1942 Flows

Album: Wins & Losses (2017)
Charted: 83
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Meek Mill touches on various topics on this Dougie-produced cut including his beef with Drake and fair-weather friends. The title refers to the tequila brand Don Julio 1942 ("Sipping 1942 like it's lean").
  • Meek Mill sheds light during the song on his split from girlfriend Nicki Minaj, representing the first time the MMG rapper has opened since they parted ways.

    Niggas taking shots, can't stop me, they ain't real enough
    Cut her off, act like she's dead and it's killing her


    The two rappers dated for two years before breaking up in early 2017. Here, Meek claims Nicki was left devastated by the split.
  • Meek directly name-checks Nicki on the third verse, when he warns reporters to stop asking about his personal life ("So when you see me out don't ask me about no Nicki").
  • The Philly rapper appears to make references to his ex on other Wins & Losses cuts, most prominently on the !llmind & Infamous Rell-produced "Never Lose": There are also references to an unnamed woman who hurt him on the tracks "Heavy Heart" and "F--k That Check Up."
  • While Meek had remained relatively quiet about their relationship post-breakup, Minaj released four months earlier "Regret in Your Tears," a bitter ballad that looks at their crumbling relationship.
  • This was Dougie's first album placement. The producer explained to Genius that he'd been making a lot of beats. This one stood out to Meek Mill, so the rapper's label, Atlantic, reached out to him for background information. "I didn't even have no communication with him," Dougie recalled. "I didn't even know that he used it until they reached out."

    Other placements quickly followed: Meek's songs, "Issues" and "Save Me," also used Dougie instrumentals. "Everything was happening crazy because it was like right after that I got another placement, then another placement," he said. "Stuff was just rolling in. But when it happened, it just gave me the motivation to turn out more."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.