“Not You Too”: Drake, heartbreak, and the romantic communication of Black male vulnerability

ABSTRACT Recently, there has been a resurgence of academic interest in the lived experiences of Black males. One way that scholars have approached the field of Black male studies is by examining the susceptibility of Black men and boys in various contexts, commonly referred to as Black male vulnerability. In this essay, I utilize the song “Not You Too” by the Hip-Hop/R&B artist Drake as a case study to explore the ways Black men, through music, may communicate their vulnerability in the context of romantic relationships. Through a rhetorical analysis, I argue that Drake (re)articulates the notion of Black masculinity by communicating his vulnerability through recognition of his struggles of trust, willingness to forgive, and critical reflection of the power dynamics within his romantic relationship. I conclude by asserting that it is vital to study the communicative realities and sensibilities of Black men by engaging in both interpretative and empirical analysis to liberate Black males.