Toronto actor-turned-rap-legend Drake released his fourth studio album on Friday, April 29.

The Internet pulled an all-nighter after the album dropped at midnight. During the following hours, every line, hook, beat and reference was dissected while people were posting their favorite lines with the hashtag #Views on every social platform known to man.

To be honest, I got into Drake pretty late in the game. "Nothing Was the Same" had already been out for a year and a half when I began following his career, but once I started listening I couldn't stop. So I was just as thrilled when Drake released "If You're Reading This It's Too Late" as everyone else was when Drake suddenly dropped it last February. On top of that, he released another mixtape "What a Time to be Alive" seven months later with Atlanta-based rapper Future.

Since the mention of "Views" (formerly known as "Views from the 6" back in 2014) Drake has remained impervious to anything that would usually stop someone of his popularity in their tracks. He came out on top from the Meek Mill beef, and when the dancing in Hotline Bling was parodied endlessly he was able to spin it and laugh at himself, which only made the song more popular. Even with the release of his album art for "Views" everyone jumped on it and photoshopped tiny Drake on anything they could think of. There's a meme generator that helps you do so. I even got in on it:

To say the least, this last year has catapulted Drake's career to a whole new level, positioning "Views" as one of the most anticipated albums of 2016 (released exclusively through Apple Music & iTunes).

This album sets the stage with its first song "Keep the Family Close" opening with sounds of chilly wind being heard from the top of the CN Tower in Toronto. Drake told Beat 1's Zane Lowe in an interview that "Views" is based around the seasons of Toronto, with the album starting in winter. If you have any ex-lovers, then this album is for you as Drake talks extensively about his "let's just be friends."

As the album titles suggests, Drake also talks heavily about the pride he has for "The 6" which is a nickname for Toronto. In the song "9" he raps, "I turn the six upside down, it's a nine now," which is a clever way of saying that through his influence he's flipped the city upside down.

One of my favorite parts of this album is in a track called "U With Me?" where Drake is questioning his girl's loyalty to him. At the tail end of this track, this bass synth kicks in and Drake subtly switches up his inflection on the verse until he is sing-screaming while the beat swells. It's moments like these that will keep me coming back to "Views."

This album is all about your attitude going into it. With only a handful of "bangers," it harkens back to Drake in his 2011 album "Take Care." On my first listen I was waiting for songs like "Legend," "Know Yourself," or "Energy" which are simply not there. This album is deeply introspective, and while there are a couple high energy tracks, this album is more like a wine or expensive bourbon that must be sipped to be enjoyed.

Overall, I enjoyed this album, I think this is an important milestone in Drake's career, and if he's serious when he said, "The most successful rapper 35 and under...that's when I plan to retire," then we have six more years of music to look forward to.

Adam's Album Rating:

8.5/10