"Wallet yout! Wallet, Wallet, Wallet, Wallet” is the first line I heard from Drake's 2015 released album, "If You're Reading This It's Too Late," that got my undivided attention. My first reaction was “What does that even mean?” and my second reaction was “That is pretty catchy.” Drake had me questioning his choices while being intrigued at the same time. I must say that Drake knows how to entertain his audience, which is no surprise due to his monumental success.
The song stuck with me throughout the winter. Even just saying the words “Know Yourself” got me thinking deeper than I should. I knew it was an obsession because every time the song would show up on Spotify, I wouldn’t skip it, which is not normal considering I had listened to it beyond the point of annoying any sane human being.
So there I was, psychoanalyzing myself and trying to figure out why the song “Know Yourself” by Drake had continued to haunt me in an unsettling way. And finally, I had figured out why I couldn’t wait to hear “Runnin' through the 6 with my woes,” nor could I say to myself “It’s time to move on, Michaela."
So here it is: Drake explains his past and being real with us on how we should see the hip-hop world. The image these artists portray is great and everything, but it’s not always who these artists truly are. The backstory is what creates their success.
I think this goes to show what the title clearly states. Know who you are in relation to your surroundings, and you will be able to achieve what you want. It is clear that Drake had to work hard to portray such a slick and cool exterior for the music industry. But now that he has made it and is being who he wants to be in the music industry, he shows that he truly does know himself. It takes going through the struggles to figure out who you are, which is why I admire Drake. He went through a lot to get to where he is now.
I have to admit though, I like this Drake a lot better. His verses get me thinking and I don’t feel as if I am being fed the music for my pleasure. I now feel as if I am trying my best to figure out who he is. And that’s just how the music industry goes, or so we thought. So, stay tuned for next week’s article. I want to dip into why artists will conform to the industry’s wants, and then become their own artist.
