Pop Style

Pop Style

Drake

“Pop Style” is a Jamaican term meaning “ballin’” or “showing off.” The term was famously used on Althea and Donna’s “Uptown Top Ranking”, a Reggae one hit wonder which reached number 1 on the UK charts in 1978.

Drake premiered a new version of “Pop Style” without The Throne on OVO Sound Radio Episode 19. In his interview with Zane Lowe, Drake spoke about his decision to go with his version instead of the one featuring The Throne saying:

Jay didn’t really do a verse. Really, I just was trying to get ‘Ye on it first. ‘Ye just kind of sent it to me like that, ‘Jay kinda just did my first few lines for me and that’s how we flexed it.’ … Of course people want to hear Jay Z rap, so hearing him do two lines might be frustrating to a certain audience … That just landed in my lap. I just dealt with it accordingly. It didn’t play out how I wanted it to as far as business or whatever goes. So I figured it would be easier to go with my version. I’ve expressed my admiration and respect for Jay countless times. Sometimes we just fall on opposite sides of the spectrum. It’s always mutual respect but sometimes it has to be from afar.

The new verse takes aim at Drake’s critics. He fires subliminals at Meek Mill and Mo-G while continuing to include braggadocious lyrics about his OVO crew.