Entertainment

An Ode To Drake's "What's My Name?" Verse

by Alex Kritselis

FACT: Rihanna's "What's My Name?" with Drake is one of the best pop songs of all time. FACT: Rihanna and Drake will end up together someday if I have anything to say about it (but I probably won't because it's none of my business). FACT: Drake's "What My Name?" verse is so good, I could probably listen to it on repeat for the next 37 years and not get tired of it. What? I'm serious! The 28-year-old rapper's flawless contribution to Rihanna's 2010 single has a calming, almost hypnotizing effect on me. Why aren't we talking about it more often? And why do I love it so much??

Is it Drake's strange croaking throughout? ("OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!") Is it his unexpected love for white wine? (He's just like me!) Or is it the way he skillfully rhymes "out" with "out" near the end? Honestly, I have no idea. Whatever it is, though, it's magical.

Full disclosure: I know next to nothing about rap. (Surprise! JK, it's not a surprise, you totally sniffed me out.) That being said, I really do think Drizzy's brief opening verse to "What's My Name?" is perfect. Is it the most profound thing the Degrassi alum has ever written? No, certainly not — but it's charming in its simplicity (and, at times, in it's ridiculousness).

Below is my ode to Drake's iconic "What's My Name?" verse, because it just doesn't get the recognition it deserves (and it deserves, like, A LOT).

Uh, yeah

I heard you good with them soft lips

Yeah, you know word of mouth

Drake! I'm surprised at you.

Go on.

The square root of 69 is eight something, right?

'Cause I've been tryna work it out

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

I'm also terrible at math, so I really identify with these lines. Additionally, the "OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" part makes me feel like:

Good weed, white wine, uh

I wonder if he's tried Sutter Home?

I come alive in the nighttime, yeah

OK, away we go

Only thing we have on is the radio

Let it play

Say you gotta leave, but I know you wanna stay

You just waiting on the traffic jam to finish, girl

The things that we could do in 20 minutes, girlllll

Like what, exactly? Be specific.

Say my name, say my name, wear it out

It's getting hot, crack a window, air it out

I could get you through a mighty long day

Soon as you go, the text that I write is gonna say...

Pretty amazing, right?

Images: Giphy (9)