If you have ever spoken two words to me you know that Drake is my favorite artist. I talk about this man excessively, know the words to probably 85% of his discography, and because of that am pretty well-versed in his music style and history.
The first album I ever listened to the same day it released was Scorpion back in 2018. I had gotten a three-month free trial to Apple Music, stayed up all night, and pressed play on Survival as soon as the clock stuck 12. That was my first experience streaming an album fully and it was an...interesting one. Admittedly, I was a bit overwhelmed when I first listened to Scorpion. It was long and I was tired and for some reason I was a bit surprised. I am not a music critic so take my words with a grain of salt, but it definitely was different from Views and More Life which came before it. Though looking back at it, it kind of feels like a return to his older sound with just a more mature outlook, because as some (including himself) may forget, this man is quite literally thirty lmao. I like that he talked about his son, the people around him that he can't always trust, his family, his mom, and of course threw in his toxic nigga shit. I don't know the public reception on Scorpion, but I think the album was really good--I'd buy it. Now, I started with Scorpion because to me that kind of begins the beginning of his shift and my major argument throughout this post. Drake is one of the biggest artists in the world, he has done it all, stayed on the charts for 500 weeks, made the biggest hits, and he is arguably one of the greatest to ever do it, so I ask you, what more do you want from him? If it is to keep making the same music over and over and over again (which he kinda does but not too much) then I don't know what to tell you. What more can he say lmaooo, he is no longer 25 and living the stuff he sings about, which also comes with becoming rich and out of touch. I fear it's never going to hit the same and y'all have to get comfortable with change. The only artist damn near 20 years in their career that can still reinvent herself time and time again, era after era, is Beyoncé and NOBODY is Beyoncé. Most critiques of Drake are valid, but some y'all are just haters lmao. I say this because Drake is a hit maker, he knows what ouus and ahhs he has to do to make a hit, but we can't sit here and act like the music is bad. There is no more old Drake because he has done it already. Wanna hear Take Care music? Go listen to Take Care. Wanna hear 2016 Drake? Go listen to Views. The art has been made, the masterpieces are sitting there for your listening pleasure, why would you want him to try to recreate something he's already done. I know what y'all mean when you say you miss the old insert artist name here, I really do. I know you don't mean literally, but people are allowed to evolve (or devolve) and we shouldn't have the expectation that they stay the same version of themselves forever. That would be boring. The old Drake is there on your streaming devices, on your cds, your vinyls, whatever. I think it makes the music that more valuable, the fact that is is so one of a kind cause even the nigga who did it will never do again.
As stated before, Drake has done it all. He created a lane of his own incomparable to any other artist, and I think that if he wants to have fun and make some basic ass music he can do so. He's proved that he doesn't have anything to prove to anybody.
If the only person people were comparing me to was my old self, I'd honestly be honored. Now that we've laid this foundation let's get into the recent music teehehe. Firstly, I'm not gonna lie I didn't know we considered Dark Lane Demo Tapes an album (do we?) If not if so, whatever it still bops. If y'all hate Honestly, Nevermind go listen to this. DLMT and Certified Lover Boy are for the rap girlies, you're welcome. My favorite songs on DLMT are (in order) From Florida with Love, Deep Pockets, and When to Say When. I was bout to list the whole album, but yeah those are the best. I know some of those are old and have been leaked already so I'm not really counting it as newer music.
Moving on, Certfied Lover Boy was fun, but also kinda bad, it was fine. It was very energetic, I have negative times associated with that album so I really can't give an unbiased review. In the moment I liked it, it was fun, but honestly can't really listen to it 😭 Give me a few years, I'll come back to it.
Lastly, we have Honestly, Nevermind. I'm not gonna lie...I fuck with it. I will say proudly that I LIKE THE ALBUM. Sue me, I don't care. I had fun listening to it, it makes me feel like I'm in 2014 but also still in 2022, I feel like it fits the times and Drake has always been good at that. Some of y'all worry about lyrics too much, just worry about how the music makes you feel LMAO. The song Sticky got me doing the hip dance y'all be doing, yeah that song is lit. The songs admittedly sound pretty similar, but I don't care. My fav songs off of that one are Liability, PAUSE LET'S TALK ABOUT LIABILITY. Y'all want old Drake?! There he is. It's giving Trust Issues, it's giving I Get Lonely, it's giving Sweeterman like I don't know what to tell y'all. It made me shed a tear I love that song so much lmaooo. You might hate the slowed reverb, I understand it's kinda different (but y'all was gonna do it anyways on YouTube so let's not). Just head on down to Youtube and a version of it with that removed is on there. I like both versions equally, but the one without the reverb hits. Okay resuming, the best songs are Liability, Sticky, Falling Back, and Tie that Binds (Jimmy Cooks is objectively good).
In conclusion, y'all hate fun. We should just take it for what it is, nobody is saying that the album is a masterpiece and that he should win a grammy, it's just fun and something to play in the background or something let's not do too much. The basic bitch I am imma bop to it regardless, you don't really have to do much for me to like a song, but I acknowledge the blindspot I have for Drake 😭, however some of y'all are haters and it's okay to say that... Here is a cheat sheet for me and all things Drake:
My favorite Drake song is Hold On, We're Going Home (and Hotline Bling + Child's Play, they all got the same vibe).
My favorite Drake album is Views. I think if you had to describe Drake as an artist, his entire range is captured on Views and those songs are all really good examples of his various styles.
I have never been to a Drake concert, I was supposed to go when he was touring with the Migos, but I don't know what happened...cry. If I ever saw Drake in concert, I truthfully think I would pass out. Somebody would have to come get me, lmaoo.
All in all, I try to hide my love for Drake because being a fan of a man is embarrassing. That is also why I'm mad I had to come on here and somewhat defend his honor, this is ridiculous. Last note, the music video for Falling Back was really good that was a funny concept. Tristian Thompson cameo tho.....ew. As always, argue with your mama, not me.
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