![]() ![]() Swift, ambient production that focused on creating an atmosphere first on every song, empowered Drake to either beat down the listener’s head with overblown punchlines or to use his soft singer’s touch to showcase his, at the time, impressive artistic range. Many wouldn’t continuously place their credibility on the line by venturing out into the world with other cultural mainstays, but that’s what makes him, well, Drake.ĭrake’s swaggering debut may show its age due to Father Time, but when it came out, it was a bold statement and foot in the door for Lil Wayne’s protégé. Still, you’ve got to hand it to him, he’s one of the more adventurous artists in the game. Even when he decided to return to the dancehall for “Madiba Riddim,” the lackluster, indolent attempt couldn’t hold a candle to standouts like “Portland” (mainly because of Travis Scott’s chameleon-like superpowers when he’s the featured artist) and “Gyalchester,” because of its ominous air of finality. Much of the grime work on the album sounded out of sorts, passable at best. More Life was a 22-track celebration without purpose, just because.īut then again-and this becomes a common thread in the path of Drake releases-the Toronto crooner’s ability to trim bloat from projects practically doesn’t exist. Young Thug, Quavo, Travis Scott, 2 Chainz and PartyNextDoor offered their voices as well. Frank Dukes, Boi1-da, Murda Beatz, Kanye West, T-Minus and countless more producers paraded through the door and dropped off beats outside of Drake’s typical palette. Freeing the album from any narrative guise afforded Drizzy the opportunity to throw stuff at the wall ‘til it stuck. It is the rare album, rap or otherwise, that follows through on the artist's potential and the fan’s anticipation.Billed as a “playlist,” More Life was boilerplate Drake - surface-level introspective, just enough-type raps and strategic feature placements from the hottest artists that could support the notion that he’s everywhere listening and soaking in game at all times. Indeed, it is this willingness to be introspective and honest that makes Drake unique and helps make Thank Me Later special. His nimble flow is impressive his words are heartfelt, brainy, and surprising and while his singing may not be the best, it shows a vulnerability that is rare in rap circles. He never shows anyone up exactly (though Jay-Z's verse sounds kind of out of breath compared to Drake's), but he definitely proves that he belongs at the very top of the game. Elsewhere, Lil Wayne's verse on "Miss Me" is his usual breathtaking verbal roller coaster, the-Dream's vocals on the verses of "Shut It Down" are heartbreakingly sincere, and Jeezy adds some welcome ferociousness to "Unforgettable." It’s like all the guests had to bring their best game to keep up with Drake, and they didn't want the youngster to show them up. The T.I./ Swizz Beatz track “Fancy” is a fun and sassy summer jam with a huge hook, his track with Jay-Z ("Light Up") is a fierce takedown of the Industry and the damage it can wreak, and the Nicki Minaj collabo "Up All Night" is a tough-as-nails boast that features Drake at his most insistent. T.I., Swizz Beatz, Young Jeezy, the-Dream, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, and Drake's mentor Lil Wayne all drop by to add verses, sing hooks, and produce tracks, and their presence sometimes serves to liven things up and keep Drake away from his melancholy nature. ![]() His belief in his own skills is well-founded, as the list of collaborators lined up to work with him attests. He’s also not afraid to talk about how great life has become as well, dropping plenty of lines about the money, the women, and his own prowess as a rapper. Whether it’s a relationship splitting up as on the melancholy “Karaoke,” worries about the fame changing him (“The Resistance”), fears that so-called real hip-hop fans will find him manufactured (“Show Me a Good Time”), or the difficult nature of romance when you’re a star (“Miss Me”), Drake isn’t afraid to examine what the past year has done to his life. Most of the record finds the young rapper (23 at the time of release) conflicted about his growing stardom and fame. ![]() Thanks to the rich and nuanced production and Drake's thoughtful, playful, and intense lyrics, Thank Me Later is a radio-friendly, chart-topping collection of singles but also a serious examination of Drake's life that holds up as an album. Thank Me Later had the tough assignment of living up to the anticipation and further Drake as an artist, and it totally lives up to the hype. By the time of the release of Drake's first full-length album, the Canadian rapper was already a star thanks to his huge single "Best I Ever Had," his celebrated mixtape and then EP So Far Gone, and his spots on hits by Young Money and Eminem. ![]()
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