The haunting vocal loop is a direct sample of Ellie Goulding's "Don’t Say a Word" . The producers pitched it down and layered it with reverb to create a dreamlike backdrop.
The instrumental includes a re-recorded vocal interpolation of Wu-Tang Clan’s "C.R.E.A.M." (Cash Rules Everything Around Me), which is reportedly voiced by Timbaland . Origins and History Drake ft. Jay Z - Pound Cake Instrumental [OFFICIAL AUDIO]
It features a crisp, steady boom-bap rhythm that provides a grounded contrast to the airy vocal samples. The haunting vocal loop is a direct sample
The beat is famous for its ethereal, "underwater" texture—a signature of the OVO sound during that era. Drake ft. Jay Z - Pound Cake Instrumental [OFFICIAL AUDIO]