No Guidance

Album

Fly Me To The Moon

Label

RCA Records

Genre

Rhythm & Blues

Composer(s)

Christopher Brown;Aubrey Graham;Joshua Huizar;Anderson Hernandez;Travis Walton;Tyler Bryant;Noah Shebib;Nija Charles;Michee Lebrun

Entered Chart

Jun 22, 2019

Peak Date

Oct 5, 2019

Released

June 8, 2019

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

CBE

On June 14, 2012 Chris Brown got into a fight with Drake at a New York City nightclub after Breezy accused the Toronto MC of throwing a bottle at him. The pair had already been feuding for a couple of years because of a love rivalry over Rihanna. The first sign of a thaw in their beef came about when both appeared on "Only," a Nicki Minaj track recorded in 2014. Four years later, it became clear the two had moved on from their issues when Brown was introduced as a special guest during one of Drake's shows. This hook-up represents the first time Brown and Drake have collaborated on a single as non-featured artists. Apart from "Only," the only other time they worked together was back in 2010 when the Toronto MC recorded a remix of Breezy's "Deuces." The R&B track finds Brown and Drake crooning about a female who's "got it." Lil' baby in her bag, in her Birkin No nine to five, put the work in Flaws and all, I love 'em all, to me, you're perfect The two stars are desperate to hook up with the girl, though they're well aware she has expensive tastes. Chris Brown and Drake penned "No Guidance" with Nija Charles. The Los Angeles-based songwriter has also worked with Jason DeRulo ("Colors") and Cardi B ("I Do"). Charles told Billboard it was Brown's mixing engineer, Patrizio Pigliapoco, who recruited her: "I came down to Chris' house and helped him write his portion and sent it back to Drake - and he loved it." The intro samples Che Ecru's 2018 track "Before I Die." These same vocals can be heard throughout the song. The song debuted at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was Brown's first Top 10 single in five years as a lead artist; back in 2014 he peaked at #9 on the chart with "Loyal." The 9-minute music video plays on Brown and Drake's infamous 2012 brawl as the pair go head-to-head in a dance battle. The song was Brown's first Top 5 Hot 100 hit in over 11 years. His previous was "Forever," which peaked at #2 in 2008. This won Song of the Year at the 2019 Soul Train Awards. Brown also walked off with the gongs for Best Dance Performance and Best Collaboration; both were also for "No Guidance." Drake and Brown's reconciliation was prompted by Rihanna rejecting the Toronto MC's advances. Because the Bajan beauty was no longer in his life, he felt able to reconnect with his former love rival. "I think she's a good person with a good heart that would rather see us put that issue to bed rather than continue childish s--t that could end up in a serious situation," said Drake of Rihanna to Elliott Wilson and Brian "B-Dot" Miller for their Rap Radar podcast. "So I decided to go ahead with it. I was hearing from people that he was in a really good space to link up." The song spent multiple weeks at the summit of Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop radio airplay chart. When "No Guidance" logged its 24th week atop the tally dated February 1, 2020, it became the longest-running leader since the chart launched in April 1992, overtaking the 23 weeks at #1 achieved by Miguel's "Adorn." The song eventually reigned for 27 weeks. Chris Brown broke his own record when "Go Crazy," his collaboration with Young Thug, logged its 28th week at #1 on the tally. Singer Braindon Cooper and his producer Timothy Valentine brought legal action against Chris Brown and Drake, claiming this song copied their 2016 track "I Love Your Dress." Not only that, the two musicians also allege "No Guidance" includes a sneaky lyric alluding to the rip-off. Flew the coop at 17, no guidance Cooper's nickname is "Coop."

Before I die I'm tryna fuck you, baby
Hopefully we don't have no babies
I don't even wanna go back home
Hopefully, I don't leave you on your own

Ayy
Trips that you plan for the next whole week
Bands too long for a nigga so cheap
And your flex OD, and your sex OD
You got it, girl, you got it (ayy)
You got it, girl, you got (yeah)
Pretty lil' thing, you got a bag and now you wildin'
You just took it off the lot, no mileage
Way they hittin' you, the DM lookin' violent
Talkin' wild, you come around and now they silent
Flew the coop at seventeen, no guidance
You be stayin' low but you know what the vibes is
Ain't never got you nowhere bein' modest
Poppin' shit but only 'cause you know you're poppin', yeah

You got it, girl, you got it (ayy)
You got it, girl, you got it

Lil' baby in her bag, in her Birkin
No nine to five, put the work in
Flaws and all, I love 'em all, to me, you're perfect
Baby girl, you got it, girl, you got it, girl (oh-oh)
You got it, girl, you got it, girl (ooh)

I don't wanna play no games, play no games
Fuck around, give you my last name (oh)
Know you tired of the same damn thing
That's okay 'cause, baby, you

You got it, girl, you got it (ayy)
You got it, girl, you got it

You the only one I'm tryna make love to, pickin' and choosin'
They ain't really love you, runnin' games, usin'
All your stupid exes, they gon' call again
Tell 'em that a real nigga steppin' in
Don't let them niggas try you, test your patience
Tell 'em that it's over, ain't no debatin' (uh)
All you need is me playin' on your playlist
You ain't gotta be frustrated

I don't wanna play no games, play no games (oh)
Fuck around, give you my last name (my last name)
Know you tired of the same damn thing (same damn thing)
That's okay 'cause, baby, you

You got it, girl, you got it (oh, ooh, ayy)
You got it, girl, you got it (got it)
I don't wanna

Before I die, I'm tryna fuck you, baby (yeah)
Hopefully, we don't have no babies (ooh)
I don't even wanna go back home
Hopefully, I don't leave you on your own
You got it, girl, you got it, oh

Play no games (no)
Freaky (freaky)
I can learn a lot from you, gotta come teach me (woo, woo)
You a lil' hot girl, you a lil' sweetie (no, sweet)
Sweet like Pearland, sweet like Peachtree (like that)
I can tell you crazy, but shit kind of intrigue me (no, yeah, I like that)
(I don't wanna, I don't wanna)
Seen it on the 'Gram, I'm tryna see that shit in 3D, mami
I know I get around 'cause I like to move freely (I don't, I don't)
But you could lock it down, I could tell by how you treat me (I don't, I don't)
I seen how you did homeboy, so please take it easy (no, yeah)
Good to have me on your side, I ain't sayin' that you need me (yeah, yeah)
Six God talk but I ain't tryna get preachy (no, no, no)
I seen how you did homeboy, please take it easier on me
'Cause I don't wanna (no) play no games, play no games
(I don't wanna, I don't wanna)
I don't wanna play no games, play no games
(I don't, I don't)

I don't, I don't
No