Hotline Bling. This song has taken over, it's no doubt. Since the song came out the end of July 2015, I will admit that I have heard it from one source or another almost every day. There have been slews of covers from both famous artists and YouTubers, alike. It really took off, though, when Drake premiered the neon colored video with his now iconic dance moves. The meme-loving world went bonkers.
It's become a fact of life that you just can't escape this song. And I love it. But let me tell you, the more I listened to this song, the less I felt sorry for Drake.
You see, Drake's been bitten by the jealousy bug, but he doesn't really have much of a leg to stand on if you really think about the lyrics. We've all felt it. You see someone who you to be with out having fun in their new life without you. It sucks. I get it, but Drake, you need to chill.
See, she used to be there at his every beck and booty call (i.e. "Hotline Bling"), and now she's out living life not needing his love anymore. And that's tough to accept. But Drake is not blameless here. After all, he admits that he "left the city." What was she supposed to do, sit around and pout? No, homegirl picked herself up when he left, and she moved on with her life. Drake, you walked out on her, so you really don't have room to be mad that she's in the club with some girls you've never seen before. She made friends while you were gone. Props to her.
See, another issue I have with Drake is the fact that he seems to feel possession over this young woman because they once were late night comrades. I understand these bonds of love are strong, but it's not really his place to make her feel bad about the decisions she's making, as she is a grown, independent woman. She has a reputation now, and that's got you feeling left out? You left her, she found some new guys. Quit your whining. She started wearing less and going out more? Girl's just trying to have fun. She's not just going to sit around in PJs and wish you would come back to her. She used to stay at home and be a good girl? Because living a life that makes her happy and just so doesn't happen to involve you after you walked out makes her bad? Drake, don't even get me started on how wrong this is. She got exactly what she asked for running out of pages in her passport? GIRL, GET IT! CHASE THOSE DREAMS!
There is unquestionably a double standard here, where it's OK for Drake to go out and do what he wants, but this young woman must live within the confines of society's (and Drake's, apparently) image of the "good girl," unless she's with Drake. According to him, she doesn't need anybody else, anyway. Yeah, OK.
All I can really say is that homegirl should keep killing it at life, and Drake needs to grow up a little bit. Maybe if you find someone worth sticking around for, you actually do that? You'll obviously regret it if you don't. But no matter what happens, it's never your place to shame someone for the decisions they make.