All Me (Drake song)

"All Me" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake featuring American rappers 2 Chainz and Big Sean from the former's third studio album Nothing Was the Same (2013). The song was serviced to urban contemporary radio as the album's third official single on September 24, 2013. Produced by Finally Famous' Key Wane and Noah "40" Shebib, the song peaked at number 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.

"All Me"
Single by Drake featuring 2 Chainz and Big Sean
from the album Nothing Was the Same
Released	September 24, 2013
Recorded	2013
Genre	Hip hop trap
Length	4:31
Label	Young Money Cash Money Republic
Songwriter(s)	Aubrey Graham Anthony Palman Sean Anderson Tauheed Epps Dwane Weir Albert Lucien Willemetz Jacques Charles Maurice Yvain
Producer(s)	Key Wane Noah "40" Shebib
Drake singles chronology
"Live For" (2013) "All Me" (2013) "Pound Cake" (2013)
Big Sean singles chronology
"Sorry" (2013) "All Me" (2013) "I Don't Fuck with You" (2014)
2 Chainz singles chronology
"Used 2" (2013) "All Me" (2013) "Cut Her Off" (2013)

Background

On August 1, 2013, Drake released "All Me" featuring Big Sean and 2 Chainz, with production from Key Wane. The song also featured an intro by comedian Aziz Ansari.^[1][2][3] Key Wane gave Drake and Noah "40" Shebib credit for adding the Ansari sample and the ending breakdown.^[4] However, the intro and ending of the song are not included on the album. The Ansari intro features a sample of one of Ansari's alter egos, "Randy", from the movie Funny People.^[5][6]

Key Wane originally played the instrumental backing track used for "All Me" through his iPad at a photoshoot for Sean's clothing line. Sean took interest in the beat and decided to use it for his upcoming album Hall of Fame.^[7] However, the song would go unfinished for several months.^[4] After a period without progress on the track, Wane tweaked it and sent the song to Drake, who was coincidentally in the studio with 2 Chainz. Drake and 2 Chainz immediately became interested in the song and recorded verses over the instrumental.^[4] While spending time at Drake's Los Angeles home, Sean discovered that they both had recorded verses over the track. Key Wane then pressured Sean to send Drake his verse so he could use the song on his album, Nothing Was the Same.^[7][8]

Release and promotion

On August 1, 2013, Drake released "All Me" for free download via his SoundCloud account. However, as Nothing Was the Same's September 24 release was approaching, it was removed from SoundCloud.^[9] The song was originally reported to be Nothing Was the Same's second single, before "Hold On, We're Going Home" 's release.^{[10][11][12][13]}

The song would be released to DJs as a promotional single that same month.^[14] Then on September 24, 2013, Drake serviced "All Me" to urban contemporary radio in the United States as Nothing Was the Same's third official single.

Critical reception

"All Me" was met with rave reviews upon its release, including praise from Spin, Fuse and Vice, among others.^[15][16][17] Acclaim was mainly directed at the verses, and the production. DJBooth.net, Paste and The Fader called the song a summer anthem.^[1][18][19] Although he praised Nothing Was the Same overall, Jesal 'Jay Soul' Padania of Rapreviews.com said that the deluxe edition tracks, including "All Me", were stronger than most of other tracks appearing on the standard version of the album.^[20]

Jon Blistein of Rolling Stone praised the song, stating that "Drake emphasizes his self-made come up and bank account size over a gorgeous bed of subdued synths; when it drops after the hook, it's into hollow bell rings, a warped monastic vocal sample and a characteristically ridiculous 2 Chainz verse."^[21] Complex praised Big Sean's appearance as the thirteenth best verse of 2013.^[22]

Live performances

In August 2013, Drake performed "All Me" at Kylie Jenner's Sweet 16, in a medley of other songs including "Started From the Bottom", "HYFR", and "No New Friends".^[23] Drake performed the song as a part of his regular set list, throughout the Would You like a Tour? concert tour. On December 16, 2013, during the tour's stop in Detroit, Big Sean made a surprise appearance and performed the song with Drake.^[24]

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (2013) Peak position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)^[25] 72 France (SNEP)^[26] 141 UK Singles (OCC)^[27] ^[28] 112 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)^[29] 33 US Billboard Hot 100^[30] 20 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[31] 6 US Rhythmic Songs (Billboard)^[32] 15

Year-end charts Chart (2013) Position US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[33] 71 US Rap Songs (Billboard)^[34] 47 Chart (2014) Position US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[35] 39

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[36]	Silver	200,000^‡
United States (RIAA)^[37]	2× Platinum	2,000,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country	Date	Format	Label
United States	September 24, 2013	Urban contemporary radio	Young Money, Cash Money, Republic
	December 2013^[38]	Rhythmic contemporary radio

References

1. "Drake f. 2 Chainz and Big Sean, "All Me" MP3". The Fader. 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
2. Rahman, Ray (August 1, 2013). "Drake teams with 2 Chainz, Big Sean for 'All Me': Hear it here | The Music Mix | EW.com". Music-mix.ew.com. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
3. "Drake's 'All Me' Debuts With 2 Chainz, Big Sean And Some Memorable Lines (FREE DOWNLOAD)". Huffingtonpost.com. 2013-08-01. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
4. "Interview: Key Wane Explains How 'All Me' Landed In Drake's Hands". Vibe. 2013-08-05. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
5. . Pitchfork. 2013-08-01. Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
6. "Like to Drake's "All Me" feat. 2 Chainz and Big Sean". Consequence of Sound. 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
7. Alexis, Nadeska (2013-08-02). "Drake And Big Sean Wrestled Over Who Got 'All Me' Beat – Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV.com. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
8. "Big Sean and Drake Duked It Out for "All Me" – XXL". Xxlmag.com. 2013-08-02. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
9. Brooks, Richard. "Drake featuring 2 Chainz & Big Sean – All Me". Hypetrak. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
10. "New Music: Drake Ft. 2 Chainz x Big Sean "All Me"". Rap Radar. 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
11. "Download Drake's downbeat new single 'All Me', featuring 2 Chainz and Big Sean – FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music". Factmag.com. 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
12. "Drake – 'All Me' Feat. 2 Chainz & Big Sean". Theboombox.com. August 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
13. "Drake Drops 'All Me' Single From New Album With A Little Help From 2 Chainz & Big Sean". Contactmusic.com. 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
14. . DJServicePack.com. Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
15. "Drake's 'All Me,' With 2 Chainz, Big Sean, and Aziz Ansari, Is 100 Percent Drizzy | SPIN | SPIN Mix | Songs". SPIN. 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
16. "Let's All Talk About Drake's New Song | NOISEY". Noisey.vice.com. August 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
17. "New Drake Single: "All Me" ft. 2 Chainz & Big Sean – New Song – Fuse". Fuse.tv. 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
18. Drake (2013-08-05). "Drake ft. 2 Chainz & Big Sean – All Me | Listen & Download". Djbooth. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
19. Published at 10:00 AM on August 1, 2013 By Claire Ruhlin (2013-08-01). . Pastemagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-06. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
20. "RapReviews.com Feature for September 24, 2013 - Drake's "Nothing Was the Same"". Rapreviews.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
21. Jon Blistein (2013-08-01). "Drake Posts New Song 'All Me' With 2 Chainz and Big Sean | Music News". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
22. "The 13 Best Rap Verses of 201313. Big Sean "All Me"". Complex.com. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
23. "Drake, Big Sean Surprise Kylie Jenner for Sweet 16 Party – Music News – Fuse". Fuse.tv. 2013-08-19. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
24. "Big Sean Confirms Drake Collaboration On New Album - XXL". XXL Mag. 17 December 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
25. "Drake Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
26. "Drake feat. 2 Chainz & Big Sean – All Me" (in French). Les classement single.
27. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
28. "Chart Log" (TXT). Zobbel.de. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
29. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
30. "Drake Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
31. "Drake Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
32. Rhythmic : Dec 21, 2013. Billboard biz. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
33. "2013 Year End Charts – R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
34. "2013 Year End Charts – Rap Songs". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
35. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
36. "British single certifications – Drake/2 Chainz/Big Sean – All Me". British Phonographic Industry.
37. "American single certifications – Drake – All Me". Recording Industry Association of America.
38. . Promo Only. Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-11-25.