At 2 a.m. EST, Drake released Certified Lover Boy, his sixth studio album. The highly anticipated release, originally slated for January, includes features from the South’s most notable hip-hop artists. Lil Baby, Young Thug, 21 Savage, Travis Scott, DJ OG Ron C of The Chopstars, Project Pat, and his mentor Lil Wayne represent Atlanta, Houston, Memphis, and New Orleans.
Although he was born and raised in Canada, Drake has a deep admiration for the Southern United States, specifically Texas (“where all his exes live like George Strait”). On his latest album, the Grammy Award-winning rapper has OG Ron C, co-founder of the legendary record label Swishahouse, narrate the opening to “TSU,” the album’s eighth track.
In his signature chopped and screwed tone, the Houston DJ shouts out Louisiana and several Texas cities and counties: Prairie View, Marshall, Wharton County, Texas City, and H-Town (of course). My ears perked up at one particular line.” What’s up to all the ladies in Dallas, Austin, San Antonio?” says OG Ron C.
The acknowledgment is the latest in the rapper’s love affair with Dallas. If we look back at his “9AM in Dallas” freestyle, a guest feature on Lil Baby’s “Never Recover” and “Desires,” and his collaborative track with Future on his Dark Lane Demo Tapes mixtape, the Canadian rapper seems to be obsessed with the Triple D. Respectfully, you should be, too. Let track eight on Certified Lover Boy remind you not only of our city’s allure, but also its place in hip-hop and greater pop culture.
I look forward to the endless Instagram captions with this line in particular. Happy Labor Day weekend, ladies.
