Drake -Take Care; an emo individual album

Drake drops Take Care on 11/15/2011.

Drake has been an icon for over 13 years. Starting off as an actor for a popular teenage audience on show’s like Degrassi: The Next Generation, Drake always had hidden talent. He did drop mixtapes back in 06 and 07 entitled, “Room For Improvement”(2006) & “Comeback Season”, (2007). At the time, Drake was not pursuing this music serious but using this as a hobby. The difference between Drake back then and now was Drake honestly stuck his gums into his raps rather than multi-tasking on rapping and singing. He did drop a moderate successful single called “Replacement Girl” Feat. Trey Songz. The spirit and drive that this young lad at the time, he would of never known he had come this far and become one of the Mount Rushmore of this generation along with Kendrick, Cole, Drake, & Big Sean.

Drake in 2011 earning his spot as the underdog.

When he decided to take music serious, he send his demo out and it got into the hands of J.Prince’s son, Jas. The two negotiated some trades and marketing schemes to help build a superstar. Unsure of what to do with Drake, Drake recorded a freestyle over Lil Wayne’s 2008 single, “A Milli”, (2008) which got the attention of Wayne himself so he decided to coach him. Through out those coaching, Wayne has brought Drake to more exposure to the Hip-Hop world. As soon as he signed the dotted line in 2009, Drake joined Young Money Cash Money also known as YMCMB (Young Money Cash Money Billionaires). Like any big superstar, many of those live in two cities so Drake made a lot of trips down to Houston to record songs.

After his single, “Best I Ever Heard”, (2009) dropped, this had the world vulnerable and even had boys turn’t into men pulling up their pants and using a belt. This song was so good, I literally hopped into my high school sweethearts inbox because of this song telling her she deserves the best in life. This was before I could buy alcohol so no I was not drunk but when you listen to Drake’s music intoxicated, it can hit your feelings sometimes. He dropped his debut in 2010, “Thank Me Later”, (2020) that had the single, “Find Your Love” Produced by future rival, Kanye West. Once the game got use to his versatility between rapping and singing, the world has gotten use to what he has to offer and they officially embraced his talent.

His second studio album, “Take Care”,(2011) even had gangster’s in their feelings about past love. This album is monumental even for those who are not Drake fans because there was a time and place where the world was emo. The emo trend in Hip Hop does not mean you wear black and talk with a monotone. Being emo in Hip Hop just means your not feeling any remorse, especially if they hurt you. On November 15, 2011, Drake released “Take Care”, (2011) which became a top selling album of all time. The single’s that Drake dropped are bipolar because you can’t tell if he is happy or sad, but he dropped hit’s to fit the mood of the people that are listening to his music. As we dig deep into his music, we will discover why each track meant something and since this is “Take Care”, (2011), I will also deliver the mood it brings.

Drake making Emo a trend

1. Over My Dead Body- This is Drake’s response to those who doubted his Sophomore album, “Take Care”,(2011) will carry him to the upper echelon. The emo in this song is emotionless and Drake despite the light voice and vocals is letting it be known that those that try to surpass him is over his dead body. I do relate to Drake on this because of the line, “ I ain’t tripping of what ain’t mine”, (Drake, 2011).
2. Shot For Me- This is the Toronto sound with the melodic sound’s that mixes well for this song. Those hating on Drake, take a shot for him. This beat is actually hard and it reminds me of something I ride to at night when I am cruising by myself.
3. Headlines- The reintroduction of Drake. Bragging about how big of a star he is using headlines as a title to showcase his name.
4. Crew Love Feat, The Weeknd- The posse anthem for the thugs in Toronto. This song makes me want to stand in the cold and slang in a cool non confrontational manner. This is his own version of your modern day posse cut’s where you are just repping who you are.
5. Take Care Feat. Rihanna- Drake can also make island hits and he has done it. This song is a sequel to Rihanna’s single, “What’s My Name”, (2010). Note that Canada is just like America where we are surrounded by new immigrant’s everyday. There are culture’s that surround that area from the English, French, & Jamaican’s.
6. Marvin’s Room/ Buried Alive Interlude- This song is about a man drunk calling his ex and crying to her. I relate to this song because there been times I drunk called girls and wished for them back but end up making a fool of himself. Same with Drake. He admit’s with confidence that she may not want him back after making that mistake. The Buried Alive Interlude features a fresh Kendrick Lamar coming fresh of his Section 8.0 album with his song, “Hiii Power”,(2011) getting notoriety among new listener’s. Drake has always endorsed the new artist before himself. How Generous!
7. Underground Kings- This song, I guarantee J.Prince was proud of this song. Although Drake is not originally from Houston, he pay’s homage like it is his home because his work office with Jas Prince is in that city. Understanding Drake and his timezone’s, he loves to travel and he is everywhere. On this song, he is in Houston
8. Well Be Fine Feat. Birdman- This song reminds me of Birdman’s “Play Ball”,(2010) with Drake’s vocal’s only. This is the initiation to Cash Money Records with Stunna speaking at the end of the song.
9. Make Me Proud Feat. Nicki Minaj- Two top tier Young Money superstar’s trading bars with each other. Nicki Minaj was actually lyrical when it comes to word play and delivery. During this song, I felt that Nicki murdered Drake on his own song but that is just an opinion.
10. Lord Know’s Feat. Rick Ross- The collaboration between Ross and Drake is like a modern day Big and Jay collaboration. Two bosses asking the Lord why they have the burden’s they have but also counting their blessings.
11. Camera’s/Good One’s Go Interlude- The song for the woman but Drake is mainly for the woman. He has made a strong audience with the woman and creating stories about making woman feel appreciated. The interlude is true guys. When it come’s to woman, the good one’s go. How I Know? The good woman I met and knew are not around. They are married with children making $50 k or more not worrying about my broke ass.
12. Doing it Wrong- Typical OVO sound and this song proves Drake is emo. He is feeling bad about ruining a woman’s life and he is feeling guilty while he sings over the beat.
13. The Real Her Feat. Lil Wayne and Andre 3000- The Real Her is reminding us that these broads ain’t loyal and Drake is singing about how he is indecisive about being with anyone realizing that all woman are the same. Drake is feeling some kind of way towards a woman he want’s to be with but does not want to be with him. Lil Wayne brings back that 07, “Pussy, Money, Weed”, (2007) flow to this song while Andre tell’s his story about heartbreak and lust.
14. Look What You’ve Done- To the woman who broke Drake’s heart, you got him so upset, he dug up Static Major’s grave and has him vocalizing over this song. Drake must be that sad because he is reminding the woman to look what she done. She made Drake into a singing monster crying over woman he ain’t seen since high school.
15. HYFR (Hell Yeah Fuckin Right) Feat. Lil Wayne- A song about woman in other states but this song is a popular acronym that is still used today among hipsters.
16. Practice- An ode to Juvenile’s 1999 hit, “Back That Azz Up”, (1998). Drake is apart of the family now so he is doing a cover to his favorite Cash Money Records single . What a great tribute to the label who made you
17. The Ride- The outro is talking about Drake’s long journey from actor to rapper and he is counting his blessings. He rap’s and boast about the luxury that he attained. Once he got them broads out of his head, he was able to to count blessings and see the brighter side of things.

Overall

Drake looking emo in 2011

Drake has solidified himself to his crew, YMCMB and Jas Prince. He may not be the most lyrical tool in the shed but he proves you do not have to be lyrical to make a hit. He has bars and some of them verses may be basic but mix the good and bad, Drake can still make songs. Each song tells a story about a man so emo about woman he has dated in the past and shedding light on his mistakes, this album made it okay to be vulnerable sometimes.

Understanding how Drake thinks is like watching someone build a house. It all starts with a blue print, tools, item’s needed to build, and a group of workers. In that case, understanding how Drake thinks is very simple. Think of the woman who did him wrong or turned him down, think about having dinner or sleeping alone, or think about being lonely. It is obvious that even though Drake was not lonely, he was still lonely on the inside.

The sophomore album has made a stepping stone and monument for Drake. After the release of this album, Drake followed in his mentor’s footsteps and decided to hop on every feature and killing every ones’s remix. Drake’s “Take Care”, (2011) created a buzz for Drake to where he is actually bulletproof for the next generation. Understanding the way Drake think’s, dark times create dope album’s and even heartbreak will put you in a dark place. No matter what he was thiking, this is my felicitation towards his work.

Live From The Stove Top,

Andrew Kenekham AKA Druski Dru