Drake – Laugh Now Cry Later Ft. Lil Durk | Lyrics Meaning & Song Review

Drake and Lil Durk join in on their first-ever collaboration to celebrate the good times. “Laugh Now Cry Later” is the lead single off of Drake’s upcoming sixth studio album. The song released along with a music video, which is an exquisite piece of art.

“Laugh Now Cry Later” is the lead single off of Drake’s sixth studio album ‘Certified Lover Boy,’ announced with the release of the single. The album is expected to release in late 2020.

The music video for the single was shot at the Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. Granted the music video looks like an advertisement for Nike, as Drake and Lil Durk fashion Nike sportswear and also go shopping in a Nike store. The video also features cameos by Odell Beckham Jr., Marshawn Lynch and Kevin Durant, who also signed with Nike.

Watch “Laugh Now Cry Later” Video by Drake and Lil Durk

“Laugh Now Cry Later” Lyrics Meaning and Song Review

Chorus

On the very catchy chorus of the song, Drake sings about the duality of life. Laughing and crying are just the two flipsides of everyone’s life. There is possibly no soul on Earth who has not gone through these emotions. In the context of a relationship, this idea alludes to the fact that there are many ups and downs.

The lyric “I took a half and she took the whole thing” could be a reference to taking drugs to alleviate ‘pain.’ Slow down, yells Drake.

In the latter part of the chorus, Drake take a shot at his competition. He is riding around the part of the town owned by his rivals. It is like a ghost town now–dead and abandoned. Drake wonders where are all the people who said they will do this and that to him!

Verse 1

Many references to beefs on “Laugh Now Cry Later” are supposedly targetted at Kanye West and Pusha T, with whom Drake has been beefing since 2011. You can read the full timeline of their beef on NME.

There is also a reference to the popular clothing store Gap in the latter part of the first verse. An interesting bit is that Kanye West signed a deal with Gap to bring Yeezy clothing under the brand name in June 2020. Although Gap is not a direct competitor of Nike, Drake is taking shots wherever possible.

Verse 2

The second verse on “Laugh Now Cry Later” is done by Lil Durk. He immediately takes shots at a certain “rat” in the music industry. The most famous labeling of “rat” was for Tekashi Sixnine.

In the remainder of his verse, Lil Durk shouts out to several people such as Arrogant Tae, a popular hairstylist from Atlanta, rapper DaBaby, and Drake himself.

Verse 3

In the third verse of the song, Drake reminds us a bit about the history. He blew up with his song “Started from the Bottom” from 2013. Drake showed his Bentley Continental car in the music video. But there were many stories that rose up claiming Drake’s song was factually inaccurate–that he did not actually start from the bottom. Drake once lived in the famous Ritz Carlton hotel before he moved on to his own mansion. People claimed that he moved on from his past.

The lyric “Knocked that boy off and I don’t want no credit,” could be a reference to many artists such as The Weeknd, Future, Lil Baby, Tinashe, and more, all of whom Drake helped boost their careers.

Drake is now at a very obvious position of luxury in his life and career. But he is grateful for the simpler facts that he is still breathing, his family and friends are still fed, and he has a lady friend to pillowtalk with.

Let us hear what you think about this track in the comments below. Check out the complete lyrics on Genius.