Indeed, "Honestly, Nevermind" is remarkably cohesive: a focused package of tropical beats and atmospheric production.Įspecially as a surprise drop, this makes for a fascinating change of pace. Secondly, with 14 songs spanning just 52 minutes, this is Drake's shortest album since "What a Time To Be Alive." After the absolute slog of "Certified Lover Boy," the world deserved that. This weakened the risk of New Drake Hype eclipsing the album itself, which several of its predecessors fell victim to. I was primed to enjoy "Honestly, Nevermind," partly because its release was announced mere hours in advance. "Honestly, Nevermind" was released on June 17, 2022. Save for "Know Yourself" and perhaps "Jungle," it lacks that intimate translation of memories and emotions that make people feel connected to Drake as an Artist, rather than Drake as a Brand. "If You're Reading This," by contrast, is unceasingly paranoid, aggressive, and single-minded. I mean, this is a man who actually said, "Got so many chains, I feel like chain-ing Tatum."ĭrake can deliver bars, to be sure, but he's at his best when he blends those bars with moody R&B, decadent production, and melodic vocals - when he blends his narcissism with his jealousy, longing, melancholy, and regret, confronting many moods in a way that feels universal. It sees him at his most forceful and certainly his most boastful, rapping over minimal beats and industrial sounds for 17 straight songs.īut Drake didn't become Drake because he's a great rapper. "If You're Reading This It's Too Late" was released on February 13, 2015.įor those who worship Drake as a rapper, rather than a pop star, "If You're Reading This It's Too Late" is the holy grail. "It's yet more evidence that Drake's art is suffering under the strain of his obsession with churning out as much music as is physically possible," Fred Garratt-Stanley wrote for NME, while Rolling Stone's Mosi Reeves put it even more bluntly: "Drake's error is that he unintentionally reveals himself as a self-centered jerk who refuses to grow up." It's peppered with unnecessary jabs at famous women (Megan Thee Stallion, Ice Spice, Serena Williams) that serve only to spark discourse on Twitter. The album feels sloppy and scatterbrained, especially compared to the cohesive club vibe of its precursor. It signaled that he'd found the courage to try new things, to execute new visions, to create true albums instead of glorified playlists. "Honestly, Nevermind" wasn't a flop it was a thrilling departure from the standard Drake formula. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and tried to clone its success 16 times. He took the one classic rap song on the tracklist, "Jimmy Cooks" featuring 21 Savage, which debuted at No. "Her Loss" seemed like Drake's attempt to course-correct after "Honestly, Nevermind" didn't receive rapturous praise from his fanbase. "Her Loss" was released on November 4, 2022. The rest of the 23-song tracklist is full of try-hard trap music and eye-roll-inducing lines: "They say love's like a BBL, you won't know if it's real until you feel one," "Feel like I'm bi 'cause you're one of the guys, girl." Drake's target audience these days seems to be exclusively frat boys, but I still have to ask: Is this your king? (It's also way too long, which is a complaint you'll see a lot in this ranking.) Drake promised a return to form, but unfortunately, the charm that made him a superstar only appears in fickle bursts. "He wants to handcuff them on 'Fear of Heights,' then whip and chain them like 'American slaves' on 'Slime You Out.' When he raps that he 'packs them into my phone like sardines' on 'First Person Shooter,' his outright contempt for women stares you directly in the face."īeyond the blatantly sexist lyrics, "For All the Dogs" is an inconsistent, aggravating, and derivative album. "'For All the Dogs' sees him step into a role that's nauseatingly patriarchal and almost abusive," Smith wrote. "For All the Dogs" was made by a 36-year-old father, and his rich-kid malaise is beginning to feel an awful lot like misogyny.Īs Nadine Smith wrote for the Independent, Drake's toxic masculinity has become "increasingly hard to ignore." It was actually refreshing for an artist to be so open about his darkest impulses.īut the whole thing is no longer a novelty. It's been nearly two decades since Drake released his debut mixtape (2006's "Room for Improvement") and he still spends entire albums complaining about women and haters.Īs a twentysomething rapper with something to prove, Drake's petty jabs and paranoid delusions made sense. "For All the Dogs" was released on October 6, 2023. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders.
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