Aubrey "Drake" Graham has always been a celebrity but today he sits atop the hip-hop throne. When his most recent release "Views" blessed our ears on April 29, the Internet exploded. Everyone waits on his every move in the music industry, but why? Let us explore how the 6 God has influenced hip-hop and how he will take over this summer once again.
Drake had not released a solo album in almost three years yet he still seems to be the most influential and followed rapper in the industry. In early 2015 he dropped "If You're Reading This It's Too Late," which was considered a mixtape. It got nominated for a Grammy. He released this song called "Hotline Bling," maybe you have heard it once or twice? He had a highly publicized beef with Meek Mill and dropped the song "Back To Back," also Grammy nominated. He released a joint mixtape with trap king Future, went certified platinum.
Most like to call this the "Drake Effect". This guy is a marketing genius. From his deals with Apple, to his horrendous dance moves, to his antics on the sidelines of Toronto Raptors games, every single move is calculated. He knows how to attract the attention of the millennial generation. Drizzy is also immensely talented. Most artists don't rap and sing - he is a rare breed. For my generation, his music exemplifies the ideas of late lonely nights and confusing love lives. Although he is so famous, he is relatable in a way.
His new album "Views" is unlike any work he has previously released. It is a complete 180 from "IYRTITL," which was much darker and had aggressive undertones. Drizzy talks more about his love life, what comes with fame and his immense confidence. He released his album cover a few days before the album came out, which is a photo of him sitting atop the CN Tower in Toronto. Memes and pictures of the cover were all over Twitter and Instagram. You start to wonder how does he never fail?
I think back to "So Far Gone," which was his first major release and how much his music has evolved. Each album sounds so different and you can tell he loves the music and cares about his craft. One thing Drake always does is he opens up his life to the listener. He lives this lavish lifestyle but through his music you learn that he's full of emotion and vulnerability.
Drake's diversity of sing-songy melodies to confident raps make him the king of hip-hop. His takeover of music is upon us, all Summer Sixteen.
