Drake Teaches How To Write A Melody In 3 Steps

"A lot of artists don’t even know when they sound wrong, or off. That sounds the same as that hit that I have on the radio and it’s like, if you can’t place, if you don’t know when something’s wrong, you’re not gonna be one of the greats. You might be cool for a minute, but..." — Drake on MTV

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Drake Teaches How To Write A Melody Clip 1
0:49 1. Be Your Own Worst Critic
2:18 Songwriting Masterclass
2:49 Drake Teaches How To Write A Melody Clip 2
3:30 2. Know What Works For You
3:31 Drake Teaches How To Write A Melody Clip 3
5:16 Drake Teaches How To Write A Melody Clip 4
6:33 Drake Teaches How To Write A Melody Clip 5
8:09 Drake Teaches How To Write A Melody Clip 6
9:06 3. Don’t Overthink It
9:07 Drake Teaches How To Write A Melody Clip 7
11:15 Drake Teaches How To Write A Melody Clip 8
12:59 Comment

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In this short clip from an interview with Drake in 2010, the young superstar-in-waiting outlined a facet of the philosophy that’s made him into an unrivaled, chart-topping phenom, not to mention hip-hop’s reigning king of choruses:

Be Your Own Worst Critic

Cited by pundits and commentators as the man who took the previously entrenched boundaries between singing and rapping and co-mingled them within the mainstream space, Drake’s hook-laden approach to song-craft has meant that while he may not receive his proper reverence as an MC, his capacity for hit-making is undeniable.

But to be honest, the man who can now self-assuredly flex about having “more slaps than The Beatles” didn’t acquire his status as one of the all-time Billboard mainstays by spitting complex 16’s, he did so through his knack for anchoring his songs around innately catchy choruses.

Seen as one of the core elements of commercial rap as we know it today, these immediately ear-grabbing refrains are something that Drake can deliver at what seems like the drop of a hat.

But, as his comments here would suggest, the reason that they’ve so regularly been translated into globe-spanning mega-hits is because Drizzy is always looking to bring the potential of his hooks to the fore.

As opposed to weighing it up and accepting a middling effort as a placeholder, the OVO leader will discard anything which, to him, simply doesn’t reach his own unimpeachably high standards.

And if his comments to MTV are anything to go by, it’s due to the fact that he has the foresight to not see the song in a vacuum, but think about how that chorus, when properly rendered, could contribute to his legacy.

Now, if you yourself are a rapper who wants to learn how to create a legacy and learn the hidden catchy song structures of rappers like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole in a song-by-song training of their work, click HERE to get our 4-hour songwriting masterclass as a free bonus on that page.

However, when it comes to Drake, ashe made clear to Elliott Wilson, another thing that keep his hits feeling vital is that he is never looking to so much as invoke the spirit of the past when it comes to crafting a new hit.

“I don’t wanna sound like No New Friends, I don’t wanna sound like I’m On One. I did that already- Drake on CRWN, 18:57

[HowToRapOfficial]

Comment: What do you think is Drake’s catchiest melody, ever?

[zekesaadiq]

Not even watching this. Jumped straight to the comments to see the post-battle action 😂😂😂

[oxycotin]

Man drake music is way more than what i thought it was and never gave him enough respect because i never knew his music would sound like a masterpiece with a music ear.

[db]

People talking shit on drake don’t understand his writing credits. Dude written for Kanye, dr Dre (him and Kendrick helped on detox but it never released) him and Wayne used to exchange bars back in the day. He wrote 0-100 for diddy (then kept it lol) “Fuckin problems” was his song but he gave it to rocky as he felt the radio was over saturated with his music. Hate all y’all want, but his Pen is golden 📓✍🏼

[ProdByZivo]

Drake takes his craft serious as do I and that is respectable. In the field of rap, professionalism is not the most common of traits.

[peakrays]

Well put together Drew, everyone's got a different creative process but this is a great way to learn from one of the greats and get better at writing your own melody lines. keep dropping these bangers man!

[citadeloricks]

Pure gold in so many ways. What a great video for any artist. I like how Drake talks about the creative process. The process has to be creative. It's so easy to get stuck in the engineering and the technology. Which is so inspiring and enables so much. But it can suck the creativity out of your process. MVP Joel "the process" Embiid.

[Reydel_TrueWork]

just wow. Thank you for sharing Drake's wisdom and experience with us. Whoever watched this and is serious about being an artist is definitely going to benefit. I know I am.

[Ivanrealmusic]

He's best melody is "marvins room"

[Duckmafia]

Drake been on top for over a decade and people still tryna say he trash lmao, we never gonna see another like him 🥱

[icyglxy]

Lmao that A-minor bar just became a double entendre in my eyes...

[akkhan]

Thats how you feel, say what’s real, night off, November 18, know yourself, since way back, days in the east, Marvin’s room, practice, and text go green.

[crooke]

Never liked drake much but massive respect for anyone trying to teach them tips. That's all I do to inspire greatness

[ashleynichols]

Drake always evolving, and I love that for him❤

[YvngGoat_]

Drake's the type of guy to say "Winner Winner Chicken Dinner" after he finishes a song🤣🤣🤣

[badazhell]

Drake: DICED PINEAPPLE HOOK
DREW A PICASSO
BEST I EVER HAD

[RaymondValadez]

LOVE MUSIC !!! I WILL MAKE IT TO THE TOP!

[LaFetJae]

7:40 You mistakenly used " Best I Ever Had " by Nasty C.
He is a South African Rapper and one of the biggests in South Africa.
He has good songs, hit songs, and also lyrically writes well.

[stfuitsjuan]

This hit my soul thank god i needed this

[Serapha]

5:06 THATS A FACT
12:26 BIG FACTS
13:15 MORE FACTS