Fancy

Featuring T.I., Swizz Beatz

Fancy is one of Thank Me Later's most polished club-oriented tracks, an ode to women who spend hours primping for the nightlife, pairing Drake with T.I. and Swizz Beatz. Produced by Swizz Beatz with co-producer Noah "40" Shebib, it samples Ace Spectrum's "I Don't Want to Play Around" and has an unusual backstory: the song was originally intended for Mary J. Blige's album Stronger with Each Tear, missed its deadline, and was rerouted to Drake — Blige's vocals were kept as uncredited backing harmonies, and she later performed it live in T.I.'s place. The star-laden guest list signaled the major-label muscle behind Drake's debut and broadened its sonic palette toward radio polish. As a notable album track it functions as a glossy counterpoint to the record's heavier introspection, and its theme of celebrating women's self-presentation became a recurring motif across Drake's catalog.