The Shoe Fits

Album

For All the Dogs Scary Hours Edition

Label

OVO Sound

Genre

Hip hop

Composer(s)

A. Hernandez;Aubrey Graham;J.E Thomas;Miles Parks McCollum;S. Wilson

Entered Chart

Dec 2, 2023

Peak Date

Dec 2, 2023

On October 6, 2023, Drake released his eighth studio album, For All The Dogs, which, despite hitting the Billboard 200 at #1, had critics throwing shade. Rolling Stone's Mosi Reeves called it "meandering," and Business Insider pronounced it "worst Drake album ever." Many fans also vibed it less than his past projects. Six weeks after dropping For All The Dogs, Drake released For All the Dogs Scary Hours Edition, a pimped-up version with an extra six tracks. One of those is "The Shoe Fits," where Drake claps back at the haters who say he's lost his rap mojo. In the song, Drake addresses his haters directly, making it crystal clear he's evolved and he isn't here to please everyone. Drake also airs his views on the critics giving him the side-eye. He takes aim at what he sees as issues - like toxic relationships, fake gangsters posing with handguns, and folks losing touch with reality. The phrase "if the shoe fits, wear it" is an idiom that means if the accusations stick, own up. The phrase is often a classic defensive move, suggesting the accused isn't guilty if the accusations don't fit. The title doesn't appear in the lyrics. It's more like a metaphorical flavor that connects to the song's themes of calling out hypocrisy, self-reflection and facing personal truths. It's a nudge, saying if the lyrics hit close to home, embrace it. The idiom is thought to have originated in the United States in the 18th century. The earliest known example of the phrase is from a 1773 newspaper article in the New York Gazette & Weekly Mercury. The phrase is used in response to an accusation that had been made against a person. The author of the article writes, "Why should Mr. Vanderbeck apply a general comparison to himself? Let those whom the shoe fits wear it." Cinderella might have had some influence on the saying. In the fairy tale, Cinderella is able to marry the prince because her foot fits into a glass slipper. Drake wrote "If The Shoe Fits" with Julius Thomas, Vinylz, and the song's producers, Ovrkast and Lil Yachty. Dominican-American songwriter and producer Vinylz is close to Drake's in-house producer, Boi-1da. His first placement on a Drake song was "5AM In Toronto" and his subsequent credits include "No Friends In The Industry," "Jimmy Cooks" and "Rich Flex." Atlanta rapper-singer Lil Yachty and Oakland-based rapper and producer Ovrkast also teamed up to produce "Red Button" for For All the Dogs Scary Hours Edition.

Yeah
Y'all might want to skip this one, this is a
Harsh truth
Very harsh truth
Look

To all the ladies wonderin' why
Drake can't rap like that same old guy
It's 'cause I don't know how anymore
I don't know how, yeah
I've had my beliefs tested, my faith broken in half
I try to joke and I laugh
But I just don't know how anymore, love
I don't know how, yeah

To all the super triggered women talkin' down on me
Relax, drink some water, act like you somebody daughter
Can't get a tan from your phone light
Baby, it's late June, open the blinds, get out The Shade Room
Maybe you could stop gettin' involved in some shit when you not involved
Or maybe you go for a walk somewhere that is not a mall
What's your baby's shoe size? Could tell by the laces, they tight
Aw, you only focus on the steps that I'm taking in life
And then you got the ones who claim a guy that's everyone's nigga
Leave for a month to Colombia and now everything bigger
Even your attitude is bigger, your appetite growing
Your nigga is not even a starting QB
That nigga on the field before the game, he just practicin' throwing
What happened to sellin' real estate? Where all that shit was goin'?
All your fuckin' captions lately talkin' 'bout happy and glowin'
All of that snappin' and posin'
Whole time, he jealous of your past, who the fuck was your last?
Askin' questions 'bout niggas, and you get slapped in the face if you happen to know him
Domestic abuse, that man is not a man for you, he's a pathetic excuse
Lyin' through your teeth, scared of lettin' your skeletons loose
But you stick around, 'cause who's out there that's better for you?
Plus he paid the surgeon so your ass could get a caboose
But he wants you covering it up, so your dresses is loose
Plus it's the only thing they see when you get introduced
Now you on a flight to Bogotá just to get it reduced, good Lord
More weeks of recovery clinics, front like you love every minute
You gettin' pushed to the brink, you sittin' at double your limit
Meanwhile, that nigga out in my city fuckin' on bitches
If they even mention me and showin' me love, then it's finished
Jealous-ass niggas
Damn
Then you got the ones that travel 'cross the globe
Everything is paid, they don't need a man
Don't listen to Drake, never been a fan
You got a million hoes, yeah, I understand
I'm never fuckin' you, so take that out your plans
I'm good on all you niggas 'til a ring is on my hand
Then I search your name, find you on the 'Gram
Click the Linktree and see you suckin' dick on cam, what the fuck?

Oh, hell no
It can't be
Not Mrs. Independent, dude
Nah
So, uh

To all the ladies wonderin' why
Drake can't rap like that same old guy
It's 'cause I don't know how anymore
I don't know how, yeah
I've had my beliefs tested, my faith broken in half
I try to joke and I laugh
But I just don't know how anymore, love
I just don't know how, yeah

To all the ladies on my case with a look on they face
Allow me to put these bums right back in they place
For all the niggas who act twelve
The fake gangsters with a MAC-12
The ones that only hit your phone up when it's past twelve
Baddies not the only ones worried 'bout strikin' a pose
You orderin' one bottle to split between five of the bros
All your boos think it's Halloween and they went ghost
That's when you go Miami on the 'Gram and you rent boats
And now they thinkin' you sweet with the bread like French toast
You boys becomin' detectives, but ain't in no trench coats
I would never guess that you niggas is this crazy
She took dick in Ibiza, you turn into Dick Tracy
You niggas so jaded
Actin' Hulk tough, but you only turn green because your necklace is gold-plated
She settled for an NBA star that's through playin'
Instead, she got an NBA fan that's 2K-in'
She lookin' for high ground, hate bein' tied down
She loved you for the first year, but those feelings died down
She livin' in downtown, you live with your parents still
You don't own a steering wheel, so you can't even drive down
You downloaded the My Mercedes app for some time now
To track when she ride 'round
You know where she goin' before she there, it raise eyebrows
You hackin' her iCloud, you committing cyber crimes
You niggas is out of line
She's finally movin' on, she's only said it a thousand times
You sold her a dream, talkin' that give you the world shit
Her friends wanna get her back on that diamonds and pearl shit
I mean, it was girls there, but it wasn't a girls trip
She met a guy
She met a guy that ain't just gettin' by, a better guy
She 'bout to spread her wings and you just gotta let her fly
You know you can't control a Gemini, that's facts
She like, "Shh, quiet, everybody, the game started
My new boo hoopin' tonight and he said he play at the Garden
He said if I ain't watching, then that nigga ain't startin'"
She point to the guy that she talkin' 'bout and it's James Harden

Damn, dog
Lost your, lost your girl to The Sniper, huh?
13, good God
I feel for you, bro
Look

So, to all the ladies wonderin' why
Drake can't rap like that same old guy
It's 'cause I don't know how anymore
I don't know how, yeah
I've had my beliefs tested, my faith broken in half
I try to joke and I laugh
But I just don't know how anymore, love
I don't know how

That's real