influential, prefiguring a sound that would become dominant in pop and R&B in the following years. The music video, premiering on Valentine's Day 2013, garnered immense attention and has over 600 million views on YouTube as of mid-2025. The song's staying power was confirmed when it achieved Diamond certification from the RIAA in 2024, signifying over 10 million units sold. It remains a key track on Lil Wayne's album I Am Not a Human Being II and a significant crossover moment for Future, establishing him as a mainstream hitmaker.

While the lyrics of "Love Me" are overtly direct, the music video, directed by Hannah Lux Davis, is rich with symbolism, much of which has been interpreted as referencing dark and sinister themes. Many analysts suggest the video is replete with imagery related to Monarch mind control, a conspiracy theory about a government brainwashing program. This is allegedly symbolized by elements like butterflies (a core symbol of the Monarch program), women in cages (representing enslavement), one-eye symbolism, and animal prints (specifically referencing 'Kitten Programming,' a supposed subset of Monarch). The video depicts women in submissive, animalistic states, crawling on the floor or trapped, which reinforces the song's lyrical theme of female objectification but adds a more disturbing layer of control and dehumanization. Lil Wayne is positioned as the 'handler,' surrounded by his 'kittens.' The setting, a dungeon-like hall and a water-filled room where Wayne raps from a bed, contributes to a surreal and nightmarish atmosphere, transforming the song's braggadocio into something more sinister and symbolic of control.

The most prominent recurring motif is the chorus, "I'm on that good kush and alcohol," which acts as a mantra for the song's hedonistic lifestyle. This line, combined with Drake's hook, "Long as my bitches love me / I can give a fuck 'bout no hater," encapsulates the central theme of the song: finding validation in female adoration and substance-fueled excess while dismissing all criticism. The repetition of "my bitches love me" throughout the song reinforces this core idea, becoming a declaration of power. Another recurring lyrical motif is Lil Wayne's explicit objectification of women, with repeated references to sex, female anatomy, and his transactional view of relationships. This is a consistent thread through his verses, establishing a clear and unapologetic persona. The phrase "pussy, money, weed" is another concise motif that Wayne uses to summarize his priorities and the song's overarching themes.