Digital Dash

Album: What a Time to Be Alive (2015)
Charted: 62
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the opening track from What a Time to Be Alive, a collaborative mixtape by rappers Drake and Future.

    Drake told Rolling Stone: "It's a little soundtrack for people that need it right now. I went to Atlanta for six days a couple weeks ago with the hopes of doing some songs with Future, and when you get around Future, it's like a vortex, that guy can outwork anybody right now. It's tough to see someone do four, five songs in one night and not try to match it."
  • A "digital dashboard" is the control panel located in front of a driver. Future references a number of luxury vehicles on his verse, including his main BMW 7 series coupe, a Rolls Royce Ghost and an old "six trey" (1963 Chevy Impala). He also boasts of having someone's girl riding shotgun.
  • Drake addresses Meek Mill's ghost-writing accusations on his verse.

    I might take Quentin to Follies
    You hate your life, just be honest


    "Quentin" is Quentin Miller, Drake's alleged ghost writer and the creator of a reference track leaked by Mill on "Wanna Know." Since the OVO leader has a lot to thank Miller for, he talks about taking him to Follies, the most popular strip club in Atlanta.
  • This is one of three What a Time to Be Alive tracks (along with "I'm a Plug" and "Jersey") that Southside co-produced. The Atlanta-based beatmaker was behind much of Future's DS2 album, including the hit cut "Commas" (with DJ Spinz).

    Southside told MTV News that it was through Future that his work on What A Time To Be Alive began. "Me and Metro [Boomin] made the 'Digital Dash' beat while we were on tour and sent it to Future," he recalled. "We got in the studio with [Drake and Future], and it was history from then on. They were working so fast and so consistent that you might miss a song getting recorded. I actually didn't hear 'I'm The Plug' until two days later."
  • Drake recalled recording this song and the rest of the album during an interview with Zane Lowe on his Beats 1 show. "I went to Atlanta and spent six days with Future ... He's a machine. I've never seen anybody with that much of a catalog," the Toronto rapper said.

    "'Digital Dash'...he had just bodied it so much," Drake added. "It was presented to me as a finished piece. I gotta do it justice."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Music Video Director David Hogan

Music Video Director David HoganSong Writing

David talks about videos he made for Prince, Alabama, Big & Rich, Sheryl Crow, DMB, Melissa Etheridge and Sisters of Mercy.

Ian Astbury of The Cult

Ian Astbury of The CultSongwriter Interviews

The Cult frontman tells who the "Fire Woman" is, and talks about performing with the new version of The Doors.

Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders

Chrissie Hynde of The PretendersSongwriter Interviews

The rock revolutionist on songwriting, quitting smoking, and what she thinks of Rush Limbaugh using her song.

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"They're Playing My Song

As a songwriter and producer, Narada had hits with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Starship. But what song does he feel had the greatest impact on his career?

How The Beatles Crafted Killer Choruses

How The Beatles Crafted Killer ChorusesSong Writing

The author of Help! 100 Songwriting, Recording And Career Tips Used By The Beatles, explains how the group crafted their choruses so effectively.