Peak
63
Weeks
1
Score
101
Chart Year
2024
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In a move that seemed to come out of nowhere and sent fans into a collective frenzy, Drake dropped on August 6, 2024 a colossal 100GB trove of unreleased music, videos, and photos. Nestled within this digital treasure chest were three brand-new tracks, including this slow club number. "Blue Green Red" is a twitchy dance track where Drake flits between introspective musings and bursts of swaggering bravado. He touches on sobriety and the toll that strained relationships can take, offering listeners a peek behind the curtain of his typically self-assured persona. But of course, it wouldn't be a Drake track without a healthy dose of his trademark confidence. Amid the introspection, he still finds time to flex about his wealth, success, and unassailable dominance in the music world. The song's title, "Blue Green Red," comes from the refrain, which encapsulates the entire vibe: Gotta lay down when you make bed Gotta let some tears just shed Since we blew up and got green I gotta leave some of y'all on read Here, Drake plays with the colors as metaphors for his life. "Green," naturally, stands for money and success, while "blue" suggests the emotional cost of cutting people off. "Leaving them on read," that quintessential modern brush-off, is Drake's way of saying that if you cross him, you're done - no further communication needed. During the third verse, Drake references four different Ethiopian ethnic groups: Oromo, Tigray, Amhara, and Habesha. These groups, each with their own language, traditions, and history, are essential components of the complex and vibrant fabric of Ethiopian society. Oromo girls, Tigray girls, all of my Amhara girls Habesha girl, you're my kind, my kind Let's take a moment to unpack the four groups: Oromo: The Oromos are Ethiopia's largest ethnic group (34.5%), primarily based in the Oromia region, which includes the country's capital, Addis Ababa. They have a significant cultural presence in the country, influencing everything from language to politics. Tigray: The Tigrayans live in the northern Tigray region and speak Tigrinya. They have a distinct cultural and historical identity that's deeply rooted in the highlands of Ethiopia. Amhara: The Amhara people are a Semitic-speaking ethnic group mostly found in the northwest highlands. They are mostly Oriental Orthodox Christian (members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church) and comprise 26.9% of Ethiopia's population. Habesha (or Abyssinians): This term is a bit more expansive, often used to describe people of Ethiopian and Eritrean descent, including the Amhara, Tigray, and Gurage ethnicities. "Habesha" carries a sense of shared cultural identity that transcends individual ethnic lines. By mentioning the four ethnic groups, Drake has introduced these cultures to a vast audience. Boi-1da, 40 and SMPLGTWY produced "Blue Green Red." Boi-1da is a prominent figure in hip-hop production. Besides being Drake's in-house producer, he's worked with numerous top-tier artists, including Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay-Z. His production style is characterized by hard-hitting drums, melodic synth lines, and a strong sense of rhythm. A longtime collaborator with Drake, Noah "40" Shebib has been instrumental in shaping the artist's sound. His production often incorporates soulful melodies, atmospheric textures, and a focus on mood creation. SMPLGTWY also helped Boi-1da produce Drake's Kendrick Lamar diss track "The Heart Part 6."
Yeah, ayy, what? For the mandem, for the gyaldem For the six side, for the six side, for the six side Ayy Look Please write my mother and tell her Tell her the shape that I'm in Thirty days I have been sober Now I'm back drinking again, again I got away from the city I'm on the outskirts of town Friends that I treated like family They were just hanging around (around) yeah Gotta lay down when you make bed Gotta let some tears just shed Since we blew up and got green I gotta leave some of y'all on read Yeah, four gun shot, men are dead Might put some dollar 'pon head I just turn up the place instead 36" in the chest, okay, 28" in the waist, okay 46" and the hips come swing my way Swing my way, draw for me, send for me Broke your back and bend up your knee Badmind gyal can't friend up with me, no Yeah, how many summers did I run? Like ten I got a show out in London, when? With a clock inna London, yeah, Big Ben Apple Watch fits just like them But mi nah watch face like them They make lyrics for who? Men Me make gyal cum, then cum again Please write my father and tell him I found some fortune and fame They're gonna try and behead me And speak on the family name He said my knife's in my pocket I'm in the center of town I tapped the side of his pocket He wasn't joking around, around Gotta lay down when you make bed Gotta let some tears just shed Since we blew up and got green I gotta leave some of y'all on read Yeah, four gun shot, men are dead Might put some dollar 'pon head I just turn up the place instead Oromo girls, Tigray girls, all of my Amhara girls Habesha girl, you're my kind, my kind You wanna take some shots in the night time Run treadmill, they inna the good life You wanna work up a sweat in our lifetime Okay, okay 36" in the chest, okay, 28" in the waist, okay 46" and the hips come swing my way Swing my way, draw for me, send for me Broke your back and bend up your knee Badmind gyal can't friend up with me, no How many summers did I run? Like ten I got a show out in London, when? With a clock inna London, yeah, Big Ben I have a watch face just like them But me nah watch face like them They make lyrics for who? Men We make gyal cum, then cun again 36" in the chest, okay, 28" in the waist, okay 46" and the hips come swing my way Swing my way, draw for me, send for me Broke your back and bend up your knee Badmind gyal can't friend up with me, no Broke your back and bend up your knee Broke your back and bend up your knee Badmind gyal can't friend up with me, friend up with me, no
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 24, 2024 | 63 | 63 |