From Time
Featuring Jhene Aiko
"From Time" is one of the most emotionally exposed songs on Nothing Was the Same, a duet with Jhené Aiko whose recurring hook about love and self-worth frames Drake's confessional verses. It is produced by Noah "40" Shebib, who is credited with instrumentation; the album's liner notes also credit Chilly Gonzales with piano and Chilly Gonzales-associated keyboardist work, giving the track its spare, late-night chamber feel. Drake addresses his strained relationship with his father, his anxieties about commitment, and a specific past relationship, dropping much of his usual deflection. Critics and fans widely read the song as the emotional center of the album — the place where the bravado fully gives way to autobiography. Aiko's soft, conversational vocal functions as both counterpoint and confidant, turning the track into something closer to a dialogue than a guest feature. It is consistently cited among Drake's most personal recordings and a key example of how the album balanced its harder rap statements with deeply interior writing.
Sources & verification
Citations below were matched specifically to "From Time" and Nothing Was the Same. Drake Universe catalogs songs by album placement, verified collaborators, producers, samples, and themes, and avoids unsupported lyric-level claims.
- Genius: Drake 'The Language' lyricsGenius · 2013-09-24 — Primary track page for the Nothing Was the Same cut widely read as subliminal.
- Billboard: Drake — Nothing Was The Same coverBillboard · 2013-08-22 — Billboard cover story for the 2013 print interview.
- Complex: Drake — Nothing Was The Same coverComplex · 2013-08-12 — Complex cover story tied to Nothing Was The Same.
- Vibe: Drake — Nothing Was The Same coverVibe · 2013-10-01 — Vibe cover story tied to Nothing Was The Same.
- Wikipedia: Nothing Was the SameWikipedia · 2026-05-18 — Album-level reference for liner-note personnel, sample credits, single chronology, chart peaks, sales (658,000 first week), 6x platinum certification, and critical reception used in the NWTS editorial pass.
- Drake — The Motion (Genius)Genius · 2026-05-18 — Confirms 2013 SoundCloud release, Best Buy deluxe bonus-track status for Nothing Was the Same, and Sampha co-production/vocals.
- Drake — 5AM in Toronto (Genius)Genius · 2026-05-18 — Confirms March 7, 2013 release as '9AM in Dallas' sequel ahead of Nothing Was the Same, Boi-1da/Vinylz credits, Lou Donaldson sample.
