Urban legend is if you ask Alexa to play toxic music, Drake's discography will automatically come on. OK, I'm lying. But I ain't lying when I say that there's been a few times I've listened to his music and wanted to send (or actually sent) someone a, "Hey stranger" text after. This time, I thankfully took to Instagram instead and asked you to share some of your favorite toxic lines from songs new and old.
There were so many good ones, but I based this blog on the lyrics verbatim and not necessarily the scenarios that were described in the song. I wanted to be very specific and not just include lyrics that were mean, otherwise this blog would've been a novel. Now without further ado, let's get toxic!
Marvin's Room by Drake
Fuck that n*gga that you love so bad/I know you still think about the times we had/ say fuck that n*gga that you think you found/And since you picked up I know he's not around/I'm just saying you could do better
One can say that right next to Future, Drake has to be one of the Kings of Toxicity, so it's no surprise at least one of his songs is on this list. Hearing Marvin's room randomly play is what prompted me to actually write this post. The worst part is he's telling this woman that she could do better ... when he probably couldn't be better for her himself. I mean, come on - are you drunk right now?
Runaway by Kanye West
And I always find, yeah I always find somethin' wrong/You been puttin' up wit' my shit just way too long/I'm so gifted at findin' what I don't like the most/So I think it's time for us to have a toast/Let's have a toast for the douche bags/Let's have a toast for the assholes
This seems innocent compared to a lot of other songs on this list, but what does it for me is his irreverence for self-awareness. I think it's so great that he's able to identify his own issues, but instead of taking them to therapy he takes them to the bar. Before (toxi)City Bois were up, they toasted to the douche bags.
Break Up With Him by Old Dominion
Hey girl, what's up?/I know it's late, but I knew you'd pick it up/Naw, I ain't drunk/Okay, maybe I do have a little buzz but/That song came on and I just thought what harm could come from one little call?/I know you say you're taken, but I say girl you're talking too long
Let me tell you, rap music is not the only genre of music tainted by toxicity. Country is a whole bunch of toxic as well, it's just camoflauged by all the guitars and sexy twang. I mean it doesn't get more toxic than someone straight up telling you to break up with your man for them and then rubbing it in.
The Weekend by SZA
The feelin' is reckless/Of knowin' it's selfish/And knowin' I'm desperate/Gettin' all in your love/Fallin' all over love, like/Do it 'til it hurts less/Hangin' out the back, all up in your lap/Like is you comin' home? Is you out with her?/I don't care long as you're here by 10:30, no later than/Drop them drawers, give me what I want
This one hits different. Probably because I'm a woman's woman and enforce girl code, so when I heard bitches bumping this song, body-rolling and making faces way too intense while singing way too loud to it, I was a little perturbed. Like, y'all do know what this song is about right? I'm going to chalk it up to the song just being super catchy, but what makes this extra toxic is the fact that she thinks she's more "special" just because she gets him on the weekends. Ladies, have enough respect for yourself to be his every. damn. day.
Need You Now by Lady A
Picture perfect memories/Scattered all around the floor/Reaching for the phone cause/I can't fight it anymore/And I wonder if I ever cross your mind/For me it happens all the time/It's a quarter after one/I'm all alone and I need you now/Said I wouldn't call, but I lost all control/And I need you now.
They might have changed their name from Lady Antebellum to Lady A, but this song stays toxic. It's also really ... sad. There's something about the melody that sounds desperate and yearns for bad decisions to be made. I should know, I've made one in the past listening to this song. It reminds me of those days when I would tell someone to not reply to my texts knowing they would reply and knowing I'd still text despite saying I wouldn't.
Saving All My Love For You by Whitney Houston
A few stolen moments is all that we share/You've got your family and they need you there/Though I've tried to resist being last on your list/But no other man's gonna do/So I'm saving all my love for you
It's not very easy living all alone/My friends try and tell me find a man of my own/But each time I try, I just break down and cry/'Cause I'd rather be home feeling blue/So I'm saving all my love for you
It took me years to realize what this song was about. My mom used to sing it on karaoke at every family party when I was little and too young to realize it's about some fuck shit. Don't let Whitney's enchanting voice trick you into believing this song is about romance and undeniable connection when really, it's a ballad of bullshit. She dun brought old boy's family into the mix, even Bobby wouldn't have done that!
Number One by John legend
THE ENTIRE FUCKING SONG YO.
It's the motherfucking audacity for me. I remember listening to this song for the first time and my mouth dropped soon as John Legend crooned that first line, "You can't say I don't love you just because I cheat on you". I'M SORRY, WHAT? THE FUCK I CAN! I'm getting all riled up remembering this song and I ain't even in a relationship. This song is number one on my toxic song list not just because every line is whoreible, but because he actually believes that what he's saying is true and that he's doing this woman a favor. You really just have to listen to the song for yourself to hear what I'm talking about.