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I was primed to enjoy "Honestly, Nevermind," partly because its release was announced mere hours in advance. "Honestly, Nevermind" was released on June 17, 2022. Save for "Know Yourself" and perhaps "Jungle," it lacks that intimate translation of memories and emotions that make people feel connected to Drake as an Artist, rather than Drake as a Brand. "If You're Reading This," by contrast, is uncharacteristically and unceasingly paranoid, aggressive, and single-minded. I mean, this is a man who actually said, "Got so many chains, I feel like chain-ing Tatum."ĭrake can deliver bars, to be sure, but he's at his best when he blends those bars with moody R&B, decadent production, and melodic vocals - when he blends his narcissism with his jealousy, longing, melancholy, and regret, confronting many moods in a way that feels universal. It sees him at his most forceful and certainly his most boastful, rapping over minimal beats and industrial sounds for 17 straight songs.īut Drake didn't become Drake because he's a great rapper. "If You're Reading This It's Too Late" was released on February 13, 2015.įor those who worship Drake as a rapper, rather than a pop star, "If You're Reading This It's Too Late" is the holy grail.
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