Nice For What

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Lore & Background

The narrative behind "Nice for What" centers on celebrating women who have succeeded independently. Lyrically, the hook samples Lauryn Hill singing about "cutting loose in the midst of a relationship," setting a tone of liberation. The song draws from early 2000s R&B and New Orleans bounce elements, incorporating samples from the Showboys' "Drag Rap" (1986) and Big Tymers' "Get Your Roll On" (2000), alongside clips of Big Freedia's performances. This sonic collage creates a space where female empowerment is the primary focus. The track's background traces back to March 14, 2018, when Lauryn Hill's son, Joshua Omaru Marley, posted a snippet on Snapchat. Drake later confirmed an upcoming Murda Beatz-produced single during an Instagram Live session and surprised fans at a Majid Jordan concert in Toronto on April 5, announcing the release for the following night.

In Their Own Story

On April 6, 2018, the world received "Nice for What," a track that immediately displaced Drake's previous hit to claim the top spot on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song debuted with 88,000 downloads sold and 60.4 million streams, becoming the 30th song in history to enter at number one. It held the throne for four consecutive weeks before being replaced by Childish Gambino's "This Is America" on May 14. In a historic turn, it returned for a fifth non-consecutive week on June 2 and eventually achieved four nonconsecutive runs totaling eight weeks at number one, becoming the first song to do so. By July 21, another Drake track, "In My Feelings," took over, though "Nice for What" lingered in the top ten for 17 weeks. The accompanying music video, directed by Karena Evans, featured an all-female cast including Olivia Wilde, Misty Copeland, Issa Rae, Rashida Jones, and many others carrying out activities from swimming to business meetings, which Evans described as a "privilege and a blessing".

Reader's Guide

To understand the impact of "Nice for What," one must look at its chart dominance and critical acclaim. The song topped not only the US Billboard Hot 100 but also the UK Singles Chart and ARIA Singles Chart, marking Drake's second number-one in both countries after "God's Plan." It was certified Diamond by the RIAA. At the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, it received a nomination for Best Rap Performance, while securing two ASCAP Awards, including Top Rap Song. Publications have since cemented its legacy: Rolling Stone ranked it 54th on their '100 Best Songs of the 2010s' list and named it the fifth-best song of 2018 (a distinction shared with Billboard). In 2021, The Guardian ranked it number-one among Drake's 30 greatest songs. Later, in a 2024 update, Billboard staff ranked it as the number one Drake Hot 100 hit overall.

Did You Know?

• "Nice for What" was the first song to reach number one in four nonconsecutive runs on the Billboard Hot 100.
• The track samples "Ex-Factor" by Lauryn Hill, which itself samples Wu-Tang Clan's "Can It Be All So Simple."
• Drake became the first artist to have a new number-one debut replace his own previous number-one debut ("God's Plan") on the Hot 100.
• The music video features guest appearances by Olivia Wilde, Misty Copeland, Issa Rae, Rashida Jones, and 14 other notable women in order of appearance.
• In 2021, The Guardian ranked "Nice for What" as number-one on their list of Drake's 30 greatest songs.