After channeling Boyz II Men, Backstreet Boys and Michael Jackson in his lighthearted “Way 2 Sexy” video, the tone turns darker in Drake‘s new video for “Knife Talk” featuring Southern stalwarts 21 Savage and Project Pat.
Teaming up with director Pablo Rochat, the 6 God gives his Certified Lover Boy album cut a fittingly sinister visual makeover, albeit a few days late for Halloween.
The black-and-white “Knife Talk” video combines vintage cartoons and old horror and zombie films with security camera footage of Drake, 21 Savage and Project Pat brandishing large kitchen knifes — but presumably not to carve the turkey.
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The video debuted on YouTube with little warning on Thursday night (November 4), precisely one hour before Kanye West’s Drink Champs interview aired on REVOLT. While that might be reading too much into it, Drake and Kanye have proven there’s no move too petty in their ongoing beef.
Produced by Metro Boomin and Peter Lee Johnson, “Knife Talk” contains a sample of Juicy J’s 2017 Rubba Band Business cut “Feed the Streets,” which also features Project Pat. Speaking with 360 Plug Hype in September, Pat revealed “Knife Talk” was originally intended for 21 Savage’s album (although he didn’t specify which one).
“Really man, it was a track that was done and Metro Boomin, that’s my guy too, he hooked it up,” he explained. “He had the track, it was supposed to go on 21 Savage’s album, but it didn’t make it. And then Drake got it, man, and he gave me that Drake blessing.”
Following Certified Lover Boy‘s September 3 release, Drake took a page out of Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo playbook and tweaked several songs on the album including “Knife Talk.”
The track was given a new mix and outro transition on streaming services, while Drake updated his line, “I’ma drop this shit and have these pussies dropping like some muthafuckin’ flies.” Previously, the word “flies” was omitted.
Watch Drake’s “Knife Talk” video below.