Wu-Tang Forever
"Wu-Tang Forever" takes its title and central phrase from the Wu-Tang Clan and repurposes the reference into something unexpectedly intimate — a song less about the legendary group than about exclusive devotion to one woman. It is produced by Noah "40" Shebib and, per the album's liner notes, contains a sample of the Wu-Tang Clan's "It's Yourz" (from their 1997 double album Wu-Tang Forever) plus a sample credited to Zodiac Beats. Drake released it on September 12, 2013 as a promotional single alongside the album's iTunes pre-order. The track is widely read as emblematic of Nothing Was the Same's method: using hardcore-rap signifiers and homage as scaffolding for atmospheric, melodic songs. Its murky, slow-building 40 production made it a durable fan favorite and frequent live cut, and the recontextualization of a Wu-Tang phrase into a relationship song drew commentary at the time — Wu-Tang's U-God told Vibe that several Clan members, including himself and Method Man, had recorded a remix. That conversation only sharpened the song's identity as Drake's signature inversion move.
Sources & verification
Citations below were matched specifically to "Wu-Tang Forever" 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.
