Sprinter Keula Nidreia Pereira Semedo won’t be leaving the Tokyo Paralympics with a medal, but she did get something that may be even better: an engagement ring.
Semedo currently lives in Portugal but is originally from Cape Verde, the country she’s represented as a Paralympian since 2005.
Semedo came in fourth place in the preliminaries for the 200-meter dash for athletes in the T11 classification, meaning they have very low visual acuity and/or no light perception. To run safely, she is tethered to her running partner, Manuel Antonio Vaz da Veiga.
But it looks like they’re going to be tethered together for much longer than their time on the track. After the 200-meter dash was over Vaz da Veiga can be seen briefly leaving the track and then returning with a few more runners and guides.
Then, he got down on one knee and proposed to Semedo, who appeared to be overjoyed by the proposal as Vaz da Veiga put a ring on her finger and then gave her a big hug.
“May the two of them run together for life!” tweeted the official Paralympic Games account.
#Paralympics proposal alert đ„ș
Manuel Antonio Vaz da Veiga, guide to Keula Nidreia Pereira Semedo, popped the quest⊠https://t.co/OUpWWqFKx2
Shortly after the race and proposal, Semedo was completely overwhelmed.
“With the proposal, there’s just too many emotions going on right now,” Semedo said after the race, via Paralympic.org. “I don’t have words to explain how I feel. These were my first Paralympic Games and with my age and speed, I was actually thinking about stopping afterwards. But now I have an additional motivation to carry on after the Games, always with him by my side.”
Vaz da Veiga later admitted he had been planning the big moment since she was selected for the Cape Verde team in July.
“I thought this was the best occasion and the best place to do it,” he said. “This [an athletics stadium] is her second home. She has been competing since 2005.”
“We have been together in a relationship for 11 years, so I thought it was about time to come up with a proposal,” he added. “So why not do it?”
“They [the interviewer] told me to turn around, and he had the letter. I forgot everything. I was like: ‘Oh my God,'” she said. “We are very happy. We are very good partners. Of course, we have fights, but we enjoy each other’s time. We love each other so much, and we want to spend our lives together. We are going to celebrate in Buenos Aires with a big barbecue.”
Last week, Wendyâs quietly began rolling out a brand new French fry recipe at some of its restaurants nationwide. Weâre thrilled about this. While Wendyâs is well-loved at Uproxx Life, we all pretty much agree that their French fries are a weak link. In our last French fry ranking, fast foodâs most underrated chain showed its clay feet â coming in at 11 out of 15, where we concluded that their fries are âMiddling. At Best⊠overly saltedâŠoften limp and soggyâŠâ etc.
I stand by that review. Wendyâs OG fries donât deserve to sit in the bag alongside their delicious cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches. If youâre looking for a crispy delicious and dippable side to eat alongside your burger, youâre better off getting the spicy nuggets than an order of those abominations. So it gives me no small measure of joy â and validation! â to write that Wendyâs new Hot & Crispy French fries remedy many of the problems I had with the original recipe.
According to Wendyâs, the Hot & Crispys were crafted to retain each fryâs heat and crispiness, hence the name. I find that dubious, considering the Hot & Crispys look about the same as Wendyâs OG fries, just a little thicker and a little lighter in color. Does the âholds its heatâ claim check out? To investigate, I set a stopwatch to check the fries at different timed intervals, from fresh out of the bag to 20 minutes after being served to a full 40 â which is roughly the amount of time it takes for you to get food delivered via UberEats, Postmates, and the like.
Check our multi-stage review, below!
Wendy’s secretly changed their fries & they’re amazing
The new fries are a beautiful golden color, reminiscent of McDonaldâs but more than twice as thick with some skin on the edges which adds a nice earthiness to the flavor. They arenât over-salted like the OG fries, and theyâre indeed molten hot and buttery on the inside and wonderfully crispy on the outside. They donât suffer from that instant sogginess that the OGs had.
The crispiness gives the French fries a sort of double flash-fried vibe â theyâre crispy but not fried to the point that theyâre burnt or crunchy. This is a good thing, because you get a very potato-forward flavor that makes them good enough to eat on their own without the need for a dipping sauce.
The exterior of the fry is very light, itâs a significant improvement over the OG recipe and itâs worthy of revamping our entire fry ranking just to give it its proper spot.
After I ate a handful, I put the fries back in the box and watched the clock.
PART II â 20 Minutes In
Dane Rivera
Unfortunately, the heat has all but disappeared but these fries are magically just as crispy as they were fresh out of the bag. Thatâs pretty amazing. Somehow the fries taste a lot saltier now than they did when they were hot, though. Itâs almost overwhelming, but still way less salty than the OGs.
As far as lukewarm fries go, these still taste pretty good. 20 minutes is enough time to turn a delicious French fry into a bad one but these hold up nicely in the flavor department and arenât in the least bit soggy.
Back in the bag they go!
PART III â 40 Minutes In
Dane Rivera
Whoops, Iâm 20 seconds late! Another 20 minutes in and the crispiness is almost completely gone. Surprisingly, a few of the fries still hold up, and almost every bite still supplies an audible crunch, but the mouthfeel is mostly mushy and at this stage, the grease is much more noticeable and severely impacts the flavor.
So I canât say that these fries still hold up in the flavor department after 40 minutes, but theyâre certainly crispier than almost every other fast food French fry that isnât battered. And what fry has broken the 40-minute barrier? Few, if any.
The Bottom Line:
These arenât McDonaldâs good but I struggle to think of a second fast food French fry that is better. Wendyâs French fries jumped up from being forgettable to essential and thatâs a win for everyone. Skip the third-party delivery, but if youâre in the drive-thru theyâre a must.
Hot & Crispy French Fries will be the nationwide standard at all Wendyâs restaurants by mid-month.
The January 6 insurrection attempt in Washington D.C. at Donald Trumpâs behest has certainly spawned some continuing drama in the United States, including hundreds of legal cases stemming from charges of trespassing and other crimes at the deadly event. But one of the lawyers representing a number of those accused has had a drama following him thatâs taken on a life of its own.
John Pierce, a Trump-supporting lawyer who was helping a number of defendants with Capitol insurrection-related cases, made headlines this week with a report that he was struggling to do his job due to contracting coronavirus. Which was, of course, a thing he didnât believe existed. Reports said that the lawyer was on a ventilator after contracting COVID-19, but a new report casts significant doubt on that. In fact,
But now thereâs speculation that he was not actually sick and merely trying to hide for some reason. Because as The Daily Beast detailed, the lawyer now appears to have gone missing altogether. The report noted three different rioters who had Pierce as their lawyer have opted not to work with him anymore, mostly because they canât find him.
Marshall told the judge that Pierce was in the hospital with COVID-19, on a ventilator and unresponsive. A few hours later, a colleague of Pierceâsâor a friend, depending on who you askâsaid in a statement that Pierce, 49, was in the hospital with what he thought might have been COVID, but was actually âdehydration and exhaustion.â But Marshall had previously also claimed that Pierce had been in some sort of accident, and another person close to Pierce said that he had in fact been hospitalized but was not on a ventilator.
Since then, Marshall, who is under criminal indictment in Pennsylvania on 15 felony charges stemming from an alleged scheme that bilked an elderly widow out of $86,000, has repeatedly feigned ignorance about the specifics of Pierceâs condition. Pierce âis sick,â Marshall insisted to The Daily Beast, but said he hadnât seen him and only knew âwhat I was told.â
Whether Pierce is actually sick, exhausted, or simply trying to fall off the face of the Earth for whatever reason, itâs weird to say the least. And according to the report, his clients are rightfully furious and unwilling to work with him anymore.
A bowl of fried rice is one of my death row meals. I pretty much lived on the stuff back when I spent a year in Jakarta. The spicy fried rice wrapped in green-brown paper and made to order from pushcarts is a dish I still dream about to this day. And since Iâm a world away from Indonesia, I end up making it on my stovetop far more often than I probably should â this isnât exactly health food.
Thereâs really only one rule when making fried rice at home â use leftovers. That makes this a great late-night meal. Especially if youâve had a drink or two.
First, you need day-old white rice thatâs cooled in a fridge. This is an unavoidable truth of great fried rice. From there, itâs all about building umami, funk, spice, and texture. My ethos for what kind of fried rice Iâm making comes down to whatâs leftover and how rich I want it to be.
In this case, I had some skirt steak and steamed broccoli â so Iâm making steak and broccoli fried rice. Do you have some leftover rotisserie chicken? Use that. A little ham left after a Sunday roast? Thatâs perfect with eggs. Are there leftover steamed clams and mussels in the fridge from last nightâs take-out? Throw it in there! Itâs really that simple.
Beyond the main protein and veg in your fried rice, I like to keep the base pretty simple, work fast, and build a funky and umami base. Letâs get into it.
First, Iâm putting measurements for the sauces above but Iâve never measured them out. I use a few dashes of fish sauce, a glug of soy, a dollop of sambal olek, etc. You need to dial in these measurements for your palate. The overall point is to build umami while adding in a little funk.
I had leftover jasmine rice, so thatâs what Iâll. I cooked my rice in a pot on the stove in veg stock so that it has a little more savory depth. Cook your rice how you want but make sure itâs well-seasoned before itâs put into the fridge overnight.
The rest is pretty straightforward. Iâm using a light onion for the base with fresh ginger. You can 100 percent add garlic if you want. Do you have some galangal lying around? Put it in. The point of fried rice is that itâs your recipe. I like mine more on the nasi goreng side of the fried rice spectrum and thatâs why Iâm using sambal olek and chili oil to keep things spicy.
This is simply a roadmap of sorts to a good bowl of fried rice. The exact specs are yours alone (my editor insists on Thai basil).
Zach Johnston
What Youâll Need:
Nonstick pan
Kitchen knife
Cutting board
Wooden spoon
Bowl
Fine grater
Zach Johnston
Method:
Prep your ingredients: Thinly chop the whites of the green onion, grate the ginger, cube the beef, and roughly chop the broccoli.
Chop the greens of the green onion and set aside for later.
Heat a small glug of neutral oil (I used sunflower) in the pan.
Crack the egg into the hot pan and immediately use the wooden spoon to scramble the egg. As soon as it sets, remove it to a waiting bowl.
Add another glug of oil to the pan. Turn up the heat to high and drop in the green onion whites, ginger, beef, and broccoli.
Add the fish sauce and use the wooden spoon to move everything around so it heats through evenly.
As soon as the onions turn translucent (about a minute or so), add the rice, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sambal olek, a few shakes of white pepper, and a pinch of MSG. Use the wooden spoon to integrate everything.
After cooking for about another minute, lower the heat to medium-low or low and add in the butter and scrambled eggs. Stir until the butter is completely melted into the rice.
Use the wooden spoon to pat the rice down gently.
Let the rice cook, untouched, for a few minutes to create a lightly browned bottom to the rice.
Kill the heat and stir the crunchy bottom into the rest of the rice.
Scoop the rice into two waiting bowls, drizzle with chili oil, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and garnish with the green onion tops.
Serve.
Zach Johnston
Bottom Line:
Zach Johnston
Letâs start with the texture, using butter (which is Roy Choi approved) to help the bottom of the rice brown really adds the x-factor. You get the softness of the fried rice juxtaposed with crunchy and buttery kernels of rice here and there. Itâs a nice touch.
The steak was medium rare when it went into the pan. Since the cooking time is pretty short, itâs still tender and juicy but just above medium now. Itâs beefy, soft, and provides another nice textural element.
The broccoli, onion, and ginger add color, sweetness, and heat in that order. The eggs are soft with an edge of butteriness.
The dish really shines in that itâs mildly spicy with soft warmth at the top that slowly builds to a mild buzz by the end of the bowl. This marries really well with the layers of savory soy, almost-sweet oyster sauce, and the funk of that fish sauce at the base.
Iâm not gonna lie, I ate both servings of this without any hesitation. Itâs freakinâ delicious, took under ten minutes to make from fridge to plate, and left me wanting more.
The life of a housecat is generally pretty cozy, but some cities make it easier to spoil our kitties than others.
According to a new ranking of cat-friendly cities from OneVet, felines in Florida are particularly fortunate. The state boasts the honor of having three cities in the top 10, and is the only state to have multiples cities on the list. (Florida. Who knew?)
The “Best U.S. Cities to Be a Cat” rankings are based on five equally-weighted factors: the number of pet-friendly rentals, number of veterinarians, number of cat cafes, number of pet stores, and number of cat adoptions in 2020 (all per 100K population). A pretty solid set of criteria, at least from a human perspective.
(If cats themselves were making these rankings, we’d be looking at number of mice per square block, number of birds visible through windows, number of sucker humans that can be convinced to put food out for us, etc.)
Anyhoo, pouncing in as the number one cat-friendly city in America is Miami, Florida, with a score of 43.47 out of a maximum score of 50. In a close second was Orlando, followed by Salt Lake City, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati.
Offering a nice geographical spread, the cities of Atlanta, Denver, Minneapolis, Tampa, and Riverside, CA rounded out the top ten.
Well, you can take your pick of cities from coast to coast, with New York City being the worst, with a shockingly low score of 5.23, and two California metrosâSan Francisco and Los Angelesâmaking the bottom 10.
Others on the cat-unfriendly list include Memphis, New Orleans, Jacksonville (so Florida isn’t all feline-friendly), Phoenix, Detroit, Houston, and Virginia Beach.
Of course, the care and feeding of a cat is mainly a product of how wrapped around their owner’s finger they are, but it is interesting to see how much varies from city to city as far as cat-friendly amenities goes. Apparently the Northwest is remarkably average, with no cities in the top or bottom 10. (Either that, or the region just entirely forgotten about, which happens a lot.)
But really, cats themselves don’t care all the much. As long as they get rubs and snuggles when they want them (and only when they want them) and as long as everything is exactly as they feel it should be, they’re happy wherever they live.
And hey, at least Florida has something to brag about other than off-the-wall people and off-the-rails politicians. “Most cat-friendly state in the U.S.” may not be much, but it’s something.
Drake has come a long way from rolling down the aisles of Degrassi Community School. He left Wheelchair Jimmy far behind and transformed into one of musicâs colossal forces, reframing the ideals of success while simultaneously breaking and creating new records. Following 2009âs breakthrough EP So Far Gone, the artist has soared closer to icon territory by unleashing an impressive string of albums, mixtapes and loosies that became woven in social media commentary and led to historic chart runs. His impact is pretty unshakeable at this point, as even his guest features could be a list all on its own. Call him what you want â Champagne Papi, Heartbreak Drake, Drizzy, The Boy, 6 God, Young Angel, Octoberâs Very Own, OVO Recordsâ CEO â but thereâs no denying heâs on his way to G.O.A.T. status.
In anticipation of his pending sixth album Certified Lover Boy, due out tomorrow, we present a ranking of our favorite songs so far.
60. âPassionfruitâ (More Life, 2017)
Sure, âPassionfruitâ sounds like the nondescript playlist songs weâve all heard in H&M and Zara dressing rooms. But thatâs part of its magic. Drake does accessibility well, drawing in listeners from all backgrounds and ages to simplyâŠvibe. This More Life cut does just that, with its blend of tropical house and R&B (courtesy of British producer and songwriter Nana Rogues) that makes post-long distance heartache somehow sound oh-so-irresistible.
59. âUnforgettableâ Feat. Jeezy (Thank Me Later, 2010)
Drake is a huge Aaliyah fan (he even has the late icon tattooed on his back), and he celebrated her legacy early on in his career with âUnforgettable.â Built around a sample of Aaliyahâs cover of Isley Brothersâ â70s classic â(At Your Best) You Are Love,â the singerâs signature coos provide a lush backdrop for both Drizzy and Jeezyâs flirty lines.
58. âOverâ (Thank Me Later, 2010)
After years of building his name with mixtapes and being part of the Young Money crew, Drake showed he had something to prove with âOver.â The Grammy-nominated lead single of his debut album Thank Me Later showed it was evident the road to superstardom would become crowded as hell: âI know way too many people here right now that I didnât know last year / Who the f**k are yâall?â Atop a boisterous beat via and Boi-1da and Al Khaaliq, Drake affirms that he has his eyes set on taking over the game. The one thing holding this back is the overt âhashtag rapâ that will keep it stuck in the â10s era.
57. âRansomâ Feat. Lil Wayne (non-album single, 2008)
Lil Wayne often brings out the best in Drake, and the potential that he initially saw in the post-Degrassi star is highlighted all throughout âRansom.â Forget a catchy hook, this song is about straight bars. Weezy ultimately takes the lead here, but he gives his mentee the spotlight to show off his talents. This is Drake at his hungriest and we havenât heard him like this since.
56. âWu-Tang Foreverâ (Nothing Was the Same, 2013)
Based on the title alone, youâd think âWu-Tang Foreverâ was actually a tribute to the Staten Island rap legends. But the sample of Wu-Tang Clanâs 1997 âItâs Yourzâ cut is where the homage starts and ends. This Nothing Was the Same highlight is all about two things that Drake loves to discuss: paranoia and women. The combination of the ghostly sample and the nightmarish piano gives a dark edge to Drakeâs sweet croons. The confusion rightfully ended up rubbing the Wu-Tang Clan the wrong way, but one canât deny the songâs appealing nature. After all, whatâs Drake without controversy?
55. âMoney To Blowâ with Birdman and Lil Wayne (Priceless, 2009)
Drakeâs swagger was on a hundred, thousand, trillion on this Young Money mini-posse single, where he intros with a 24-hour champagne diet declaration that showed off just how rich he was becoming. His flow is so smooth that you can almost forgive his bold-faced flexing. And Weezy couldnât have prophesied it any better: âAnd we gonâ be alright if we put Drake on every hook.â Since declaring such on âMoney To Blow,â the rapper has collected chart-topping features like an Olympian.
54. âOne Danceâ (Views, 2016)
When Drake wasnât looking for revenge all summer â16, he was taking over the clubs that year with a trio of dancehall-inspired tunes: âControlla,â his âWorkâ team-up with Rihanna and âOne Dance.â The latter is the weakest of the three, but it still kept waistlines moving thanks to its fusion of dancehall, afrobeats, and the house subgenre of UK funky. Featuring Nigerian superstar WizKid (who collaborated with Drake the year prior on the âOjuelegba Remixâ and later reteamed for 2017âs âCome Closerâ) and British singer Kyla, it was both charming and monotonous. âOne Danceâ topped the charts in the UK, the US, and Canada, once again showcasing the unshakeable appeal of the African diasporaâs genres.
What makes Drake a standout rap artist is his ability to create moments within songs whose impact extends beyond the genre. At face value, âGodâs Planâ is a typical track for him, stuffed with endless Instagram captions (âDonât pull up at 6 AM to cuddle with meâ) and catchphrases for festival goers to shout back at him (âI only love my bed and my momma, Iâm sorryâ). But the beauty is in its simplicity, and the formula worked tenfold: âGodâs Planâ secured a Grammy for Best Rap Song and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eleven weeks.
52. âLegendâ (If Youâre Reading This Itâs Too Late, 2015)
2015 found Drake at his peak cocky stage, which is best and brashly displayed on IYRTITLâs âLegendâ opener. He calls upon OVO signee PartyNextDoor to strip and flip Ginuwineâs â90s classic âSo Anxiousâ into an ambient soundboard for Drake to showcase zero signs of humility. For him to croon âOh my God, oh my God, if I die, Iâm a legendâ as passionately as Ginuwine would croon to his lady fans is completely audacious. But when youâve racked up a near-untouchable stack of accolades before age 30, can you really blame him?
51. âWhatâs Nextâ (Scary Hours 2, 2021)
With every passing year, more people want a piece of Drake, whether itâs his personal life or new music. By the time 2021 hit, fans grew tired of Certified Lover Boyâs disappearing act after first teasing it last summer. Ever the troll, he continued to drop one-off singles with no release date in sight. His latest, âWhatâs Next,â is a heavy dose of sarcasm thatâs not so far off from the eye-rolls targeted at the media on 2018âs âLook Aliveâ (âIâve been gone since, like, July, n****s actinâ like I diedâ) and 2011âs âHYFRâ (âDo you love this sh*t? Are you high right now?â). Album or not, heâs highly aware of his relevance and will remind you any chance he gets: âIâm on the hot one hundo, numero uno / This one ainât come with a bundle.â
50. âNovember 18thâ (So Far Gone, 2009)
âNovember 18thâ is an essential Drake track for two reasons: it signifies the date that Lil Wayne officially signed him to Young Money and changed his life forever, as well as showcasing very early on that the rapper was a sonic shapeshifter. The So Far Gone fan favorite combines Drakeâs Toronto-derived somber R&B finesse and the gritty chopped-and-screwed sounds that put Houston on the map. Here, over a sample of DJ Screwâs legendary version of Kris Krossâ âDa Streets Ainât Rightâ (which in turn samples Biggie Smallsâ âWarningâ) from 1996âs June 27 tape, Drake teases what he would soon become known for: a seamless blend of various cultures.
49. âMade Menâ with Rick Ross (non-album single, 2011)
Drake and Rick Ross are one of rapâs ultimate pairings, mainly because they love to brag about their wealth and women. Here, they channel their inner mafiosos while casually one-upping each otherâs rhymes. Technically this is Rossâ tune, but Drake steals the show when he tops his homieâs âS65, I call it Rihanna / It got a red top, but itâs white like Madonnaâ bar by gloating: âOne of my baddest women ever, I call her Rihanna / But thatâs âcause her name is Rihannaâ.
48. âBelieve Meâ with Lil Wayne (non-album single, 2014)
âHe left Rikers in a Phantom, thatâs my n****.â Drake never shies away from his admiration for mentor Lil Wayne, but it truly shines on âBelieve Me.â One of their many classic collaborations, the pair reflect on their rapid ascension to become rapâs global superstars, with Boi-1da and Vinylzâs bouncy beat growing tenser within the second half as the YMCMB buddies show off some slick wordplay.
47. âHeadlinesâ (Take Care, 2011)
By the time his second album Take Care rolled around, Drake pushed the uncertainty about his position in the rap game aside and asserted himself as The Boy who has his eyes set on taking on the throne. And âHeadlinesâ encapsulates this smug notion. While a majority of Take Care is rooted in somberness, this single is one of its rare upbeat moments thatâs a toast to Drakeâs accomplishments. But he also slips in a fair warning to his peers that the real is on the rise: âSoap opera rappers, all these n***s sound like All My Children.â
46. âHYFR (Hell Ya F**king Right)â Feat. Lil Wayne (Take Care, 2011)
On âHYFR,â Drake only focuses on his ex-girlfriends just for a moment before finally giving himself the freedom to have fun. Executing a rare double-time flow, both he and Lil Wayne drop catchy bars (âI learned Hennessy and enemies is one hell of a mixtureâ) before leaning into a sarcasm-dripping chorus over a synthwave guitar. The video makes this even more of a banger, with Drake throwing the dopest bar mitzvah ever.
45. âJumpmanâ with Future (What A Time to Be Alive, 2015)
Thereâs plenty of standouts on Drake and Futureâs What A Time To Be Alive joint mixtape, from the formerâs shameless outro on âDiamonds Dancingâ to Future facing his demons on âScholarships.â But âJumpmanâ was a special one, as Future helped ignite his friendâs inner trap king. What A Time to Be Alive is mainly in Futureâs wheelhouse â recorded in Atlanta, executively produced by right-hand Metro Boomin, and is mostly about the cityâs grungy hustle â but Drake holds his own as the two join forces like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen to create a club-ready banger.
44. âSummer Sixteenâ (non-album single, 2016)
Drake had a chokehold on the year 2016, and the takeover began with âSummer Sixteen.â Released that January, Drake (a decorated diss artist at that point) aimed his shots at the heads of Meek Mill and Tory Lanez. The song really revs up in the second half, with a sinister beat anchoring his brags of â what else? â having the biggest pool of any rapper. If his point wasnât made clear enough, DJ Khaled swoops in on the outro: âThey donât want us to have a bigger pool than Kanye!â
43. âUp All Nightâ Feat. Nicki Minaj (Thank Me Later, 2010)
Drake may have been putting on for his teââam on Thank Me Laterâs âUp All Night,â but his Young Money labelmate snatched the mic with her monumental guest verse. Drake holds his own on the thumping track, but it ultimately belongs to Nicki Minaj. âIf Drizzy say get her, imma get her,â Minaj begins â and that she does, going fully rabid as she pierces haters with taunts and cocky one-liners: âI look like âyesâ and you look like âNOâ!â
42. âClub Paradiseâ (Care Package, 2019)
Fame often comes with a price, and usually itâs the ones you love who get struck the most. âClub Paradise,â part of the handful of teaser tracks Drake shared prior to Take Careâs release, summates his feelings of leaving his hometown in order to make his dreams come true. Titled after his favorite Toronto strip club, itâs a tale of melancholy, nostalgia, and that signature paranoia as Drake comes to terms with the fact that his old life with nameless strippers, old girlfriends, childhood friends like Chubbs and his beloved mother Sandy has drastically changed. When he raps, âJust lie to my ears / Tell me it feel the same, thatâs all Iâve been dying to hear,â you really feel it.
41. âNonstopâ (Scorpion, 2018)
After first teaming with Tay Keith on BlocBoy JBâs 2018 single âLook Alive,â the Memphis producer dug deep into his crates and returned to craft one of Drakeâs gnarliest hits. Yet another ode to the Southern city, âNonstopâ utilizes local rap stars Mack Daddy Ju and D.J. Squeekyâs 1995 tune âMy Head Is Spinninâ.â The minimalist production is the perfect sounding board for Drake, who opts to flex in a playful and lowkey manner than his usual assertive style. It works to his advantage, flipping the switch to a newfound whispered flow dotted with adlibs thatâs so nonchalant you almost forget heâs talking smack.
40. âCameras / Good Ones Goâ (Take Care, 2011)
Man does 40 know how to finesse a sample. On this Take Care duo, the producer flips Jon B.âs 2001 ballad âCalling On Youâ for a late-night, R&B-inspired melody. You can almost picture Drake sipping on whiskey neat (long before heâd launch his own Virginia Black variety) as he dissects how the media perception can play a role in a celebrity relationship, often inciting disillusions that lead to trust issues. Once âGood Ones Goâ kicks in, Drake comes to terms with the fact that he has to let his girl go. The Weekndâs comforting coos make the task a bit easier.
39. â4pm in Calabasasâ (Care Package, 2019)
Drake is just rude on this 2016 loosie, where he emerged from his post-Views Toronto retreat to flex on his enemies while soaking up the California sun. The origins of the Diddy-Drake beef is still cloudy (it mightâve sparked over a bitch slap), but Drake makes it known that he wants the Bad Boy legend to feel the same sting he implemented. The song is just bar after bar of not-so-covert disses, from âCanât nobody hold me downâ to âMake them dance to this.â And he does it all with a wicked laugh, a-ha-ha-ha.
38. âWhen To Say Whenâ (Dark Lane Demo Tapes, 2020)
Dark Lane Demo Tapes was meant to be a sampler to hold fans over until the release of Certified Lover Boy, quenching their thirst with a mix of new songs, leaked favorites, and SoundCloud staples. âWhen To Say Whenâ was an immediate standout on the otherwise bland taste test, with Drake heading to Brooklynâs Marcy Projects as he rhymes over Jay-Zâs The Blueprint classic âSong Cry.â Continuing its vulnerable theme, the rapper unpacks his conscience: âThirty-three years, I gave that to the game / Thirty-three milâ, Iâll save that for the rain / Five hundred weeks, Iâll fill the charts with my pain.â Itâs a therapy session without the insurerâs invoice.
37. âSay Whatâs Realâ (So Far Gone, 2009)
It only made sense that Drake decided to pour his heart out over the instrumental to Kanye Westâs 808s & Heartbreak highlight âSay You Will.â But rather than trying to heal a broken heart, âSay Whatâs Realâ is an insight into the mind of a rapper whoâs fully aware of his come-up. âWhy do I feel so alone?â he begins, before revealing his uncleâs urge to protect his privacy, getting smug about his growing number of ladies, bargaining with major labels and ultimately finding the confidence to dominate.
36. âIgnant Shitâ Feat. Lil Wayne (So Far Gone, 2009)
When Drake kicks off a song by introducing himself and Lil Wayne as âYoung Angel and Young Lion,â you know itâs going to be a moment. âIgnant Shitâ finds the pair skating ever so fluidly over Jay-Zâs American Gangster highlight, where Just Blaze flips Isley Brothersâ 1983 classic âBetween The Sheets.â The sample has become an integral staple in hip-hop, and its use can come across as try-hard. But Drake and Lil Wayne make it all their own, shifting away from Jay-Zâs pop culture-referencing aim at rap critics and having fun trading catchy bars.
35. âFeel No Waysâ (Views, 2016)
Weâve all been there before: making excuses to stay in a dying relationship that feels more like a tedious cycle than a blissful union. Drake hits on these emotions on this deep cut, whose electro-pop-R&B fusion sounds like it could be plucked right from the â80s. Majid Jordanâs Jordan Ullman flips former Sex Pistolsâ manager Malcolm McLarenâs âWorld Famous (Radio I.D.)â into a sparkling gem that gives Drake some sense of clarity. âThereâs more to life than sleeping in and getting high with you / I had to let go of us to show myself what I could do.â The song was later given new life, with the rapper performing it at Camp Flog Gnaw in 2019, the biggest highlight of an otherwise shaky set. Even Tyler, the Creator (who founded the festival) couldnât contain his excitement, later showing admiration for the âbeautifulâ track on Twitter.
34. âThe Motionâ (Care Package, 2019)
Sometimes you avoid coming to terms with the fact that a relationship (either romantic or platonic) is no good for you, which is what Drake struggles with on 2013âs aqueous Nothing Was The Same precursor. He canât rely on friends or his woman, as they both take advantage of his kindness. âThe girl that I wanna save is like a danger to my health,â he painfully shares. âTry being with somebody that wanna be somebody else.â Toss in Samphaâs grieving vocals at the end and it just makes the tears well even faster.
33. âKnow Yourselfâ (If Youâre Reading This Itâs Too Late, 2015)
Drake has utilized the âKnow Yourselfâ phrase before (âââJodeci Freestyle,â âFrom Time,â â0 To 100â), but on this immediate fan favorite, it soared to hometown anthem status. It begins unsuspectingly, with a brooding flow that matches Boi-1daâs tense production. But as soon as that choral chant begins â âI was. running. through the 6. With my WOES!â â blood rushes to your head as the urge to take over the streets kicks in.
32. âJungleâ (If Youâre Reading This Itâs Too Late, 2015)
40 has produced a lot of showstopping tracks for Drake, but âJungleâ stands out as one of his most gorgeous melodies. Wrapped around a sample of alt-R&B singer Gabriel GarzĂłn-Montanoâs â6 8,â this IYRTITL deep cut is driven by heartfelt nostalgia. Drake has always been a hopeless romantic at heart, and he longs for a past love that he foolishly left behind in Torontoâs rugged Lawrence Heights neighborhood. When he sings, âHate that I treat it like itâs a âwhateverâ thing / Trust me girl, this sh*t is everything to me,â itâs clear that he severely messed up.
31. âThe Mottoâ Feat. Lil Wayne (Take Care, 2011)
You couldnât go anywhere without hearing someone shout âYOLO!â back in 2011. It was all Drakeâs doing, as he popularized the phrase with his catchy âThe Mottoâ single. Heâs too-cool here, spitting ever so casually on a hyphy-inspired beat (âRest in peace, Mac Dre, Iâma do it for the Bayâ). While he didnât invent it, the rapper was the reason why âYOLOâ skyrocketed into the cultural stratosphere. Once he got hold of it, âYOLOâ â or âYou Only Live Onceâ â became way more than just an acronym. It was a complete lifestyle, with people using the literal motto to define their carefree and sometimes reckless âf*ck itâ attitude with a shrug.
30. âHotline Blingâ (Views, 2016)
As soon as Drake began hitting those dorky Dad dance moves in his now-iconic red bubble coat in the âHotline Blingâ video, it was evident the song was heading into ubiquity. The Grammy-winning tune is filled with condescending lyrics that men (who have lost the love of their lives due to their silly mistakes) have turned into their personal mantras. From the opening line âYou used to call me on my cell phone, late night when you need my loveâ to the remorseful pain behind âStarted wearing less and going out moreâ and even the song title itself, âHotline Blingâ became a meme-worthy anthem for those who couldnât get over their old flame.
29. âDuppy Freestyleâ (non-album single, 2018)
Drake has been defending himself through diss tracks since the beginning of his career, and on âDuppy Freestyleâ he was audibly over it. The sigh that precedes âthe nerve, the audacityâ intro is near comical Drake-ism, but also gives heavy âplease stop playing with meâ energy. It was released as a response to Pusha Tâs âInfraredâ that brought up the same ghostwriting allegations that Meek Mill harped on years prior. You can hear Drakeâs exasperation as he tries to lets both Push and Kanye West down easy, from âFather had to stretch his hands out and get it from me / I pop style for 30 hours then let him repeatâ to âDonât be ashamed, itâs plenty n****s that do what you do / Thereâs no malice in your heart, youâre an approachable dude.â Pusha T later fired back with the mighty vicious âThe Story of Adidon,â but letâs be real: Drakeâs âDuppy Freestyleâ is the one that most still have on repeat to this day.
28. âLemon Pepper Freestyleâ Feat. Rick Ross (Scary Hours 2, 2021)
Drake and Rick Ross bring out the best in each other, and âLemon Pepper Freestyleâ continued that winning streak. Here, over a delicate sample of indie-pop duo Quadronâs 2010 tune âPressure,â the two do what they do best: balancing their lavish lifestyles with a heavy dose of introspection about their personal lives outside of the awards shows and yachts. Drake, growing more comfortable with rapping about his son Adonis, even throws in a bar about thirsty housewives at the PTA meetings. His lyrics are just as satisfying as the lemon pepper wings the song is named after.
27. âFearâ (So Far Gone, 2009)
One of Drakeâs most underrated moments, âFearâ often gets lost in the sea of the rapperâs many introspective tracks. You can almost hear the hesitation in his tone as he grapples with the fact that his life is about to change forever. The girls he once talked to may look at him differently, his beloved uncle will stop messaging him and naysayers will criticize his talents. âThings are just surreal at home / People think Iâve changed just âcause my appeal has grown and now security follow me everywhere,â he says somberly, revealing his anxieties. âSo I never actually am alone, I just always feel alone / I think Iâm scared of what the future holds.â Luckily he didnât have much to worry about.
26. âJodeci Freestyleâ Feat. J. Cole (Care Package, 2019)
Leave it to Drake to spit cocky lyrics on a song that simultaneously pays homage to Jodeci. Initially released as a 2013 loosie, the collaboration marks the second after Drake hopped on J. Coleâs 2010 Friday Night Lights cut âIn The Morning.â He and J. Cole compare themselves to the iconic â90s R&B group as they reminisce on all the girls theyâve stolen from their enemies. To add a dose of realism, Drakeâs father Dennis Graham recalls their road trips from Toronto to Memphis, with Jodeci naturally being Drakeâs go-to on the CD player. Itâs a wonder how the two rappers havenât worked together more, as they bring out clever dexterity in each other.
25. âLook What Youâve Doneâ (Take Care, 2011)
Drakeâs at his best when he lets down his walls. On this Take Care deep cut, he brings us into his world, reminiscing on his family struggles like a spoken word performer at a cigarette smoke-filled lounge. Atop a warm piano melody, Drake details his motherâs health problems and his uncleâs support. As soon as his grandmotherâs voicemail plays in the outro, youâre already wiping tears away.
23. âSuccessfulâ Feat. Trey Songz (So Far Gone, 2009)
Rapping about highs and lows of success is one of Drakeâs go-to themes, but âSuccessfulâ finds the star at his most aspirational. With early co-signer Trey Songz on the hook, itâs a somber three-part story anchored by Noah â40â Shebibâs heavy bassline. Drake is his usual cocky self on the first verse: âThe young spitter that everybody in rap fear.â But things get real on the second, as he recalls crying with his mother in the driveway as they dealt with family and post-Degrassi money issues. A voicemail from his father anchors the third, and Lil Wayne soon emerges just when you think the song is over. Looking back over a decade after its release, a 2009 Drake probably couldnât fathom just how much his future self would be able to accomplish.
22. âControllaâ (Views, 2016)
Views was marred by messy last-minute changes, from removing Kanye West and Jay-Z from âPop Styleâ to replacing Popcaan with Beenie Man on âControlla.â Luckily for the latter, both the original and final version became the main highlight of Drakeâs lukewarm album era. The rapper is a sonic chameleon with a strong passion for dancehall. He excels here, with the Jamaican stars leading the way into a night of slow wines and rum punch.
21. âBest I Ever Hadâ (So Far Gone, 2009)
Drake immediately established a diehard fandom upon the release of his first big hit, with many first hearing the rap/R&B hybrid in high school or college and trying to figure out if Drake was the one singing or rapping. He was in fact doing both, sharing sweet nothings (âSweatpants, hair tied, chillinâ with no make-up onâ) in two different flows thatâll soon become his signature. Its blend of cheesiness and charm led to âBest I Ever Hadâ hitting No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, his highest peak until âOne Danceâ topped the chart seven years later. To further prove his star status, he even got Kanye West to direct the video. Drake didnât necessarily introduce a new formula. But he sure did perfect it, making him a case study for success in the decade to come.
20. âHold On, Weâre Going Homeâ Feat. Majid Jordan (Nothing Was The Same, 2013)
Back in 2013, it was a rare occasion for Drake to go full-on pop star on us. He executed it well on this groovy â80s-inspired single, as he attempts his best Michael Jackson while working his charm on a love interest. The synth-pop melody has a melancholic edge to it, saving it from being too cheesy. The passion was inescapable, with everyone from Blood Orange to Arctic Monkeys covering the tune. It also introduced the world to OVO Sound signees Majid Jordan, who went on to become alt-R&B favorites in their own right.
19. âTake Careâ Feat. Rihanna (Take Care, 2011)
Rihanna brings out Drakeâs sensitive side, and while most of their collaborations highlight their flirty chemistry, âTake Careâ is all about the emotions. Rihannaâs tender vocals anchor the chorus as Drake opts to sing for most of the track, giving an added dose of honesty. Its sample of Jamie xxâs remix of Gil Scott-Heronâs version of âIâll Take Care Of Youâ amplifies the relationshipâs rollercoaster, with the pounding drums and sparse piano telling the story of pain, hurt, and trust. The end result shows thereâs beauty in vulnerability.
18. âStay Scheminâ with Rick Ross and French Montana (Rich Forever, 2012)
Technically this is Rick Rossâ single, but Drake notoriously took the lead here. Their chemistry is unsurprisingly elite here, with Rozayâs gruff verses and French Montanaâs slurred presence give Drizzy the perfect alley-oop to execute what many consider to be his all-time best guest verse. Drake goes at Commonâs neck, squashing any competition while also providing one of the most iconic one-liners (âBitch, you wasnât with me shootinâ in the gym!â) aimed at Vanessa Bryant that he later apologized for.
17. âTrophiesâ (Young Money: Rise of an Empire, 2014)
âMan, this sh*t is not a love songâ Drake shouts on âTrophies,â making it clear that heâs not always about romance. No, this is the ultimate âGet with the winning team!â anthem, with the rapperâs voice going up a few octaves as he unleashes boastful declarations. As soon as those horns (borrowed from ââ1994âs Western film Oblivion) start blaring, youâll get the confidence boost you need to either âf*ck a stripper on the mink rugâ or âpop some f*cking champagne in the tub.â But when youâre winning this big, you can choose both.
16. âIâm On Oneâ with DJ Khaled, Rick Ross and Lil Wayne (We The Best Forever, 2011)
âIâm just feeling like the throne is for the taking â watch me take it,â Drake declares on this masterful posse cut. Whether or not he was taunting Jay-Z and Kanye West (he claims that wasnât the case), he made it known that he wanted to overthrow anyone in his path. Drake lends his voice on the hook and the opening verse, laying the groundwork for Rozay and Weezy to bulldoze. But the song couldâve done with at least one more verse from The Boy. And Drake couldnât let go of the feeling: a month later, he used the hook to record a softer R&B version thatâs best suited for the bedroom after leaving the club.
15. â6PM In New Yorkâ (If Youâre Reading This Itâs Too Late, 2015)
â28 at midnight, wonder whatâs next for me,â Drake ponders on the third installment of his AM/PM series, which finds him throwing subliminals nearly as slick as his predecessor Jay-Z. He actually references Jigga man here, confidently expressing that The Throne (a.k.a. Jay-Z and Kanye West) needed to make room for a third legend-in-the-making. Drake states that ââBest I Ever Hadâ seems like a decade ago,â and it really does: following his breakthrough single, heâd become even more confident in his lyricism. The sneak disses are the best part, with Tyga getting caught in the crossfire: âYou need to act your age and not your girlâs ageâ). âIt gets worse by the annual / My careerâs like a how-to manual, so I guess itâs understandable,â Drake assesses on â6PM In New York,â making it the perfect way to end an album that shared a grim tale of paranoia, cockiness, and post-coitus hopelessness.
14. âCrew Loveâ Feat. The Weeknd (Take Care, 2011)
The Weekndâs gloomy, drug-fueled take on Toronto sent shock waves in R&B thanks to his breakout mixtape, 2011âs House Of Balloons. So it only made sense that Drake, who was growing wearier of his surroundings, would gravitate towards his sound. The pair officially joined forces on âCrew Loveâ, a celebration of the industry rise of their respective OVO and XO collectives. âHouse Of Balloons was actually supposed to have more songs than it does,â The Weeknd later revealed in 2013. âI had so many records left, and then Take Care came through. âCrew Love,â âShot for Me,â and âThe Rideâ were supposed to be on House Of Balloons.â Shoutout to The Weeknd for being so gracious.
13. âLord Knowsâ Feat. Rick Ross (Take Care, 2011)
Thereâs only one way to describe âLord Knowsâ: triumphant. Drake calls upon the legendary Just Blaze to craft one of his most spine-tingling melodies that is a stark, refreshing contrast to 40âs minimal beats. The track feels even more heavenly once the gospel choirâs wails kick in, giving Drake and Rick Ross an incentive to flaunt as the former explores his growing status in the rap game. You could almost hear the smirk behind the microphone as they stepped away, knowing they just made a classic. âI changed rap forever,â Drake boasts. He definitely knew.
12. âStarted From The Bottomâ (Nothing Was The Same, 2013)
âStarted From The Bottomâ was Drakeâs version of the classic rags-to-hip-hop-riches story, reflecting on his career trajectory while calling out critics who question his so-called struggles. While he arguably didnât actually start from the bottom (this is a former Degrassi star, letâs be real), the song resonated with those who came from humble beginnings. âStartedâ grew into an anthem about success that fans chanted at parties and wrote in their Twitter bios. It was a reminder to follow your dreams while keeping your day oneâs close.
11. âEnergyâ (If Youâre Reading This Itâs Too Late, 2015)
Drake became jaded by 2015, and he was fully aware of his rap dominance and how many wanted to throw him off the throne. He throws daggers at his adversaries throughout âEnergy,â from family members to groupies to rap peers. âI got rap n****s that I gotta act like I like / But my acting days are over, f*ck them n****s for life.â Needless to say, Drake was fed up. The only thing unclear at the time was Drakeâs main target, but he notoriously made that well known in the coming months. Sorry, Meek.
10. âToo Muchâ Feat. Sampha (Nothing Was The Same, 2013)
Drake has never shied away from detailing his personal life, but âToo Muchâ took it to a deeper level. He ripped off the curtain that previously hid the growing tension within his family, with Samphaâs soulful hook used as a salve to somehow ease the pain. But Drake canât hold it back any longer, his voice tightening up as he goes in on the second verse: âMoney got my whole family going backwards / No dinners, no holidays, no nothingâ and âI hate the fact my mom cooped up in her apartment / Telling herself that sheâs too sick to get dressed up and go do shit.â When he says he didnât sign up for this, you almost question if heâs willing to throw it all away for the sake of maintaining his sanity.
9. âDo Not Disturbâ (More Life, 2017)
Also referred to as â7 AM In Germanyâ, this More Life cut is an unofficial entry in Drakeâs âAM/PMâ series. It has all the elements we love: sneak disses (the Tory Lanez-directed âYou overnight celebrity, you one day starâ), introspective and free-flowing rhymes (his mindset while recording Views is telling), and a distorted R&B sample (Snoh Aalegraâs 2017 âTimeâ). Similar to â6PM In New Yorkâ closing IYRTITL in a confident manner, âDo Not Disturbâ closes the party track-heavy More Life with pensive thoughts. âTaking summer off, âcause they tell me I need recovery / Maybe gettinâ back to my regular life will humble me / Iâll be back 2018 to give you the summary,â he revealed in the closing lines. We all need a break sometimes.
8. âPound Cake / Paris Morton Music 2â Feat. Jay-Z (Nothing Was The Same, 2013)
Drake and Jay-Zâs third collaboration, following 2009âs âOff Thatâ and 2010âs âLight Up,â is their most luxurious. Itâs the perfect champagne toast to close Nothing Was The Same, serving as a congratulatory moment for Drake not only securing yet another team-up with his idol, but also matching his lyrical finesse while reveling in the fact that heâs the new leader of rapâs new generation. âNothing was the same, dawg,â he assures on the songâs final moments. And nearly a decade later, itâs foolish to argue otherwise.
7. âTuscan Leatherâ (Nothing Was The Same, 2013)
âHow much time is this n**** spendinâ on the intro?â Six minutes and six seconds, to be exact. 40 and Boi-1da try their hand at chipmunk soul, evoking the energy of the Roc-A-Fella glory days with a high-pitched sample of Whitney Houstonâs âI Have Nothing.â Drake uses every crevice of the mutating production to his advantage, rapping with a newfound confidence following the glowing release of Take Care. In the same breath, he has nothing else and so much left to prove to the world. He knew it too: âThis is nothing for the radio, but theyâll still play it though / âCause itâs that new Drizzy Drake, thatâs just the way it go.â
6. â5 AM In Torontoâ (Care Package, 2019)
Drake began his âAM/PMâ song series with 2010âs â9 AM in Dallas,â thus kicking off a selection of introspective longform raps attributed to wherever his mindset happened to be during a specific timezone. â5 AM In Toronto,â released ahead of 2013âs Nothing Was The Same, is a warning shot as he fully settles into his arrogance while calling out the entire rap game. âGive these n****s the look, the verse, and even the hook / Thatâs why every song sound like Drake featuring Drake,â he spits, fully settling into the villain role that peers placed him in. He even smokes a blunt in the video just for the hell of it (something he rarely did in public at the time), proving that he was on another level.
5. âNice For Whatâ (Scorpion, 2018)
As the superstar entered his 30s, he began writing his previous wrongs of lyrical gaslighting by crafting an empowering anthem specifically for women. Released at the height of the #MeToo movement, âNice For Whatâ captured womenâs frustrations with a society that didnât support us: âYou gotta be nice for WHAT to these n***as?â Laid atop a New Orleans bounce-inspired beat, with Big Freediaâs in-your-face adlibs and Lauryn Hillâs âEx-Factorâ sample coursing throughout, âNice For Whatâ reminded us to hold our chin up, shake our ass if we felt like it and raise a glass to post-relationship liberation. The female-directed video further cemented this notion with appearances from Olivia Wilde, Issa Rae, Tracee Ellis Ross, Tiffany Haddish, and more. We were now unapologetically free. And Drake genuinely admired us from the sidelines.
4. â0 to 100 / The Catch Upâ (non-album single, 2014)
Drake wasted zero time setting the tone for this one: âF*ck being on some chill sh*t.â From there, he goes in, unleashing bar after bar discussing everything from his deadbeat father, 40âs health issues, his bevy of groupies, and that signature cockiness (âI been Steph Curry with the shot / Been cooking with the sauce, Chef Curry with the pot, boy / 360 with the wrist, boyâ). After leaving you in a headspin, he catches his breath in the second half and calmly details how he and his crew will continue to rule the upcoming year. He stuck to his word, surprise-dropping the If Youâre Reading This Itâs Too Late chart-topper.
âDiss me and youâll never hear a reply for it,â Drake maintained on So Far Goneâs âSuccessful.â Well, he obviously hasnât been a man of his word, and weâre oh-so grateful for it. Leave it to Drake to pull off scoring a Top 40, Grammy-nominated diss song, which is the better half of âCharged Up.â Aiming for Meek Millâs head, he got oh-so flagrant with literal back to back insults, from âIs that a world tour or your girlâs tour?â to âTrigger fingers turn to Twitter fingers / You getting bodied by a singing n****.â âBack To Backâ is one of the millennial eraâs best diss tracks, not just because of the lyrical shots, but what it meant for hip-hopâs social media generation. Similar to how Jay-Z put Mobb Deepâs Prodigy on the Summer Jam screen while performing âTakeoverâ in 2001, Drake opted to share viral memes during 2015âs OVO Fest headlining set. It was equally scathing and hilarious, a formula thatâs still being replicated to this day.
1. âWorst Behaviorâ (Nothing Was The Same, 2013)
âSH*T!â Not the song you expected, right? Well, you have to travel back a few years to fully get the picture. Itâs 2013 and Drake was completely fed up with everyone underestimating his skills as a rapper, with most branding him as too soft, sensitive, or corny. He brilliantly transformed that vitriol into furious gold. The tune purposefully skips, distorts, and bends its back so far that itâs almost tormenting to listen to â but thatâs the genius of it. Drake gets absolutely manic in a way that weâve never heard him before, yelling into the microphone as he channels Eminemâs signature anger: âThey used to never want to hear us, remember?/ Motherf*cker never loved us, REMEMBER? MOTHERF*CKER!â He really hasnât let up since âWorst Behavior,â doing everything from breaking chart records, earning more Grammy wins, getting into multiple kinds of beef and winning (depending on who you ask), becoming a dad and successful businessman. But he did predict that all of this was coming. Remember?
Finding the best value-for-dollar Scotch whisky is no easy task. The juice from Scotland is just flat-out more expensive on the U.S. side of the pond than it is over in Europe. That makes value pretty damn important, but that also makes it pretty freakinâ subjective.
There are so many pre-conceived conceptions about the preciousness of Scotch whisky that itâs hard to really know whatâs what sometimes. For instance, there are plenty of single malts Scotch whiskies that are mediocre at best. At the same time, there are plenty of blended Scotch whiskies that blow some single malts out of the water. That means something labeled âsingle maltâ isnât always going to be worth your time or money. Likewise, just because something is labeled âblendedâ doesnât mean itâs bad.
To that end, weâre calling out ten (plus one) Scotch whiskies â both blended and single malts, peated and unpeatedâ that we think are worth more than the sum on their price tags. What weâre looking for is a balance of uniqueness, availability, and delicious flavor notes. Itâs an interesting balancing act but not an impossible one.
As always, if you want to try any of these yourself, click on the prices!
Also Read: The Top 5 UPROXX Scotch Whisky Posts of 2021
This might be one of the most âclassicâ Islay smoky whiskies on the shelf. The craft behind this whisky is a blend of the unique Islay peat (used to smoke the malts) and the influence of the sea, which laps at the distilleryâs outer walls.
Tasting Notes:
The smoke is what greets you with a hint of fruity wood, creating an almost sweet smoke next to a hint of anise and maybe some Band-Aid scent (not in a bad way!). The palate holds onto the smoke while adding a wet seaweed brininess next to hints of vanilla cream, peppery spice, and soft oak. The end really amps up the smokiness while holding onto the iodine of the sea with a final note of salted toffee.
Value For Dollar:
When it comes to Islay peated malts, the sky is the limit in price and variation of flavors. Laphroaig 10 remains the damn-near perfect entry point to the islandâs vibe while being inexpensive enough to just try. A $50 bottle of booze isnât special enough to be precious about (ever).
Moreover, if youâre curious about iodine-heavy peat monsters, this is the right way to plunge into that category.
This is an entry whisky not only to Speyside but to single malts in general. The juice is aged in a combination of used American and European oak before itâs married, rested, proofed with Speysideâs iconic water, and bottled.
Tasting Notes:
This dram is creamy like a vanilla pudding with a bright pear orchard and some mild toffee. That leads towards a very easy and soft woodiness with a touch of candied pear and more vanilla cream. Itâs also very light and approachable while still feeling like a solid whisky.
Value For Dollar:
On the flip side of the above, a powerfully sweet and fruity single malt is also a necessary stepping stone to understanding all that Scotlandâs whisky scene has to offer. This expression from Speyside over-delivers on the palate, with a refinement thatâs not seen in bottles twice this price. Again, donât be precious about a $50 bottle of scotch. Experiment with this. Try it neat, with water, on the rocks, in a highball, in your favorite cocktail, in your coffee, drink it however you like to drink whisky.
This Speyside blend is crafted as a workhorse whisky. The juice is drawn from the William Grant & Sons distilleries, focusing on Kininvie, Glenfiddich, and The Balvenie. The juice is then rested for up to six months after blending to let it mellow even more before proofing and bottling.
Tasting Notes:
Thereâs a nice welcoming note of creamy vanilla that almost becomes cream soda, next to hints of zesty orange marmalade, malts, and dark spices. The taste delivers on those notes by amping the spices up to Christmas cake territory with a slight tart berry edge next to that cream soda sweetness. The end is short and sweet with a nice lightness that really makes this very drinkable.
Value For Dollar:
This feels like a great way to get a vibe for more expensive single malts from Glenfiddich and the iconic and much-sought-after The Balvenie (more on that later). And thatâs the beauty of these blends, youâre getting an introduction to other scotches by drinking the blends made from those more expensive and iconic brands.
Look at it this way, The Balvenie generally starts at $50 to $60 per bottle (depending on your stateâs taxes). Youâre getting a taste of that for almost half the price here.
This whisky from the very popular Famous Grouse is a dialed-in expression. The juice in the bottle is a blend of sherry-cask-finished whiskies from The Macallan and Highland Park. The whisky is then cut down to a very accessible 80 proof and then bottled in a nicely understated bottle.
Tasting Notes:
Thereâs a sweet malt buried under a buttery scone dripping with raspberry jam with a touch of light spice lurking in the background. The sherry really kicks in on the palate with big notes of dates soaked in black tea next to creamy caramel, vanilla cake, and a touch of dry raisins. The end doesnât overstay its welcome and leaves you with a lovley note of chocolate-covered cherries with a sweet/dry vibe.
Value For Dollar:
The Macallan is one of the most sought-after and perhaps over-hyped scotches in the game. An entry point 12-year bottle is going to start around $70 (at least) per bottle. Then thereâs the Highland Park juice in this blend (which has a similar entry price point). Itâs another excellent single malt. You could get a bottle of each for around $140 and blend them yourself. Or you could buy this bottle for around $35 and enjoy the hell out of it in your next highball.
Of course, the juice in this blend isnât exactly The Macallan and Highland Park 12, but⊠you get the point.
Imagine slow-smoked peaches, soft cherrywood on fire, and singed sage. That nose leads towards buttery but almost burnt toffee with hints of egg nog spices, savory leafy green veg with a bit of dirt, walnut shells, black tea, and a little bit of pancake syrup (the high fructose corn syrup kind). The finish is long, has hits of black licorice, and really brings the soft yet sweet smoke with an almost meat smoker edge.
Value For Dollar:
This is where things get interesting on Isaly for peat lovers. Ardbeg is a tiny, bespoke distillery that has limited release bottles that stretch to astronomical price points. But they also have incredibly solid peated malts that stay at a price point and anyone can enjoy. Their An Oa is a special malt that non-peat whisky drinkers even enjoy every now and then.
Moreover, there are Islay bottles that are younger and harsher than this that cost ten times as much (at least). Not going to name names but just sayinâ.
This dram from Glenmorangie is a much-loved Highland malt. The juice is matured in ex-bourbon barrels for an undisclosed number of years. The whisky is then transferred to French Sauternes barrels which held sweet dessert wines where it spends two more years finishing.
Tasting Notes:
This has that classic âshortbread cut with lemon and vanillaâ vibe that makes some single malts so approachable. The sip has a buttery toffee nature thatâs layered with subtle oak, mild brown spices, and more fruits tied into a creamy pudding body. The spice then leans a little towards ginger with that buttery shortbread as it slowly fades out.
Value For Dollar:
Back to the sweet side of Scotlandâs tipple, this is where special finishing casking comes into play. While the entry point Glenmorangie is always a delight, especially in highballs, this dessert cask finished whisky has that extra layer of depth and flavor that helps it stand above so many other bottles with the same finish. Yes, itâs a little pricier than some of the other bottles, but itâs really hard to find another finish like this thatâs this damn good.
The Balvenie is renowned for doing everything in-house from grain to glass and for being the distillery that spearheaded the whole âfinishing whisky in a different caskâ movement. In this case, the juice spends 14 years maturing in ex-bourbon barrels. The whisky is then batched and transferred to barrels that The Balvenie aged their own blend of West Indies rum in.
Tasting Notes:
Thereâs a welcoming rush of buttery toffee up top with hints at brown spices, bright red berries, and a touch of sweet malts. The palate brings around creamy vanilla dotted with those sweet and slightly tart red berries next to a very soft and sweet oakiness. The finish is medium-length and full of soft wood, vanilla cream, and a touch of that spice.
Value For Dollar:
The Balvenie is one of those brands thatâs both legendary and delivers every time, helping to keep them legendary. That also means that you can get priced out pretty darn fast with this brand. When it comes to this expression, it has two things going for it. One, itâs probably the best rum-finished scotch, period. Two, it costs under $100. Those are wins, people.
This bottle could easily cost $150 and no one would bat an eye.
Chivas is renowned for its iconic blended whisky. This expression â originally created for the Japanese market and released in the U.S. in 2019 â adds a unique dimension to the classic blend. A portion of the whisky is finished in Japanese Mizunara casks, adding a layer of nuanced flavors to the standard Chivas.
Tasting Notes:
Thereâs serious fruit up top with hints of ripe pear next to almost spicy orange zest, leather, and soft wood. That spice becomes the backbone of the sip as subtle notes of fatty nuts mingle with more fruit and a moment of honey-soaked oak. The end holds onto the spiciness with a velvet texture and sweet pear on a medium-length finish.
Value For Dollar:
Mizunara casks are some of the most sought-after barrels in the whole whisk(e)y game. Letâs keep this simple, the fact that you can get a whisky thatâs touched by these super rare casks for $50 is phenomenal (though not unheard of). The kicker with this bottle is that youâre still getting the ultra-refined Chivas blend at the base of this bottle.
Itâs a great combination at a great price point.
The 2020 Distillers Edition is a classic Talisker, aged by the sea, thatâs finished for six months in Amoroso sherry casks. The whisky was distilled in 2007 and bottled at ten years old. It was then held in the bottle for three years, resting, before its 2020 release.
Tasting Notes:
The nose runs deep on this whisky with mild hints of beachside campfire smoke whispering in the background as hints of red fruit, wet driftwood, and green peppercorns draw you in. The palate embraces the red berries with a slight tartness next to the sweetness as the peat remains dry and distant and tied to the brine of the sea with an almost oyster liquor softness. The finish lingers for just the right amount of time as sweet berries and dry peat lead towards soft dark cacao powder with a tiny note of vanilla and one last spray from the sea.
Value For Dollar:
Talisker is a tiny distillery, nestled on the sea â seriously, their barrel warehouse is smaller than some whiskey visitors centers in Kentucky. Itâs so refined and unique thatâs it wild that any bottle of Talisker is under $100 in the U.S. (and, yes, this bottle sometimes reaches above that price point). Still, this is a limited released from a tiny distillery with a special cask finishing for less than most limited edition American whiskeys from huge conglomerate distilleries.
Youâre getting something truly bespoke and delicious from over the hills and far away for $90. Come on!
The blend is a âpure maltâ blended whisky, meaning that itâs made only with single malts (usually blended scotch is made with both grain and malt whisky). In this case, the juice is pulled from all over Scotland with a focus on Speyside, Highland, Lowland, and Island malts, including a minimum of 15-year-old Talisker, Caol Ila, Cragganmore, and Linkwood.
Tasting Notes:
This sip draws you in with the smells of an old, soft cedar box thatâs held black pepper, sweet fruits, and oily vanilla pods next to a hint of green grass. The taste really holds onto the cedar as the fruits lean tropical with a hint of dried roses pinging in the background. The end builds on that by adding a note of spicy tobacco, a splash of sea spray, and a distant billow of campfire smoke.
Value For Dollar:
The fact that whiskies at least 15 years old from Talisker, Caol Ila, Cragganmore, and Linkwood are all present in this bottle and it doesnât at least cost $100 is kind of mind-boggling. For comparisonâs sake, a Talisker 18 will set you back close to $200. Hell, a Caol Ila 15-year costs around $160. The point is, there are phenomenal whiskies in this blend and it only costs $65 (or less depending on where you are).
The lionâs share of this blend â 45 percent â comes from a single grain whisky aged in ex-bourbon from Cameronbridge Distillery. 22 percent is a single malt aged in ex-bourbon that comes from Linkwood Distillery. The rest is a mix of French oak and ex-bourbon single malts and blended malts from the Highlands, Clyneilish, Linkwood, and Balmenach. Those whiskies are vatted and then proofed down before bottling.
Tasting Notes:
This opens with a very clear and concise note of apple candy with a hint of salted caramel ice cream cut with a touch of eggnog spices. Thereâs a nice maltiness that leans into a creamy vanilla, soft holiday spice mix, butter toffee, and a hint of milk chocolate near the end. The finish is warming with a whisper of tobacco next to a woody apple, spice candies (maybe ginger), and a final hint of cocoa and caramel.
Value For Dollar:
While all of the above blends are built from distilleries within the parent companyâs portfolio, Compass Box gets to have the best of all worlds. They source their barrels from every distillery they can in Scotland, regardless of who owns them. That means youâre getting a true blend of Scottish whiskies that very few other blenderies are doing. That alone almost makes these blends invaluable when looking at the big picture of blended whisky in Scotland.
Plus, this juice is just delicious.
As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.
Of the roughly 600 people whoâve been arrested in connection with the Capitol storming on Jan. 6, one has stuck out above all: Jacob Chansley, aka Jake Angeli, aka the QAnon Shaman. He was shirtless, adorned in tattoos, his face painted like the American flag, and had a horned helmet atop his head. He spent most of his tenure inside the building howling. He also quickly turned on Trump, in between begging for vegan prison meals. Now, almost nine months after the incident, heâs found some closure.
As per HuffPost, Chansley has reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors. Details have not yet been revealed, but his hearing is scheduled for Friday, with a virtual press conference to be held after. But thereâs more: Heâs also turned on his nickname-sake, wishing to no longer be associated with the movement that has destroyed so many minds.
âMr. Chansley, a long avowed and practicing Shaman, has repudiated the âQâ previously assigned to him and requests future references to him be devoid of use of the letter âQâ,â his lawyer, Albert Watkins, said in a statement.
Watkins is famous in his own right, having described his client and other Jan. 6 rioters in comically blunt fashion. He said they âdrank the Kool-Aidâ and called them âf*cking short bus people.â But with Chansley and other non-violent Capitol stormers, heâs asking for âpatience and compassion,â saying that they had âgenuine mental health issues which rendered them more vulnerable to the propaganda of the day but who, at the end of day, seek to be accountable for their actions.â
Chansley has been charged with âknowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, and with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.â Itâs not clear how much time he could face, especially considering, unlike most who took part in the siege, heâs spent most of the last nine months behind bars.
Eminem has debuted a new capsule collection of streetwear in collaboration with Gen-Z designer Millinsky.
Teasing the collection, which celebrates the rapperâs career highlights, Em shared a video on his socials set to the Music To Be Murdered By: Side B song âDiscombobulated.â âLetâs take âem back / In time,â he captioned. Millinsky shared his own promotional video on Instagram, posting the message, âMusic through design. Canât wait to share with you my latest collaboration with @eminem. Pieces available on Eminemâs official website on September 2nd.â
The collection itself consists of short-sleeve and long-sleeve T-shirts, hoodies, and baseball caps that say career-spanning phrases from Eminem like, âHi, My Name is Slim Shady,â âGuess Whoâs Back,â âIâm Infinite,â and âSlim Shady,â Ranging in price from $25 to $50, the pieces are available for purchase here.
âIâve always loved music, but I donât think it had a specific impact on the creation of the pieces themselves in the beginning,â Millinsky recently explained to Thred. âI think in the music industry right now â and this has been the case for a decade or so â musicians tend to care more about how they dress than athletes and actors so itâs easier to get musicians on board to wear cool stuff. Rihanna specifically is always style-forward. For us to have her buy the product and actually wear it was monumental. It had a snowball effect.â
Nelly is fresh off of the release of his Heartland EP but heâs already working on its follow-up â this time, with a twist. While the hook for Heartland was its collection of collaborations with standout country acts including Darius Rucker, Florida Georgia Line, Jimmie Allen, and Kane Brown, the next installment in the Heartland series will see him collaborate exclusively with women.
âThis album here, weâre looking at the first part of a two-part series,â Nelly explained in an interview with Country Now. âIf you look at this one, there is no female representation on this album. So, part one was me with the guys, and part two will be with the ladies of country music.â
While he doesnât mention specific artists, he does point out the impact and growth women have seen within the genre recently. âThe women of country, they are fierce,â he said. âWhen I am with the guys, we are kegging, beering, trucking, smoking, and hanging out. Iâm going to have to bring my A-game pretty much when it comes to dealing with the ladies because they are not going to play around with Nelly. They are going to bring it, and I am definitely looking forward to it.â
To ensure an authentic vibe, Nelly said heâs looking to collaborate in person at a property in Nashville. âI am real estate hunting in Nashville,â he admitted. âI think Iâm more of a downtown Nashville kind of guy. I wouldnât mind taking up a whole floor of one of the buildings somewhere.â He expects the project to take a while to finish due to safety protocols but is eager to get started. âI know weâre still trying to get around the [health] issue, and everybodyâs still trying to make sure that we are all respecting one another and itâs safety first,â he noted. âIf it werenât for that, I would be in Nashville right now trying to cram it out.â
You can read the full profile on Nelly in Country Nowhere.
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