Drake – Take Care

Jay-Z on the song “A Star Is Born” off of Blueprint III said “Drake’s up next / see what he do with it.” That song was released in 2009 and in the years since Aubrey Graham has gone from mixtape phenom to arena headliner. In 2010 he dropped Thank Me Later  which has since gone platinum. His first full album established himself as a double threat: a very talented rapper who could sing the R&B style hooks for his own tracks.

Even though Drake has been given the rubber stamp by every tastemaker you can name in the game (Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, among others) there yet remains persistent criticism of his work and persona. Drake did not deal coke as a youth. He did not come from poverty. Aubrey was raised by his single mother in a wealthy area of Toronto, Canada.

For these reasons as well as those who simply did not respect Drake for singing or rapping about being sensitive. Many took his sensitivity to mean that he was “less of a man” and dismissed the obvious musical talent the young Canadian had. Meanwhile Drizzy laughed his way to millions in record sales and worked on his side projects including the emerging R&B group The Weeknd.

Drake’s latest and possibly greatest LP Take Care will be legally released on November 15, but for those fortunate enough to stumble upon it on the internet have already had about a day to listen to it. The guest list alone ought to be a strong indication of the quality to be found within all 17 tracks. Artists like Andre 3000, Rick Ross, Rihanna, Lil Wayne, The Weeknd, among others, lend their talents to Drizzy on Take Care.

The album begins with a statement of intent on the track “Over My Dead Body” wherein Drake makes it clear that he has heard the criticisms of his, and dismisses them all with a single verse. “Jealousy is just love and hate at the same time.” “Over My Dead Body” eases the listener into the album as the beat is quite relaxed. His point is best expressed in the line “These kids wear crowns over here.”

Take Care is so strong as an album that it is hard to pick out specific songs as highlights. Nearly everything Aubrey tries on his second LP comes off and that is perhaps the best thing anyone can say about an album that is equal parts exploring new territory and perfecting the tried and true. Ultimately the truest test of whether a new album offers anything, well, new, is if the listener shuffles it and the last one and tries to pick which album each track is on. Take Care passes this test with flying colours.

Considering that the listening public had to wait only a year for Drake to come out with a new album it is impressive the amount of work that went into Take Care. Many became impatient with Drake as the album’s release date was pushed back from October 24 to November 15. The wait is over now and it is obvious that such a delay was worth it.

One of the opening singles released in advance of Take Care ”Headlines” explores the classic dilemma of an emerging artist: creating a new sound or sticking with the formula that got them there. Drake offers his treatise on the dilemma by stating that critics can be critical while he spends his time with he himself and all his millions. His crew knows that he is still the same Drake, repeating “They know” on a few occasions.

Of the tracks heretofore unreleased, my favourite has to be “Crew Love” which features Drake’s pet project group The Weeknd. The beat, produced by Doc McKinney and Illangelo just bumps while Drake explores the benefits of success and how it has allowed him to take care of the friends and family that helped him reach the status he currently enjoys. The combination of Drake and The Weeknd has already proven quite deadly on latter’s latest LPThursday.

Other highlights include the title track “Take Care” which features the Scottie Pippen of hip-hop, Rihanna. Title tracks are usually strong on any album but this one in particular is a banger. It finds Drake combining excellent vocals and rapping, switching back and forth with the ease of one who knows he owns both talents totally.

If one looked at the album credits with any degree of thoroughness the track “Lord Knows” would jump out at him immediately. Produced by Just Blaze and featuring Maybach Music’s Rick Ross, adds another hit to a murder’s row of bangers from Aubrey. More of this, please.

I also massively enjoyed Lil Wayne for the first time in I cannot remember how long on “HYFR (Hell Yeah Fuckin’ Right)” as the New Orleans cough syrup-loving felonious emcee drops lines that are, wait for it, clever. Just when I thought the codeine had gone to Weezy’s head, he comes out with a decent verse. Like how Kanye helped Jay-Z get back on top by inadvertently providing Jigga a platform on Watch The Throne maybe Drake can do the same for Lil Wayne. Either way, in doses on Take Care Lil Wayne gives hip hop heads some cause for hope.

The last song I would like to single out for praise is “The Real Her” featuring Lil Wayne and Andre 3000. I always get excited whenever I see the words “feat. Andre 3000” as that is always, guaranteed, like death and taxes, to be good. Mr. 3000 does not disappoint dropping a couple of crispy lines “Well sit here sad in here / listening to Adele I feel you baby / someone like you, more like someone unlike you.”

Take Care finds an artist at the height of his talents. Drake sings and raps at will, fully comfortable with his arsenal of talents as well as accomplished friends whose royalties from Take Care will do them no harm at all. After the full release of Take Care Drake will have separated himself from widespread criticism with the ferocity of a stiff arm.

Rating: 9.5/10. Download it now, buy it on November 15.