After years of romance rumors between the stars, Drake revealed that Serena Williams was the inspiration for his 2016 song Too Good.
On Tuesday, the 37-year-old Canadian rapper shocked his followers by sharing 100 gigabytes of never-before-seen video from his own vaults.
Behind-the-scenes footage from several of his most well-known songs’ recording sessions was included in the dump. One of the video revealed that the 2016 song “Too Good,” featuring Rihanna, was inspired by the tennis legend.
In the video, Drake’s mother Sandi Graham challenges him about making references to his previous relationships in songs while he is working on Too Good at a recording studio.
Drake says, “I get heavy on a couple joints but this is more about me and Serena.” Sandi adds, “I gathered that!” in response.
Drake confirmed that his 2016 song Too Good was inspired by Serena Williams , putting to rest years of romance speculation between the stars; (seen in 2016)
On Tuesday, the Canadian rapper shocked fans by sharing 100 gigabytes of never-before-seen video from his personal archives, including a piece on the tennis legend that was filmed in July.
He went on to discuss the songs that were influenced by his romantic past after the conversation.
“I write songs for women as well as about women so I know what kind of song to write,” he remarked. “Alright, if I’m going to talk about them, I’ll at least give them a song that they enjoy.”
“I know Serena very well, and I know that she’ll hear it loud and clear, but she’ll also not hate me for it because it’s lighthearted,” he said in an attempt to persuade his mother that the athlete’s feelings would be spared.
Funny enough, Sandi broke off to tell her son, “she is seeing someone else,” probably alluding to Serena’s current spouse, Alexis Ohanian, whom she began dating in 2015.
‘I don’t know, mama,’ Drake quips with a laugh.
April 2016 saw the debut of Drake’s album Views, and that same year, he and Rihanna scored a hit song with Too Good.
The song, which was released as the album’s single, peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September.
“I’m too good to you / I’m way too good to you / You take my love for granted / I just don’t understand it,” are the song’s lyrics.
In the clip, Drake is in a recording studio working on Too Good — which ironically features another ex, Rihanna , on vocals — when his mother Sandi Graham questions him about referencing his past relationships in songs
‘I get heavy on a couple joints but this is more about me and Serena,’ Drake replies, to which Sandi chimes in, ‘I gathered that!’
“I know Serena very well, and I know that she’ll hear it loud and clear, but she’ll also not hate me for it because it’s lighthearted,” he said in an attempt to persuade his mother that the athlete’s feelings would be spared. (Drake, Dennis Geraham, and Sandi Graham in 2021)
There were rumors of a romantic relationship between Drake and Serena for a number of years, roughly from 2010 to 2015.
In 2011, he wrote a provocative tweet, saying, “@SerenaWilliams I cannot wait to put it on you and make you sweat… during our match this weekend.” He was also seen at her tennis tournaments during this period.
Worst Behavior, a song from 2013, had a reference to her by the five-time Grammy winner.
Over the years, the singer was regularly observed at her tennis tournaments. In August 2015, video of them sharing a kiss at a Cincinnati restaurant went viral.
The recently unveiled BTS video discloses that their bond had soured prior to the making of Too Good, coinciding with the period when Drake was purportedly seeing Rihanna.
When Williams got engaged to Reddit founder Alexis in 2016, the timeline was verified.
Serena and Alexis got married in November 2017 after Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., their first daughter, was born in September of the same year.
The couple celebrated the birth of their second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, in August 2023.
Drake and Serena were rumored to be romantically involved for several years, approximately from 2010 to 2015; (Serena pictured with daughter Olympia and husband Alexis)
The recently leaked BTS video shows that their relationship had soured prior to the making of Too Good, coinciding with reports that Drake was seeing Rihanna; (2016)
Serena Williams and Drake don’t have a friendly relationship these days.
In the 2022 song Middle of the Ocean, Drake seemed to disparage Alexis, referring to the businesswoman as a “groupie.”
During her presentation at the 2024 ESPYs last month, Serena poked light of Drake’s beef with fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar.
“And if there’s one thing I’ve learned this year, it’s that none of us—not even myself—should ever pick fights with Kendrick Lamar,” Serena declared on stage. “He’ll turn your hometown against you.” They’re going to Forrest Gump Drake when he seats courtside at a Raptors game the next time. Seats taken.