Following the marketing lead of ‘Yonce, Drake has dropped somewhat of a surprise on our ears with his latest mixtape, “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late.” With the leak of “6 God” we knew something was coming. The suicide note artwork cover sets the tone for the 17 tracks. Drake has killed off his old self and risen from the ashes as a new Drizzy who is lining ’em up and taking shots. In “No Tellin'” he says:
“Please don’t speak to me like I’m that Drake from four years ago/I’m at a higher place/Thinkin’ they lions and Tygas and bears, I go huntin’ / Put heads on my fire place.”
His young label mate Tyga isn’t the only one he takes shots at this go round. Allegedly his newly signed artist iLoveMakonnen was caught on Twitter calling Drake soft before he was signed. Drake calls him out for being two-faced as well as Diddy for the drama surrounding the beat from “0-100”. He mentions his label a few times stating “ain’t no tellin” if the checks will come in. He also dedicates an entire farewell track to Birdman of Cash Money titled “Now and Forever”. He seems to be following a gentler lead of blunt predecessor Lil Wayne.
In “Star67” his closest friend Biz, tells Drake “The first mill gon’ change you.” And it looks as if this prediction held true. Drake who once rapped about the struggle of trying to make it is now paranoid of the surroundings fame has brought him and feels pressured to perform. This is a classic “mo’ money mo’ problems” situation. But honestly would you prefer lower or higher tax bracket problems? I think most of us would choose the latter.
He knuckles up on “Energy” claiming everyone is draining him of his energy including the women who try to get his wifi password only to boast about it on the internet. Drake has so many enemies now, he’s even going at it with technology. In “Jungle,” a smooth R&B sound, he is still trying to find his perfect, southern, big booty woman while trying to find himself, but gossip on timelines is ruining yet another chance at finding a soulmate. He wins over technology in “10 Bands” where he pushes himself to pull the drapes, turn off the phone, and live in his creative bubble to work.
In “Know Yourself” he reminisces about running around Toronto with his homeboys and selling Girbaud jeans at one point. He has put his city on the map while staying true to himself but still worried about wearing jewlery out around people trying to take his spot.
Even though this project was released around Valentine’s Day there aren’t as many songs dedicated to women as usual. The closest love track is “Madonna” which consists of only one verse and a hook. He samples 90’s R&B star Ginuwine twice on this project and continues to look for a chick he can save and make as popular as Madonna.
His self-proclaimed second home in Houston has him at hotels looking for the “Company” of strippers to take his mind off all of the pressure in his life once they get off their shift. He blames the fame for having his mind on money and women 24/7.
“6 Man” is a reference to himself, his city, and Toronto Raptors 6th man Louis Williams. Drake has business ties with the Raptors and recently was accused of trying to recruit Kevin Durant at a show. Drake talks his usual smack about the millions he makes for the life he lives and ends with an ode to The Roots and Erykah Badu “You Got Me”.
With all the women in and out of his life, there is one who remains at the center of his heart. “You and The 6” is another attempt for him to explain his lifestyle to his worried mother. He seems to feel as if he will never be good enough for her. She has been keeping up with his life via google alerts on her phone and tries to set him up with a trainer from his gym. Drake doesn’t feel the time is right in his life for a “good girl” and changes the subject to his father. He wishes for what most children of divorced parents do: For her to forgive his father and see the positive moments his father gave him.
The bonus track “6pm In New York” does the best at summarizing the moment that the 28-year old Drake is at in his career. He longs for the days when the music actually mattered and not things like what the paparazzi caught you wearing. His content is noticeably more aggressive all-around and it will be interesting to see what happens after he finally does leave Cash Money. For now, this project is a nice teaser for his upcoming album “Views from the 6”.
-YoAngie
TPR