Drake’s first studio album, the highly anticipated Thank Me Later, officially dropped this past Tuesday. It’s been debated, reviewed, hyped up, talked about, and analyzed for weeks leading up to its release and now that it’s finally here, one thing is certain—people are confused. Much like Kanye West’s 808’s and Heartbreaks (West produced two tracks on the album) and Kid Cudi’s Man on the Moon, Thank Me Later breaks away from the typical hip hop hit maker formula. Instead of the hard hitting rap you might expect from an MC that hangs out with Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, and Jeezy, Drake goes for something different. He raps (and sings…a lot) about subjects that go a lot deeper than just popping bottles in the club.
Relationships are one of those subjects. It’s no exaggeration to say that the majority of the tracks on Thank Me Later are about girls and how Drake’s just looking for someone to love. “Find Your Love,” already a radio hit, is an obvious given, but it’s the same story in a number of tracks. “Thank Me Now” being one of them: “I think I’m spending all my time with the wrong women/ I think I have a chance at love but knowing me I miss it.” Instead of an overflow of confidence, Drake’s flow encompasses quite the opposite—he just wants to be remembered: “Always gone but never hard to find/ And since you can’t escape me, do I ever cross your mind?” (“Unforgettable). And missed. “I just hope you miss me a little when I’m gone” is the chorus of “Miss Me,” one of the more upbeat tracks of the album which features a hypnotizing and witty Lil Wayne.
Drake’s not all soft though. “Up All Night” with Nicki Minaj, “Light Up” with Jay-Z and, of course, the hit single “Over” which we’ve all had on repeat since it came out, show us that Drizzy is still, indeed, a rapper. It’s those heavier tracks, along with Thank Me Later’s combination of R&B and Pop sounds that showcase Drake’s broad spectrum of musical talent and secure his place not solely as a rapper, but as an artist. To some, its that demonstration of vulnerability which makes Thank Me Later unworthy of a spot in the thrones of hip hop, but those who are willing to give Thank Me Later a chance, I think you’ll like what Drake stands for.
[...] released his highly anticipated first studio album, Thank Me Later on June 15. Thank Me Later’s (check out my review of the album here) debut at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 447,000 records in its first week, probably [...]