Brace yourself for further dominance of “Choosin’ Texas.” Earlier this week, Ella Langley’s country megahit tied the record set by Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” becoming the longest-running No. 1 in Billboard Hot 100 history. Last night, Drake, a figure who cares deeply about Hot 100 records, shared his own heavily Drake-ified take on “Choosin’ Texas,” ensuring that the song will linger in the cultural conversation for the foreseeable future.
Drake’s rendition of “Choosin’ Texas” was part of Fear Of Missing Out, an hour-long “not so short film” that went live on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music last night. None of the new music Drake included in the stream has been properly released yet, but just you wait. When he announced FOMO earlier this week, Drake described it as both “self funded surrealism” and “a story about making the absolute most of it all in one summer.” Sure, buddy.
A few weeks ago, Drake popped up at an Ella Langley show in Arkansas, then played a snippet of himself singing the “Choosin’ Texas” melody during a DJ set. People thought that Drake might appear on an official “Choosin’ Texas” remake, but that’s not what happened. Instead, one of the new tracks that Drake debuted during FOMO is almost a parody of “Choosin’ Texas.” Drake interpolates the chorus while singing over a misty, moody quasi-trap beat. Honestly, it sounds a bit like Drake doing a Drake parody, as well. Also, Don Toliver is on there.
A few weeks ago, Drake was a surprise guest at Don Toliver’s show at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, where he performed some of his Iceman hits for the first time. Drake and Toliver had never properly collaborated before FOMO, but Toliver is on two of the new songs that Drake debuted during the livestream. Here’s the non-“Choosin’ Texas” one.
During one of his new track snippets, Drake said, “Pray for Gaza.” I wouldn’t get too excited about that part, though. He said it on a very goofy drill/afrobeats hybrid in a fake accent, rhyming it with “big banana” and “pierce that thing like Indiana,” then added, “My brand new nickname Baby Gaza.” You’d have to reach like Reed Richards to spin that as a brave political stance.
The FOMO stream also included a video for “Cheetah Print,” Drake’s pretty fun Peggy Gou-sampling Maid Of Honour track with frequent collaborator Sexyy Red.
Drake also reunited with his “IDGAF” collaborator Yeat on another new track.
At one point, Drake wore a Brat shirt.
Pinkchyu, the goth baddie influencer from that Drake livestream, made an appearance.
During a premiere event that he held for FOMO, Drake teased a 2027 tour.
