What's Next (Drake song)

{{Infobox song

| name = What's Next

| type = single

| cover =

| artist = Drake

| EP = Scary Hours 2

| released = {{Start date|2021|3|5}}

| recorded =

| genre = Trap

| length = 2:58

| label =

Republic
OVO

| writer =

Aubrey Graham
Jonathan Priester
Maneesh Bidaye

| producer =

Maneesh
Supah Mario

| prev_title = Talk to Me

| prev_year = 2021

| next_title = Over the Top

| next_year = 2021

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|7EUVJaKJtBY|"What’s Next"}}}}

}}

"What's Next" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on March 5, 2021, as a single from Drake's fourth EP Scary Hours 2, through Republic Records and OVO Sound.

With the song's debut at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100, it became Drake's eighth US number-one single in the country. Additionally, it became his fourth song to debut atop the chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9541075/drake-top-three-hot-100-debuts-whats-next-number-one/|title=Drake Makes Historic Hot 100 Start at Nos. 1, 2 & 3, Led by 'What's Next'|last=Trust|first=Gary|magazine=Billboard|date=March 15, 2021|access-date=March 15, 2021}}

Background

An earlier version of the song surfaced on the internet on February 27, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://hiphop-n-more.com/2021/02/drake-whats-next-new-song/|title=New Drake Song 'What's Next' Surfaces Online|author=Araash|website=HipHopNMore|date=February 27, 2021|access-date=March 5, 2021}} It was noted that various lines of the song resembled those of on an unreleased track with Young Thug titled "What a Time to Be a Slime".{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/drakes-unreleased-song-whats-next-surfaces-news.127480.html|title=Drake's Unreleased Song "What's Next" Surfaces|last=A.|first=Aron|website=HotNewHipHop|date=February 27, 2021|access-date=March 5, 2021}} On March 3, 2021, Drake took to his social media to announce the release of his upcoming EP Scary Hours 2 on March 5, as well as the return of OVO Sound Radio the next day.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9534801/drake-teases-scary-hours/|title=Drake Teases Second 'Scary Hours' Release|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|magazine=Billboard|date=March 4, 2021|access-date=March 5, 2021}} The song was released as track one of the EP.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/drake-shares-3-new-songs-on-scary-hours-2-ep-listen/|title=Drake Shares 3 New Songs on Scary Hours 2 EP: Listen|last=Minsker|first=Evan|website=Pitchfork|date=March 5, 2021|access-date=March 5, 2021}}

In May 2021, rapper Baby Keem revealed he was originally intended to be featured on the single alongside American rapper Playboi Carti (who Drake would later work with on the track Pain 1993).{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/baby-keem-the-rap-pack-interview|title = Baby Keem Reveals He Was Supposed to be on "What's Next," Talks Connecting with Drake| website=Complex Networks }} In the early morning of September 4, 2021, a day after the release of Drake's Certified Lover Boy, Drake premiered the original version of What's Next with Baby Keem on his radio show.{{cite AV media |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210905011341/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CJ6SGiJY6A |archive-date = 2021-09-05| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CJ6SGiJY6A |title = YouTube, a Google company |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} The original version includes all vocals from the released version, with an additional verse from Keem.

Composition

The song was described as Drake being "on his rapping shit" and "in flex mode", with a "grungy trap production" and a "triumphant-sounding instrumental". Lyrically, the rapper shows off "grandiose flexes that only he could relate to".{{cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/drake-whats-next-lyrics/|title=Drake 'What's Next' Lyrics|last=Coleman II|first=C. Vernon|website=XXL|date=March 5, 2021|access-date=March 5, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://rapradar.com/2021/03/05/drake-whats-next/|title=Drake "What's Next"|last=Duong|first=Paul "Big Homie"|website=Rap Radar|date=March 5, 2021|access-date=March 5, 2021}}

Music video

An accompanying music video was released alongside the single and was directed by Theo Skudra. The video was shot in early March 2021 in Toronto{{cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2021/3/drake-reportedly-shooting-new-music-video-toronto-certified-lover-boy|title=Drake Reportedly Seen Filming New Music Video in Toronto|last=Caraan|first=Sophie|website=Hypebeast|date=March 3, 2021|access-date=March 5, 2021}} and shows Drake dancing at different sites of the city, including the top of the CN Tower, as well as the TTC Subway, Yonge-Dundas Square, and Ripley's Aquarium of Canada.{{cite web|url=https://hiphop-n-more.com/2021/03/drake-shares-whats-next-music-video-watch/|title=Drake Shares 'What's Next' Music Video: Watch|author=Navjosh|website=HipHopNMore|date=March 5, 2021|access-date=March 5, 2021}}

Commercial performance

The song debuted atop the US Billboard Hot 100 on the chart dated March 20, 2021, dethroning Olivia Rodrigo's "Drivers License" which ruled for eight consecutive weeks. The remaining tracks from the Scary Hours 2 EP, "Wants and Needs" and "Lemon Pepper Freestyle", managed to debut at number two and three, respectively, thus making him the first artist in history to have three songs debut in the top 3 of the Billboard Hot 100.

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.{{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/175897611/credits|title=What's Next / Drake|website=Tidal|access-date=March 5, 2021}}

Aubrey Graham – lead vocals, songwriting
Jonathan Priester – songwriting, production
Maneesh Bidaye – songwriting, production, additional production
Noah Shebib – mixing, studio personnel
Noel Cadastre – recording, studio personnel

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="col"\| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Weekly chart performance for "What's Next"
{{single chart\|Australia\|7\|artist=Drake\|song=What's Next\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 13, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Austria\|32\|artist=Drake\|song=What's Next\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 17, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Flanders Tip\|2\|artist=Drake\|song=What's Next\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 27, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Canada\|1\|artist=Drake\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 16, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Czechdigital\|72\|year=2021\|week=10\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 15, 2021}}
scope="row"\| Denmark (Tracklisten){{cite web\|url=http://hitlisten.nu/default.asp?w=10&y=2021&list=t40\|title=Track Top-40 Uge 10, 2021\|publisher=Hitlisten\|language=da\|access-date=March 17, 2021}} \| 34
scope="row"\| France (SNEP){{cite web\|url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-la-semaine/top-albums/?categorie=Top%20Singles\|title=Top Singles (Week 9, 2021)\|publisher=SNEP\|accessdate=27 February 2021}} \| 74
{{single chart\|Germany\|36\|songid=2161788\|artist=Drake\|song=What's Next\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 12, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardglobal200\|1\|artist=Drake\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 16, 2021}}
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 4, 2021\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322061002/http://plotutidindi.is/lagalistinn/\|archive-date=March 22, 2021\|url-status=dead}} \| 25
{{single chart\|Ireland4\|7\|date=20210312\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 12, 2021}}
scope="row"\| Italy (FIMI){{cite web\|url=https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/classifiche.kl#/charts/3/2021/10\|title=Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 10\|publisher=Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana\|language=it\|accessdate=March 13, 2021}} \| 88
scope="row" \| Lithuania (AGATA){{cite web\|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/10s/\|title=2021 10-os SAVAITĖS (kovo 5-11 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100\|language=lt\|publisher=AGATA\|date=12 March 2021\|access-date=27 March 2021}} \| 12
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|43\|artist=Drake\|song=What's Next\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 12, 2021}}
scope="row"\| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ){{cite web\|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2021-03-12\|title=NZ Top 40 Singles Chart\|publisher=Recorded Music NZ\|date=March 15, 2021\|access-date=March 13, 2021}} \| 12
scope="row"\| Norway (VG-lista){{cite web\|url=https://topplista.no/charts/singles/2021-w10/\|title=Singel 2021-W10\|publisher=VG-lista\|access-date=March 12, 2021}} \| 27
{{single chart\|Portugal\|18\|artist=Drake\|song=What's Next\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 19, 2021}}
scope="row"\| Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100){{cite web\|url=http://hitparada.ifpicr.cz/index.php?hitp=D\|title=ČNS IFPI\|publisher=IFPI ČR\|id=Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202110 into search.\|access-date=March 15, 2021}} \| 26
scope="row"\| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web\|url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/41?dspy=2021&dspp=10\|title=Veckolista Singlar, vecka 10\|publisher=Sverigetopplistan\|access-date=March 13, 2021}} \| 47
{{single chart\|Switzerland\|14\|artist=Drake\|song=What's Next\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 14, 2021}}
{{single chart\|UK\|4\|date=20210312\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 13, 2021}}
{{single chart\|UKrandb\|1\|date=20210318\|rowheader=true\|accessdate=March 13, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|1\|artist=Drake\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 15, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrandbhiphop\|1\|artist=Drake\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 16, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardpopsongs\|40\|artist=Drake\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 30, 2021}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrhythmic\|1\|artist=Drake\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 20, 2021}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Year-end chart performance for "What's Next"
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}} \| 68
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}} \| 179
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}} \| 68
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}} \| 29
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}} \| 32

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

|+ Year-end chart performance for "What's Next"

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}}

| 68

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}}

| 179

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}}

| 68

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}}

| 29

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}}

| 32

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "What's Next"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|certyear=2024|award=Platinum|access-date=June 22, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Drake|title=What's Next|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2021|certyear=2021|access-date=March 31, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Drake|title=What's Next|award=Silver|type=single|relyear=2021|certyear=2022|id=18255-2363-1|access-date=July 25, 2022}}

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

Release history

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" \|+ List of release dates and formats for "What's Next"
scope="col"\| Country ! scope="col"\| Date ! scope="col"\| Format ! scope="col"\| Label(s) ! scope="col"\| {{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
scope="row"\| United States \| March 9, 2021 \| Rhythmic contemporary radio \| {{hlist\|OVO\|Republic}} \| align="center"\| {{cite web\|url=https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310033557/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases\|title=Top 40-Rhythmic Future Releases\|publisher=All Access\|archive-date=March 10, 2021}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+ List of release dates and formats for "What's Next"

scope="col"| Country

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format

! scope="col"| Label(s)

! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"| United States

| March 9, 2021

| Rhythmic contemporary radio

| {{hlist|OVO|Republic}}

| align="center"| {{cite web|url=https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310033557/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases|title=Top 40-Rhythmic Future Releases|publisher=All Access|archive-date=March 10, 2021}}