Last month, Cajun Boy brought us the news that rapper/eyebrow farmer Drake was growing rather concerned that retail stores were capitalizing on the phrase “You Only Live Once” or YOLO, which Drake believes that he made popular with his 2011 hit “The Motto”. Drake posted a picture of a rack of YOLO hats that were on sale at 2 for $12 – a serious bargain, playboys – at Walgreens with the caption: “Walgreens… you gotta either chill or cut the cheque.” Additionally, the thug life was dished out with a similar message to Macy’s for a Peanuts-themed YOLO shirt.
Right off the bat, there were two problems with Drake’s claims. For starters, Drake didn’t invent “YOLO”. Sure, he can lay claim to the phrase’s renaissance in 2011, but other music acts like The Strokes had already used it before Drake was mumbling about all the sex. Hell, Mae West gave our grandparents “You only live once” decades ago. So for Drake to pretend like he’s the sole possessor of the God-given rights to shout, “YOLO” is a bit arrogant.
But second, and much more importantly, someone has YOLO trademarked and – SPOILER ALERT – it’s not Drake.
Earlier this week, Canadian rapper Drake uploaded some instagram pictures of clothing bearing the acronym “YOLO” at a Walgreens and a Macy’s suggesting the businesses pay up for using “his” catchphrase.
Clean Plate Charlie spoke to restauranteur Tim Petrillo, co-owner of YOLO in Fort Lauderdale to get his take on Drake’s lawsuit threats. Petrillo’s response, “I think Drake saying that is such a joke.”
Why so funny? Because Petrillo actually holds the YOLO trademark. (Via Clean Plate Charlie and the Broward-Palm Beach New Times, who are also headlining fake Coachella)
Let’s forget all of this legal rights nonsense, though, since Drake would just look like the king pooswa if he tried to sue everyone who used the phrase “YOLO” on a sh*tty t-shirt or hat. Did you know that his song, “The Motto”, was apparently written as a response to Nickelback’s “If Today was Your Last Day”? Think about that – Drake’s rap was inspired by Nickelback. That’s like finding out Coolio’s “Fantastic Voyage” was an answer to The Divinyls’ “I Touch Myself”.
