It’s funny how life goes. I started my school year reviewing a Drake album, and now I’m finishing the year doing the same. During my first review, I listened to Drizzy’s What a Time to be Alive, a single time before exploding with resentment towards the album. That’s such a stupid rookie mistake, i feel kind of embarrassed by it. Drake is one of those artists who really grows on you as you listen to him more and more. When i first listened to Jumpman, i thought it was the worst song ever. Over the course of a month, my hatred grew into appreciation and excitement whenever i heard the song on the radio, or blaring out of someone’s phone. So for Views, instead of being a procrastination master, i decided to put work in and listen to the album for a week or two before passing judgement.
To be honest, Views is pretty good, not quite at What a Time to be Alive level, and not quite as low as anything Meek Mill produces. Songs like Keep the Family Close, U with Me, and Redemption are eerily similar to Marvin’s Room, and these sad, mellow songs are just in time for all of us who didn’t go to prom (haha). Besides Drake’s usual two in the morning depressed over a girl songs, we have those beastly songs like Hype, Grammys (which features my new favorite rapper, the one and only Future) and Pop Style. This trio will get you HYPED (see what i did there) for anything and everything. Got an English test you didn’t study for? Listen to Grammys and you’ll somehow know the definition of ten words you didn’t know existed. Drake does it again with his patented pump up songs.
If you're more of a pop listener, this album will give you a few songs to jam out to. The meme anthem “Hotline Bling” is cleverly placed at the end of the album, and my new favorite song ever, Too Good, features Rihanna, the ebb and flow of her and Drake’s voices creates a perfect, melodic sounding tune that will be stuck in your head for days. One Dance, Controlla, and With You all join in on the fun as well, each bringing a catchy tune that helps highlight Drake’s pop oriented voice.
I think all of us, deep down inside, couldn’t wait for Views. It had been hyped up for a few months, and with the release of the album cover, (which turned everyone on Twitter into a photoshop master) and Summer Sixteen, (a song that was very good, but didn’t make the final cut) there was a genuine, good feeling that this was going to be a masterpiece. While the album isn’t quite the second coming, it comes pretty darn close. Views has it all, an outstanding supporting cast the includes Rihanna, Future and Partynextdoor, songs that are rap, pop and melancholy oriented, and of course we get prime Drake. Give this album a listen. 8.5/10.
