One for the Books
At the beginning of October, the Canadian rapper Drake released yet another album. As we started doing our big Fall cleanup — in time for the start of the winter- Drake decided to put a smile on our faces with a new project. It is definitely one for the books.
It’s soothing to listen to it while going on a walk, admiring the colours. You can also enjoy a few tracks at the gym when you need that extra push to finish your last set.
This time around, the singer that needs no introduction came up with what he is used too. There aren’t a lot of surprises on For All The Dogs. Drake still mixes things up; enjoying rap as well as slow jams.
From early on, we knew that this new album would be influenced by his love for his son Adonis. That explains why the album cover is a drawing from Adonis (a goat, not a dog).
Drake has a lot of respect for his fans and it shows. He comes out with albums on a regular basis. His last one was released less than a year ago. And before Her Loss, the Toronto-born singer, who was once known for his role as an actor in the series Degrassi, released Honestly, Nevermind last summer.
For All The Dogs isn’t his best project to this day. Well, that’s my opinion. It is still a nice continuity from what he did over the decades. Most people heard the song Slime You Out with SZA since it was released as a single. Being a fan of R&B, the song that resonates the most with me on the album is Bahamas Promises, which is track #10. All you need to have goosebumps is Drake’s smooth voice that gives you the impression to be safe and sound, free of danger. In the same R&B vein, BBL Love and Polar Opposites (the closing track) are showing the sensitive side of the artist- when all you need is to cry out the tears of joy or sadness. When you let your guard down and express what you truly feel.
Rich Baby Daddy could’ve been on his last solo album. It is already a hit for the clubs.
I state with no hesitation that Drake is the biggest artist of our generation. We can’t underestimate his talent as a rapper. That fluidity and pure talent resonate with you on tracks like 8am in Charlotte, Daylight or Another Late Night.
For All The Dogs has something similar to the other albums. But overall, it’s completely different. It is about a man who has had painful experiences when it comes to relationships. In a way, we can feel that Drake has been in love in the past, but that some people didn’t treat him correctly. Being popular isn’t always a synonym of happiness. It goes without saying. When the whole world screams your name and portraits you as an icon, you can still end up feeling alone at night, when it’s time to close your eyes, and it’s dead silent.
There are fewer songs on this album that will become hits. We are far from his album Views.
The artist never disappoints. In the last 3 years, since the beginning of the pandemic, Drake delivered 4 albums. With him, you know you will never wait too long to get new music. That was also the case with Prince who was continuously innovating with new styles and putting out fresh music.
The same rule applies with Drake. You never know what to expect with him. Honestly, Nevermind was unique in its own way. It got lots of negative reviews, which I personally don’t quite understand. With that album, some people were disappointed that he went full Dance. Just think of Falling Back or Massive, songs that are exploring new sounds with explosive beats.
Drake has come a long way since his debut album Thank Me Later, in 2009. He is only 36 years old, but has been in our lives forever. The singer has matured a lot along the way. He never misses the chance to get vulnerable in his songs, which is refreshing in the rap industry. In this world, rappers always want to show a certain side of themselves- the powerful masculine man who has all the women at their feet. Drake can open up about struggles, lost loves and heartbreak. You wouldn’t hear Ice Cube, 50 Cent or other big names in the business go down that road. Sometimes, like on Motto, Drizzy can come across as a tough go-getter. Other times, he shows his sweet side- as he did on March 14 (from the Scorpion album).
In a way, Kanye West is one of the rappers who paved the way for artists like Drake. He was never afraid to talk about issues that rappers kept away from. Nevertheless, Kanye West is still a class apart when it comes time to mix rap with autotune, and bringing the genre to the mainstream.
Released in 2011, Take Care is my favourite Drake album to date. It was there for me when I was going through a rough patch of my teenage years. It is, in my opinion, the most complete album from the singer.
What’s next for Drake? The sky is the limit. He has announced that he will temporarily step away from the music scene in order to take care of stomach issues. The singer said his music break would be at least one year. But we can expect it to be longer.
There is still lots to be written about Drake’s story. He still has decades in front of him. In a few years from now, we will look back on Drake’s era and realized how lucky we were to have witnessed his craft.
Have a great listening party of For All The Dogs, enjoy the project and keep in mind that this is also a reminder to go after your dreams, and keep going after you fall down.
