{{Infobox song | name = Two Birds, One Stone | cover = | alt = | type = single | artist = Drake | album = More Life (intended) | released = October 29, 2016 | recorded = 2016 | studio = | venue = | genre = Hip hop | length = {{Duration|m=3|s=58}} | label = OVO Sound | writer = {{hlist|Aubrey Graham|Noah Shebib|Kanye West|Jordan Francis|Joey Castellani}} | producer = {{hlist|40| Kanye West}} | prev_title = Sneakin' | prev_year = 2016 | next_title = Used to This | next_year = 2016 }} "'''Two Birds, One Stone'''" is a hip hop song recorded by Canadian rapper Drake. It was released worldwide by OVO Sound on October 29, 2016. The song was originally meant for inclusion on Drake's fifth mixtape, ''More Life'', however it did not make the final cut. Released in the wake of Drake's highly publicized feud with Meek Mill, it was co-written by Noah Shebib, Kanye West, and Joey Castellani, and produced by 40 and West.
The song gained notability and controversy as Drake uses "Two Birds, One Stone" to diss Kid Cudi and Pusha T.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/story/drake-new-music-fake-love-two-birds-one-stone|title=Drake new music - Fake Love and Two Birds, One Stone|magazine=Teen Vogue|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/Drake-two-birds-one-stone-lyrics|title=Drake - Two Birds, One Stone lyrics|publisher=Genius|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref>
==Background== In 2015, Rod Wave sparked controversy by his revelation that Drake was the recipient of a reference track from Quentin Miller, as Drake appropriated the track onto Mill's song "R.I.C.O." without giving Miller any songwriting credit.<ref>{{cite news | author = Angela Stephanou | title = Meek Mill Says Drake Doesn't Write His Own Raps In Twitter Rant | quote = Stop comparing drake to me too.... He don't write his own raps! That's why he ain't tweet my album because we found out! | date = July 22, 2015 | url = http://www.telltalesonline.com/16134/meek-mill-says-drake-doesnt-write-own-raps-twitter-rant/ | access-date = July 22, 2015 }}</ref> This labeled Miller as a ghostwriter for Drake, and the duo engaged in a feud as a result. Despite Drake and Mill responding to one another via diss tracks in 2015, additional replies to one another, either subliminally or through diss tracks, can be seen on Drake's 2016 album ''Views'', as well as Mill's mixtape ''DC4''.<ref name="rap-up">{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2015/07/25/drake-fires-back-at-meek-mill-on-diss-track-charged-up/|title=Drake Fires Back at Meek Mill on 'Charged Up' | Rap-Up|publisher=rap-up.com|access-date=July 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2015/07/30/meek-mill-drake-wanna-know/|title=Meek Mill hits back at Drake with diss track 'Wanna Know'|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=August 12, 2015}}</ref>
While Drake and Kanye West were on the Summer Sixteen Tour and the Saint Pablo Tour respectively, former GOOD Music artist Kid Cudi criticized both Drake and West on his Twitter, stating that "[both men] are fake and cannot be regarded as legends", due to their use of ghostwriters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.hiphopearly.com/kid-cudi-lashes/|title=Kid Cudi Lashes Out At Fakes and Haters|publisher=HipHopEarly|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref> Drake and West both responded during their live shows, with many dismissing Cudi's action as a "desperate cry for attention".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/2016/09/drake-responds-to-kid-cudi-kanye-west/|title=Drake Wastes No Time Responding To Kid Cudi During 'Summer Sixteen' Tour|date=15 September 2016|publisher=Vibe|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/2016/09/15/kanye-west-kid-cudi-feud/|title=Kanye West Hits Back at Kid Cudi Over Damning Twitter Comments|date=15 September 2016|publisher=highsnobiety.com|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref> Meanwhile, GOOD Music signee Pusha T dissed Drake on the song "H.G.T.V.", further referencing Drake's usage of ghostwriters throughout the song.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2016/10/12/new-music-pusha-t-hgtv/|title=New Music - Pusha T's H.G.T.V.|magazine=Rap-Up|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref>
==Remix== The song was remixed by British rapper Dave, premiering on the 35th episode of OVO Sound Radio on December 10, 2016.
==Lyrics== Drake primarily seeks to diss both Pusha T and Kid Cudi during the song, although some lyrics can be interpreted as toward Meek Mill.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/Drake-two-birds-one-stone-lyrics|title=Drake - Two Birds, One Stone lyrics|publisher=Genius|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref>
Drake accuses Pusha T of promoting false stories of drug dealing in his songs: {{Blockquote| But really it's you with all the drug dealer stories <br /> That's gotta stop, though <br /> You made a couple chops and now you think you Chapo <br /> If you ask me though, you ain't lining the trunk with kilos <br /> You bagging weed watching Pacino with all your niggas <br /> Like, "This what we need to be on," but you never went live <br /> You middle-man in this shit, boy, you was never them guys <br /> I can tell, 'cause I look most of you dead in your eyes <br /> And you'll be tryna sell that story for the rest of your lives |Drake|"Two Birds, One Stone"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/10710053|title=Drake - Two Birds, One Stone - Note 10710053|publisher=Genius|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.exposedlyrics.com/DRAKE/two-birds-one-stone-lyrics.html|title=Drake - Two Birds, One Stone Lyrics|publisher=exposedlyrics.com|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref>}}
Drake also disses Kid Cudi, which lead to controversy: {{Blockquote| You were the man on the moon <br /> Now you just go through your phases <br /> Life of the angry and famous <br /> Rap like I know I'm the greatest <br /> Then give you tropical flavours <br /> Still never been on hiatus <br /> You stay xanned and perked up <br /> So when reality set in, you don't gotta face it |Drake|"Two Birds, One Stone"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/10710012|title=Drake - Two Birds, One Stone - Note 10710012|publisher=Genius|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.exposedlyrics.com/DRAKE/two-birds-one-stone-lyrics.html|title=Drake - Two Birds, One Stone Lyrics|publisher=exposedlyrics.com|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref>}}
==Controversy== Drake received criticism in the manner in which he dissed Cudi, who checked himself into psychiatric rehabilitation for depression and suicidal urges a few days prior.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/55857-drake-seems-to-diss-kid-cudi-and-pusha-t-on-two-birds-one-stone-twitter-reacts-news|title=Twitter reacts to Drake's Two Birds, One Stone|date=24 October 2016|publisher=HotNewHipHop|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref> Despite West appearing to squash the beef between him and Cudi by labelling Cudi as "his brother" and "the most influential artist of the last decade",<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-west-kid-cudi-peace-offering-most-influential-artist-saint-pablo-tour-7518004/|title=Kanye West Makes Peace Offering, Calls Kid Cudi 'Most Influential Artist of the Past 10 Years'|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref> Drake's remarks remained, later responding on his Instagram with the notion of continuing the beef between the pair.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://images.genius.com/98a869018e96f83d17cd8c734507f256.605x567x1.jpg|title=Drake responded to criticism on Instagram|publisher=Genius|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://images.genius.com/eba7d62e24c638ed9b220994918ba6b9.574x1000x1.png|title=Drake want to apologize for his diss to Kid Cudi|publisher=Genius|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref> A few days later, however, Cudi responded to Drake on his Twitter, saying "Say it to face, pussy. You think it's a game. I wanna see you say it to my face. I'll be out soon. Promise."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/KidCudi/status/792053246793691136|title=The Chosen One|publisher=Twitter|access-date=October 30, 2016}}</ref>
In the aftermath of the song, Pusha T would make a response track titled "Infrared" aimed at Drake within his album Daytona. The same day, Drake released the song "Duppy Freestyle" as another diss towards Pusha T, as well as aim it at Kanye West, as a response to "Infrared." He also mailed to G.O.O.D. Music and Def Jam Recordings asking for a fee of $100,000 for "promotional assistance and career reviving."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/05/pusha-t-and-drake-beef-escalates-with-duppy-freestyle.html|title = Pusha-T and Drake Beef Escalates with 'Duppy Freestyle'|date = 25 May 2018}}</ref> Four days later, Pusha-T released "The Story of Adidon" online for public listening. The single cover featured an image of Drake portrayed in blackface, which was shot by photographer David Leyes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.davidleyes.com/portraits.html |title=David Leyes | Portraits Gallery |website=www.davidleyes.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530025357/http://www.davidleyes.com/portraits.html |archive-date=30 May 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The song itself, however, focuses on Drake's character and personal relationships, including the surprise reveal of Drake hiding a son named Adonis, whose mother was revealed to be a pornstar. Drake would expand on the topic in a couple of songs from his 2018 album Scorpion.
== Personnel == Adapted from TIDAL.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Two Birds, One Stone Credits|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/66576600/credits|access-date=2021-06-03|website=listen.tidal.com|date=28 October 2016 |language=en}}</ref>
* Kanye West – production, songwriting * 40 – production, songwriting * Drake – vocals, songwriting * Jordan Francis – songwriting * Joey Castellani – songwriting
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2016) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{single chart|Canada|64|artist=Drake|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2016}} |- {{single chart|Billboardhot100|73|artist=Drake|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2016}} |- {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|31|artist=Drake|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2016}} |}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}} {{Drake songs|state=collapsed}}
Category:2016 singles Category:2016 songs Category:Diss tracks Category:Drake (musician) songs Category:Song recordings produced by 40 (record producer) Category:Songs written by Drake (musician)