Drake unleashed his highly anticipated Scorpion album on Friday (June 29). The project features an A-side and B-side for a total of 25 tracks that clock in at just under 90 minutes. Drizzy’s latest LP calls on cameos from JAY-Z, Future, Ty Dolla $ign, Static Major and Michael Jackson.
The 6 God connects with his usual go-to producers, who craft the project’s sonic foundation, such as Boi-1da and OVO 40. Some savvy hip-hop veterans also make cameos behind the boards in DJ Premier, No I.D., Three 6 Mafia‘s DJ Paul and many more.
Drake’s work has been known to implement an array of samples, and that’s the case with Scorpion. The album sees newly unearthed Michael Jackson vocals, samples from Mariah Carey and Aaliyah and even from an episode of Donald Glover’s Atlanta series, among others.
Check out the entire list of samples found on Scorpion below.
“After Dark” feat. Static Major & Ty Dolla $ign
Maxwell – “The Suite Theme”
The soothing beat behind R&B crooner Maxwell‘s 1996 “The Suite Theme” serves as an intro and outro of the romanticizing radio bit to close out “After Dark.” The recording was pulled from Al Wood’s seductive Quiet Storm radio show on Power 93.7 WBLK in Buffalo.
“Emotionless”
“Emotions” – Mariah Carey
A triumvirate of beatmakers in The 25th Hr, 40 and No I.D. hold down the production side of Drake’s album standout cut “Emotionless.” The track samples a club mix to Mariah Carey’s “Emotions” throughout. The hit record notched Mariah her fifth straight No. 1 record on the Billboard Hot 100 and powered her album of the same.
“Final Fantasy”
“The Windmills of Your Mind” – Dorothy Ashby (1969)
The track was featured on jazz harpist Dorothy Ashby’s Dorothy’s Harp album. The instrumental features no vocals. Following the 1969 release, Ashby caught the eye of Stevie Wonder, and the two began collaborating years later.
“Prelude/The Prelude” – Final Fantasy VII Music Extended
Drake flips the popular video game title to talk about his many fantasies about the women in his life. The classic video game’s prelude is sampled at points, meshed into the background of the track’s sonic. Final Fantasy VII originally released back in January 1997 for PlayStation and has gone on to be one of the best-selling games on the console of all-time.
“8 Out of 10”
The brash “8 Out of 10” sees Boi-1da, Jahaan Sweet and OB O’Brien meshing a pair of samples with percussion from Detroit Emeralds’ “You’re Getting a Little Too Smart” behind some soothing Marvin Gaye vocals found on “All the Way Around.”
“8 Out of 10” comes to a close by implementing an Instagram video Plies posted in 2017, where he hilariously brushes off some haters’ comments on social media.
“In My Feelings”
Magnolia Shorty – “Smoking Gun”
Drake sticks with the New Orleans bounce-inflicted theme, much like he executed on “Nice for What.” Here, Magnolia Shorty’s “Smoking Gun” is sampled when she raps, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, he back.”
Lil Wayne – “Lollipop”
Later in the track, Drizzy remains in the 504 and pays homage to his Young Money compatriot Lil Wayne, sampling his biggest hit to date with Tha Carter III’s “Lollipop.”
The “In My Feelings” outro draws on an Atlanta episode dedicated to Drake, where Zazie Beetz (Van) details how she needs a selfie with Drizzy to make her Instagram pop off.
“Is There More”
Aaliyah – “More Than a Woman”
Drake reconnects with Wallis Lane for “Is There More.” It’s no surprise the 6 God paid homage to Aaliyah as his fandom of the late singer has been well-documented. Drizzy flips Aaliyah’s opening verse on 2001’s Timbaland-produced “More Than a Woman” into the final voice fans are left with to close out the project’s A-side.
“March 14”
Boyz II Men – “Khalil (Interlude)”
Scorpion‘s emotional album closer finds J. Valle and T-Minus teaming up behind the boards. Drake sings along with vocals from Boyz II Men’s “Khalil (Interlude)” around the three-minute mark, as the track makes a transition. “No one to guide me, I’m all alone/ No one to cry on,” he croons alongside the ’90s Philly-bred R&B group.
“Nice for What”
“Ex-Factor” – Lauryn Hill
Murda Beatz and Drake actually cooked up “Nice for What” at Drizzy’s home while playing some NBA 2K, according to Young Murda himself. The second single from Drake’s sixth studio LP notched Drizzy his fifth No. 1 on the Hot 100. In addition to interpolating lyrics from Big Tymers’ “Get Your Roll On,” the track heavily samples Lauryn Hill’s “Ex-Factor.” The sampling history behind Hill’s 1998 song runs much deeper that one might think, as it’s been influenced by a range of artists including Barbra Streisand to the Wu-Tang Clan.
“Nonstop”
Mack Daddy Ju – “My Head Is Spinnin”
Track No. 2 finds Drizzy in a unique position, adjusting to the Southern trap sonic laid down by Memphis producer Tay Keith. Drake exudes versatility, letting everyone know he can rap on just about any type of beat. The “My Head Is Spinnin” sample injects itself into “Nonstop” around the 1:25 mark to serve as a placeholder between Drake’s verses.
“Ratchet Happy Birthday”
Eddie Kendricks – “Just Memories”
Jahaan Sweet, D10 and Boi-1da team up to heavily sample a more uptempo version of Eddie Kendricks‘ 1972 song “Just Memories.” Drake caresses the piano-laden production to tunefully croon over the mellow song. The 6 God lacks emotion during what should be a celebratory time in life. “Just Memories” came shortly after Kendricks departed as a member of The Temptations.
“Survival”
Claude Larson – “Telex”
Scorpion‘s opening track sets the stage for what’s to come. The electronic opener provides fans with an unusual start to a Drake LP. OVO 40 and No I.D. sample German musician Claude Larson’s “Telex” to provide the soundtrack behind Drizzy recounting his vast career experiences. “Telex” sounds like it would be more suited for the waiting screen of a video game rather than a Drake album. Lil B previously sampled Larson’s “Telex” track back in 2014 where he channeled his inner-Shakur on “I’m Tupac.”
“Talk Up”
N.W.A – “Dopeman”
One of the most highly anticipated collaborations from Scorpion. JAY-Z makes a third appearance on a Drake album, following 2010’s “Light Up” and Nothing Was the Same‘s “Pound Cake / Paris Morton Music 2.” Three 6 Mafia’s DJ Paul combines elements of N.W.A‘s “Dopeman” with a flair of Memphis trap, making for a hard-hitting beat. The track appeared on the Compton crews N.W.A and the Posse in 1987.
“That’s How You Feel”
Nicki Minaj – “Boss Ass Bitch (Live)”
Around the two-minute mark, Drake passes the baton to his Young Money sister, Nicki Minaj, who carries the track to the finish line. “That’s How You Feel” features vocals from an epic live performance of “Boss Ass Bitch,” which Minaj delivered during NYC’s Powerhouse back in 2014.