Album: Take Care
Artist: Drake
Label: Cash Money
Release Date: Nov. 15
Grade: A-
Hip-hop's favorite Canadian has finally released the music his fans knew he was capable of making. After an amazing response to his 2009 mixtape, So Far Gone, Aubrey "Drake" Graham left much to be desired with last year's debut album, Thank Me Later.
This fall, he released his highly anticipated follow-up album, Take Care.
Musically, this sophomore album is on point. With production credits listing Just Blaze, who helped produce Jay-Z's Blueprint and Lex Luger, whose sound is synonymous with Rick Ross' current reign over rap music, Drake's resources were bountiful to say the least.
Lyrically, Drake will always be contested among the public, but this album is proof that his rhymes have progressed and his flow has become versatile.
Drake stepped away from his signature "hashtag" rapping, the exclusion of ‘like' or ‘as' in a metaphorical verse, and ventured into different rhyme schemes and even story telling format. He croons on his ode to drunk dialing with "Marvin's Room," but rips his competition to shreds on "Lord Knows," and "Headlines."
The features on this album also show how much preparation went into constructing the sound.
Yes, Drake predictably garnered guest vocals from his mentor Lil' Wayne and label mate Nicki Minaj. However, the pop-rap sound is balanced out with features from a rookie California rapper with an enormous buzz, Kendrick Lamar. Drake also somehow manages to get a feature from Andre 3000, who seldom appears on projects not his own, Rick Ross and none other than Stevie Wonder.
The two most pleasant surprises off this album were the two most unexpected. In "Practice," Drake and his team used a sample and hook from Juvenile's "Back That Thang Up," featuring Lil' Wayne and Mannie Fresh, paying homage to his Cash Money predecessors.
On the title track "Take Care," featuring Rihanna, Drake took another unexpected turn by using a dancehall rhythm. The up-tempo track also samples Jaime xx's remix of the late Gil Scott-Heron's "I'll Take Care of You."
This album shows an enormous leap for Drake's musical abilities. If So Far Gone, and Kanye West's Graduation had a baby, Take Care would be it. Not every track is gold, though, and that some of the internet releases that didn't make the album should have.
Drake hasn't announced any plans for a third album, yet, but is working on a mixtape with Rick Ross.
Email: arts@ubspectrum.com
