It was late 2014 when a weird, warbling track about a drug dealer’s midweek schedule basically broke the internet. You know the one. That on a tuesday song—officially titled "Tuesday"—didn't just climb the charts; it created a whole vernacular for the middle of the week. Before Makonnen Sheran, better known as ILOVEMAKONNEN, released this, Tuesday was just the boring day after Monday. It was the day you realized the weekend was still a lifetime away. Then, suddenly, everyone was "club goin' up" on the most mundane day of the week.
Honestly, the track shouldn't have worked. It’s got this ethereal, almost haunting production by Sonny Digital and Metro Boomin. Makonnen’s voice isn't what you’d call "traditionally good." He hits these shaky, high-pitched notes that sound like he’s singing to himself in the shower after a very long night. But that’s exactly why it stuck. It felt human. It felt real in a way that polished pop-rap usually doesn't.
When Drake hopped on the remix, the song went from an underground Atlanta curiosity to a global phenomenon. But looking back from 2026, the legacy of the on a tuesday song isn't just about Drake's "OVO" touch or the catchy hook. It’s about how it captured a specific shift in digital culture and the way we consume music.
The Weird Logic of Midweek Partying
Why Tuesday? Usually, songs about partying focus on Friday or Saturday. "Friday Night Lights," "Last Friday Night," "Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting"—the weekend is the standard. Makonnen flipped that. He told a story about someone who works the weekends, making the "normal" party days his busy days. It resonated with the service industry, the freelancers, and the creators who don't have a 9-to-5.
The song’s success was built on a very specific kind of relatability. Not everyone is in the club on a Tuesday, but everyone has felt that sense of being out of sync with the rest of the world.
The production is sparse. There’s a lot of air in the track. Metro Boomin and Sonny Digital used these shimmering synths that feel cold and warm at the same time. It’s "trap" music, sure, but it’s "cloud rap" too. It’s moody. It’s the kind of song that plays in a half-empty club at 3:00 AM when the lights are low and the floor is sticky. People didn't just dance to it; they vibed to it.
How the Drake Remix Changed Everything
We have to talk about the Aubrey Graham effect. In 2014, Drake was at the height of his "King of the Remix" era. He had a knack for finding a buzzing song on SoundCloud, adding a verse, and launching the original artist into the stratosphere. He did it with Migos on "Versace," and he did it with Makonnen.
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Drake’s verse on the on a tuesday song provided a necessary contrast. Where Makonnen was raw and emotive, Drake was smooth and calculated. He brought a mainstream polish to the track that helped it transition from internet niche to FM radio.
- Drake’s opening lines: "Club goin' up, on a Tuesday / Got your girl in the cut and she choosey."
- The rhythmic flow: He matched the melodic cadence but with better pitch control.
- The "OVO Sound" stamp: It validated Makonnen’s eccentric style to a wider audience.
But here is the thing: some purists still prefer the original. Without Drake, the song is lonelier. It feels more desperate, more like a diary entry. With Drake, it becomes an anthem. Both versions serve a purpose, but the remix is what turned "Tuesday" into a certified Platinum record. It eventually earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, which is wild when you think about how experimental the original demo sounded.
The Cultural Impact of the Tuesday Meme
You couldn't go anywhere in 2015 without hearing someone say they were "goin' up on a Tuesday." It became a meme before "meme-marketing" was a formal department in every record label. It was organic.
Vine was still a thing back then. Remember Vine? Six-second loops of people doing mundane things—grocery shopping, doing laundry, sitting in a cubicle—with the "Tuesday" hook playing in the background. It was the perfect soundtrack for irony. The contrast between the "lit" lyrics and the boring reality of a Tuesday afternoon was comedy gold.
This song paved the way for the "SoundCloud Rap" explosion that followed. It proved that you didn't need a massive voice or a traditional look to be a star. You just needed a mood. Makonnen was a DIY artist who went from making songs in his bedroom to being signed to one of the biggest labels in the world because he captured a feeling that no one else was talking about.
The Downfall and the "One-Hit Wonder" Myth
Is ILOVEMAKONNEN a one-hit wonder? Technically, "Tuesday" is his only massive mainstream hit. His relationship with OVO Sound eventually soured, and he moved away from the spotlight. There were rumors of tension, creative differences, and the usual industry drama that happens when a niche artist gets sucked into the major label machine.
However, calling him a one-hit wonder misses the point of his influence. He influenced a whole generation of "melodic" rappers. Look at artists like Lil Uzi Vert or Post Malone; you can hear the DNA of Makonnen’s warbling vocals and unconventional melodies in their work. He broke the mold of what a "rapper" was supposed to sound like.
He continued to release music, including collaborations with the late Lil Peep. Their song "I've Been Waiting" (with Fall Out Boy) showed a different side of his artistry—more pop-leaning, more polished, but still maintaining that core quirkiness.
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Why We Still Search for the "On a Tuesday Song"
Search data shows that people still look for this track using the phrase "on a tuesday song" rather than the actual title. Why? Because the hook is more famous than the artist. The phrase has entered the lexicon. It’s a descriptor for a specific type of mid-week energy.
When you hear those first few notes of the synth, you're immediately transported back to a specific era of the 2010s. It was a time of transition in music. We were moving away from the "EDM-pop" of the early 2010s and into the atmospheric, trap-heavy sound that would dominate the next decade. This song was the bridge.
Key Takeaways from the "Tuesday" Era
- Authenticity over Technique: Makonnen’s "imperfect" singing was his greatest strength. It felt relatable to a generation tired of Auto-Tune perfection.
- The Power of the Remix: A well-placed feature can change the trajectory of a career, but it can also overshadow the original creator.
- Hyper-Specific Content: By focusing on a single day of the week that everyone else ignored, Makonnen owned that day forever.
- Internet-First Distribution: SoundCloud was the kingmaker of 2014, allowing weird, experimental tracks to find an audience without radio gatekeepers.
Actionable Insights for Music Lovers and Creators
If you’re a creator, the lesson of the on a tuesday song is simple: don't be afraid to be "weird." In a world of polished, AI-generated content, the human cracks are what people connect with. Makonnen’s voice cracked. His timing was a little off. It was perfect.
For listeners, it’s a reminder to dig deeper than the radio edits. The original version of "Tuesday" has a soul that the remix sometimes obscures. If you haven't heard the non-Drake version in a while, go back and listen to it. It’s much darker and more interesting than you probably remember.
If you are looking to capture that 2014-2015 vibe for a playlist, pair "Tuesday" with these tracks:
- "CoCo" by O.T. Genasis
- "Hot N*gga" by Bobby Shmurda
- "Antidote" by Travis Scott
- "White Iverson" by Post Malone
These songs together represent a turning point where rap became more melodic, more viral, and more atmospheric. The on a tuesday song wasn't just a flash in the pan; it was the first drop in a tidal wave that changed the sound of the Billboard Hot 100 for the next ten years.
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To really appreciate the impact, look at how many brands still use "Tuesday" promos inspired by the track. Tacos might have "Tuesday," but for anyone who was online in 2014, the day belongs to Makonnen. Check out the original music video—the one with the mannequins—to see just how low-budget and brilliant the origins of this hit really were. It’s a masterclass in making something out of nothing.