★★★★☆
Four stars
Drake has become the next major artist to drop an album out of nowhere. Just like Beyonce’s last LP, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late was unceremoniously uploaded to iTunes, without the high profile marketing blitz that usually accomplishes top tier pop releases. This lack of ostentation carries over to the music found on the record. Drake’s sound is stripped back to the bare bones. The production, handled by Boi-1da and Noah ’40’ Shebib, is minimal and brooding. Tip-toeing piano and swirling ambience is met by the taut bounce of snarling 80s. The sound design is flawless as usual, every sound crisp, tight and perfectly placed. The most interesting textures are to be found in ‘Jungle’, which pairs D’angelo-style soulful instrumentation with the harder percussion of contemporary hip-hop. It never moves far from the melodic trap sound that Drake has inhabited for his last few releases, however, failing to push the sonic envelope and staying firmly within the current popular vernacular.
Drake himself is on usual form, dispensing earworm loverman melodies. This romanticism is broken up with a more menacing presence upon the harder-edged pieces, coming through with righteous braggadocio on heavy-hitter ‘6 God’. The balance of aggression and sentimentality is shifted further towards the former. Instead of breathless romance, he is more pre-occupied with ‘enemies’ than lovers, calling out those who are holding him back on the cathartic ‘Energy’. Although competent, the record lacks ambition compared to previous Drake releases.
The record never produces any truly outstanding or memorable moments in the way previous albums have. The freshest moment comes not from Drake himself, but when rising star Travi$ Scott interrupts proceedings with his gothic stomp and auto-tuned drawl. This can largely be attributed to the nature of the album’s conception. Drake and his fellow label mates are currently involved in a vitriolic dispute with Cash Money owner Birdman. The secret, unauthorised release of this album fulfils his four album deal, freeing him from his previously binding contract. The hand-scrawled album cover is a pointed taunt, directed at his previous boss, ridiculing his powerlessness to stop one of his biggest assets fleeing his control. This record should therefore be viewed only as a transitional piece; its importance is in allowing Drake free reign to craft his upcoming full release, View from the 6, free from interference. This offering will keep the fans thirsty for some new Drizzy going until he drops his next masterpiece.
