Meek Mill

Lore & Background

The genesis of "Amen" is rooted in producer Key Wane's personal struggle while stranded without money in New York's Times Square. Feeling on the verge of failure, Wane prayed for his situation to change before meeting Mill and presenting him with the song. He advised the studio team to avoid heavy equipment usage, emphasizing a relationship with God through prayer instead. Jahlil Beats co-produced the track, joining Wane as a songwriter alongside Mill, Drake, Jeremih, Abrams, and McDonald. The collaboration marked Mill and Drake's first musical involvement in 2012, sparking a friendship that saw them performing together on Mill's Dreamchasers Tour at the Fillmore in August 2012. However, this bond proved temporary; they collaborated again on "R.I.C.O." in 2015 before experiencing a fallout that same year.

In Their Own Story

On June 4, 2012, Mill premiered "Amen" via SoundCloud, three days before including it on his mixtape Dreamchasers 2. The track was officially released as the lead single for Dreams and Nightmares on June 19, 2012, by Maybach Music Group and Warner Bros. Records. Tensions rose quickly when Reverend Jomo K. Johnson declared a boycott on July 10, accusing Mill of using the church as a backdrop for sinful activities. The two debated publicly on Hot 107.9's The Q Deezy Show on July 11, where Mill argued Johnson was seeking fame while Johnson accused the rapper of lying in his music. Mill responded by lowering his tone and altering lyrics from Rick Ross to appeal to women, rapping about sexual exploitation and wealth over a minimal gospel beat supported by church organs. On July 16, Mill apologized on BET's 106 & Park for any offense caused, prompting Johnson to call off the boycott and grant forgiveness, though he maintained he would not support Mill in any other way.

Reader's Guide

Musically, "Amen" relies on a minimal gospel beat with prominent church organs and piano, where Mill lowers his tone by a few octaves. Critics praised Mill's rap style as energetic and urgent, noting the song's pop and R&B elements. The music video, released to YouTube on June 15, 2012, juxtaposes footage from Drake's Club Paradise Tour with scenes of the two artists partying at night. Commercially, the single reached number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 2012. It was later certified gold by the RIAA. While some critics like Jayson Greene of Pitchfork hailed it as a best new track, others like Mosi Reeves at Spin felt it read like "old news" on the album since it had already appeared on Dreamchasers 2. The mixtape version credited both Drake and Jeremih, whereas the album version only credits Drake despite Jeremih's background vocals.

Did You Know?

• Producer Key Wane conceived "Amen" in New York's Times Square after praying for help while stranded with no money and unable to return to Detroit.
• The song interpolates the Doobie Brothers' 1979 hit "Minute by Minute," written by Lester Abrams and Michael McDonald, who received songwriting credits.
• Meek Mill and Drake's collaboration on "Amen" in 2012 marked their first involvement with each other before they became friends and later had a fallout in 2015.
• Reverend Jomo K. Johnson called off his boycott of the song on July 16, 2012, after Mill apologized for any offense caused during a public debate on Hot 107.9.
• The album version of "Amen" credits only Drake as a featured artist, while the earlier Dreamchasers 2 mixtape version credited both Drake and Jeremih.