Her Loss

Lore & Background

The duo's history of collaboration dates back to 2016 with "Sneakin'", followed by tracks like "Issa" (2017), "Mr. Right Now" (2020), and "Knife Talk" (2021). The album's announcement came on October 22, 2022, when the "Jimmy Cooks" video text revealed "Her Loss – album by Drake and 21 Savage – October 28, 2022." Marketing was defined by spoofing industry norms: street teams distributed fake Vogue covers featuring edited photos of Hailey Bieber and Jennifer Lawrence with 21 Savage's face tattoos, alongside fake Cartier ads and a deepfake interview on The Howard Stern Show. This campaign led to a lawsuit from Condé Nast over unauthorized trademark use, though the artists settled. The cover art features a three-year-old photograph of adult dancer Quiana "Qui" Yasuka (Suki Baby), discovered by producer Lil Yachty.

Reader's Guide

Fans should note that while the rollout included a spoofed Tiny Desk Concert and live performances on Saturday Night Live (featuring Michael B. Jordan) and ColorsxStudios, some tracks sparked significant debate. On "Circo Loco," lyrics about women lying about shots were interpreted as referencing Megan Thee Stallion's 2020 shooting allegations; producer Lil Yachty denied the reference, while Stallion responded on Twitter condemning the joke. Drake also referenced Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian on "Middle of the Ocean" and was interpreted to be dissing DRAM and Ice Spice on "BackOutsideBoyz."

Despite the mixed critical reception, with Pitchfork calling parts of it "inert" and Rolling Stone labeling it a "singular misfire," others like Exclaim! hailed it as Drake's best record of the decade. The project remains a polarizing but commercially dominant entry in both artists' discographies.