Just when we thought Drake had reached new heights, topping Billboard's Hot 100 charts and racking up 340 million music videos views for his hit single "God's Plan," he hit us with another one. On April 6th, Drake released his newest single and music video, "Nice For What." The song itself is incredibly catchy - not unusual for Drake; however, where the real magic comes in is in the music video, directed by Karena Evans. Celebrating women for their strength and independence, the video acts as an ode to women, featuring 15 well-known, well-established women in Hollywood and showcasing their personalities and talents:
Olivia Wilde
Actress Olivia Wilde is featured at the start of the music video dancing around a fancy restaurant in hoodie and a grand, floor-length red tulle skirt. Even though she appears to be in an upscale location in upscale attire (from the waist down), her fun dance moves and her comfortable, casual black hoodie showcase her fun, carefree, rebellious personality, communicating that women can be both.
Misty Copeland
Dancer Misty Copeland - the first African American Female Principal Dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre - is shown doing ballet in her leotard. Rather than focussing on her and her dance moves in a more erotic light, as most music videos tend to do, the cameo showcases her pure talent, her grace, her accomplishment, and her strength, making women watching feel a sense of pride in what it means to be a woman and our ability to overcome as well as achieve.
Issa Rae
Writer, director, and star of Insecure, Issa Rae appears in the first half of the video at the head of the table in what appears to be a fake table read. The scene is comedic, as she struggles to be heard and command the attention in a room of men. As she makes funny faces, holds up funny signs, and smiles, female viewers can not help but relate. Comedy aside, seeing a strong woman of color at the head of a table in a corporate setting celebrates that women for their ability to be leaders - entering traditionally male-dominated industries more and more - while still being their quirky, smiling selves.
Rashida Jones
Actress Rashida Jones, known for her roles in Parks and Recreation and The Office, also appears. The actress, who showcased her Hotline Bling dance moves on an episode of The Tonight Show, is filmed putting makeup on in the back of a car. But the scene is about more than just how she looks. As she stares straight into the camera, she gives off a sense of power and control. She's fun and flirty, and she owns who she is.
Jourdan Dunn
Previous Victoria's Secret model Jourdan Dunn is showcased riding a horse. As she looks down from her horse, she appears elevated and powerful while maintaining a sense of gracefulness, beauty, and mystique.
Tracee Ellis Ross
Running her hands through her hair, smiling, peaking back at the camera, and dancing wholeheartedly, black-ish star Tracee Ellis Ross is fun, flirty, and unapologetically herself. She portrays a sense of freedom that comes with owning who you are, and inspires viewers to be authentically themselves.
Tiffany Haddish
Smoking a cigar and bathing in a tub of diamonds, Girls Trip star Tiffany Haddish is breaking gender roles. Quite often, in media, it is men in power who smoke cigars and, particularly within rap, it is men who buy women jewels and other extravagant gifts. Tiffany's cigar-smoking jewel-bathing scene communicates that to viewers women can be in charge, be in power, and be financially independent.
Yara Shahidi
While most of us are familiar with Yara Shahidi from her role in black-ish, few of us are familiar with her life as a student at Harvard University. Her cameo in the music video showcases this less well-known side of her as she studies while sporting a Harvard sweatshirt. It is from this scene that viewers feel a sense of pride in the sense that women are able to do it all.
Zoe Saldana
Actress Zoe Saldana is shown in the music video playing with her children. Similar to Yara's cameo, this scene showcases Zoe in a different light than how we know her. Once again, viewers feel a sense of pride in the ability of women to balance multiple interests and be a boss career wise and as a mother.
Elizabeth and Victoria Lejonhjärta
Afro-swedish models Elizabeth and Victoria Lejonhjärta, who were also featured in Drake's album art for Views, are featured in this music video as what appears to be royalty. The thrones and dress evoke a historical period, seemingly paying homage to women's history as well as women in history who have held positions of power. In the scene, they are silent and still, as many women were expected to be in previous centuries; however, they appear to be powerful, as they hold hands, indicating the power women have when they come together.
Letita Wright
Black Panther breakout star Lelita Wright is shown dusting off her shoulders on top of a water tower, communicating to viewers a level of acknowledgement for her journey to the top. She seems proud of who she is and how far she's come, and viewers can't help but feel a sense of pride not only for their own accomplishments, but also for the accomplishments of other women.
Bria Vinaite
Most-known for her role in the 2017 movie The Florida Project, Bria Vinaite is shown go-karting. More traditionally thought of as a male domain, go-karing in this scene empowers female viewers to embrace all parts of themselves and all interests rather than constraining themselves to what is traditionally seen as feminine.
Emma Roberts
Actress Emma Roberts is shown jumping on a trampoline and into a swimming pool at a pool party; however, whereas most music videos would portray this scene sexually, the cameo does not emphasize Emma's swimsuit body. Rather, it's just a girl having fun, once again inspiring viewers to fully be themselves and have fun as women.
Syd
Singer, songwriter, and producer Syd is shown relaxing and enjoying the view overlooking the city at night with takaeout. Openly gay, Syd represents women from the LGBTQ community and, inspires individuals not only to fully embrace all parts of who they are, but to also be proud and to live authentically.
Michelle Rodriguez
Passionate about transcendental meditation, actress Michelle Rodriguez is shown in the music video meditating. She appears to be focussed and, if not sure of where she's going, then sure of who she is. She seems in tune with herself and prepared to take on what comes.
Why We Love This Video
We love this video because it flips the traditional model. Rather than reducing women to their appearance and projecting them purely as sexual objects, as most music videos do, this music video shows women for everything that women are: strong, powerful, determined, talented, diverse, smart, unique, fun, spunky, quirky, supportive, brave, and so much more. As portrayed by this video, women do not define themselves as one thing, or fit an idea of who they should be. They can be many things, and have competing interests. And they certainly don't have to choose. They can dress up and still let loose. They can be a fierce leader and still be quirky. They can have a career and still be a mom. They can have a career and still pursue an education. They can be feminine and still ride go-karts.
And this is why women rule: because we can do and have it all.