LOS ANGELES • The budget for Drake's video for the song, God's Plan, was US$996,631.90 (S$1.31 million).

"We gave it all away. Don't tell the label," says a message at the start of the video.

Indeed, instead of dazzling dance sequences, glitzy backdrops or elaborate storyline for the song, the video just showed one thing - scenes of the Canadian rapper giving away money to people in Miami.

The beneficiaries included struggling families, with Drake, 31, also handing out toys to children, scholarships to students and a cheque to a youth club.

Drake, the world's best-selling artist of 2016, also paid the grocery bills of every shopper who were at a supermarket.

He also gave US$50,000 to a non-profit organisation that runs a homeless shelter where he also presented US$150 Target gift cards to the 130 female residents.

Before the video's release last Friday, Drake described what he did in it as "the most important thing I have ever done in my career".

His act was lauded by fans on Twitter.

"If you've seen Drake's God's Plan video and it didn't hit your heart, then I just don't know. That man's doing it right," tweeted one person.

"Cried reaaaal tears looking at God's Plan music video. It's a good life," a user called Janae wrote on Twitter.

The Grammy-winning singer later issued a challenge on his Instagram account, saying "let's all watch the world be nice to each other even if it's for 24 hours".

God's Plan has held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart for the past three weeks.

REUTERS