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Laugh Now Cry Later

{{short description|2020 single by Drake featuring Lil Durk}}

{{About|the Drake song|the studio album by Ice Cube|Laugh Now, Cry Later}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Laugh Now Cry Later

| type = single

| cover = Drake - Laugh Now Cry Later.png

| artist = Drake featuring Lil Durk

| album =

| released = {{start date|2020|8|14}}

| recorded =

| genre = * Hip hop

| length = 4:21

| label = * Republic

| writer = * Aubrey Graham

| producer = * Cardo

  • Chahayed
  • G. Ry
  • Yung Exclusive
  • Bryan Yepes

| chronology = Drake

| prev_title = Only You Freestyle

| prev_year = 2020

| next_title = Twist & Turn

| next_year = 2020

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Lil Durk

| type = single

| prev_title = Painless 2

| prev_year = 2020

| title = Laugh Now Cry Later

| year = 2020

| next_title = Eat (Remix)

| next_year = 2020

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|JFm7YDVlqnI|"Laugh Now Cry Later"}}}}

}}

"Laugh Now Cry Later" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake featuring American rapper Lil Durk. It was released through Republic Records and OVO Sound as a single on August 14, 2020. The two artists wrote the song alongside producers Cardo, Rogét Chahayed, G. Ry, Bryan Yepes and Yung Exclusive. It was originally the intended lead single from Drake's sixth studio album, Certified Lover Boy (2021).{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/08/drake-laugh-now-cry-later-lil-durk-song-review.html|title=Somehow, Somewhere Drake Is Still One of Us|last=Jenkins|first=Craig|website=Vulture|date=August 14, 2020|access-date=August 16, 2020}}

Commercially, the song debuted at number one in Drake's native Canada on the Canadian Hot 100 and debuted at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song received nominations for Best Melodic Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

Background

On August 12, 2020, Drake posted a clip of himself and another person riding jet skis at night on his social media. The post was accompanied by the caption "TMRW MIDNIGHT 🤍".{{cite web|url=https://www.revolt.tv/news/2020/8/13/21366299/drake-teases-new-music|title=Drake teases new music with jet ski promo clip — watch here|last=Moorwood|first=Victoria|website=Revolt|date=August 13, 2020|access-date=August 16, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CD0QRmeH6uE/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CD0QRmeH6uE |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=limited|title=TMRW MIDNIGHT 🤍|via=Instagram|access-date=August 16, 2020}}{{cbignore}} Upon release, it turned out that the song's music video also entailed an upcoming collaboration between Drake and Nike, Inc.{{cite web|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/drake-laugh-now-cry-later-music-video-watch-here/|title=Drake's Star-Studded "Laugh Now Cry Later" Visuals Appear to Tease a Nike Collab|last=Gorsler|first=Fabian|website=Highsnobiety|date=August 14, 2020|access-date=August 16, 2020}}

Critical reception

Jeremy D. Larson of Pitchfork praised Drake's delivery, calling the song "one of the lightest and breeziest Drake songs to come out in a while". He further described his presence as "effortlessly cool and simple", while "Lil Durk shows up as a perfect counterpart".{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/drake-laugh-now-cry-later-ft-lil-durk/|title=Drake: "Laugh Now, Cry Later" [ft. Lil Durk]|last=Larson|first=Jeremy D.|website=Pitchfork|date=August 14, 2020|access-date=August 16, 2020}} Complex thought the song was "a vibe, but not an obvious hit record", neither a "by-the-numbers pop radio play or a hard-hitting club record".{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2020/08/drake-new-song-laugh-now-cry-later-takeaways|title=6 Takeaways From Drake and Lil Durk's New Song "Laugh Now Cry Later"|last1=Skelton|first1=Eric|last2=McKinney|first2=Jessica|last3=Ritchie|first3=Matthew|website=Complex|date=August 14, 2020|access-date=August 16, 2020}} According to Charles Holmes at Rolling Stone, the song "sounds like Drake featuring Drake", further explaining that the song "is the embodiment of what happens when you surround real Drake with a room full of past Drakes, like a tortured Canadian reboot of Being John Malkovich".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/drake-laugh-now-cry-later-1044657/|title=These Days, Even Drake Sounds Like Drake Featuring Drake|last=Holmes|first=Charles|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=August 14, 2020|access-date=August 16, 2020}}

Lil Wayne released a version of the song on his No Ceilings 3 mixtape called Something Different which also had a music video.

Music video

The song's official music video was released on August 13, 2020, and was directed by Dave Meyers. It was shot at Nike's headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, thus receiving criticism for advertising the company and resembling a commercial. The video features shots predominantly of Drake engaging in different sporting activities: boxing underwater (as a reference to Muhammad Ali), running on a treadmill in Nike's sports-science lab, and going on a shopping spree in a closed down Nike store with Instagrammer Aggyabby, as well as Durk and Drake riding jet skis and Drake posing in oversized white, and cream colored suits with Durk (as a reference to LeBron James).{{cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/drake-laugh-now-cry-later|title=Drake's "Laugh Now Cry Later" Video Is Extremely Our Vibe|last=Schube|first=Sam|website=GQ|date=August 14, 2020|access-date=August 16, 2020}} The video also includes several cameos from athletes, including Kevin Durant, Odell Beckham Jr., and Marshawn Lynch, as well as internet comedian Druski & noted shoe designer Ben Nethongkome.

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.{{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/151919561|title=Laugh Now Cry Later / Drake|website=Tidal|access-date=August 16, 2020}}

  • Drake – lead vocals, songwriting
  • Lil Durk – featured vocals, songwriting
  • Cardo - songwriting, production
  • Alex Torrez - songwriting
  • Allen Ponce - songwriting
  • Bryan Yepes - songwriting, production
  • G. Ry - songwriting, production
  • Yung Exclusive - songwriting, production
  • Rogét Chahayed - songwriting, production
  • Noel Cadastre – recording
  • Noah "40" Shebib – mixing
  • Chris Athens – mixing
  • Turn Me Up Josh - Engineering
  • Nick Rice - Recording Engineer
  • Zack Shochet - Assistant Engineer
  • JusVibes - Assistant Engineer

Charts

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Weekly chart performance for "Laugh Now Cry Later"

! scope="col"| Chart (2020–2021)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Billboardargentinahot100|83|artist=Drake|rowheader=true|access-date=October 29, 2020}}
{{single chart|Australia|3|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|song=Laugh Now Cry Later|rowheader=true|access-date=August 27, 2020}}
{{single chart|Austria|19|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|song=Laugh Now Cry Later|rowheader=true|access-date=August 27, 2020}}
{{single chart|Flanders|47|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|song=Laugh Now Cry Later|rowheader=true|access-date=September 18, 2020}}
{{single chart|Wallonia Tip|3|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|song=Laugh Now Cry Later|rowheader=true|access-date=September 18, 2020}}
{{single chart|Canada|1|artist=Drake|rowheader=true|access-date=August 25, 2020}}
{{single chart|Czechdigital|57|year=2020|week=34|rowheader=true|access-date=August 24, 2020}}
{{single chart|Denmark|20|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|song=Laugh Now Cry Later|rowheader=true|access-date=September 5, 2020}}
{{single chart|France|50|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|song=Laugh Now Cry Later|rowheader=true|access-date=September 5, 2020}}
{{single chart|Germany|25|songid=2052002|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|song=Laugh Now Cry Later|rowheader=true|access-date=August 21, 2020}}
{{single chart|Billboardglobal200|5|artist=Drake|rowheader=true|access-date=September 15, 2020}}
{{single chart|Hungarysingle|33|year=2020|week=34|rowheader=true|access-date=August 29, 2020}}
{{single chart|Hungarystream|21|year=2020|week=34|rowheader=true|access-date=August 29, 2020}}
scope="row"| Iceland (Tónlistinn){{cite web|url=http://plotutidindi.is/lagalistinn/|title=Tónlistinn – Lög|trans-title=The Music – Songs|language=is|publisher=Plötutíðindi|access-date=July 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906084151/http://plotutidindi.is/lagalistinn/|archive-date=September 6, 2020|url-status=dead}}

| 14

{{single chart|Ireland4|5|date=20200821|rowheader=true|access-date=August 21, 2020}}
{{single chart|Italy|59|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|song=Laugh Now Cry Later|rowheader=true|access-date=September 5, 2020}}
scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade){{cite web |url=https://www.top40.nl/tipparade/2020/week-37|title=Tipparade-lijst van week 37, 2020|language=dutch| publisher=Dutch Top 40|access-date=March 19, 2023}}

|8

{{single chart|Dutch100|22|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|song=Laugh Now Cry Later|rowheader=true|access-date=August 21, 2020}}
{{single chart|New Zealand|3|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|song=Laugh Now Cry Later|rowheader=true|access-date=September 5, 2020}}
{{single chart|Norway|9|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|song=Laugh Now Cry Later|rowheader=true|access-date=September 5, 2020}}
{{single chart|Portugal|10|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|song=Laugh Now Cry Later|rowheader=true|access-date=August 29, 2020}}
scope="row" | Romania (Airplay 100){{cite news|url=https://www.unsitedemuzica.ro/topuri/Top-Airplay-100-Jerusalema-face-valuri-si-in-plina-toamna-p11091|title=Top Airplay 100 - Jerusalema face valuri şi în plină toamnă!|trans-title=Top Airplay 100 – Jerusalema makes waves even in full autumn!|author=Arvunescu, Victor|date=October 12, 2020|access-date=October 12, 2020|language=ro|publisher=Un site de muzică}}

| 55

{{single chart|Scotland|42|date=20200821|rowheader=true|access-date=August 21, 2020}}
scope="row"| Singapore (RIAS){{cite web|url=https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/|title=RIAS International Top Charts Week 35|publisher=Recording Industry Association (Singapore)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902012353/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/|archive-date=September 2, 2020}}

| 18

{{single chart|Slovakdigital2|36|year=2020|week=35|rowheader=true|access-date=September 1, 2020}}
scope="row"| Spain (PROMUSICAE){{cite web|url=https://www.elportaldemusica.es/lists/top-100-canciones/2020/34|title=Top 100 Canciones: Semana 34|publisher=Productores de Música de España|access-date=August 26, 2020}}

| 86

{{single chart|Sweden|14|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|song=Laugh Now Cry Later|rowheader=true|access-date=August 23, 2020}}
{{single chart|Switzerland|5|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|song=Laugh Now Cry Later|rowheader=true|access-date=August 23, 2020}}
{{single chart|UK|4|date=20200821|rowheader=true|access-date=August 21, 2020}}
{{single chart|UKrandb|2|date=20200821|rowheader=true|access-date=August 21, 2020}}
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|2|artist=Drake|rowheader=true|access-date=August 25, 2020}}
{{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|37|artist=Drake|rowheader=true|access-date=January 12, 2021}}
{{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|1|artist=Drake|rowheader=true|access-date=November 3, 2020}}
{{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|7|artist=Drake|rowheader=true|access-date=December 22, 2020}}
{{single chart|Billboardrhythmic|1|artist=Drake|rowheader=true|access-date=September 29, 2020}}
scope="row"| US Rolling Stone Top 100{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/charts/songs/2020-08-20|title=Top 100 Songs, August 14, 2020 - August 20, 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=August 24, 2020}}

| 1

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Year-end chart performance for "Laugh Now Cry Later"

! scope="col"| Chart (2020)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2020/canadian-hot-100|title=Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2020|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 4, 2020}}

| 48

scope="row"| Hungary (Stream Top 40){{cite web|url=https://slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-listak/stream_db/2020|title=Stream Top 100 - darabszám alapján - 2020|access-date=March 7, 2022|publisher=Mahasz}}

| 90

scope="row"| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2020|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2020|website=hitparade.ch|access-date=December 28, 2020}}

| 100

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2020/hot-100-songs|title=Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2020|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 4, 2020}}

| 41

scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2020/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2020|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 4, 2020}}

| 20

scope="row"| US Rhythmic (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2020/rhythmic-songs|title=Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2020|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 4, 2020}}

| 22

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"
scope="col"|Chart (2021)

!scope="col"|Position

scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/canadian-hot-100/|title=Canadian Hot 100 - Year End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 2, 2021}}

| 59

scope="row"| Global 200 (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Global 200 – Year-End 2021|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/billboard-global-200/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 2, 2021}}

| 131

scope="row"| Portugal (AFP){{cite web|url=http://www.audiogest.pt/uploads/files/file_2022-01-26-11-37-08.pdf#page=13|title=Top 1000 Singles + EPs Digitais: Semanas 01 a 52 de 2021 |language=pt|publisher=Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa|access-date=May 12, 2022}}

| 143

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/hot-100-songs/|title=Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2021|publisher=Billboard|access-date=December 2, 2021}}

| 45

scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2021|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 2, 2021}}

| 26

scope="row"| US Rhythmic (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/rhythmic-songs|title=Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 2, 2021}}

| 7

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Laugh Now Cry Later"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|title=Laugh Now Cry Later|award=Platinum|number=3|type=single|relyear=2020|certyear=2024|access-date=June 24, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Drake|title=Laugh Now Cry Later|award=Platinum|number=3|type=single|relyear=2020|certyear=2024|access-date=February 8, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|title=Laugh Now Cry Later|award=Platinum|number=4|type=single|relyear=2020|certyear=2021|access-date=February 4, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|title=Laugh Now Cry Later|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2020|certyear=2021|id=10120|access-date=October 1, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|title=Laugh Now Cry Later|artist=Drake|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2020|certyear=2023|access-date=September 27, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|title=Laugh Now Cry Later|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2020|certyear=2021|id=8169|access-date=October 28, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|title=Laugh Now Cry Later|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2020|certyear=2022|source=radioscope|access-date=January 2, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|title=Laugh Now Cry Later|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2020|certyear=2023|access-date=April 26, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|title=Laugh Now Cry Later|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2020|certyear=2021|id=file_2021-06-16-15-23-34.pdf|access-date=October 3, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Drake|title=Laugh Now Cry Later|relyear=2020|certyear=2021|access-date=December 2, 2021|id=16742-5398-1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Drake|title=Laugh Now Cry Later (feat. Lil Durk)|award=Platinum|number=6|type=single|relyear=2020|certyear=2023|access-date=October 24, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Separator|title=Streaming}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Greece|artist=Drake feat. Lil Durk|title=Laugh Now Cry Later|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2020|certyear=2021|id=20210315180726|access-date=October 26, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true|streamsonly=true}}

References

{{reflist}}

{{Drake songs}}

{{Lil Durk}}

{{authority control}}

Category:2020 singles

Category:2020 songs

Category:Canadian Hot 100 number-one singles

Category:Drake (musician) songs

Category:Lil Durk songs

Category:OVO Sound singles

Category:Republic Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by Cardo (record producer)

Category:Songs written by Cardo (record producer)

Category:Songs written by Drake (musician)

Category:Songs written by Rogét Chahayed

Category:Songs written by Lil Durk

Category:Music videos directed by Dave Meyers (director)