The Motto (Drake song)

Music video

The music video for the remix version featuring American rapper Tyga was filmed in San Francisco, California. It was dedicated to West Coast hip hop Bay Area artist Mac Dre. The original music video for the song features an appearance from Mac Dre's mother Wanda Salvatto.

Remixes and freestyles

• Drake, featuring Lil Wayne & Tyga (Official remix)
• YG, Nipsey Hussle and Snoop Dogg
• Nelly (Released through the mixtape O.E.MO)
• Jeremih
• Mario
• Tinie Tempah Christmas Freestyle
• Young Jeezy and Freddie Gibbs
• Wale and Meek Mill
• Wiz Khalifa, Juicy J, Berner
• Nekfeu, Alpha Wann, Sneazzy West (1995) (France)

Cultural impact

The song uses the phrase YOLO, an acronym for "you only live once". The phrase can be seen in youth culture: for example, a high school prank in Chicago, Illinois, involved high school students chanting "YOLO." Some people have graffitied YOLO on walls. It had become a popular Twitter hashtag by the end of the following year. Some youth at the time had said that it was their motto for some time.

The hip-hop magazine Da South reported that the rapper Lecrae has deconstructed the motto YOLO in his answer song "No Regrets". The Washington Post describes YOLO as "the newest acronym you'll love to hate". The Huffington Post says: "YOLO is dumb."

The phrase "you only live once" is commonly attributed to Mae West, but variations of the phrase have been in use for over 100 years, including as far back as (the German equivalent of) "one lives but once in the world" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in the play Clavigo in 1774, and as the title of a waltz Man lebt nur einmal! ("You Only Live Once!") by Johann Strauss II in 1855.

Accolades

The song received a nomination at the 2013 Grammy Awards.

Chart performance

The song debuted at number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with first-week sales of 124,000. In its 22nd week, it ascended to number 14. On the week of February 18, 2012, "The Motto" reached number one on the US Rap Chart making it his 12th number one on the chart and extending his lead as the artist with the most number one hits since the chart began. As of April 2013, the song has sold 3,113,000 copies in the United States.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

References

References

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3. (November 2011). "Drake Feat. Lil Wayne – The Motto". October's Very Own.
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5. (10 February 2012). "The Motto (Explicit) – Drake ft. Lil Wayne, Tyga". VEVO.
6. (April 6, 2012). "#YOLO: The newest acronym you'll love to hate". The Washington Post.
7. (2 November 2011). "New Music: Tyga "The Motto (Remix)"". Rap Radar.
8. (29 November 2011). "New Music: YG, Nipsey Hussle, & Snoop Dogg "The Motto (Remix)"". Rap Radar.
9. (20 December 2011). "Nelly – The Motto (Remix)". YouTube.
10. (27 December 2011). "New Music: Jeremih "The Motto (Remix)"". Rap Radar.
11. "New Music: Mario "The Motto (Remix)"". Rap Radar.
12. "Young Jeezy & Freddie Gibbs – The Motto (Remix)". Nah Right.
13. "Wale & Meek Mill – The Motto (Remix)". Rap Radar.
14. (26 January 2012). "1995 – The Motto Remix (Nekfeu x Sneazzy x Alpha Wann)". Youtube.
15. (13 February 2012). "Drake – The Motto ft. Lil Wayne & Tyga".
16. Wright, Sharon. (June 1, 2012). "Student Arrested Following Conant High School Senior Prank". NBC Chicago.
17. (January 6, 2012). "Students lose prom, graduation privileges after senior prank". DailyHerald.com.
18. Express-Times File Photo. (2012-05-29). "Clinton police: Two men spray-paint profanity, 'YOLO' on town structures". lehighvalleylive.com.
19. (May 31, 2012). "Middle School Boys Accused Of Spray-Painting Homes, Destroying Water Fountain | WBNS-10TV Columbus, Ohio". 10tv.com.
20. (June 1, 2012). "Parents, Students: Hoffman Estates School Overreacted To Senior Prank « CBS Chicago". Chicago.cbslocal.com.
21. Swanson, Mirjam. (May 18, 2012). "TRACK AND FIELD: Mitchells making most of it | Breaking News | PE.com – Press-Enterprise". PE.com.
22. "Class of 2012 calls it a year".
23. Hill, Kellus. (14 May 2012). "Lecrae – Church Clothes". Da South.
24. Judkis, Maura. (February 25, 2011). "#YOLO: The newest acronym you'll love to hate – The Style Blog". The Washington Post.
25. (May 17, 2012). "The Black Sheep Online: YOLO: The Evolution Of The Acronym". Huffingtonpost.com.
26. Clare Conville. (2011-11-03). "Dangerous Women: The Guide to Modern Life". Orion.
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28. (May 24, 2012). "You Only Live Once – YOLO". Quote Investigator.
29. "Johann Wolfgang von Goethe". Qikiqoute.
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32. "Hot 100". Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
33. Grein, Paul. (9 October 2013). "Week Ending Oct. 6, 2013. Songs: Adele Reaches A Milestone". Yahoo.
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40. "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2012".
41. "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access Music Group.
42. "Urban Future Releases". All Access Music Group.
43. "CHR – Available for Airplay Archive". [[FMQB]].
44. (April 6, 2012). "The Motto (feat. Lil Wayne & Tyga) – Single by Drake". [[iTunes]].