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Family Matters (song)

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"Family Matters"
A photograph of the Los Angeles skyline, overlaid with gold text reading "FAMILY MATTERS".
Single by Drake
ReleasedMay 3, 2024 (2024-05-03)
Recorded2024
Genre
Length7:36
Label
Songwriter(s)Aubrey Graham
Producer(s)
Drake singles chronology
"Push Ups"
(2024) 		"Family Matters"
(2024) 		"U My Everything"
(2024)
Music video
"Family Matters" on YouTube

"Family Matters" is a diss track written and recorded by Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on May 3, 2024 through OVO Sound and Republic Records, amid his feud with Kendrick Lamar alongside an accompanying music video. It is Drake's third installment in his series of diss tracks directed at Lamar. The track is a response to several songs (Lamar's "Euphoria" and "6:16 in LA"; Rick Ross' "Champagne Moments"; Future, Metro Boomin and the Weeknd's "All to Myself"; Future, Metro Boomin and A$AP Rocky's "Show of Hands").

Produced by Boi-1da, Tay Keith, Fierce, Mark Ronson, and Kevin Mitchell, "Family Matters" is a trap song, with a portion of the song having drill production. The track is divided into three separate sections, with lyrics targeting several rappers including Lamar, Future, Rick Ross, A$AP Rocky, Kanye West, producers Metro Boomin and Pharrell Williams, and singer the Weeknd.[1] Music critics noted that the content of the song marked an intensification of the feud between Drake and Lamar, with lyrics alleging Lamar engaged in domestic abuse against his wife, cheated on his wife with white women, and that one of Lamar's children is actually fathered by Dave Free.[2][1]

"Family Matters" received positive reviews from critics, with praise for its lyricism, production, and easter eggs in the music video.[3] The song debuted at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 on the chart published May 13, 2024. With the entrance, Drake adds his record-padding 78th Hot 100 top 10, and “Family Matters” is also his record-extending 331st entry on the chart overall.[4] Lamar responded to "Family Matters" within an hour, releasing "Meet the Grahams".[3]

Background and release

[edit]
Main article: Drake–Kendrick Lamar feud

Drake and Kendrick Lamar have been involved in a rap feud since the early 2010s. The feud escalated after the release of "Like That" by Future, Metro Boomin, and Lamar on March 22, 2024. Drake then released the songs "Push Ups" and "Taylor Made Freestyle" in April. "Taylor Made Freestyle" was later deleted from social media after Tupac Shakur's estate threatened Drake with legal action for the use of AI-generated vocals resembling Shakur's. In response, Lamar released "Euphoria" on April 30 and "6:16 in LA" on May 3.

Drake posted a parody of "Buried Alive Interlude", a song recorded by Lamar for Drake's Take Care (2011), on Instagram on the same day. In the parody, Drake mocks Lamar's performance on the original song and disses him, claiming Lamar is jealous of his success.[5] "Family Matters" was released later that day with an accompanying music video.

Music and lyrics

[edit]
Drake targets rappers Kendrick Lamar, Future, Rick Ross, A$AP Rocky, Kanye West, producers Metro Boomin and Pharrell Williams, and singer the Weeknd.

The song opens with a voice clip from Drake's mother, Sandi, who advises, "Maybe in this song, you shouldn't start by saying," to which Drake replies, "Nigga, I said it, I know that you mad," referencing a line from Kendrick Lamar's song "Euphoria." Following this, Drake delivers a series of allegations against Lamar, including accusations of domestic abuse, infidelity involving white women, and a claim that one of Lamar's children was fathered by his business partner, Dave Free. Drake also suggests that Lamar attempted to have the AI-generated Tupac Shakur vocals from "Taylor Made Freestyle" removed by contacting Shakur's estate.[6] In the first verse he also mentions YG, The Game and Chris Brown as people "who really bang a set".[7]

In the second part of the track, Drake broadens his critiques to include other prominent figures in the music industry, such as Future, Rick Ross, A$AP Rocky, Kanye West, producers Metro Boomin and Pharrell Williams, and singer The Weeknd. Throughout the song, Drake makes multiple references to The Weeknd's sexuality, although The Weeknd is not publicly identified as gay. For example, Drake states, "Abel, run your fuckin' bread, need to buy some more chains for some more guys." Additionally, Drake accuses Rick Ross of using the weight-loss drug Ozempic and repeatedly mentions Ross's past as a police officer. Drake references A$AP Rocky, criticizing both his music and fashion career, as well as his relationship with Rihanna. Regarding Future, Drake expresses reluctance to engage in conflict with him, while also accusing Metro Boomin of being a negative influence.[8][6]

Music video

[edit]

The music video is laden with disses to Lamar: Drake was viewed as paying homage to 50 Cent by featuring a vintage G-Unit spinner chain and wears FUBU, with critics noting it as serving as a direct response to Lamar's mention of the brand in "Euphoria".[5] The video also features a third generation Plymouth Voyager, similar to the third generation Chrysler Town & Country featured on the cover of the deluxe edition of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012), being crushed in a junkyard.[5]

References to Lamar's relationship to Alford, with cakes inscribed with "Happy Divorce" and "Happy Co-parenting", also feature, alongside a ringed chain: according to Jordan Rose at Complex, fans speculated the ringed chain was similar to the one Lamar gave Alford in 2015,[5] while the presence of a Michael Jackson action figure representing Jackson's song "Black or White" referencing Drake's claims that Lamar cheated on Alford with white women.[5] Drake also flaunts jewelry and memorabilia previously owned or designed by Pharrell Williams, and a ring owned by Tupac Shakur, the video also shows Drake visiting New Ho King.[5]

Responses

[edit]

Lamar responded with "Meet the Grahams" on the same day as "Family Matters".[4] ASAP Rocky responded with the song "Ruby Rosary" featuring J. Cole, released on September 6, 2024.

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Family Matters"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[9] 26
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)[10] 6
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[11] 6
Germany (GfK)[12] 92
Global 200 (Billboard)[13] 11
Greece International (IFPI)[14] 11
Iceland (Tónlistinn)[15] 28
Ireland (IRMA)[16] 21
Lithuania (AGATA)[17] 49
MENA (IFPI)[18] 8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[19] 64
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[20] 16
Portugal (AFP)[21] 29
Saudi Arabia (IFPI)[22] 17
South Africa (TOSAC)[23] 3
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[24] 59
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 32
UAE (IFPI)[26] 8
UK Singles (OCC)[27] 17
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[28] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[29] 7
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[30] 5

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Partridge, Ken (May 4, 2024). "Drake Responds Promptly To Kendrick Lamar With New Diss Track "Family Matters"". Genius. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  2. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (May 4, 2024). "Drake and Kendrick Lamar Get Personal on Simultaneously Released Diss Tracks 'Family Matters' and 'Meet the Grahams'". Variety. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Berry, Peter A. "Kendrick Lamar Won't Stop Pressing the Red Button". Complex. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Horowitz, Steven J. (May 4, 2024). "Drake and Kendrick Lamar Get Personal on Simultaneously Released Diss Tracks 'Family Matters' and 'Meet the Grahams'". Variety. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Rose, Jordan. "Breaking Down All of Drake's Shots at Kendrick (and Half the Rap Game) on "Family Matters"". Complex. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Saponara, Michael (May 4, 2024). "Drake Responds to Kendrick Lamar With Eviscerating 'Family Matters' Diss Track: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  7. ^ https://www.complex.com/music/a/jaelaniturnerwilliams/lyrics-drake-family-matters-diss-kendrick-lamar
  8. ^ "ASAP Rocky Might Have Response to Drake's "Family Matters" Diss on Upcoming Album 'Don't Be Dumb'". www.complex.com. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  9. ^ "Drake – Family Matters". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  11. ^ "Drake Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  12. ^ "Drake – Family Matters" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "Drake Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  14. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) (Week: 19/2024)". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  15. ^ "Tónlistinn – Lög" [The Music – Songs - Week 19] (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Archived from the original on May 11, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  16. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  17. ^ "2024 19-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  18. ^ "The Official Mena Chart - This Week's Official MENA Chart Top 20 from 03/05/2024 to 09/05/2024". theofficialmenachart.com. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  19. ^ "Drake – Family Matters" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  20. ^ "Drake – Family Matters". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  21. ^ "Drake – Family Matters". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  22. ^ "The Official Mena Chart - This Week's Official Saudi Arabia Chart Top 20 from 03/05/2024 to 09/05/2024". theofficialmenachart.com. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  23. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 10 Week 19-2024". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  24. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 19". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  25. ^ "Drake – Family Matters". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  26. ^ "The Official Mena Chart - This Week's Official UAE Chart Top 20 from 03/05/2024 to 09/05/2024". theofficialmenachart.com. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  27. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  28. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  29. ^ "Drake Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  30. ^ "Drake Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
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