Has the man boy fans not learned yet that you can’t put Drake in a box? Better yet, if you’re really a fan of the Grammy-winning Canadian rapper, wouldn’t you know his connection to the incomparable Virgil Abloh and the designer’s affinity for the style of music that Drake produced for Honestly, Nevermind?
From the looks of the tiny snippets of social media discourse making the rounds, maybe some fans don’t know Drake at all. That’s why it’s essential to understand that there’s an entire agenda against Aubrey Graham to muffle his impact with the intent to create an unchallenged space for other rappers who do not have the versatility and boldness such as is beholden by the all too “overrated” Drake.
For starters, the man makes what he wants, rather its different forms of rap (southern, drill, reggaeton), R&B, pop, Latin, or…dance. Drake is an artist that truly beats to his own drum and in a world where groupthink, sheeple, and fitting in seems to be the new real, Drake naturally deviates.
Not saying he isn’t flawless in his pursuits. Some deem him a “culture vulture” for jumping on waves before they pop off as some would argue he did with the Migos and XXXTentacion (yeah, we haven’t forgotten).
But beyond that — or better yet before that — there was a time when every rapper sounded like a version of Drake. The aspiring Drake, hood Drake, bougie Drake, romantic Drake, savage Drake, chill Drake. The Nothing Was The Same artist has always been in his innovation bag.
On his latest contribution to “the culture,” he surprise releases a 14-song album on the heels of Tupac Shakur’s birthday and shortly after Beyonce caused a disruption with the announcement of her upcoming album, Renaissance.
Honestly, Nevemind parlays its aspirational goals similar to a prospering tech company, tackling the three attributes to be envied — experimentation, innovation, and leading the field.
And experiment Drake does. There’s nothing about this album that the fickle, but rigidly judgmental fans who tend to enjoy Drake’s rap persona will appreciate. The only tidbits of rapping that Drake flirts with comes in and out like an echo on songs such as “Sticky,” “Jimmy Cooks,” featuring 21 Savage, and just a little bit on the banger “Liability.”
On “Sticky,” Drake sticks [pun intended] to his signature topics surrounding haters, women, family, and his paranoid proclamation that someone has a price on his head, a theme that has been ongoing for a while now. The catchy beat rolls out with dance evoking drums, but the most polarizing part is the storytelling.
“Jimmy Cooks” is the edgy ending to Honestly, Nevermind, and does an outstanding job of reminding Drake spectators that he’s not done yet. It’s a shame that Drake is so overwhelmed by the hate of others that it consumes his art when he does choose to rap. Still, it makes for some trill beats and motivating lyrics. Whatever works. The only feature on the album, 21 Savage, stirs the pot with his rendition of Three 6 Mafia, and we like it.
Drake sneaks in a rap montage camouflaged in that slowed tempo made popular by Houston’s very own DJ Screw on “Liability.” He sing raps, “Judging me lately, banging the gravel on me / Friends wanna tattle on me / You put words together like you getting points for that shit / Like you playing Scrabble on me / Your mama the sweetest lady, that apple fell far from the tree / Can’t you be honest about your past? Like, how hard can it be? / You know I showed them songs you been playing all on repeat / You found replacements for me, but you know it’s hard to compete.”
Sounds like subliminals.
For the most part, Drake is in his feels, singing with the assistance of autotune about relationships on the majority of the album. And while Drake is very straight forward with his delivery, the production of each beat appears to be intricately created in an unconventional fashion that actually honors the legend of Virgil Abloh, rest in power.
There’s rhythmic vibes, matched with addictive trance-style tempos and kicks that touches on a broad range of musical genres. There’s hints of dancehall, electronic, experimental, world music, and African influences.
Although lyrically, Drake is not always optimistic, Honestly, Nevermind does create a spatially free mood that gives the illusion of an affirmative atmosphere. It’s hopefully romantic, seductive in its gravitas and barely bothered by the backlash that’s sure to rattle social media platforms about Drake not staying in his lane. But, whether you’re for the man or not, he’s in his bag and who can be mad at that?
Listen to Honestly, Nevermind below or on Apple Music and YouTube.
