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"Stay Schemin'"
Single by Rick Ross featuring Drake and French Montana
from the album Rich Forever
Released	April 17, 2012
Recorded	2011
Genre	Trap
Length	4:28
Label	Maybach Music Group Def Jam
Songwriter(s)	Aubrey Graham Nasir Jones Karim Kharbouch William Leonard Roberts II Anthony Tucker
Producer(s)	The Beat Bully
Rick Ross singles chronology
"Why" (2012) "Stay Schemin'" (2012) "Lemme See" (2012)
Drake singles chronology
"Take Care" (2012) "Stay Schemin'" (2012) "HYFR (Hell Ya Fucking Right)" (2012)
French Montana singles chronology
"Shot Caller" (2012) "Stay Schemin'" (2012) "Pop That" (2012)

"Stay Schemin'" is a song by American rapper Rick Ross featuring Drake and French Montana, released as a single from his 2012 mixtape Rich Forever. The track was released as a digital download from iTunes on April 17, 2012. It is a hip hop song that interpolates its chorus, sung by French Montana, from an unreleased Nas song titled "Day Dreamin, Stay Schemin", which covers the Kurtis Blow song, "Daydreamin'", with new lyrics.

Background

The song is said to be the response to rapper Common after he allegedly dissed Drake on a track titled "Sweet", which was the third single from his album The Dreamer/The Believer. Drake has stated that "Stay Schemin'" is directed at Common. Common responded to "Stay Schemin'" with a remix that featured the original verses from Rick Ross and Drake as well as a new verse from him. Common called out Drake by name on the track, calling him among other things such as Canada Dry. Common ended the song with "Say My Name", a song originally sung by Destiny's Child that Drake has sung live previously as a way to coax Drake into using Common's name in his diss tracks. The album artwork released by Common refers to Drake as "That Hoe Ass Nigga".

Music video

The video for the song was released on January 6, 2012. The video features Rick Ross cruising through Miami in a Phantom, and Maybach alongside Drake and French Montana. Meek Mill and DJ Khaled also make appearances. The video was directed by Spiff TV for Maybach Films.

Critical reception

"Stay Schemin'" was met with positive reviews. Complex praised the song, stating, "We've already listed 'Stay Schemin'' as the best song of the year, so you already know how we feel about it—but a lot of the song's impact had to do with Drake's incredible verse. In fact it just might be the best he's ever spit." Complex went on to name it on their list of the best songs of 2012, and the guest appearance of Drake the best feature of 2012. XXL named it one of the top five hip hop songs of 2012.

"Fanute"

French Montana's lyric "from the hoopty coupe to that Ghost, dog" sounds more akin to "fanute the coupe to that Ghost, dog", leading to initial speculation about the possible meaning behind the mondegreen word "fanute". The word has become an internet meme, used ironically by various rappers and rap fans.

Remixes

Many rappers have recorded remixes or freestyles over the instrumental of the song, including Common, Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden, Meek Mill, Gunplay, Chamillionaire, LoLa Monroe, Lil Twist, Tyga and ASAP Rocky.

Charts

The song debuted in the top 60 of the Billboard Hot 100 at position 58. In its second week the song dropped to position 80 and fell off the chart the following week.

Certifications

References

1. "Stay Schemin' (feat. Drake & French Montana) - Single". iTunes. January 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
2. Star, Jenni Dunning Toronto (2012-01-09). "Drake like 'Canada Dry,' says Common in rap feud". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2024-01-23.
3. "Common Remixes Rick Ross' "Stay Schemin," Disses Drake". Hip-Hop DX. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
4. "Rick Ross Ft Drake & French Montana - Stay Scheming (Official Video 2012)". Retrieved May 29, 2012 – via YouTube.
5. "Rick Ross – Stay Schemin' ft. Drake & French Montana [Audio/Video]". hiphopcanada.com. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
6. "The 50 Best Songs of 2012". Complex Networks.
7. "The 25 Best Guest Verses of 2012". Complex Networks.
8. "XXL Lists the Best Hip-Hop Songs and Albums of the Last 40 Years – XXL Issue 152 - XXL".
9. ^ Staley, Willy (13 July 2012). "Lady Mondegreen and the Miracle of Misheard Song Lyrics". New York Times. p. 48 (Sunday Magazine). Retrieved 15 July 2012.
10. "Common - Stay Schemin(Drake Diss)". youtube.com.
11. "Joell Ortiz - Stay Schemin Freestyle". youtube.com.
12. "Joe Budden - Stay Schemin (Freestyle)". youtube.com.
13. "Meek Mill - Stay Schemin (Freestyle) [Radio Rip]". youtube.com.
14. "GUNPLAY - STAY SCHEMIN FREESTYLE". youtube.com.
15. "Chamillionaire - Stay Schemin Freestyle". youtube.com.
16. "Lola Monroe- Stay Schemin' Freestyle". youtube.com.
17. "Lil Twist - Stay Schemin [Freestyle] 2012". youtube.com.
18. "Stay Schemin - Tyga Freestyle". youtube.com.
19. "ASAP Rocky - Stay Schemin' Freestyle". youtube.com.
20. "Issue Date: Saturday May 12, 2012". acharts.us. Retrieved May 29, 2012.
21. "Week of May 05, 2012". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 12 September 2008. Retrieved 2012-05-28.
22. "British single certifications – Rick Ross/Drake/French Montana – Stay Schemin'". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
23. "American single certifications – Rick Ross – Stay Schemin". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 10, 2021.

• 2012 singles
• Rick Ross songs
• Drake (musician) songs
• French Montana songs
• Songs written by Nas
• Maybach Music Group singles
• 2011 songs
• Songs written by Drake (musician)
• Songs written by Rick Ross
• Songs written by French Montana