When Yeat took the Coachella stage and debuted his cover of Drake’s iconic Feel No Ways, reactions were as mixed as his genre-blurring music career. A bold move, no doubt—but does Yeat’s tribute to one of Drake’s most revered tracks actually honor the original? Or does it leave you hitting repeat on the OG just to cleanse your auditory palate?
To give Yeat his credit, covering Feel No Ways is not an easy task. Drake’s track is a classic not because it shouts but because it whispers. A vibey, melancholic anthem that rides on subtlety, it’s a balance of emotion and restraint that’s tough to replicate. Yeat, in true Yeat fashion, ditches restraint entirely. His signature autotuned, melodic rap takes the foreground, infusing the track with his own chaotic energy.
But here’s the million-dollar question we can’t ignore—is it actually good? Some argue Yeat’s take brings refreshing Gen Z surrealism to a song that millennials have long claimed as their own. Others, however, feel like it’s a chaotic intrusion on sacred ground. If homage means adding a new perspective to a beloved track, then maybe Yeat is doing just that. But, if the measure of homage is staying true to the essence of the original, perhaps he’s veered off course.
One thing is undeniable though, Yeat’s performance at Coachella hit its mark on one front—it got people talking. Love it or hate it, his cover forces fans to go back to Drake’s version, either for comparison or to relish the original genius. And maybe that’s the takeaway here.
At the end of the day, Yeat’s gamble reminds us of what we love most about music. It’s personal, polarizing, and endlessly debatable. Does Yeat’s version get a spot in your playlist, or will it send you running back to Drake’s? That’s up to you.
Live Performance:
