Drake

Lore & Background

In the fan lore of the Travis Scott universe, Drake's appearance on "Meltdown" is notable for its direct disses against Pharrell Williams and Pusha T. The song starts with Drake whispering over a 'build-up of a squally string sample' before transitioning into an 'airy and raspy flow.' The diss targets Williams for his newly assumed position as creative director for Louis Vuitton, a role previously held by the late Virgil Abloh, a friend of Drake. Drake also addresses Pusha T's close connection to Williams, and calls out Pusha T for performing a diss track against Jim Jones, a close Drake supporter, at a fashion show held by Williams in June 2023. The diss appears on the same album where Williams has a production credit ("Looove"). Another reference in Drake's verse is a lawsuit initiated by Vogue after Drake and 21 Savage released a fake Vogue cover to promote their 2022 album *Her Loss*. The track makes use of three beat switches, similar to Travis Scott's earlier single "Sicko Mode" from *Astroworld*.

In Their Own Story

The beat dropped on August 15, 2023, and Drake's voice came through in a whisper over a squally string sample. He was targeting Pharrell Williams and Pusha T, and the bars were sharp. He called out Williams for taking the Louis Vuitton creative director role that had belonged to his friend Virgil Abloh. He brought up Pusha T's performance of a diss track against Jim Jones at a fashion show Williams held in June 2023. And he referenced the Vogue lawsuit from his *Her Loss* campaign with 21 Savage. The track, "Meltdown," debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Travis Scott's 13th top-ten single. In Canada, it debuted at number one on the Canadian Hot 100, becoming Drake's 12th song to debut directly at number one on that chart. In the UK, it debuted at number ten on the Official Singles Chart, the highest new entry of the week.

Reader's Guide

Drake's role on "Meltdown" is that of a featured rapper and co-writer, delivering a verse filled with specific disses and references. The song was released on August 15, 2023, as the seventh track and third single from Travis Scott's fourth studio album *Utopia*. Drake co-wrote the song with Travis Scott and producers Coleman, Boi-1da, Vinylz, Tay Keith, and Bnyx. His verse targets Pharrell Williams over his role as creative director for Louis Vuitton, a position previously held by Virgil Abloh, a friend of Drake. He also addresses Pusha T's connection to Williams and calls out Pusha T for performing a diss track against Jim Jones at a fashion show held by Williams in June 2023. Another reference is a lawsuit initiated by Vogue after Drake and 21 Savage released a fake Vogue cover to promote their 2022 album *Her Loss*. The track features three beat switches, similar to Travis Scott's "Sicko Mode" from *Astroworld*. Commercially, "Meltdown" debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, number one on the Canadian Hot 100, and number ten on the UK Official Singles Chart.

Did You Know?

• Drake's verse on 'Meltdown' includes disses against Pharrell Williams and Pusha T, targeting Williams for his role as creative director for Louis Vuitton, a position previously held by Virgil Abloh, a friend of Drake.
• The diss also references a lawsuit initiated by Vogue after Drake and 21 Savage released a fake Vogue cover to promote their 2022 album *Her Loss*.
• 'Meltdown' debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Travis Scott's 13th top-ten single.
• In Canada, the song debuted at number one on the Canadian Hot 100, becoming Drake's 12th song to debut directly at number one on that chart.
• The track makes use of three beat switches, similar to Travis Scott's earlier single 'Sicko Mode' from *Astroworld*.