What Drake Really Means When He Talks About “Woe”

Hint: Working On Excellence

February 13, 2015

Drake is not shy about exercising his heartache and despair in his music. Accordingly, the hook from "Know Yourself"—running through the 6 with my woes—might well conjour an image of Sad Aubrey riding through his hometown at 5 AM, replaying old voicemails, or something of that sort. But "woe" may carry a second meaning here: working on excellence. Toronto rapper, producer, and loose OVO Sound affiliate Devontée broke down the meaning behind those three letters in an interview with Noisey. He says:

"Woe is my crew. It stands for 'working on excellence.' It's just my whole brand and my whole movement and my way of life for everyone. I want everyone to work on excellence. So, all my friends are my Woes and I feel anybody working on excellence in life is a Woe in life as well."

So, when Drake says sings—bellows, really— WOE! he's scheming. You know how that shit go.

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Photo credit: Ian Gavan/Getty Images

What Drake Really Means When He Talks About “Woe”