View ArtistStory Behind the Song
Released as the sixth single from *Scorpion* on July 31, 2018, "Nonstop" was produced by Tay Keith, with co-production from No I.D. and additional production by Noel Cadastre. The track immediately separated itself from the rest of the album's notoriously heavy emotional terrain — critics, including detractors of *Scorpion*, singled it out as one of its strongest moments. Uproxx described it as "almost a banger" amid an album of "joyless, moody songs," while Business Insider called it "the sharpest possible version of his uniquely corny bravado." Commercially, the song proved equally unstoppable. On its first day on Spotify, it registered 9,298,297 streams, breaking the single-day streaming record previously held by Taylor Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do." It debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit number one in Canada, becoming Drake's fifth chart-topper there. BlocBoy JB released his own remix on July 13, 2018, further extending the track's cultural reach.
Lyrics
[Intro: Lil Juice] (Tay Keith, fuck these niggas up) [Verse 1: Drake] Look, I just flipped a switch (Flipped, flipped) I don't know nobody else that's doin' this Bodies start to drop, ayy (Hit the floor) Now they wanna know me since I hit the top, ayy This a Rollie, not a stopwatch, shit don't ever stop This the flow that got the block hot, shit got super hot, ayy Give me my respect (Give me my respect) I just took it left like I'm ambidex' Bitch, I move through London with the Eurostep (Two) Got a sneaker deal and I ain't break a sweat Catch me 'cause I'm gone (Outta there, I'm gone) How I go from 6 to 23 like I'm LeBron? Servin' up a pack (Servin' up a pack) Niggas pullin' gimmicks 'cause they scared to rap, ayy Funny how they shook, ayy, got these niggas shook Pullin' back the curtain by myself, take a look, ayy I'm a bar spitta, I'm a hard hitta Yeah, I'm light-skinned, but I'm still a dark nigga I'm a wig splitta, I'm a tall figure I'm an unforgivin' wild-ass dog nigga Somethin' wrong with 'em, got 'em all bitter I'm a bill printer, I'm a gravedigger Yeah, I am what I am I don't have no time for no misunderstandings again [Chorus: Lil Sko & Drake] My head is spinnin', from smokin' the chicken, the bass is kickin' My head is spinnin', from smokin' the chicken, the bass is kickin' My head is spinnin', from smokin' the chicken, the bass is kickin' My head is spinnin' This a Rollie, not a stopwatch, shit don't ever stop From smokin' the chicken, the bass is kickin' My head is spinnin', from smokin' the chicken, the bass is kickin' My head is spinnin', from smokin' the chicken, the bass is kickin' My head is spinnin', from smokin' the chicken, the bass is kickin' My head is– [Verse 2: Drake] Future took the business and ran it for me I let Ollie take the owl, told him brand it for me I get 2 million a pop and that's standard for me Like I went blind, dog, you gotta hand it to me (Gotta gimme that shit, dog) Prayed, then I prayed again (Amen, Lord) Had a moment but it came and went (They don't love you no more) You don't wanna play with him (Nah, nah, nah) They'll be mournin' you like 8 a.m. (R.I.P.) Pinky ring 'til I get a wedding ring (Woah, yeah) Love my brothers, cut 'em in on anything (Big slice) And you know it's King Slime Drizzy, damn (Woo, yeah) She just said I'm bae, I hit the thizzle dance (Mac Dre shit) Either hand is the upper hand (Oh, yeah, shit) Got a bubba on my other hand (Woah, yeah, shit, yeah) This shit ain't no hundred bands (Nah, nah, nah, nah) Palace look like Buckingham Bills so big, I call 'em Williams, for real Reasons to go crazy, got a trillion, for real They been tryin' me but I'm resilient, for real I can't go in public like civilian, for real And I hardly take offense Money for revenge, man, that's hardly an expense Al Haymon checks off of all of my events I like all the profit, man, I hardly do percents (I don't do that shit) A big part of me resents Niggas that I knew from when I started in this shit They see what I got and, man, it's hard to be content Fuck what they got goin' on, I gotta represent (Ayy) [Chorus: Lil Sko & Drake] My head is spinnin', from smokin' the chicken, the bass is kickin' My head is spinnin', from smokin' the chicken, the bass is kickin' My head is spinnin', from smokin' the chicken, the bass is kickin' My head is spinnin' This a Rollie, not a stopwatch, shit don't ever stop From smokin' the chicken, the bass is kickin' My head is spinnin', from smokin' the chicken, the bass is kickin' My head is spinnin', from smokin' the chicken, the bass is kickin' My head is spinnin' This the flow that got the block hot, shit got super hot
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricsFind. All rights reserved.
Meaning of "Nonstop" by Drake
The lyrics immediately plunge into a scene of intense, rapid success. The narrator declares a sudden shift in power, observing rivals fall as he ascends. This is a world where time is measured by luxury, not constraint, and the grind is relentless. A core tension emerges from the narrator's undeniable dominance and the reactions it provokes. He asserts his unique position ("I don't know nobody else that's doin' this") while acknowledging the jealousy and fear of others ("Now they wanna know me since I hit the top," "scared to rap"). This creates an "us vs. them" dynamic, where his success is a direct challenge to his competitors. The lyrics masterfully employ a series of stark, almost contradictory self-descriptions to build a complex persona. The narrator is a "bar spitta" and "hard hitta," but also "light-skinned" yet "still a dark nigga," challenging preconceived notions. He's a "bill printer" creating wealth, yet also a "gravedigger," implying a readiness to bury competition. These juxtapositions paint a picture of a multi-faceted, formidable figure who defies easy categorization. The recurring phrase "shit don't ever stop" and the hypnotic, repetitive chorus about a "spinnin'" head effectively convey the overwhelming, ceaseless nature of this high-stakes life. The lyrics suggest a constant state of motion, wealth accumulation, and vigilance, where even "money for revenge" is "hardly an expense." This relentless energy, combined with the vivid imagery of power and luxury, makes the narrative feel both aspirational and intensely demanding.
This AI-assisted editorial analysis was reviewed, improved, and approved by the LyricsWeb editorial team.
Rate this song
0/5.0 - 0 Ratings
Loading comments...
Credits
- Writers
- Drake
- No I.D.
- Tay Keith
- DJ Squeeky
- Kenza Samir
- Lil Sko