Drake appears on Snowd4y's "Wah Gwan Delilah," audience gives mixed reviews

Last week, a Soundcloud release by Snowd4y featuring fellow Toronto representative, Drake, dropped titled “Wah Gwan Delilah."

“Wah Gwan Delilah," although in cohesion with Snowd4y’s online reputation of satirical content, is in stark contrast to the summer vibes fans expected from Drake after the most notable hip-hop feud of his career against Kendrick Lamar. “Wah Gwan Delilah” is Drake’s second release since the assumed end of the beef, behind his feature on Sexxy Red’s, “U My Everything."

“Wah Gwan Delilah” is a Toronto-themed parody of “Hey There Delilah," a Plain White T’s debut that continues to hold musical recognition. The band from Lombard, IL posted a reaction video to the track, with frontman Tom Higgenson saying, “That’s not Drake,” a few moments into his verse. As the track continued over the speaker, Higgenson’s expressed continued to show disbelief that the audio was real.

It’s a sentiment that social media echoed while many assumed the song was a product of AI technology.

The faux Jamaican Patois-inspired vocal performance spurned discourse amongst an audience in search of Drake’s redemption arc. The listeners appear to have split into two groups: those disappointed and confused by his appearance on the song and those who have caught the vibe and found humor in its creation.

The internet reacts to "Wah Gwan Delilah"

Rob Markman, Head of Artist Relations at Genius, tweeted, “Are we sure this ain’t AI? Because fam.” Drake’s use of artificial intelligence has already come under fire after the inception of a diss track aimed at Kendrick Lamar, titled “Taylor Made Freestyle," which employed AI to manufacture verses for Tupac and Snoop Dogg.

Soon after similar sentiments rose, an endorsement from Drake’s Instagram story at the very least signaled his support for “Wah Gwan Delilah."

The opposite spectrum of his audience recognizes the intended humor behind the project. Shrugging off ideas of a possible new direction for the Toronto rapper, some fans have embraced the song as an example of how unbothered the creator remains. 

Breaking down where Drake goes from here

After about 45 seconds of the song, there is homework to be done. The pivot from tracks like “The Heart Pt. 6” and “Family Matters” into musical humor provided cause for pause. A deep dive into Snowd4y’s social media platform reveals a Toronto social media personality whose content is based on scripting videos that poke mild fun at Toronto’s community.  The song aligns with Snowd4y’s marketing direction. However, Drake on a parody track where he’s adopted an accent that he does not authentically carry was odd to digest. 

Think back to Drake’s past hip-hop scuffles and how he responded in the aftermath of the publicly assumed loss to Pusha T. Once “The Story of Adidon” was released and announced that Drake was a father, Scorpion was delivered with album-defining songs like “Nonstop," “God’s Plan,” and “Mob Ties." There appeared to be a distraction from what could have been a career-changing loss. Good music to appease the masses. 

Kendrick Lamar premiered “Not Like Us” a month ago and the two songs that Drake has been featured on since have appeared less deliberate, more playful, and inherently unimpressive by the standards his career has set. “U My Everything," where he’s featured on Sexxy Red’s mixtape, allowed Drake to take on the “BBL Drizzy” production to alter the swirling narratives. In company with “Wah Gwan Delilah," the choice to take a lighthearted approach as “Not Like Us” sits atop Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay Chart sparks confusion.

The truth is, listeners don’t know what to expect from Drake next. There is no precursor for this event. Although he’s faced rappers that have been objectively lyrically better such as Joe Budden and Common, Kendrick Lamar was able to perform superiorly in avenues that Drake has effectively controlled throughout his career, especially during musical altercations. 

Titles from Kendrick Lamar's “Not Like Us” and “Euphoria” peaked at number one and number 3, while “Family Matters” debuted at number 7. Present-day “Not Like Us” has 79 million views on YouTube, as “Family Matters” sits at 31 million views. The streaming game has consistently been Drake’s flag to wave. Without charting numbers, the social media influence, and questionable allegations that have surrounded him, his next move is unpredictable. 

The collaboration with Drake and Snowd4y on “Wah Gwan Delilah” may have achieved its intended effect. Whether as a fan or antagonist, listeners are bringing the Soundcloud release up in their conversations about music and culture, with Drake at the center. There is no damage inflicted by the parody, but the Toronto rapper has yet to contribute to the recovery of a chipped image. With reference tracks that continue to leak and challenge his ability to create the hits that he’s been credited for, the criticism is at an all-time high. 

A summer hit could change everything. 

Yet, with the parameters redefined after last month’s rap battle, does the audience know what that sounds like from Drake? More interestingly, does Drake know?