The bombshell of the day came in the form of Drake, who dropped a treasure trove of unreleased footage from the studio sessions for his incredibly famous song “Pound Cake.” It was 2013, and with the incomparable JAY-Z featured, it sent ripples across Drake’s album ”Nothing Was the Same”. Clips released now bring audiences back into behind-the-scenes creative juice—what brought this masterpiece together.
unseen footage of Drake recording his ‘Pound Cake’ verse for Nothing Was The Same and planning how to sound with JAY-Z’s verse
“it might just need an adlib cause I listen to that verse and I’m used to it I like that tone… I sound like a man on there next to HOV you know…”
— SOUND (@itsavibe) AUGUST 25, 2024
Shots from the newly released footage show a quite intense and at times very thoughty process in recording “Pound Cake.” There Drake is caught on video, thinking through his verse against some powerful lines by JAY-Z, and it’s very well-documented that he’s meticulous about detail. “It might just need an ad-lib because I listen to that verse, and I’m used to it. I sound like a man on there next to HOV, you know?” Drake muses, reflecting on how to match the energy and gravitas that JAY-Z brought onto the track.
This moment of self-awareness is particularly striking. It reveals not only Drake’s respect for JAY-Z but also his desire to meet the high standards set by one of hip-hop’s legends. The footage provides a personal touch, showing Drake as both a fan and a collaborator, striving to deliver a verse that would stand strong next to JAY-Z’s.
The collaboration didn’t exactly go off without bumps. First off, Noah “40” Shebib, Drake’s long-time collaborator, put down a beat for the track. That didn’t feel quite right for Drake. Then Boi-1da stepped in, and another producer from OVO Sound created an instrumental that tricked it out of Drake. This moment of creative synergy shows how critical it is for artists to listen to their gut instincts and get together with other people in order to make the best possible sound.
It starts off sample package-serving, taken from jazz musician Jimmy Smith, which creates a somber, reflective mood. Drake is deep within his verses—material wealth and what legacy is supposed to mean. He famously raps, “500 million, I got a pound cake.” It’s not all for the money, though. He stresses his making of more millionaires than that lottery, his desire to raise others up where he has risen.
JAY-Z further has some depth in it, though, as he revisits his journey; references to high-end cars and personal growth were plentiful. Their interplay with verses sounded very organic. It demonstrated that respect and chemistry produce dividends. As a matter of fact, there came the point when JAY-Z actually reconsidered the track for his ”Magna Carta Holy Grail” before finally deciding that the song really needed to go back to Drake. This give-and-take is one of the great examples of the collaborative spirit that exists between icons.
What’s more, the song had also faced legal scrutiny after its release for sampling the 1982 track “Jimmy Smith Rap.” However, a court ruled in favor of Drake, setting a precedent that the use of the sample was under fair use. This ruling generalized “Pound Cake” into an anti-jazz elitism ramble referring to the top line that all forms of music are worthwhile. It’s quite a bold statement, adding layers to what the song is saying.
Drake and JAY-Z wielding their gift on tracks like “Light Up” and “Talk Up” have shared their gift with fans for years. But the actual nature of this relationship has always made some people wary. From the healthy competition to moments of tautness, their whole ride has been an unknown. Their dynamic changed over time, and “Pound Cake” is the epitome of how such a collaboration would sound.
As fans deep dive into the unreleased footage, what one realizes is that the very “Pound Cake” recording was a moment in time—an episodic personally etched vignette on the power of collaboration, creativity, and respect within the music business. It’s not just a throwback; this release puts one back in remembrance of the artistry and vivacity put into making music which resounds with people from all around the world.
And now it is available to all who wish to see the magic, to take that journey behind the scenes in the studio with two of hip-hop’s dopest. Whether you’ve been a fan from the beginning or have become one on “Pound Cake,” this one is definitely inspiring.
