A.K.A Drake’s new “album.” That’s right, quotes for album. Because we all know this isn’t Views From The 6, but damn, it might as well be. It’s good enough to be.
All right, for those of you who don’t know me, which is probably most of you, the number one thing I like to tell people is that I love Drake. I love him. I am absolutely obsessed. I have loved him ever since I was in middle school and saw his "Best I Ever Had" music video on MTV. Something changed in me that day. I became new. Since then, I have purchased all of his albums (yes, hard copy albums, like who does that anymore?), I have seen him in concert once (this past August, Drake vs. Lil Wayne at DTE in Clarkston, Mich.), and I even own some of his apparel.
Drake was stealthy and dropped If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late at midnight on Feb. 12, on iTunes, with no warning. Was I ready? No. Am I happy? Happier than I have ever been. I definitely recommend a listen if you haven’t already.
Track 1: "Legend"
A great opening track -- soft jazz sounds in the beginning, with Drake’s sultry voice, then the beat drops. Perfection, if I have ever heard it. The song speaks truth though. Drake is a legend. “Money taught me Spanish, make it andale.”
Track 2: "Energy"
This anthem describes what Drake is about. He is saying that in the rap game, everyone wants a piece of him. But guess what -- they can’t have him! Drake is unstoppable. “Bout to call your a$$ an Uber, I got somewhere to be.
”Track 3: "10 Bands"
Bands, like money. I don’t know about most of you, but I don’t keep my money in stacks. Drake’s rich. We know. “My ex asked me, ‘Where you movin’?’ I said, ‘Onto better things’”
Track 4: "Know Yourself"
The title of this song comes from Drake’s song “From Time” off of Nothing Was The Same. I like the placement of this song in terms of how it flows with the other tracks. It’ s a nice slow down after the three hardcore songs. “My city too turnt up I’ll take the fine for that.”
Track 5: "No Tellin’"
Another nice slow track. I feel as though “no tellin’” is one of his punch lines, and I’m glad he finally stopped and made a song about it.
Best lyric(s): “The new s#!t is on steroids, I would never pass a physical” & “I mean besides Ricky Ross Aubrey the biggest boss here”
Track 6: "Madonna"
An honor to the Queen of Pop. Drake is discussing how his girl could be as big as Madonna. Duh. She’s with Drake.
“Say you get up early, you work for The Man, well he’ll understand”
Track 7: "6 God"
This song was released as a single quite a while ago with two other tracks. I’m a huge fan. My favorite part of the song is the last third, when it slows down and Drake goes hard. Not to mention, Drake is the 6 God. “You was poppin’ back when Usher wore a U-chain”
Track 8: "Star67"
In the three days that I’ve listened to this album, this is my favorite song right now. I like the beat, I like the lines, I like how the song changes. Best lyric: “Now I’m in the Rolls with illuminated angel.” Best lyric for how it sounds with the beat: “I do better with the rider in my system.”
Track 9: "Preach" feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR
My second favorite song. I love PND and think he adds a lot to this song. Plus I’ve been dancing to it. “Doing is one thing, doing it right is a whole different story.”
Track 10: "Wednesday Night Interlude" feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR
They really like their days of the week. This song is the perfect transition from Preach. It works. “Heard you spend your summers in Miami at somebody’s house that you didn’t buy.” Oh. snap. he called her out.
Track 11: "Used To" feat. Lil Wayne
Originally released on Lil Wayne’s Sorry for the Wait 2 Mixtape, but here comes with another verse. A typical Drake/ Lil Wayne collab. It’s great. “They don’t love you like they used to.”
Track 12: "6 Man"
I like this one because it picks up the pace a little bit. After "Used To," it is continuing the faster pace. “Fieri, I’m in the kitchen, I’m a magician”
Track 13: "Now & Forever"
Drake gets real, here. Not that he hasn’t been real this whole time, just like extra real. “I don’t wanna miss the boat, I don’t wanna sit in coach”
Track 14: "Company" feat. Travi$ Scott
Girls. Company. Companionship. Drake loves but has troubles. Like all of us mere mortals, too. We feel for you, Drake. “She working with the spatula, I know she love flipping s#!t”
Track 15: "You & The 6"
I love when Drake talks about home, A.K.A the 6. Also, we know Drake is super close with his mom. Love when he writes about her. “I know you wanna arrange it, you told me she’s free Thursday, and I’m sure that she’s a angel but she don’t want this life, the timing ain’t right, maybe one day but even one day with us is the time of a life.”
Track 16: "Jungle"
Slow, powerful. Still girls. Still in love with it. “The things I can’t change are the reasons you love me.”
Track 17: "6PM in New York"
Drake has a series of these: "5AM in Toronto," "9AM in Dallas." He is all over the place. I think this song is the perfect ending to this mixtape/ album thing. “They scream out my failures and whisper my accomplishments.”
Pretty much, Drake is just perfect. I can easily tell you what I will be listening to for the next few weeks -- or months.
