"Laugh Now Cry Later" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake featuring American rapper Lil Durk. It was released through Republic Records and OVO Sound as a single on August 14, 2020. The two artists wrote the song alongside producers Cardo, Rogét Chahayed, G. Ry, Bryan Yepes and Yung Exclusive. It was originally the intended lead single from Drake's sixth studio album, Certified Lover Boy (2021).[1]

"Laugh Now Cry Later"
Single by Drake featuring Lil Durk
ReleasedAugust 14, 2020 (2020-08-14)
GenreHip hop
Length4:21
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Cardo
  • Chahayed
  • G. Ry
  • Yung Exclusive
  • Bryan Yepes
Drake singles chronology
"Only You Freestyle"
(2020)
"Laugh Now Cry Later"
(2020)
"Twist & Turn"
(2020)
Lil Durk singles chronology
"Painless 2"
(2020)
"Laugh Now Cry Later"
(2020)
"Eat (Remix)"
(2020)
Music video
"Laugh Now Cry Later" on YouTube

Commercially, the song debuted at number one in Drake's native Canada on the Canadian Hot 100 and debuted at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song received nominations for Best Melodic Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.

Background

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On August 12, 2020, Drake posted a clip of himself and another person riding jet skis at night on his social media. The post was accompanied by the caption "TMRW MIDNIGHT 🤍".[2][3] Upon release, it turned out that the song's music video also entailed an upcoming collaboration between Drake and Nike, Inc.[4]

Critical reception

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Jeremy D. Larson of Pitchfork praised Drake's delivery, calling the song "one of the lightest and breeziest Drake songs to come out in a while". He further described his presence as "effortlessly cool and simple", while "Lil Durk shows up as a perfect counterpart".[5] Complex thought the song was "a vibe, but not an obvious hit record", neither a "by-the-numbers pop radio play or a hard-hitting club record".[6] According to Charles Holmes at Rolling Stone, the song "sounds like Drake featuring Drake", further explaining that the song "is the embodiment of what happens when you surround real Drake with a room full of past Drakes, like a tortured Canadian reboot of Being John Malkovich".[7] Lil Wayne released a version of the song on his No Ceilings 3 mixtape called Something Different which also had a music video.

Music video

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The song's official music video was released on August 13, 2020, and was directed by Dave Meyers.[1] It was shot at Nike's headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, thus receiving criticism for advertising the company and resembling a commercial.[1][7] The video features shots predominantly of Drake engaging in different sporting activities: boxing underwater (as a reference to Muhammad Ali), running on a treadmill in Nike's sports-science lab, and going on a shopping spree in a closed down Nike store with Instagrammer Aggyabby, as well as Durk and Drake riding jet skis and Drake posing in oversized white, and cream colored suits with Durk (as a reference to LeBron James).[8] The video also includes several cameos from athletes, including Kevin Durant, Odell Beckham Jr., and Marshawn Lynch, as well as internet comedian Druski & noted shoe designer Ben Nethongkome.[6]

Personnel

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Credits adapted from Tidal.[9]

  • Drake – lead vocals, songwriting
  • Lil Durk – featured vocals, songwriting
  • Cardo - songwriting, production
  • Alex Torrez - songwriting
  • Allen Ponce - songwriting
  • Bryan Yepes - songwriting, production
  • G. Ry - songwriting, production
  • Yung Exclusive - songwriting, production
  • Rogét Chahayed - songwriting, production
  • Noel Cadastre – recording
  • Noah "40" Shebib – mixing
  • Chris Athens – mixing
  • Turn Me Up Josh - Engineering
  • Nick Rice - Recording Engineer
  • Zack Shochet - Assistant Engineer
  • JusVibes - Assistant Engineer

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "Laugh Now Cry Later"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[58] 3× Platinum 210,000
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[59] 3× Platinum 120,000
Canada (Music Canada)[60] 4× Platinum 320,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[61] Gold 45,000
France (SNEP)[62] Gold 100,000
Italy (FIMI)[63] Gold 35,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[64] Gold 15,000
Poland (ZPAV)[65] Gold 25,000
Portugal (AFP)[66] Platinum 10,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[67] Platinum 600,000
United States (RIAA)[68] 6× Platinum 6,000,000
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[69] Gold 1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Jenkins, Craig (August 14, 2020). "Somehow, Somewhere Drake Is Still One of Us". Vulture. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  2. ^ Moorwood, Victoria (August 13, 2020). "Drake teases new music with jet ski promo clip — watch here". Revolt. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  3. ^ "TMRW MIDNIGHT 🤍". Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved August 16, 2020 – via Instagram.
  4. ^ Gorsler, Fabian (August 14, 2020). "Drake's Star-Studded "Laugh Now Cry Later" Visuals Appear to Tease a Nike Collab". Highsnobiety. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  5. ^ Larson, Jeremy D. (August 14, 2020). "Drake: "Laugh Now, Cry Later" [ft. Lil Durk]". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Skelton, Eric; McKinney, Jessica; Ritchie, Matthew (August 14, 2020). "6 Takeaways From Drake and Lil Durk's New Song "Laugh Now Cry Later"". Complex. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Holmes, Charles (August 14, 2020). "These Days, Even Drake Sounds Like Drake Featuring Drake". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
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