What Does 'Standing On Business' Mean? The Slang Term Popularised By Drake And Druski Explained

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. But apparently, a big part of being a tough stand-up guy is to stay standing on business. The phrase has exploded in use across the internet, with people joking about how far they are willing to go to "stand on business," while others joke about how some people "stand on business" while others simply "stand around."

Here's a refresher on the origins of the African American Vernacular slang catchphrase recently used everywhere from Druski skits to Drake's new album For All The Dogs.

What Does 'Standing On Business' Mean, And Where Does The Phrase Come From?

To be "standing on business" is to stand your ground and get things done, especially when you're under pressure. Standing on business means sticking by your principles and choosing to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Some early uses of the phrase "standing on business" can be traced back to nearly ten years ago, with posters on X (formerly Twitter) emphasizing their capacity to stay on their grind and stand their ground as early as 2014.

The phrase "standing on business did not gain viral traction until the year 2020 when it was used in Instagram captions and later uploaded to Urban Dictionary.

How Did Use Of The Phrase 'Standing On Business' Spread Online?

In 2023, a rap-centered X account posted a video captioned, "Wallo & Gillie started arguing over the meaning of “standing on business” 😂" Later that same month, memes showing men standing on women labeled as "business" began making the rounds as a humorous way to refer to the now-popular catchphrase.

Wallo & Gillie started arguing over the meaning of “standing on business” 😂 pic.twitter.com/Ln1WMewmyY

— Rap All-Stars 🏆 (@RapAllStars) March 13, 2023

Are Druski And Drake Really Beefing Over 'Standing On Business'?

In late September 2023, Druski began posting skits joking about how bummy men often say that they're standing on business when they really aren't, and even previewed a song about the phrase.

@druski Dudes say "Standin on Business" BUT DO THE OPPOSITE 😂😂 #Druski #Skit #couldabeenrecords #fyp #foryoupage ♬ original sound – DRUSKI

@druski Should I drop "Standing on Business" 😂😂😂😂 #Druski #couldabeenrecords #fyp #foryoupage ♬ original sound – DRUSKI

In early October, Drake released his album For All The Dogs, which contained a song with "standing on business" as a prominent bar. Druski then posted a video about how Drake ripped him off, starting a joking rivalry between the two. Soon after that, "standing on business" became a popular TikTok meme.

@druski Cash Money vs Coulda Been BEEF CONTINUES #Druski #couldabeenrecords #drake ♬ original sound – DRUSKI

@topxszn Hopefully we dnt fall off #standingonbusiness #druski #couldvebeenrecords #fy #future #imstandingon ♬ original sound – topxszn

What Are Some Memes About The Phrase 'Standing On Business'?

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For the full history of "standing on business," be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.