
The Story Behind Drake’s “Portland” Song Featuring Travis Scott and Quavo
Table of Contents
Introduction
Drake has become a household name in the music industry, thanks to his skillful lyrics, catchy beats, and ability to connect with his fans. In his 2017 album More Life, Drake released a track called “Portland” featuring Travis Scott and Quavo, and it soon became one of the most talked-about songs on the album.
In this article, we will dive deep into the meaning behind Drake’s “Portland” song. We’ll examine the lyrics, the music, and the context surrounding the song’s creation, in order to gain a greater understanding of what inspired Drake to create this track.
The Lyrics
The lyrics of “Portland” tell the story of Drake’s lifestyle, which involves a lot of traveling and partying. The song opens with the lyrics “Murder on the beat”, which is a nod to the producer, Murda Beatz, who co-produced the track with CuBeatz.
The first verse of the song is rapped by Drake, and he talks about his jet-setting lifestyle, rapping, “She said, “Do you love me?” I tell her, “Only partly / I only love my bed and my momma, I’m sorry”. This line became one of the most popular lines of the song, and has been turned into a viral challenge, where people replace “my bed and my momma” with something they love.
In the chorus, Travis Scott adds his own flavor to the song, rapping, “Portland, Portland, I got roses, I get lit”. This line refers to the city of Portland, Oregon, and how Drake enjoys traveling there to party and have a good time.
The second verse of the song is rapped by Quavo, and he talks about his own partying experiences. He raps “Fifty choppers on a cop, stop, stop / Fiddy pop, pop, we keep those chops on chop”. This line is a reference to his group Migos’ song “Bad and Boujee”, which has a line that goes “We got 30s and 100 rounds too”.
The Music
The music of “Portland” is heavily influenced by the sound of trap music, which originated in the Southern United States in the early 2000s. The song features a lot of bass-heavy beats, with chopped-up samples and synths that create a chaotic but controlled sound.
The collaboration between the three artists is well balanced, with Drake’s smooth flow, Quavo’s energetic delivery, and Travis Scott’s unique auto-tuned sound. The song builds to a crescendo during the chorus, with the beat dropping out briefly before it explodes back in with a new energy.
The instrumental “Portland” sample comes from Flute Loop, which is a beat composed by rapper and producer J Dilla during his time with The Pharcyde.
The Context
The creation of “Portland” came during a time when Drake was experimenting with a new sound, incorporating more beats and rhythms from outside of his traditional hip-hop roots. It was also a time when he was collaborating with other artists more frequently, seeking to create diverse and innovative sounds that would resonate with his growing fanbase.
In an interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, Drake spoke about the making of “Portland”, saying “I played ‘Portland’ to Murda and he had this idea of taking this ‘Flute Loop’ beat and turning it into the ‘Portland’ beat, and making it more hard.”
Drake also mentioned that he wanted to feature Travis Scott and Quavo on the track because they are two of his favorite artists, and he believed they could add an extra level of flair and excitement to the song.
Conclusion
“Portland” is a standout track on Drake’s More Life album, thanks to its strong beats, catchy lyrics, and unique combination of talent. The song is a testament to Drake’s ability to weave together different sounds and artists to create something fresh and exciting.
As we’ve seen in this article, “Portland” is a song that speaks to Drake’s love for travel, partying, and living life to the fullest. Its message is simple, but undeniably powerful, and it’s no wonder that the song has become such a big hit with music fans around the world.
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