Forever - Drake
Merlino Riviere
Eminem performed his verse of the song at the American Music Awards of 2009. Drake performed the song with Lil Wayne, Eminem, and Travis Barker at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. A demo version of the song was leaked in mid-2008.
The track was produced by Boi-1da, and was first used by Kardinal Offishall in early 2008 on the unreleased song "Bring It Back", featuring R. City. Kardinal did not use the song for his album and it was later re-sold to Drake. This original version leaked in late 2008, as "I Want This Forever" featuring Lil Wayne and Kidd Kidd. In an interview, Kardinal stated that his version was a leaked demo which was supposed to appear on his album Not 4 Sale, as well as a soundtrack.[1]
The officially released version of "Forever" features Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Eminem. Rapper Jay-Z has called it "the best posse cut of the decade".[2] The song title is derived from the last line of the chorus; I want this shit forever man.[3]
The music video was shot in Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami, Florida, in early September 2009.[6] However, Eminem's part in the video was shot in Detroit due to scheduling conflicts and not being able to be in Miami.[7] The music video was shot and directed by Hype Williams.[citation needed] It premiered on September 22, 2009, on BET's music program 106 & Park. LeBron James appears in the opening of the music video in the back seat of a Maybach playing online poker on PokerStars on his customized Beats by Dr. Dre's laptop.[8] Throughout the video, there are clips and pictures from the documentary about James, More than a Game, and of him as a child playing basketball. Also The Alchemist, Trick-Trick, Mr. Porter, Swifty McVay, Kuniva, Bizarre and Slaughterhouse all make cameo appearances in Eminem's verse of the video behind him as he raps his verse. Birdman makes a cameo appearances in the video on Lil Wayne's verse, sitting next to him in the VIP section of the club.[9][10][11] The music video was produced alongside the video for "Money to Blow".[12]
"Forever" entered the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs at number fifty-eight on September 3, 2009,[16] peaking at #2. The song became the most downloaded song for the week ending September 15, 2009. On the week of September 24, the song debuted at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Drake's highest debut on the chart at the time as well as his second top-ten single. It also topped the rap songs chart making it Drake's second number one on that chart. It was the tenth consecutive top 40 single for Eminem. The song had sold 3,265,000 digital copies in the US as of April 2013, becoming Drake's first 3 million-seller.[17][18]
"Forever" failed to enter the Top 40 on the UK Singles Chart, but did manage to peak at number 43 after strong downloads. The song then began to drop out of the UK Singles Chart, but on January 10, 2010, "Forever" climbed 7 places from number 49 to 42, marking its highest peak to date. "Forever" entered the Irish Singles Chart, reaching a current peak of number 41.
Dropped the mixtape, that shit sounded like an album
Who'd have thought a countrywide tour'd be the outcome?
Labels want my name beside a X, like Malcolm
Everybody got a deal, I did it without one
[Kanye West]
Ever, ever, Mr West is in the buildin'
Ain't no question who about to kill 'em
I used to have hood dreams, big fame, big chains
I stuck my dick inside this life until that bitch came
And went hard all fall like the ball teams
Just so I can make it rain all spring
Now it's super bad chicks givin' me McLovin
You would think I ran the world like Michelle's husband
You would think these niggas know me when they really doesn't
Like they was down with the old me
No, you fuckin' wasn't (fuckin' wasn't, fuckin' wasn't)
Hm, you're such a fuckin' loser
He ain't even go to class, Bueller
Trade the Grammy plaques just to have my granny back
Remember she had that bad hip like a fanny pack?
Chasin' the stardom will turn you to a maniac
All the way in Hollywood and I can't even act
They pull the cameras out and goddamn, he snap
I used to want this thing forever, y'all can have it back
[Lil Wayne]
Okay
Hello, it's the Martian, Space Jam Jordans
I want this shit forever, wake up and smell the garden
Fresher than the harvest, step up to the target
If I had one guess, then I guess I'm just New Orleans
And I will never stop like I'm runnin' from the cops
Hop up in my car and told my chauffeur: To the top
Life is such a fuckin' roller coaster, then it drops
But what should I scream for? This is my theme park
My mind shine even when my thoughts seem dark
Pistol on my side, you don't wanna hear that thing talk
Let the king talk, check the price and pay attention
Lil Wayne
That's what they gotta say or mention
He ain't had him a buzz like this
Since the last time that he overdosed
They been waitin' patiently for Pinocchio to poke his nose
Back into the game and they know
Rap will never be the same as befo'
Bashin' in the brains of these hoes
And establishin' a name as he goes
The passion in the flame is ignited
You can't put it out once we light it
This shit is exactly what the fuck
That I'm talkin' about when we riot
You dealin' with a few true villains
Who stand inside of a booth, truth-spillin'
And spit true feelings until our tooth fillings
Come flyin' up out of our mouths, now, rewind it
Payback, motherfucker
For the way that you doubted me, how's it taste?
When I slap the taste outta your mouth
With the bass so loud that it shakes the place
I'm Hannibal Lecter, so just in case you're thinkin' of savin' face
You ain't gonna have no face to save
By the time I'm through with this place, so Drake