Drake Across 2016 & 2017

Daniela E.V.
Aug 27, 2017 · 3 min read

If there’s a skill Drake has, it’s creating soundtracks. His proclivity for uber-relatable themes and comedically-catchy bars upgrade his albums from merely just that — albums — to collections of anthems. He’s released a project nearly every year, and thus we are never lacking content from this legend in the making. Starting with 2006’s Room for Improvement mixtape, over the last decade, Drake’s work has taken us on a rollercoaster full of the unexpected. From braggadocios bars reminding us that he is THAT man, to soft, sensitive love ballads, to collaborating on an entire album with Atlanta’s Future over energetic trap beats, Drake has delivered an expansive portfolio of work. The following is my condensed evaluation of his latest releases.

Never shy about his penchant for other culture’s music styles, Drake decorates Views From The 6 with dancehall and Afrobeats vibes, but really the project is Toronto’s ethos in sonic form. This album hosts single “One Dance”, which borrows the UK’s Kyla over a dancehall syncopation, coupled with Nigeria’s Wizkid. This record is surely a floor-filler, intended to be enjoyed both on your daily driving commute or drunkenly on the dance floor. “Controlla” is a love song masked as an ideal summer jam, continuing the dancehall theme with a feature from Jamaican Popcaan, a Beenie Man sample, and no shortage of Patois slang. Boi-1-da offers his production for “9”, in which drake is in full-rap mode about his mother and hometown, no soft Aubrey in sight. “With You” is a happy-sounding account of a breakup, or a couple with a commitment issue, with Partynextdoor as backup on the chorus. While each song has some redeeming aspect, ultimately Views falls flat considering what we have been conditioned to expect from Drake.

The most versatile, and thus, most Drake-y Drake work of all is his latest album, More Life. Boasting 22 tracks, unsurprisingly, consistency is a far-fetched goal for this album. As opposed to his preceding works, which tend to center around stark themes, this album is an assemblage of a variety of sounds and genres. It is a collection chock full with features from the likes of Giggs, Quavo, Travis Scott, Partynextdoor and more, resulting in more a playlist than an album. As some highlights, we hear Drake’s famed rap — sing on the chorus of “Glow”, featuring a straight-forward, classic Kanye West verse. “Sacrifices”, a trifecta of rap talent (Young Thug, 2 Chainz) has Drake rapping of struggle and triumph in a way reminiscent of his older work, coupled with a vocally — unfiltered Young Thug verse and a beautiful piano melody. A hard, uptempo beat, complete with a panpipe and gleeful bars characterize “Portland”, likely the most lively track on the project. “Get It Together”, is a beautifully crafted elevator-music type song featuring South African producer Black Coffee and 19-year-old singer Jorja Smith.

Though he hasn’t officially announced his next album release, we do have hope of more on the horizon. There are rumors he may drop a collaborative work with Kanye West. In June, he gave us “Signs”, which premiered for Louis Vuitton’s Paris fashion week. It’s been a quiet few months since, save for his appearance on DJ Khaled’s “To The Max”, but perhaps this is a suggestion that he’s at work on his next gem.

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