Fake Love

"Fake people showing fake love to me."

"Fake Love" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake, released as the lead single from his 2017 mixtape, More Life. Co-written by Drake alongside Starrah, Vinylz, and Frank Dukes—with the latter two handling production—the track features an R&B beat. Released for digital download on October 29, 2016, through Young Money Entertainment and Cash Money Records, the song focuses lyrically on peers who only appreciate Drake for his success but would not care for him otherwise.

Quick Facts

Artist

Drake

Album

More Life

Released

October 29, 2016

Genre

Hip-hop, R&B

Label

Young Money, Cash Money

Writer

Aubrey Graham
Brittany Hazzard
Anderson Hernandez
Adam Feeney
Gene McFadden
John Whitehead
Leon Huff

Producer

Vinylz, Frank Dukes

Lore & Background

The lyrics of "Fake Love" center on a specific theme: the realization that peers only value the artist for his achievements, not for himself. This sentiment is captured directly in the line, "fake people showing fake love to me." The song also incorporates musical history; the lyrics "That's when they smile in my face/Whole time they wanna take my place" are an interpolation of The O'Jays' classic track "Back Stabbers." Written by Drake, Starrah, Vinylz, and Frank Dukes, the production was handled specifically by Vinylz and Frank Dukes. This collaborative effort created a sound that blended R&B elements with the rapper's signature style, exploring the friction between public success and private betrayal.

Reader's Guide

Listeners should note that "Fake Love" features an R&B beat produced by Vinylz and Frank Dukes. Lyrically, it highlights the theme of insincere peers who only care about Drake's success. A key moment in the song is the interpolation of The O'Jays' "Back Stabbers," specifically the lines: "That's when they smile in my face/Whole time they wanna take my place." When exploring this track, pay attention to how these lyrics frame the concept of fake love. For those interested in its reception, remember that as of March 27, 2017, it had achieved 784,000 sales in the US and was praised by Pitchfork for being "infectious" and reminiscent of Drake's earlier hits like "Hotline Bling."

Did You Know?

As of March 27, 2017, the single had sold 784,000 copies in the United States.
Sheldon Pearce of Pitchfork compared the track to "Hotline Bling," calling it "infectious and vaguely familiar."