Why did I review the album? Was working on another album review when I found
out this came out and immediately listened
Did I like it? No
Will I listen again? To select songs
I don’t like this album which
shouldn’t be a surprise if you’ve read any of my previous rap album reviews. It’s
an album full of chopped rapping that I’m not a fan of. The only exceptions are
the last three tracks. So I’ll sum up my review of the first 14 tracks like
this: Given my preferences, I was never going to like this offering. It’s a
shame too because some of the songs has some potentially great content, but I was
so distracted by the delivery that I couldn’t get as invested as I wanted to.
As I review this album though I’d be remiss not to bring up one last point. During
the song From Time Drake talks about doing something
more with music. i.e. “ I want to take it deeper than money, P****,
vacation.” I inferred from that line that he’d like to experiment and
see how much further he can push himself and the music industry. This album is
an exercise of that wish.
I feel the same way about this
album as I did with Jay-Z’s Magna Carta… Holy Grail. There is a trend in the industry and
rather than be swept away by sticking to norms, they agree to adapt and change.
As a person that asks artist to experiment,
I can’t penalize him completely when he tries. I don’t like it, but I do
understand why it was done and contend that it does hold some value.
My Favs
3. 6PM in New York
2. Jungle
1. You & the 6
Overall Rating: 1.5 of 5 spins
You
& the 6- This is the song that made wading through the first 14
tracks (and this whole album) worth it for me. Now I’m going to admit that I
may be overrating this song because everything before it was painful to listen
to, but I don’t think I am.
First off, on a comical note, I
find it hilarious that he decides for her that the trainer wouldn’t appreciate
Drake’s lifestyle. He gives her the classic it’s not you, it’s me excuse. If I
were a woman I’d be seriously annoyed.
What I love most about this song
is that it’s real. He drops all the pretense that rappers often use and has a
thoughtful heart to heart with his mother concerning certain matters. He gives his mom props for being a guiding
light in his life.
I love the parts about his father.
This part reminded me that despite the ridiculously stupid things he sometimes
does, he does take some things very seriously. I have to give him props here. A
lot of his raps have to do with his father due to their relationship. It takes
a lot for someone to forgive someone for a past wrong. And it’s clear he’s
forgiven his father. He even asks his mother to rekindle her relationship with
him. To appeal to her, he alludes to the fact that without his father (and his
friends influence) he may not be the rapper he is today. Essentially he wouldn’t
be successful without him. That’s a strong bargaining tool considering that the
most important thing to her is probably Drake. It’s fascinating how far he is
willing to go in order to repair his father’s lost/broken bonds.
It’s been a while since I loved
an album/mixtape Drake has made, but I always listen because I know that when
he’s serious he can make beautiful music. And at least once per album he reminds
me that he’s still got it. And, on this album, this is that song.
Drake has many great songs, but
this is one of the best.
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