Drake Reportedly Wrote Hook on Kanye West's 'Yikes'

Drake
Rapper Drake reportedly wasn't given credit for writing Kanye West's "Yikes." Here, Drake is pictured at the International Champions Cup soccer match between Manchester City against Manchester United at NRG Stadium on July 20, 2017... Aaron M. Sprecher/AFP/Getty Images

Grammy-winning rapper Drake reportedly contributed to fellow artist Kanye West's controversial track "Yikes," but he wasn't given credit for helping.

"Yikes" is the second song from West's newly released seven-track record, Ye. West is credited for penning the song's lyrics alongside Mike Dean, James Mbarack Achieng, and Ayub Ogada. Hot 97's Ebro Darden and Peter Rosenberg confirmed Monday that Drake, 31, reportedly helped to pen the song's hook.

"It's now a confirmed thing that Drake wrote the hook for 'Yikes,'" Rosenberg said. "It may be the best melody on the album when you go listen to it. You'll hear it now and go, 'Oh, that does sound really good, I get that."

Added Rosenberg, "They didn't credit him, they said they like forgot. They left him off, he doesn't have a writing credit, interesting timing to forget the writing credit."

"Yikes" is among the album's most revealing tracks because it details West's bipolar disorder diagnosis. "That's my third person. That's my bipolar s—t, n—a what? That's my superpower, n—a, ain't no disability," West, 40, raps. "I'm a superhero! I'm a superhero!" West further addressed his mental condition, which he was diagnosed with at 39, on the album's cover art. The album art depicts a mountain range behind handwritten highlighter green wording, reading: "I hate being Bi-Polar. It's awesome."

Drake hasn't responded to the news, but the Canadian rapper has hinted at helping West before. On Drake's "Duppy Freestyle," the Pusha T diss track additionally appears to slam West for needing his assistance. "If you rebuke me for workin' with someone else on a couple of Vs, what do you really think of the n—a that's makin' your beats? I've done things for him I thought that he never would need," Drake raps. "Father had to stretch his hands out and get it from me."

The "Gold Digger" rapper, however, aimed to put the pair's feud to rest upon the release of Drake's "Duppy Freestyle." "I've never been about beef. I'm about love," West tweeted Saturday. "Lines were crossed and it's not good for anyone so this is dead now."

Uncommon Knowledge

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

About the writer


Dory Jackson is a New York-based entertainment journalist from Maryland. She graduated from Randolph-Macon College—in May 2016—with a focus in Communication ... Read more

To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.

Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek magazine delivered to your door
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go
Newsweek cover
  • Newsweek Voices: Diverse audio opinions
  • Enjoy ad-free browsing on Newsweek.com
  • Comment on articles
  • Newsweek app updates on-the-go