Stay Schemin' Explained

Stay Schemin'
Cover:Rick Ross Stay Schemin.png
Type:single
Artist:Rick Ross featuring Drake and French Montana
Album:Rich Forever
Released:April 17, 2012[1]
Recorded:2011
Genre:Trap
Length:4:28
Label:
Producer:The Beat Bully
Chronology:Rick Ross
Prev Title:Why
Prev Year:2012
Next Title:Lemme See
Next Year:2012

"Stay Schemin'" is a song by American rapper Rick Ross featuring Drake and French Montana, released as a single from his 2012 mixtape Rich Forever. The track was released as a digital download from iTunes on April 17, 2012. It is a hip hop song that interpolates its chorus, sung by French Montana, from an unreleased Nas song titled "Day Dreamin, Stay Schemin", which covers the Kurtis Blow song, "Daydreamin'", with new lyrics.

Background

The song is said to be the response to rapper Common after he allegedly dissed Drake on a track titled "Sweet", which was the third single from his album The Dreamer/The Believer. Drake has stated that "Stay Schemin'" is directed at Common.[2] Common responded to "Stay Schemin'" with a remix that featured the original verses from Rick Ross and Drake as well as a new verse from him. Common called out Drake by name on the track, calling him among other things such as Canada Dry. Common ended the song with "Say My Name", a song originally sung by Destiny's Child that Drake has sung live previously as a way to coax Drake into using Common's name in his diss tracks. The album artwork released by Common refers to Drake as "That Hoe Ass Nigga".[3]

Music video

The video for the song was released on January 6, 2012.[4] The video features Rick Ross cruising through Miami in a Phantom, and Maybach alongside Drake and French Montana. Meek Mill and DJ Khaled also make appearances. The video was directed by Spiff TV for Maybach Films.[5]

Critical reception

"Stay Schemin" was met with positive reviews. Complex praised the song, stating, "We've already listed 'Stay Schemin' as the best song of the year, so you already know how we feel about it—but a lot of the song's impact had to do with Drake's incredible verse. In fact it just might be the best he's ever spit." Complex went on to name it on their list of the best songs of 2012,[6] and the guest appearance of Drake the best feature of 2012.[7] XXL named it one of the top five hip hop songs of 2012.[8]

"Fanute"

French Montana's lyric "from the hoopty coupe to that Ghost, dog" sounds more akin to "fanute the coupe to that Ghost, dog", leading to initial speculation about the possible meaning behind the mondegreen word "fanute".[9] The word has become an internet meme, used ironically by various rappers and rap fans.

Remixes

Many rappers have recorded remixes or freestyles over the instrumental of the song, including Common,[10] Joell Ortiz,[11] Joe Budden,[12] Meek Mill,[13] Gunplay,[14] Chamillionaire,[15] LoLa Monroe,[16] Lil Twist,[17] Tyga[18] and ASAP Rocky.[19]

Charts

The song debuted in the top 60 of the Billboard Hot 100 at position 58. In its second week the song dropped to position 80 and fell off the chart the following week.[20]

Chart (2012)!scope="col"
Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[21] 58
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs40
US Rap Songs20

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stay Schemin' (feat. Drake & French Montana) - Single . iTunes. January 2012 . May 28, 2012.
  2. Web site: Star . Jenni Dunning Toronto . 2012-01-09 . Drake like 'Canada Dry,' says Common in rap feud . 2024-01-23 . Toronto Star . en.
  3. Web site: Common Remixes Rick Ross' "Stay Schemin," Disses Drake. 9 January 2012. Hip-Hop DX. 1 July 2012.
  4. Web site: Rick Ross Ft Drake & French Montana - Stay Scheming (Official Video 2012) . YouTube . May 29, 2012.
  5. Web site: Rick Ross – Stay Schemin' ft. Drake & French Montana [Audio/Video] ]. hiphopcanada.com. May 29, 2012.
  6. Web site: The 50 Best Songs of 2012. Complex Networks.
  7. Web site: The 25 Best Guest Verses of 2012. Complex Networks.
  8. Web site: XXL Lists the Best Hip-Hop Songs and Albums of the Last 40 Years – XXL Issue 152 - XXL.
  9. News: Lady Mondegreen and the Miracle of Misheard Song Lyrics. Staley. Willy. 13 July 2012. New York Times. 15 July 2012. 48 (Sunday Magazine) .
  10. Web site: Common - Stay Schemin(Drake Diss). youtube.com.
  11. Web site: Joell Ortiz - Stay Schemin Freestyle. youtube.com.
  12. Web site: Joe Budden - Stay Schemin (Freestyle). youtube.com.
  13. Web site: Meek Mill - Stay Schemin (Freestyle) [Radio Rip]]. youtube.com.
  14. Web site: GUNPLAY - STAY SCHEMIN FREESTYLE. youtube.com.
  15. Web site: Chamillionaire - Stay Schemin Freestyle. youtube.com.
  16. Web site: Lola Monroe- Stay Schemin' Freestyle. youtube.com.
  17. Web site: Lil Twist - Stay Schemin [Freestyle] 2012]. youtube.com.
  18. Web site: Stay Schemin - Tyga Freestyle. youtube.com.
  19. Web site: ASAP Rocky - Stay Schemin' Freestyle. youtube.com.
  20. Web site: Issue Date: Saturday May 12, 2012 . acharts.us. May 29, 2012.
  21. Week of May 05, 2012 . Billboard. 12 September 2008. . 2012-05-28.