It was that time again, where the world stops what they’re doing to listen to the new Drake. Only Drizzy can drop a 2 track project.
I spent the end of last year listening to Views again, despite the surrounding criticism, I really liked the album, and then More Life also, they were two projects where his position and ability was questioned, and I remember how serious I took it in Do Not Disturb, when he says, “Takin’ summer off, ’cause they tell me I need recovery, Maybe gettin’ back to my regular life will humble me, I’ll be back in 2018 to give you the summary”. I felt he deserved a break, and the conviction in which he says the last line, I was sure there’s an album coming (which makes me wonder how much he actually rested?!), none the less the year has started, and he dropped two new tracks as part of Scary Hours. Starting with God’s Plan, it’s signature Drake, he’s clearly had some time to reflect, and that’s what these songs are, reflections, complete with the catchy quotables for us to caption our instagram pictures with, like, “Don’t pull up at 6am to cuddle with me”, he keeps it real, “I feel good, sometimes I don’t”, even shouting out partners Oliver and 40, and giving them props for his success, it’s the more lighthearted of the two, maybe more catering to his female audience, because on Diplomatic Immunity he gets straight to the bars. Floating over the sample-strong production, Diplomatic Immunity is synonymous in rap with the classic Dipset album, and maybe the sample has a similar feel, from a more higher plateau, and he raps as such. Addressing the doubters and rumours, whilst speaking up on his accomplishments and position, even some bars for the gossipers, “2010 was when I lost my halo, 2017 I lost a J-Lo, (A-Rod)Rotterdam trip had me on front page though..I had to lay low”, not to mention the jabs at Joe Budden, now whether that finally gets Joey back in the booth we’ll see, but what I was more intrigued by, was his displeasure at not being included in the ‘Black Excellence’ discussions, a term recently heralded by Diddy, and Joe also, so that honesty is as always appreciated, as he raises the point that he isn’t always praised for his accomplishments. If there was a criticism, it’s just ending it with “Shakira”, I’m just being picky, something about the way it ends, I don’t like, but has it stopped me from listening to it or rapping along….nope! There has not really been a rap star of Drake’s stature, he has been an open book through his music, and so it appears that he has got some things off his chest with these tracks, as he prepares to take over again with what is safe to say, the most anticipated album of the year.
ONE Fáris 