"Way 2 Sexy"
Single by Drake featuring Future and Young Thug
from the album Certified Lover Boy
ReleasedSeptember 3, 2021
Genre
Length4:18
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Drake singles chronology
"Over the Top"
(2021)		 "Way 2 Sexy"
(2021)		 "Girls Want Girls"
(2021)
Future singles chronology
"Nobody Special"
(2021)		 "Way 2 Sexy"
(2021)		 "Too Easy"
(2021)
Young Thug singles chronology
"Tick Tock"
(2021)		 "Way 2 Sexy"
(2021)		 "Potion"
(2022)
Music video
"Way 2 Sexy" on YouTube

"Way 2 Sexy" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake featuring American rappers Future and Young Thug. Released on September 3, 2021 as the lead single from Drake's sixth studio album Certified Lover Boy, it is a bass-heavy take on Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy" (1991), which it interpolates throughout the chorus and refrain. A comedic music video was released on the same day as the song and sees the artists pay homage to numerous pop culture events and icons. "Way 2 Sexy" received mixed responses from critics.

The song began impacting US pop, rhythmic, and urban radio stations as the album's lead single simultaneously with Certified Lover Boy's release.[3]

Background

"Way 2 Sexy" was initially rumored to be released on August 27, 2021, to challenge Kanye West's Donda album; DJ Akademiks posted footage of the video shoot and claimed it would coincide with West's release, amid West and Drake's feud.[4][5] Although that release failed to materialize, on September 13, 2021, Billboard magazine reported that the song had begun to impact US pop, rhythmic and R&B/hip-hop radio stations as the album's lead single.[3]

Drake, Future, and Thug previously collaborated on Drake's "D4L" from his mixtape Dark Lane Demo Tapes (2020).[6]

Composition

A bass-heavy track,[7][8] it samples British band Right Said Fred's 1991 single "I'm Too Sexy", a former number one Billboard hit.[9] Future performs the chorus, reworking the sampled track's hook,[10] rapping about how he is "too sexy for your girl, too sexy for the world, his fame, and his chain". Drake delivers lines about safe sex, and questions a "thotty" about her motives. Future's verse contains "toxic rhymes about ghosting women", with Thug closing the track, boasting about how he is able to spoil his girlfriend with expensive gifts. The song is in the key of E minor with a tempo of 136 BPM with a time signature of 4/4 in common time.[11]

Critical reception

HipHopDX called the track a stand-out from the album.[4] Referencing the trio's previous collaboration, "D4L", Billboard's Heran Mamo said they "come back hotter than ever to flip Right Said Fred's 1991 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit 'I'm Too Sexy'".[6] GQ said it "has the most club banger energy" on Certified Lover Boy, but acknowledged that the song and its video received mixed reactions.[12] Pitchfork's Matthew Strauss named it among the early standouts on Certified Lover Boy, pointing out how Drake "is having fun the way he did on his Scary Hours 2 EP and Smiley's "Over the Top".[13] The A.V. Club's Nina Hernandez wrote positively: "besides sampling Right Said Fred to great effect, [the song] also succeeds by including well-deployed appearances from Young Thug and Future".[14] Brandon Yu of Variety said "Way 2 Sexy" is "perhaps the album's most polarizing track: the beat is glorious and boisterous, while the core sample (Right Said Fred's 'I'm Too Sexy') and Future's chorus are immediately cringey, even as the naturally zanier Young Thug slides in with ease".[15]

Noting Drake's refrain as "perfectly catchy and entirely ridiculous", Alexandra Pauly of Highsnobiety called the song "catchy yet cringe-y", and referencing the video, stated: "As funny as Drake's 'Way 2 Sexy' video is, there's something unsettling about a man in his mid-30s using his 'nice guy' image — which he never hesitates to milk — as a way to prop up his ego and sexual appeal".[7] NME's Luke Morgan Britton wrote: "[...] even worse than the sample itself, and the purposely corny video, are the song's lyrics", further opining that "the usually-brilliant Young Thug serves up regrettable lines".[16] Will Dukes of Rolling Stone labeled the song a "no-brainer anthem", writing that "despite a sticky Future hook, there's something that rings a bit hollow: Drake deliberately lags behind the track, sounding sluggish, rather than sui generis (as on 2017's triumphant 'Gyalchester')".[17] NME's Rihan Daly said "It is, quite frankly, one of the worst songs of the year".[18] Complex's Jessica McKinney said "'Way 2 Sexy' is intentionally corny and sleazy", countering that "sometimes that works for Drake, and those songs (and videos) go viral on social media, but I think he went a little too far this time. It comes off too gimmicky".[19]

Chart performance

On the week of September 18, 2021, "Way 2 Sexy" became the 56th song to debut at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song became Drake's ninth number-one hit on the chart, as well as Future's first and Young Thug's third.[20] With this release, Drake extended his record as the rapper with the most #1 songs in history, and Future broke the record for the longest wait to have a #1 hit, this being his 126th entry.[21] During this week, Drake had singles from his album that held the entire top-five, matching The Beatles record of simultaneously occupying the top 5 slots on the Hot 100 chart dated April 4, 1964, with the only song not performed by Drake on the top-ten listing being "Stay" by The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber, which was at #6 during the charting week. Furthermore, with Drake and Future's, What a Time to Be Alive previously topping the Billboard 200 on October 10, 2015, it was the first time where two individual acts, had shared a #1 single and album together.[22]

Music video

The video for "Way 2 Sexy" was released on the same day as the song and its parent album, directed by Dave Meyers, who also directed Drake's "Laugh Now Cry Later".[23] Considered a "tongue-in-cheek" video, the visual opens with a faux warning from OVO that reads, "Repeat viewing may lead to pregnancy". Drake is seen alternating between various characters, starting by parodying Eric Prydz's Call on Me music video, as a masculine workout instructor in the form of Popeye, while also appearing on romance novel covers, walking shirtless on the beach in a fat suit, and portraying an action hero, as he shows off his "guns" in Drambo: Thirst Blood, a parody of Rambo: First Blood. In all-white attire, Drake, Future and Thug form a boyband, recreating the videos to Boyz II Men's "Water Runs Dry" and Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way", with a cameo from basketball player Kawhi Leonard.[24] Drake also channels Michael Jackson's dance moves from 1991's "Black or White", Future wears a Prince outfit seen in Prince and the New Power Generation's 1992 video "Sexy M.F.", while Young Thug shows off his seasonal looks in a calendar photoshoot. Drake later interrupts the video for a fake black-and-white commercial announcing a new fragrance called "Wet by Drake".[6][9][12] Uproxx's Aaron Williams summarized the video as "Drake lampoons pop culture's ideals of sex appeal through the decades".[25]

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Way 2 Sexy"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[64] Gold 35,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[65] Gold 50,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[66] Gold 25,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[67] Gold 5,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[68] Silver 200,000‡
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[69] Gold 1,000,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The 20 Best Hip-Hop Albums of 2021". Rolling Stone. December 15, 2021.
  2. ↑ Moore, Sam (September 4, 2021). "Drake review, Certified Lover Boy". The Independent. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Drake Dominates with Record 9 of Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100, Led by 'Way 2 Sexy' at No. 1". Billboard.
  4. 1 2 Saponara, Michael (September 3, 2021). "Drake, Young Thug and Future 'Way 2 Sexy' Video". HipHopDX. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  5. ↑ Grant, Shawn (August 26, 2021). "Drake Reportedly to Release New Single "Too Sexy"". The Source. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Mamo, Heran (September 3, 2021). "Drake, Future & Young Thug Are 'Way 2 Sexy' and Ridiculous in New Music Video". Billboard. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  7. 1 2 Pauly, Alexandra (September 2021). "Unpacking Drake's Creepy "Way 2 Sexy" Music Video". Highsnobiety. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  8. ↑ Ojomu, Nola (September 3, 2021). "Drake drops Way 2 Sexy video and it's filled with hilarious pop culture references". Metro. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  9. 1 2 Montgomery, Daniel (September 7, 2021). "Drake is 'Way 2 Sexy' for this music video as 'Certified Lover Boy' drops". Gold Derby. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  10. ↑ Ahmed, Insanul (September 3, 2021). "Drake Samples Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy" For His Future & Young Thug Collab "Way 2 Sexy"". Genius. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  11. ↑ Fu, Eddie (September 3, 2021). "Song of the Week: Drake, Future and Young Thug's "Way 2 Sexy" Is Here to Soundtrack Labor Day Weekend". Consequence. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Watch Drake, Future and Young Thug Channel the Backstreet Boys With Kawhi Leonard". GQ. September 3, 2021. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  13. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (September 7, 2021). "Certified Lover Boy Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  14. ↑ Hernandez, Nina (September 8, 2021). "Drake meets expectations on Certified Lover Boy, but that's about all he does". The A.V. Club. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  15. ↑ Yu, Brandon (September 3, 2021). "Drake Offers a Risk-Free Playlist of His Greatest Tropes in 'Certified Lover Boy': Album Review". Variety. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  16. ↑ Britton, Luke Morgan (September 6, 2021). "Kanye beef, Right Said Fred samples and the Drake-iest lyrics yet: 10 talking points from Drake's 'Certified Lover Boy'". NME. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  17. ↑ Dukes, Will (September 9, 2021). "Where Can Drake Go After 'Certified Lover Boy'?". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  18. ↑ Daly, Rihan (September 3, 2021). "Drake – 'Certified Lover Boy' review: a boring, bloated disappointment". NME. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  19. ↑ Skelton, Eric; McKinney, Jessica; Gee, Andre (September 7, 2021). "First Impressions of Drake's New Album 'Certified Lover Boy'". Complex. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  20. ↑ Trust, Gary (September 13, 2021). "Drake Dominates With Record 9 of Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100, Led by 'Way 2 Sexy' at No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Future Finally Has His First #1 Song, Thanks To Drake". HotNewHipHop. September 13, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  22. ↑ Trust, Gary (September 13, 2021). "Drake Dominates With Record 9 of Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100, Led by 'Way 2 Sexy' at No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  23. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (September 3, 2021). "Drake Shares Ridiculous New Video for "Way 2 Sexy"". Pitchfork. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  24. ↑ Bissada, Mason. "Kawhi Leonard Dancing in New Drake Music Video". Sports Illustrated LA Clippers News, Analysis and More. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  25. ↑ Williams, Aaron (September 3, 2021). "Drake's 'Way 2 Sexy' Video With Future And Young Thug Hilariously Lampoons Pop Fantasies". Uproxx. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  26. ↑ "Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – Way 2 Sexy". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  27. ↑ "ARIA Top 40 HIP HOP/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. September 13, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – Way 2 Sexy" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Drake Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Drake Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  31. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202138 into search. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  32. ↑ "Track Top-40 Uge 36, 2021". Hitlisten. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Top Singles (Week 36, 2021)". SNEP. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  34. ↑ "Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – Way 2 Sexy" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Drake Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  36. ↑ "IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart (International) Week 37 2021". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on September 27, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  37. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  38. ↑ "Tónlistinn – Lög - Vika 39 – 2021" (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on October 4, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  39. ↑ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  40. ↑ "Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – Way 2 Sexy". Top Digital Download. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  41. ↑ "TOP40 / Pieci.lv" (in Latvian). Latvijas Radio 5. October 8, 2021. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  42. ↑ "2021 38-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  43. ↑ "Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – Way 2 Sexy" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  44. ↑ "Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – Way 2 Sexy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  45. ↑ "Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – Way 2 Sexy". VG-lista. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  46. ↑ "Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – Way 2 Sexy". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  47. ↑ Arvunescu, Victor (November 1, 2021). "Top Airplay 100 - Pink şi fiica ei ne acoperă cu raze de soare!" [Top Airplay 100 – Pink and her daughter cover us in sunshine!] (in Romanian). Un site de muzică. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  48. ↑ "ČNS IFPI". IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202138 into search. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  49. ↑ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100: Week 36". The Official South African Charts. Recording Industry of South Africa. Archived from the original on September 16, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  50. ↑ "Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – Way 2 Sexy". Singles Top 100. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  51. ↑ "Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – Way 2 Sexy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  52. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  53. ↑ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  54. ↑ "Drake Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  55. ↑ "Drake Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  56. ↑ "Drake Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  57. ↑ "Drake Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  58. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100 - Year End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  59. ↑ "Global 200 – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  60. ↑ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  61. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  62. ↑ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  63. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2022". Billboard. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  64. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  65. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – Way 2 Sexy" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
  66. ↑ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 19, 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Way 2 Sexy in the search box.
  67. ↑ "Portuguese single certifications – Drake feat. Future & Young Thug – Way 2 Sexy" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
  68. ↑ "British single certifications – Drake/Young Thug/Future – Way 2 Sexy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  69. ↑ "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International)" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
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