While Drake is very much a Canadian, the lyricist was way ahead of the curve in 2009 with his take on the chopped-up (never slopped up) sound of Houston. “Too Much” literally pulls from a Sampha record in its entirety and spins the already sobering track into even more of a heart-wrenching listen.Ĥ. Plus, nowhere else do you get to hear the hilarious but addictive vocal inflection that he does when he spits “I’m getting back to my ways.”ĭrake’s oftentimes questionable practice of discovering artists he likes and appropriating their likeness couldn’t have been better exemplified than with this track. If there’s one thing that he’s never lacked, it’s confidence in himself and few songs in his catalog tackle his ascent like he does here. Speaking on how he would cry, lie and die for a woman, the record carries a sheen fitting for an affair in the heat of many summers past.ĭrizzy’s calculated rise to the top of the charts serves as the main theme of “Underground Kings” as he looks back on his mixtape days (and yes, those Acura days too).
But, the sun-dappled track has all the makings of a hit with its unruly guest spot. In a world where Popcaan’s verse never existed, “Controlla” could rightfully stand on Drake’s hook alone as he bemoans the love of his life. Drake has been questioning the burdens of his newfound celebrity for years, but it is here, on the first track off his surprise If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late mixtape, that he ponders this scenario with the sincerity that it deserves. While the flame may have dimmed out between them, this sweet pairing makes for an incredible emotional appeal.Įveryone, rich or poor, must reckon with the fact that death is imminent. The record finds both artists discussing their need for trust, loyalty and safety in one another. Long thought to be a romantic duo, Drake and Rihanna delivered a duet for the ages in the midst of their rumored love affair. The bars here are appropriately aspirational and tinged with bravado: “I want Saudi money, I want art money/ I want women to cry and pout their heart for me/ And tell me how much they hate it when they apart from me.” If there’s anything that Drake does undoubtedly well, it’s boosting his own confidence. sample on “Cameras,” he does exactly that, telling an insecure lady friend: “You just know what you get told, you don’t see behind the scenes.” It’s a plea for the nameless woman he’s addressing to not succumb to the manipulation of the media and gossip. Politics as usual.ĭrake is an expert at seamlessly weaving the pleasures and pains of fame and success into one cohesive narrative. JAY drops gems for the burgeoning emcee with lines like: “Here’s how they gon’ come at you/ With silly rap feuds tryin’ to distract you/ In disguise, in the form of a favor.” Hov obviously spoke from experience, but the irony is, before long Lil Wayne and JAY were sending subs back and forth and Drake was taking aim at his highness. With gated drums enveloping the background, both JAY-Z and Drake go off the handle with extended verses. Without a doubt, “Fear” proved to be a Drake song we couldn’t live without. Drake’s dreams were coming true but the future remained uncertain and like the artwork for the song suggests, it’s easy to drown in newfound success (or get buried alive).
Never did he do it as quickly as he did on “Fear” - a song that captured the moment he was living in. One of the keys to Drake’s appeal is his ability to internalize his life and make it relatable. Considering the plethora of songs which encapsulate the hustle, the grind, or means to an end, the track was a moment of oddly plain and brilliant honesty: “I just wanna be, I just wanna be suc-cess-ful.” But “Successful,” one of the key tracks from So Far Gone, is by far Drizzy’s ultimate aspirational anthem. One thing’s for certain: Drake raps about success, a lot.
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