Trophies (song)
{{Infobox song
| name = Trophies
| cover = DrakeTrophies.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Young Money featuring Drake
| album = Young Money: Rise of an Empire
| released = *{{Start date|2013|12|30}}
(YouTube)
- February 27, 2014 (Single)
| recorded = 2013
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=08}}
| label = {{hlist|Young Money|Cash Money|Republic}}
| writer = {{hlist|Aubrey Graham|Chauncey Hollis Jr.|Noah Shebib|Marvin Thomas|Raymond Martin|Bernard Gérard|Sharon Abshire}}
| producer = {{hlist|Hit-Boy|40|Hagler|Rey Reel}}
| chronology = Young Money
| prev_title = We Alright
| prev_year = 2014
| next_title = Lookin Ass
| next_year = 2014
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Drake
| type = singles
| prev_title = Who Do You Love?
| prev_year = 2014
| title = Trophies
| year = 2014
| next_title = Believe Me
| next_year = 2014
}}
}}
"Trophies" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake. The song was produced by Hit-Boy, 40, Hagler and Rey Reel. The song was originally meant for Drake's third studio album Nothing Was the Same, however, it was cut off the final track listing. After Drake released the song himself in December 2013, it was later included on the Young Money Entertainment compilation Young Money: Rise of an Empire. On February 27, 2014, it was officially released as the album's second official single, credited as Young Money featuring Drake. It peaked at number 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The song heavily samples the track "The Big Country" by French composer Bernard Gérard.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/hit_boy/status/1249710242436243460|title=I flipped this country shit for drake sumn crzy. 🤷🏾♂️💣💣💣 this is hip-hop #trophies|website=Twitter.com|access-date=2022-08-10}} The instrumental version of the song is the opening theme to The Stephen A. Smith Show radio and television program on ESPN.{{Citation|last=The Stephen A. Smith Today|title=The Stephen A. Smith Show ( January 08, 2019 )|date=2019-01-08|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj3OosY_wxQ|access-date=2019-06-02}}{{Citation|last=Stephen A. Smith|title=Stephen A. Smith Show 1/3/2019 Antonio Brown, NFL Coach firings|date=2019-01-03|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjFA-t7k2bU|access-date=2019-06-02}}{{Citation|last=Stephen A. Smith|title=Stephen A. Smith Show 12/18/2018 Saints BEAT Panthers, Cowboys problem|date=2018-12-18|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkl1Hfk8UbU|access-date=2019-06-02}}
Background
The trailer that was released for Drake's third studio album, Nothing Was the Same (2013), featured a snippet of "Trophies" playing in the background, but the song did not make the final version of the album. After teasing its release over the following months, the song surfaced on the internet on December 30, 2013.{{cite web|last=Baker |first=Soren |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.27880/title.hip-hop-singles-sales-week-ending-03-09-14/ |title=Hip Hop Singles Sales: Week Ending 03/09/14 |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2014-03-09 |access-date=2014-03-17}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/singles/id.26311/title.Drake-Trophies+%28Prod.+by+Hit-Boy%29 |title=Drake - Trophies (Prod. by Hit-Boy) |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2013-12-30 |access-date=2014-03-17}} Hit-Boy, the lead producer of the song, has said that he was more than frustrated with the track's rollout. Then saying, "But it’s love. I got respect for Drake. He knows what’s best for him. He’s been dictating his career since Day One."
Critical reception
The song received positive reviews from music critics. Entertainment Weekly praised it as a blustery, superstar moment.{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/rise-of-an-empire/young-money|title=Rise of an Empire by Young Money|website=Metacritic.com|access-date=27 May 2018}} Sheldon Pearce of XXL called the song brilliant and boisterous.{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2014/03/young-money-rise-of-an-empire-album-review/ |title=Young Money Shines A Spotlight On Their Roster In 'Rise Of An Empire' - XXL |publisher=Xxlmag.com |date=2014-03-11 |access-date=2014-03-17}} Writing for Now, Jordan Sowunmi said, the "stentorian hit" is "a reminder that Young Money boasts some of rap’s biggest crossover stars."{{cite web |url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?content=197164 |title=Young Money | NOW Magazine |access-date=2014-04-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329091640/http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?content=197164 |archive-date=2014-03-29 }} David Jeffries of AllMusic said the song featured, "Drake stomping over Hit-Boy's Viking-worthy beat. A two-headed monster of a track that pits verses-filled Southern rap victory against an emo-rap chorus.{{cite web|author=David Jeffries |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/rise-of-an-empire-mw0002620510 |title=Rise of an Empire - Young Money |publisher=AllMusic |date=2014-03-11 |access-date=2014-03-17}}
Commercial performance
As of May 18, 2014, the song has sold 406,272 copies in the United States according to Nielsen Soundscan.{{cite web|last=Baker|first=Soren|title=Hip Hop Singles Sales: Week Of 05/18/14|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.28924/title.hip-hop-singles-sales-week-of-05-18-14|work=HipHopDX|access-date=25 May 2014}} It has spent multiple weeks in the top ten of the US R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales chart.{{cite web|last=Baker|first=Soren|title=Hip Hop Singles Sales: Week Of 05/04/14|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.28569/title.hip-hop-singles-sales-week-of-05-04-14|work=HipHopDX|access-date=11 May 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.28596/title.hip-hop-singles-sales-week-of-04-27-14|title=Hip Hop Singles Sales: Week Of 04/27/14|website=Hiphopdx.com|access-date=27 May 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.28800/title.hip-hop-singles-sales-week-of-05-11-14|title=Hip Hop Singles Sales: Week Of 05/11/14|website=Hiphopdx.com|access-date=27 May 2018}}
In other media
The song was played at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario for Toronto Blue Jays legend José Bautista’s induction into the club’s famed Level of Excellence on August 12, 2023, prior to the Blue Jays’ game against the Chicago Cubs.{{Citation |title=FULL Jose Bautista Level Of Excellence Ceremony | date=12 August 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0suU_VCyXE |access-date=2023-08-13 |language=en}}
In 2015, author Minda Harts co-founded The Memo, an organization focused on career development for women of color, alongside Lauren Broussard. The name of the organization was inspired by a verse in the song.{{Cite news |date=2016-11-02 |title=Progress Personified: Minda Harts' journey from homeless teen to career coach |url=http://www.theguardian.com/progress-personified/audio/2016/nov/02/progress-personified-minda-harts-journey-from-homeless-teen-to-career-coach |access-date=2024-08-13 |work=the Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} The same year, Harts released her first book, The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table, which was published on August 20, 2019. The book became a number one Amazon bestseller in the business and mentoring category.{{Cite web |last=Tarr |first=Tanya |title=How Minda Harts Is Helping Black Women Close The Pay Gap For Good |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/tanyatarr/2019/08/21/how-minda-harts-is-helping-black-women-close-the-pay-gap-for-good/ |access-date=2024-08-13 |website=Forbes |language=en}}
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2014)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row" {{singlechart|Flanders Urban|41|artist=Young Money feat. Drake|song=Trophies|access-date=May 9, 2014|refname="Flanders"}} |
| scope="row" {{singlechart|France|190|artist=Young Money feat. Drake |song=Trophies}} |
| scope="row" {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|50|artist=Young Money|song=Trophies|artistid={{BillboardID|Young Money}}}} |
| scope="row" {{singlechart|Billboardrandbhiphop|13|artist=Young Money|song=Trophies|artistid={{BillboardID|Young Money}}}} |
| scope="row" {{singlechart|Billboardrhythmic|12|artist=Young Money|song=Trophies|access-date=April 17, 2014}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2014)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row" | US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2014|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 30, 2019}}
| style="text-align:center"| 37 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|title=Trophies|artist=Young Money feat. Drake|award=Platinum|relyear=2014|certyear=2024|source=radioscope|access-date=March 30, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|title=Trophies|artist=Young Money Ft Drake|award=Silver|relyear=2014|certyear=2021|access-date=November 7, 2021|id=17210-5594-1}}
{{Certification Table Bottom | nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{YouTube|vkSFh6HMUtQ|Audio}}
{{Young Money Entertainment}}
{{Drake songs}}
Category:Cash Money Records singles
Category:Republic Records singles
Category:Song recordings produced by Hit-Boy
Category:Song recordings produced by 40 (record producer)