Started From the Bottom

The harmony of 'Started from the Bottom' is deliberately minimal, built on a three-chord loop in C minor that never deviates. The haunting piano ostinato sampled from Bruno Sanfilippo's ambient work provides atmospheric depth despite the harmonic simplicity. The i–VI–VII progression avoids the dominant chord entirely, creating an unresolved, circular quality that mirrors the song's theme of perpetual ambition. This minimalism is a hallmark of the 40/OVO Sound aesthetic, where mood and texture take precedence over harmonic complexity.

The song originated during a studio session with Drake and rapper Future. Future kept asking studio personnel to 'start it from the bottom,' meaning to replay the instrumental from the beginning. Drake misinterpreted the phrase as a potential song title and used it as the foundation for a track about his rise to fame.

Released as the lead single from Nothing Was the Same, "Started from the Bottom" became one of the defining anthems of the 2010s hip-hop era. Built on a minimal, eerie piano loop sampled from Bruno Sanfilippo and crisp snare hits, the track showcases Drake's signature blend of braggadocio and introspection as he traces his journey from Toronto to global stardom.