Drake confirmed that his 2016 song “Too Good” was inspired by Serena Williams, ending years of speculation about a romance between the stars.
The 37-year-old Canadian rapper surprised his fans on Tuesday by releasing 100 gigabytes of previously unreleased footage from his personal archive.
The dump included behind-the-scenes footage of recording sessions for some of his most famous songs. Among the clips was a revealing moment that revealed that his 2016 hit “Too Good,” which featured Rihanna, was written about the tennis icon.
In the clip, Drake is in a recording studio working on “Too Good” when his mother Sandi Graham asks him about his references to past relationships in his songs.
“I’ll take a few joints, but this is more about me and Serena,” Drake replies, and Sandi chimes in: “I thought so!”
Drake confirmed that his 2016 song “Too Good” was inspired by Serena Williams, ending years of speculation about a romance between the stars. (seen in 2016)
The Canadian rapper surprised his fans on Tuesday by releasing 100 gigabytes of previously unreleased footage from his personal archive, including one featuring the tennis icon (seen in July).
The exchange prompted him to elaborate on the songs that were inspired by his love life.
“When I write songs about women, I also write songs for them so I know what kind of songs to write,” he said. “If I’m going to talk about them, at least I’m going to do them justice by writing them a song that they like, OK?”
He tried to reassure his mother that the athlete’s feelings would be spared, saying: “I know Serena very well and I know she will hear it loud and clear, but she will not hate me for it either because it is lighthearted.”
Sandi hilariously interrupted her son to remind him that “she’s seeing someone else,” likely referring to Serena’s current husband Alexis Ohanian, who she has been dating since 2015.
Drake replies amusedly: “I don’t know, Mom.”
Drake’s album “Views” was released in April 2016, and later that year he and Rihanna had a hit with “Too Good.”
Released as a single from the album, the track reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September.
The lyrics go: “I’m too good to you / I’m way too good to you / You take my love for granted / I just don’t understand.”
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 his references to past relationships in his songs.
“I’ll take a few joints, but this is more about me and Serena,” Drake replies, and Sandi chimes in: “I thought so!”
He tried to reassure his mother that the athlete’s feelings would be spared, saying: “I know Serena very well and I know she’s going to hear it loud and clear, but she’s not going to hate me for it either because it’s lighthearted.” (Sandi Graham, Drake and Dennis Geraham in 2021)
Rumor has it that Drake and Serena were in a romantic relationship for several years, from around 2010 to 2015.
During this time, he was spotted at her tennis matches and even sent a flirty tweet in 2011: “@SerenaWilliams I can’t wait to put it on you and make you sweat… during our match this weekend.”
In addition, the five-time Grammy winner referenced her in his 2013 song “Worst Behavior.”
The singer has been spotted playing tennis frequently over the years, and in August 2015, footage of the two kissing at a Cincinnati restaurant surfaced online.
The recently released BTS video reveals that their relationship had already deteriorated before the creation of “Too Good,” around the same time that rumors began to swirl that Drake was having an affair with Rihanna.
The timeline was confirmed when Williams got engaged to Reddit founder Alexis in 2016.
After the birth of their first daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., in September 2017, Serena and Alexis married in November of the same year.
In August 2023, the couple celebrated the arrival of their second daughter, Adira River Ohanian.
Rumor has it that Drake and Serena were in a relationship for several years, from around 2010 to 2015. (Serena here with her daughter Olympia and her husband Alexis)
The newly released BTS video shows that their relationship had deteriorated before the creation of Too Good, around the same time that rumors began to swirl that Drake was having an affair with Rihanna; (2016)
Currently, the relationship between Drake and Serena Williams is anything but friendly.
In 2022, Drake seemed to mock Alexis in his song “Middle of the Ocean” by calling the entrepreneur a “groupie.”
Last month, Serena took a playful dig at Drake during her presentation at the 2024 ESPYs, referencing his feud with fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar.
“And if I’ve learned anything this year, it’s that none of us – not one of us, not even me – should ever start a fight with Kendrick Lamar,” Serena said on stage.He’s going to make your hometown not like you anymore. The next time Drake sits courtside at a Raptors game, they’re going to play him like Forrest Gump. The seats are taken.’
