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Over the past decade and a half, Aubrey Graham, widely known as Drake, has unleashed a slew of chart-topping hits that have permeated every corner of popular culture. From iconic tracks like “One Dance” and “God’s Plan” to the infectious beats of “Hotline Bling” and “Best I Ever Had,” this Canadian sensation has mastered the art of crafting viral singles. On October 6, Drake dropped yet another smash hit, “IDGAF,” featuring Yeat, a standout from his eighth studio album, “For All the Dogs.” Prior to its release, Drake offered a tantalizing glimpse of this high-octane track in a visual showcasing his new NOCTA Glides, captioning the Instagram post with, “NOCTA GLIDE 2023. Available tonight on nocta.com. Music by Twizz and The Boy,” marking yet another triumph for the Grammy-winning artist.
The release of “IDGAF” sent ripples of excitement through the music scene, instantly catapulting the song to the number one spot on the Billboard Global 200 songs chart, as reported by Billboard. The song’s popularity surged on TikTok, owed in part to the striking contrast between Drake’s and Yeat’s delivery of the line “money for fun.” Yet, beneath the surface, what lies at the heart of “IDGAF?” In this exploration, we’ll embark on a deep dive into the lyrics to unravel the target or subject of this rap duo’s sentiments on this widely embraced record.
True to its title, “IDGAF” is an unapologetic declaration from Drake and Yeat that they remain impervious to the negativity and detractors. The track kicks off with a sample from Azimuth’s “The Tunnel,” seamlessly segueing into a hard-hitting production accompanied by Yeat’s self-assured lyrics, as noted by Genius. He proclaims, “I put a check on my neck, life check ya in the head / I signed for a couple milli’, you only touched a hundred thou’.” In the chorus, the two artists emphatically reiterate their indifference to those who oppose them, emphatically asserting, “Yeah, I don’t be givin’ no f***s (Not one) / I don’t know if you caught on / I don’t be givin’ no f***.” While Yeat has refrained from offering an official explanation for “IDGAF,” it may be alluding to his feud with fellow rapper Autumn.
In 2021, Yeat engaged in a war of words on social media with the Southern-based artist, accusing him of emulating his style. “MF really tryna sound like me bro go do some else dat s*** suck,” the Oregon-native rapper posted on his Instagram story (via YouTube). This sparked a heated exchange, with Autumn asserting, “I gave you yo voice and yo biggest song before yo distro deal.” In June 2023, nearly two years after their online clash, Autumn suggested that they had both moved on, admitting, “To this day, I’m still mad that I kind of fed into it,” in an interview with Boxboyslive.
Drake, too, seizes the opportunity on “IDGAF” to confront his detractors head-on. The Canadian rapper uses his verses to assert his dominance by enumerating his own wealth and accomplishments. “Why I always see your dawgs in the city? / Think you boys left some soldiers behind / Just like the jet you boys tried to buy,” Drake taunts. As the song progresses, the “Take Care” artist boasts about his record label OVO (short for October’s Very Own) before calling out an unnamed rapper for his inauthenticity. “I hate you boys more than I ever did / You rappin’ bout s*** that you never did,” he asserts.
Much like Yeat, Drake has kept mum about the exact meaning behind “IDGAF,” but his unapologetically bold lyrics about counterfeit rappers could be interpreted as veiled jabs at Pusha T, a nod to their enduring rivalry. In a 2019 interview with Rap Radar, Drake contended that the Clipse rapper fabricated his drug-dealing past, stating, “When I was whatever, 16, thinking that [Pusha T] was the biggest dope dealer in the world serving bricks to all.” He continued, “Now that I’m a grown-up, and I actually know him and the truth, it’s … not as appealing.” While Drake has persisted in taking shots at Pusha, the latter seems unfazed, remarking in 2022 to XXL, “Every time I hear a subliminal in one of his songs, it just lets me know how deep it hurt him… I love it.”