If there was anybody more fed up with Drake’s excessive dependency on his mixtapes and not dropping an album, I’d like to meet them, I’m sure after about 30 minutes I’d still be the most fed up. It’s not that I don’t think Drake is one of the best new artists in hip hop right now, it’s that sometimes you have to show that you can do the basics too. Like most people in this country we didn’t really know who this guy Drake was until, So Far Gone was released. And shortly thereafter, Drake was a household name with one of the best mixtapes to ever have been released. And so our eyes were watching the wavelengths wondering what this album would actually turn out to be. After, several singles from So Far Gone, if he could outdo himself on the album it would be a certified perfect album. However, I say with full conviction that, Thank Me Later is not better than So Far Gone. It is quintessentially what you would get if there was ever a So Far Gone. So to me I nicknamed it, So Far Gone 2.
It exceeded my expectations because from everyone who listened to the leak they either loved it or hated it. And I was expecting to hear something softer than a 24-pack of Charmin, but actually I enjoyed the listen. He didn’t surprise me with his lyrics, because I was expecting him to lyrically bring something. He didn’t surprise me with his originality and creativity, because that’s his main contribution to the game. The beats were again subpar as they usually are, but maybe he just wants you to focus on him instead of the tight beat. #drakeshrug
I compared Drake’s freshman album to The College Dropout in terms of expectations. The album is better than The College Dropout, but it didn’t solve any problems that The College Dropout possessed, and it probably won’t be remembered like the College Dropout. The main problem with College Dropout was that every person who featured on the College Dropout did a better job than Kanye did. Thank Me Later? Uh… yeah, everyone of his features was better than him. The second problem with College Dropout was that when you are trying to make a splash in hip hop sometimes artists have a tendency to use too many punch lines that come off corny. Thank Me Later? Uh… yeah, filled with too many. Lastly, College Dropout had a gimmick and the timing that will stay with the everyone who heard this album when it came out. And it still relates to every college student in America today. Thank Me Later? Not really, this album can be forgotten, if Drake comes with something better in the future.
Actually, just like DJ Clue’s Springtime Stickup 96 mixtape has never been forgotten, So Far Gone will never be forgotten. And that’s another criticism of the album I have, two of his mixtapes are better than the actual album. We have to concede that point, the freedom on your mixtape is compromised when you have to actually cut an album. Also, there were no expectations of So Far Gone, he clearly exceeded expectations, whereas Thank Me Later was par for the course. I would not have expected anything less.
I found it hard to classify the album, whether it was R&B or Rap, so I left it as hip hop and the best thing to compare it to would be the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. And yes, I believe this album will be highly successful come Grammy time. This album also was classified as a Young Money Entertainment album, but it is very clear that this is not a Young Money album. It’s Drake. You are seeing who Drake is when you remove Lil’ Twist and Mack Maine, and it looks like he has a bright future. (Quiet as it’s kept, J. Cole just gained a little ground on the kid.)
Ladies and Gentlemen as we ride out on this review, let me tell you. I think that Drake is still the hottest name in the game. He has at least 3 more singles on this album, that we may not like the first time we hear them on the radio, but give us a few a spins in the club and we’ll be cutting a rug. Could it be better? I don’t think so, but that’s only a testament to how good So Far Gone was. So to close, for a redshirt freshman Drake is doing pretty okay for himself.
It exceeded my expectations because from everyone who listened to the leak they either loved it or hated it. And I was expecting to hear something softer than a 24-pack of Charmin, but actually I enjoyed the listen. He didn’t surprise me with his lyrics, because I was expecting him to lyrically bring something. He didn’t surprise me with his originality and creativity, because that’s his main contribution to the game. The beats were again subpar as they usually are, but maybe he just wants you to focus on him instead of the tight beat. #drakeshrug
I compared Drake’s freshman album to The College Dropout in terms of expectations. The album is better than The College Dropout, but it didn’t solve any problems that The College Dropout possessed, and it probably won’t be remembered like the College Dropout. The main problem with College Dropout was that every person who featured on the College Dropout did a better job than Kanye did. Thank Me Later? Uh… yeah, everyone of his features was better than him. The second problem with College Dropout was that when you are trying to make a splash in hip hop sometimes artists have a tendency to use too many punch lines that come off corny. Thank Me Later? Uh… yeah, filled with too many. Lastly, College Dropout had a gimmick and the timing that will stay with the everyone who heard this album when it came out. And it still relates to every college student in America today. Thank Me Later? Not really, this album can be forgotten, if Drake comes with something better in the future.
Actually, just like DJ Clue’s Springtime Stickup 96 mixtape has never been forgotten, So Far Gone will never be forgotten. And that’s another criticism of the album I have, two of his mixtapes are better than the actual album. We have to concede that point, the freedom on your mixtape is compromised when you have to actually cut an album. Also, there were no expectations of So Far Gone, he clearly exceeded expectations, whereas Thank Me Later was par for the course. I would not have expected anything less.
I found it hard to classify the album, whether it was R&B or Rap, so I left it as hip hop and the best thing to compare it to would be the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. And yes, I believe this album will be highly successful come Grammy time. This album also was classified as a Young Money Entertainment album, but it is very clear that this is not a Young Money album. It’s Drake. You are seeing who Drake is when you remove Lil’ Twist and Mack Maine, and it looks like he has a bright future. (Quiet as it’s kept, J. Cole just gained a little ground on the kid.)
Ladies and Gentlemen as we ride out on this review, let me tell you. I think that Drake is still the hottest name in the game. He has at least 3 more singles on this album, that we may not like the first time we hear them on the radio, but give us a few a spins in the club and we’ll be cutting a rug. Could it be better? I don’t think so, but that’s only a testament to how good So Far Gone was. So to close, for a redshirt freshman Drake is doing pretty okay for himself.
5 comments:
yeah i'm so good on this album. it's clearly something more for the ladies. i was a big fan of drake after so far gone dropped. to me every move he's made since then just didn't make sense to me. the biggest one: signing to young money. smh.
oh and:
"Quiet as it’s kept, J. Cole just gained a little ground on the kid."
-i been said that. have you heard this roc nation mixtape that dropped earlier this week with tracks from j. cole and jay-z. it's gonna be a serious situation when j. cole's album drops. lyrically he will blow drake out the water. numbers wise he won't because he doesn't have the commercial appeal that drake does.
I dont agree that TML > TCD. CD was a great album and timeles. I dont think SFG was that timeless...
He did a great job with that album in terms of safety. He'll have the hits and whatnot. The second album will be the one. Remember where you heard it first.
The CD is good, I agree way too many punchlines, but def not as good as College Dropout (but I agree with what you said about all Ye's features outshining him--which is why Late Registration is my favored album by Ye.) Also, this album doesn't have the "classic" lyricism or message of The Miseducation--which is an R&B album so its totally not comparable, IMO. If it is successful at the Grammy's it will be because let's face it, he's a good kid with a good image that will appeal to the academy, like it does to most casual rap fans. Not hating on the album, I like it. I do agree So Far Gone was better, just like I thought Wale's mixtapes were better. I'm done trying to compare the mixtape flow/production to the studio albums. if its good, its good.
Reecie
So did you hear that Em, sold over 700,000 copies??? Just checking...will wait for your review
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