It has been over 10 years now since Drake first burst onto the hip hop scene. As of 2020, Drake has released 5 studio albums, 6 mixtapes, 3 EPs, and 3 Compilation albums. Also in 2020, Drake broke the Billboard record for most Hot 100 entries of all-time with 208, passing the ‘Glee’ cast (Billboard article here). These 208 songs consist of songs in which Drake is the lead artist as well as many songs that he is featured on. This list takes a close look at many of those guest appearance songs and ranks them.
25. Fabolous – “Throw It In The Bag (Remix)” featuring The-Dream and Drake (2009)
Opening this list is the remix to “Throw It In The Bag” from Fabolous’ Loso’s Way album. This song features a sample of “Fancy” by The-Dream. It is a true old school remix in that it features an entirely new beat and hook. This remix was released in August of 2009 just a few months after Drake’s So Far Gone mixtape was released. This may be one of Drake’s lesser known features in that it didn’t achieve as much radio success as many of his other songs. It is still a great Drake feature nonetheless and it deserves a listen if you haven’t heard it before.
24. DJ Khaled – “No New Friends” featuring Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne (2013)
“No New Friends” was a massive hit that dominated the radio waves during the summer of 2013. It features the exact same cast as DJ Khaled’s extremely successful hit, “I’m on One”. This song is produced by Robert Bullock. Boi-1da, 40, and Vinlyz. It was a song that Drake gifted to DJ Khaled. Drake’s work on the hook is what makes this track so great.
23. Rick Ross – “Diced Pineapples” featuring Drake and Wale (2012)
This Cardiak produced track is actually the only official song that both Wale and Drake are on together. “Diced Pineapples” appears on Rick Ross’ God Forgives, I Don’t album. It is one of the many collaborations that Ross and Drake released around that time. In 2011 and 2012 the two appeared on 6 other songs together including “Lord Knows”, “Free Spirit”, “Made Men”, “I’m on One”, “Aston Martin Music”, and “Stay Schemin”. Drake provides the hook but does not have a verse on “Diced Pineapples”.
22. Meek Mill – “Amen” featuring Drake (2012)
This controversial song comes in at #23 on the list. At the time of its release there was some backlash from various religious leaders accusing the song of blasphemy. The complaints didn’t stop the song from dominating the charts in the summer of 2012. Meek Mill and Drake’s chemistry is on heavy display throughout the song. Jeremih provides background vocals on the song as well.
21. Lil Wayne – “She Will” featuring Drake (2011)
“She Will” is one of the many singles released for Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter IV album. The song follows Lil Wayne and Drake’s tried and true formula in which Drake provides the hook and Wayne provides the bars. The hook is fairly long in that it lasts approximately 50 seconds. It is another classic song from the duo’s deep catalog of hits. It’s personally one of my favorite Drake hooks.
20. Timbaland – “Say Something” featuring Drake (2009)
From Timbaland’s Shock Value II album comes “Say Something”. The production is top notch and has a futuristic sound which has been a staple of Timbaland’s for much of his career. This song was released at the end of 2009 towards beginning of Drake’s ascension as an artist. His versatility is on full display in this song in that he provides the hook and even has his own verse.
19. Big Sean – “Made” featuring Drake (2010)
Featured on Big Sean’s Finally Famous Vol. 3 Big mixtape comes “Made”. This collaboration showed that both artists had the talent to be true forces in the hip-hop for many years to come. This song embodies everything that was great about the mixtape era of the early 2010’s. It didn’t get as much radio play as some of these other songs but it was on everyone’s iPods nonetheless.
18. Waka Flocka Flame – “Round of Applause” featuring Drake (2011)
Waka Flocka, in the early 2010’s, created hit after hit. A Drake-less version of this song was leaked initially. Drake would then go on to remix the song. The song garnered so much popularity that Waka went ahead released the Drake version as the official version. The song is produced by Lex Luger who was the leader of the trap sound at the time. With this song, Drake further showed the world how he can adapt and keep pace on any beat.
17. Chris Brown – “No Guidance” featuring Drake (2019)
If I’m being honest, “No Guidance” never became a song that I truly loved. But it’s impossible to deny just how successful the song was. This song is the first official collaboration from the two since Drake appeared on the “Deuces (Remix)” back in 2011. Chris Brown let him take the lead on this song in that Drake opens and closes the track. “No Guidance” is most definitely a great Drake collaboration.
16. Fetty Wap – “My Way (Remix)” featuring Drake (2015)
The original version of this song features Monty. Drake heard the song and went on to remix the song himself. Oddly enough, Fetty Wap never included Drake’s version as the official version or at least an official remix. Nevertheless, Drake’s version was the version that was played the most radio and had the most internet plays.
15. iLoveMakonnen – “Tuesday” featuring Drake (2014)
This song was originally titled “Club Goin’ Up on a Tuesday” before Drake remixed and changed the title to simply be “Tuesday”. This song, which was produced by Sonny Digital and Metro Boomin, achieved great commercial success. The song resulted in iLoveMakonnen and Drake being nominated for the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 2015 Grammy Awards.
14. Nicki Minaj – “Moment 4 Life” featuring Drake (2010)
“Moment 4 Life” is the 4th single from Nicki Minaj’s debut studio album, Pink Friday. The track came at a time when record label groups were very prominent in hip hop. Three of the top labels at the time were G.O.O.D. Music, Maybach Music Group, and Young Money. Lil Wayne, the founder of Young Money, was in jail for most of 2010. On “Moment 4 Life”, Drake and Nicki Minaj shined and showed they were more than capable of holding things down despite Wayne’s absence.
13. YG – “Who Do You Love?” featuring Drake (2014)
Produced by DJ Mustard, “Who Do You Love?” by YG fully epitomizes that sound that the West Coast is famous for. It is one of my favorite songs released in 2014. The true high points of this song are the production and Drake’s feature verse that comes in midway through the track. It is undoubtedly one of Drake’s top feature verses of his career.
12. Rihanna – “What’s My Name?” featuring Drake (2010)
2010 was a huge year for Drake. He released his first studio album and appeared on countless songs for other artists. Drake dropped one of his most memorable one liners when he asked “the square root of 69 is 8 something…right?” This song marked the first of many future collaborations between Drake and Rihanna.
11. PARTYNEXTDOOR – “Come and See Me” featuring Drake (2016)
“Come and See Me”, produced by Noah “40” Shebib, ended up becoming the most commercially successful song of PartyNextDoor’s career. This song is good without Drake but his contributions make it a great song. Party handles the 1st half of the song and Drake took the 2nd half.
10. Alicia Key – “Un-Thinkable (Remix) – featuring Drake (2010)
“Un-Thinkable” was another massive song featuring Drake in 2010. This song, like many of the others on this list, dominated the radio waves for months on end. The song is produced by Kerry Brothers and Drake’s long time producer, Noah “40” Shebib. Drake only appears on the remixed version. He opens the song with a chilling verse discussing his fears of commitment while being a public figure. Drake also provides backgrounds vocals on the track too. This song is one of my personal favorites.
9. French Montana – “Pop That” featuring Drake, Lil Wayne, and Rick Ross (2012)
“I’m about being single, seeing double, making triple…” Drake left this song with another great verse with memorable one-liners. This song, by French Montana, features a sample of “I Wanna Rock” by Uncle Like. This song dominated the radio and fits perfectly on any party playlist.
8. Kendrick Lamar – “Poetic Justice” featuring Drake (2012)
Kendrick Lamar along with ASAP Rocky served as opening acts of Drake’s Club Paradise tour in 2012. This served as the tour following the release of Drake’s Grammy winning album, Take Care. In October of 2012, Kendrick Lamar went on to release his critically acclaimed Good Kid, M.A.A.D City album which contained “Poetic Justice”. This track samples the iconic Janet Jackson’s “Any Time, Any Place” song from 1994. Lyrically, Drake was able to hold his own with the ultra talented Kendrick Lamar. Drake’s verse follows a similar cadence and flow as Kendrick’s two verses on the track.
7. Rihanna – “Work” featuring Drake (2016)
“Work” from Rihanna’s Anti album was actually mostly written by PartyNextDoor. The song was produced by Canadian producers, Boi-1da and 40. The song gives full on dancehall mixed with reggae vibes. Rihanna does her thing on the song but Drake steals the show on with his contribution on the song. “Work” is the best of all of Rihanna / Drake collaborations in my opinion.
6. Rick Ross – “Aston Martin Music” featuring Drake and Chrisette Michele (2010)
“Aston Martin Music” served as the 3rd single from Rick Ross’ highly regarded Teflon Don album. The song is quite unique in that its hook contains two parts. The 1st half of the hook is sung by Chrisette Michele while the 2nd half of the hook is sung by Drake. The production is entirely handled by J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League. An extended version of Drake’s hook is featured on a separate song called “Paris Morton Music” which was unofficially released to the internet and later in 2019 officially released to streaming services.
5. Travis Scott – “SICKO MODE” featuring Drake (2018)
This highly successful song from Travis Scott opens up the top 5 of this list. The song is broken up into 3 parts. Drake is featured on the 1st and 3rd sections of the song. The 3rd part of the song is produced by Tay Keith. The 3rd part of this song created some controversy as well. Drake, who is represented by Nike, dropped the line “checks over stripes” which didn’t set well with Kanye West who is represented by Adidas. Controversy aside, “SICKO MODE” is one of Drake’s top features of his career.
4. 2 Chainz – “No Lie” featuring Drake (2012)
Drake delivers one his all-time best hooks on “No Lie”. Drake additionally provides a memorable verse on the track. It is a great song that was played heavily in the month following its release.
3. Rick Ross – “Stay Schemin” featuring Drake and French Montana (2012)
This song which was on Rick Ross’ Rich Forever mixtape features quite possibly Drake’s most memorable one-liner of his entire career which resulted in people all over the world claiming “you wasn’t with me shooting in the gym”. Drake also dropped some memorable lines that discussed his feud with Common. His verse is so great because it showed Drake’s skill as a lyricist rather than just a rapper that also sings.
2. Migos – “Versace (Remix)” featuring Drake (2013)
The “Versace (Remix)” is great for so many reasons. It started a wave and it also marked the beginning of the ascension of the super group, Migos. The song is produced by Zaytoven. Drake utilized the Migos’ triplet flow which would go on to take over rap in the following years. The triplet flow is a succession of 3 notes or syllables on one beat. It is still used heavily today. Even though this flow wasn’t invented by the Migos, it was revitalized by them and made popular by Drake via this song.
1. DJ Khaled – “I’m on One” featuring Drake, Lil Wayne, and Rick Ross (2011)
The #1 Drake feature of all time is DJ Khaled’s “I’m on One” which served as the 2nd single on his We the Best Forever album. I remember when I first heard this song, I immediately had this feeling that it would become a huge success. It has top notch production but what makes this song so great is its extremely catchy hook delivered by Drake. Drake would later go on to interpolate the hook from “I’m on One” to a separate track called “Trust Issues” which released unofficially to the internet and later officially released in 2019.
Thank you for reading. Let me know via the comments how you feel about this list. Do you agree? What Drake features should be on this list?
