Drake National Treasure Meaning and Review
- Burner Records
- Sep 17
- 9 min read
Drake’s “National Treasure” from Iceman is a sharp reminder of why he continues to hold such a dominant place in hip hop. The track’s beat strikes a perfect balance between nostalgic, old school instrumental flourishes and the crisp, modern bounce that has become Drake’s signature. It feels both timeless and current, a blend that few artists can execute at this level. The smooth introduction, teased months earlier on Drake’s ICEMAN livestream series, sets the tone for what unfolds as one of the more potent statements of the album. It is Drake leaning into his dual identity as both a global superstar and a deeply rooted figure in Toronto’s music culture.
Lyrics and Wordplay
Lyrically, “National Treasure” is Drake at his sharpest, combining regional pride with cutting jabs and clever wordplay. His opening verse establishes him as an untouchable figure in “the 6ix,” while weaving in sports references, personal feuds, and reflections on loyalty. The Kobe Shaq line stands out as vintage Drake: witty, layered, and designed to spark conversation. There is also a nod to Toronto’s Raptors, Kawhi Leonard, and the city’s championship run, grounding the song in cultural memory. These details not only reinforce his connection to the city but also highlight the storytelling quality that has always separated Drake from many of his peers.
Pressa’s Contribution
The collaboration with Pressa brings an extra layer of authenticity and local texture to the track. Pressa’s verse adds raw street energy, grounding Drake’s broader reflections in the lived reality of Toronto neighborhoods like Jane and Finch. His delivery meshes seamlessly with the production, balancing Drake’s polished flow with a grittier, on the ground perspective. The Ric Flair “Nature Boy” reference, Toronto street geography, and shots at rival crews all add dimension to the track, making it more than just another braggadocious anthem. It is a collaboration that feels organic, not forced, and helps push the song into new territory.
Release and Rollout
What is particularly interesting about “National Treasure” is the story around its release. First teased during ICEMAN’s livestream and later played in full on a Pump Fun stream promoting a memecoin, the track’s rollout was unconventional but effective. DJ Akademiks’ confirmation of the title and the backstory, that it had been shelved in favor of “No Face,” only heightened anticipation. The fact that a music video was reportedly filmed but never released gives the song a mythical edge, adding to the sense that this is a piece of Drake lore finally seeing the light of day. That layered rollout makes “National Treasure” feel like both a fan reward and a strategic flex.
Drake National Treasure Review
“National Treasure” delivers on its promise. It is a commanding, confident record that blends nostalgia with modern energy, local pride with global ambition. The beat, courtesy of a stacked production team including Boi 1da, OZ, and London Cyr, provides the perfect canvas for Drake and Pressa to trade verses that capture both sides of Toronto, the luxurious and the gritty. With quotable bars, cultural references, and a memorable hook, the track stands tall within Iceman. It is not just another Drake single, it is a reminder of his longevity, his ability to adapt, and why, as he declares on the track, he remains a true “national treasure.”
Listen to Drake National Treasure
Drake National Treasure Lyrics Meaning Explained
The meaning of National Treasure by Drake is a declaration of pride, dominance, and loyalty rooted in his identity as the face of Toronto. Throughout the track, Drake positions himself as a cultural icon, the “6ix God”, while weaving together personal flexes, basketball metaphors, and street allegiances. He reflects on moments of betrayal, such as the Raptors’ trade of DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard, while also reminding listeners of the unwavering loyalty within his inner circle, like Chubbs (Capo). Alongside Pressa, Drake contrasts his wealth and global status with gritty depictions of life in Toronto’s neighborhoods, balancing luxury with street credibility. The song ultimately reinforces his role as both a national figure and a local hero, untouchable in influence and deeply tied to his city.
Intro
Drake opens “National Treasure” with the lines, “Yeah / For the city’dem / Yeah / They gotta light the tower up for this / Yeah / Okay.” The reference to lighting the tower is a clear nod to Toronto’s CN Tower, a landmark often tied to his brand as the “6ix God.” By demanding the tower be lit, he frames the song as a monumental moment for the city, showing civic pride while also declaring himself the central figure worth celebrating.
Verse 1
He begins the first verse with “Out in the 6ix, I’m a national treasure / The niggas that back me gon’ back me forever.” Here, Drake elevates his status to cultural icon while also affirming the unwavering loyalty of his circle, especially longtime OVO affiliates like Chubbs.
The sequence that follows deepens this theme of loyalty: “Like Capo and Lita got habits together / Like couples vacation, they packin’ together / Like rushin’ to finish, they’ll slap it together / The charges like COVID, they’ll catch it together.” Capo refers to Chubbs, Drake’s closest friend and protector, while Lita is an unidentified figure mentioned before in Drake’s “On the Radar” freestyle. Drake implies they share habits, carry guns, and would even catch charges together, likening their bond to catching COVID through close contact.
Sports References and Betrayal
The verse continues with shots at rivals and nods to basketball history. “They must’ve heard wrong on the call / I sent ’em a sack ’cause I wanted you shipped to the king.” This is a play on Sacramento Kings, tying into the trade of DeMar DeRozan.
He recalls their past closeness with “When you was apart of the team / We used to be plannin’ our Mexico trip in the spring,” before turning the story to the Raptors’ fateful gamble: “We must’ve been dealin’ the spur of the moment / Kawhi did we think you could get us a ring.” “Spur of the moment” references the San Antonio Spurs, who traded for DeRozan, while Kawhi Leonard’s arrival brought Toronto its first championship.
He drives this home with “G Pops sent us a real one from Diego / And next thing you knew, he was doing parades,” directly referencing Gregg Popovich, Kawhi’s San Diego roots, and the Raptors’ title parade. There is also a veiled shot at Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” which featured DeRozan siding with the West Coast against Toronto.
Wealth and Street Presence
Drake then pivots from sports into personal wealth and neighborhood pride. “They piss on the boy ’til they blue in the face / I put all the faces that’s blue in the safe” flips the idiom “blue in the face” into commentary on his critics exhausting themselves hating him, while he literally stacks blue hundred-dollar bills in his safe.
He adds, “Pull to your block, I don’t see your face / Your first time back since back in the day / First time lit since back in the day / We needed that chip since back in the day.” These bars question the authenticity of his rivals’ street presence while recalling Toronto’s long hunger for a championship.
The verse closes with him focusing on money and betrayal: “My mind on my money, I’m racking my brain / And none of you pussies is acting the same.”
Pre-Chorus
The pre-chorus expands on this theme: “None of you pussies is acting the same… Fuck niggas is famous and still want some fame / Hit up my phone and they tryna explain.” Drake criticizes the shifting loyalties of peers who chase clout despite already being successful, while also brushing off those who try to reconcile with him.
Chorus
The chorus then reinforces the finality of his stance with “This one I’m not tryna fix / This one I’m not tryna fix, ayy,” suggesting certain conflicts and relationships are beyond repair.
Pressa’s Verse
Pressa’s verse introduces a grittier street perspective rooted in Toronto neighborhoods. He begins with, “Don’t stick around in the 6ix / Don’t stick around in the 6ix,” a warning to outsiders. He locates himself “in the ’Woods with the motherfuckin’ sticks,” likely referencing Driftwood in North York, with “sticks” doubling as guns.
“I’m a nature boy just like Ric” invokes Ric Flair’s nickname, while “Press Machine, I put the brick in the whip” plays on his name and drug slang. He ties women and geography together in “And she fell in love when she came to the Finch,” referring to Finch Avenue, an area with a tough reputation.
Pressa continues, “Disrespect 6ix, how dare men / Since the last loss, I don’t care about man / I’m tempted nigga, I don’t spare man / Me and 35 beef bare men.” These bars reinforce his ruthless attitude toward rivals, suggesting constant conflict.
He escalates this imagery with “Fuck them, broad day lights in Dundas Square man / Warya sent me the prayer hands,” directly threatening violence in Toronto’s most public square. He affirms his leadership in “Wass Gang, nigga, I’m the motherfuckin’ chairman,” and roots in “Came from the Jane, I’ll never leave there, man.”
The imagery of “Came to the block and it look like Iraq / Live in the field and we under attack” underscores the war zone-like conditions of his upbringing. Pressa concludes with loyalty to Drake, “The boy is a crodie, the biggest Wlatt,” before warning again, “Don’t stick around in the 6ix too long / Don’t stick around because we let it clap,” meaning outsiders risk violence if they linger.
Outro
The outro brings the song full circle. Drake asserts, “Daddy is home, papa’s around / This for my niggas that’s hopping around,” declaring his return and leadership role. He laments shifting loyalty with “Used to show love, who’s stopping it now,” and reclaims his legendary status in “National treasure, impressed by whatever / My name is not one to be tossing around.”
He portrays himself as both a leader and mediator: “Tossing around my niggas is tripping / I’m talking them down, like woah.” Finally, the track ends triumphantly with “Okay, Okay, Okay / The scene / 6ix God back on the scene / Yeah,” Drake cementing his return to dominance as the self-proclaimed “6ix God.”
Drake National Treasure Lyrics
[Intro: Drake]
Yeah
For the city'dem
Yeah
They gotta light the tower up for this
Yeah
Okay
[Verse 1: Drake]
Out in the 6ix, I'm a national treasure
The niggas that back me gon' back me forever
R.I.P. Kobe but y'all niggas brokie
That's probably why y'all be shackin' together
Like Capo and Lita got habits together
Like couples vacation, they packin' together
Like rushin' to finish, they'll slap it together
The charges like COVID, they'll catch it together
They hate me so much, it's a sickening thing
They must've heard wrong on the call
I sent 'em a sack 'cause I wanted you shipped to the king
When you was apart of the team
We used to be plannin' our Mexico trip in the spring
We must've been dealin' the spur of the moment
Kawhi did we think you could get us a ring
They braggin' 'bout how you went home
The fuck are they on?
Crodie, we threw you away
G Pops sent us a real one from Diego
And next thing you knew, he was doing parades
Fuck all you pussies man, who could relate
Might just go take me a walk by the sea
They piss on the boy 'til they blue in the face
I put all the faces that's blue in the safe
Really can't find me the words
You niggas is birds
I wish that I knew what to say
Pull to your block, I don't see your face
Your first time back since back in the day
First time lit since back in the day
We needed that chip since back in the day
My mind on my money, I'm racking my brain
And none of you pussies is acting the same
[Pre Chorus: Drake]
None of you pussies is acting the same
None of you pussies is acting the same
My mind on my money, I'm racking my brain
Fuck niggas is famous and still want some fame
Hit up my phone and they tryna explain
[Chorus: Drake]
This one I'm not tryna fix
This one I'm not tryna fix, ayy
[Verse 2: Pressa & Drake]
Don't stick around in the 6ix
Don't stick around in the 6ix
Can't believe niggas is gwanin' like this
I'm in the 'Woods with the motherfuckin' sticks
I'm a nature boy just like Ric
Press Machine, I put the brick in the whip
We runnin' the place but it's hard to admit
And she fell in love when she came to the Finch
Disrespect 6ix, how dare men
Since the last loss, I don't care about man
I'm tempted nigga, I don't spare man
Me and 35 beef bare men
Fuck them, broad day lights in Dundas Square man
Warya sent me the prayer hands
Wass Gang, nigga, I'm the motherfuckin' chairman
Came from the Jane, I'll never leave there, man (Woah)
Came to the block and it look like Iraq
Live in the field and we under attack
Hoods that we beef with, I aim this and walk away
Why do you think that I walk with my strap?
We came out boomin', yeah, right out the trap
The boy is a crodie, the biggest Wlatt
Uh, he is the biggest Wlatt
BFR Records, they know about that
Bunso is hidin' his face in the mask
If we out in—, then he do the math
Don't stick around in the 6ix too long
Don't stick around because we let it clap
[Chorus: Drake]
This one I'm not tryna fix
This one I'm not tryna fix, ayy
[Outro: Drake]
Daddy is home, papa's around
This for my niggas that's hopping around
Used to show love, who's stopping it now
National treasure, impressed by whatever
My name is not one to be tossing around
Yeah, tossing around my niggas is tripping
I'm talking them down, like woah
Okay, Okay, Okay
The scene
6ix God back on the scene
Yeah