In classic Drake style, the lyrically perspicacious “Laugh Now Cry Later” music visual opens with Mr. Graham pulling up to the infamous world headquarters of the “Just Do It” athletic brand Nike in Beaverton, Oregon. The Toronto raised rap star is driving a Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet concept car to the facility at midnight.
Scenes cut of him buying a mound of Nike product, which piles in Nike bags in the middle of the Nike Company Store. The flexin’, flashy side of Drake is just one of his alter egos that we get to see in the visual. The video also includes a series of cameos from athletes.
The scene shifts to Drake playing basketball against arguably the best basketball player on the planet earth, Kevin Durant a.k.a. “The Slim Reaper”. Jokingly, Drake showcases the same skills he displayed while doing layup drills at Kentucky where he took a “L”.
As the video goes on, it becomes apparent that Drake is recapturing various athlete inspired moments and commercials in a spoof-like way. Drake continues his “athletic prowess” as we see him catching a one-handed pass trying to emulate the very guy he is catching a pass from, Odell Beckham Jr.
Then, Drake and Lil Durk recreate a NBA Post Draft photo between draft picks like they have just experienced their dreams come true. This is when Drake takes the opportunity to hit at his haters. “And I never been embraced | And the money’s hard to make | So, I bet they’re on they face right now,” Drake sings.
Then, all of a sudden, Marshawn Lynch comes out of nowhere with a rough tackle and tells the “pop star,” “Get the f— off the block man!” Drake is laying there in pain from the hit, but he eventually gets up and the scene cuts to him, Odell Beckham Jr. and others sharing a laugh.
The whole scenario appears to be symbolic, as if Drake was saying you take the hits, then you get back up and laugh about it. It’s a journey he knows too well as he has had to navigate the music world in the midst of his own peers, nonetheless music fans, criticizing his path to greatness and fame.
Drake and Lil Durk continue to enjoy life on the Nike Headquarters property engaging in multiple activities that range from driving golf carts and jet skis, hitting baseballs and Drake also recreating the iconic Muhammad Ali boxing underwater picture.
Then, Drake lets us see his vulnerable side when the scene cuts to the bearded loner crying to himself. In the middle of feeling sorry for himself, one of the homies comes out to check on him. Drake tries to play the emotional moment off by mentioning he needs to have a “warrior spirit” and he was just “regrouping.” The moment is a sentimental, and hilarious, look at how men deal with the struggle of life and sharing emotions. He would soon rejoin the party, but the addition made the video pretty funny.
The creative visual ends with Drake taking a rookie draft card photo with him signing it.
From the parody skits to the moments of Drake stuntin’ on these hoes, the Roget Chahayed, Yung Exclusive, Card and G. Ry produced “Laugh Now Cry Later” is definitely a great addition to Drake’s discography. The ability of Drake to come off more than transparent and genuine, accompanied by his lyrics that is supreme for throwing shade on his haters, shows his greatness.
We don’t like to speculate, but it’s hard to ignore some of the things he addressed in his song. For instance, it seems he addressed 6ix9ine, Meek Mill, Nicki Minaj and Kanye West. By the way, is anyone speaking about how he hijacked the title of YG’s miserably failed song “Laugh Now Kry Later!” Oh, well. Guess that’s neither here or there…
See the lyrics below:
Where do these niggas be at when they say they doin’ all this and all that? |
Tired of beefing you bums, you can’t even pay me enough to react |
Been waking up in the crib and sometimes I don’t even know where I’m at |
Please don’t play that nigga songs in this party, I can’t even listen to that |
Anytime that I ran into somebody, it must be a victory lap, aye |
Shawty come sit on my lap, aye they sayin’ Drizzy just snapped |
Distance between us it’s not like a store, this isn’t a closeable Gap, aye |
I seen some niggas attack and don’t end up makin’ it back |
I know that they at the crib goin’ crazy, down bad
What they had didn’t last, damn, baby |
Sometimes we laugh and sometimes we cry, but I guess you know now, baby |
I took a half and she took the whole thing, slow down, baby |
We took a trip, now we on your block and it’s like a ghost town, baby |
Where do these niggas be at when they say they doin’ all this and all that? |
I’m in the trenches, relax |
Can you not play that lil’ boy in the club? ‘Cause we do not listen to rats |
We in Atlanta, I buy her a wig, she tellin’ me Tae is the best |
Point at the nigga who act like a killer, but you only one for the ‘net |
I’m like DaBaby, I’m not just a rapper, you play with me, you gon’ get stretched |
Ooh-oh
Bring Drake to the hood, surround Drake around Dracs
Even though I got a case, I’ma do what it take |
And I never been embraced |
And the money’s hard to make |
So I bet they on they face right now |
I know that they at the crib goin’ crazy, down bad
What they had didn’t last, damn, baby |
Sometimes we laugh and sometimes we cry, but I guess you know now, baby |
I took a half and she took the whole thing, slow down, baby |
We took a trip, now we on your block and it’s like a ghost town, baby |
Where do these niggas be at when they say they doin’ all this and all that? |
When he tell the story, that’s not how it went |
Know they be lyin’, a hundred percent |
Moved out the Ritz and forgot ’bout the Bent’ |
Valet just called me to tell me come get it |
Knocked that boy off and I don’t want no credit |
If it was me, they wouldn’t regret it |
Left me for dead and now they want dead it, yeah |
Heart is still beatin’, my niggas still eatin’ |
Backyard, it look like the Garden of Eden |
Pillow talk with ’em, she spillin’ the tea |
And then shawty came back and said she didn’t mean it
It’s hard to believe it |
I know that they at the crib goin’ crazy, down bad
What they had didn’t last, damn, baby |
Sometimes we laugh and sometimes we cry, but I guess you know now, baby |
I took a half and she took the whole thing, slow down, baby |
We took a trip, now we on your block and it’s like a ghost town, baby |
Where do these niggas be at when they say they doin’ all this and all that? |
