So the rare moments in which he decides to comment on the state of the world at large can be jarring. Throughout his career, Drake’s music has usually been pretty insular: it’s about his exes, his friends and enemies, his hometown. One of the early lines to gain attention is from his first Her Loss solo track, “BackOutsideBoyz”: “She a ten but she tryin’ to rap, it’s good on mute.” (Despite the lyric’s all-purpose vagueness, the internet has decided that it’s specifically directed towards viral Bronx rapper Ice Spice, whom Drake praised and invited to OVO Fest, and then promptly unfollowed on social media.) And there can be no ambiguity towards the dig at (“rumored”) ex-paramour Serena Williams’ husband on the album standout “Middle of the Ocean”: “Sidebar, Serena, your husband a groupie/He claim we don't got a problem but/No, boo, it is like you comin' for sushi.” (Alexis Ohanian and Serena have since cheekily responded, as has Ice Spice.)Īs intended, these lines have social media buzzing, but the toxic persona is starting to feel a little trite, as it isn’t balanced by much meaningful depth or incisive self-examination There’s no bar as revealing as can be found on a classic Drake track like “How Bout Now,” where his bitterness is inspired by the great lengths he went to for an ungrateful ex: “Remember when you had to take the bar exam, I drove in the snow for you? / You probably don't remember half the shit a n-ggaa did for you.”ĭrake offers a messy array of political commentary. As the trend has grown increasingly more mainstream (think DVSN’s “If I Get Caught”) the level of personal insight has diminished while the dismissiveness has increased.ĭrake indulges in, and even ratchets up, his pettiness levels to new heights (or lows, depending on your perspective). It’s hardly a new development-Drake and Future pioneered toxic melodic rap/R&B years ago on projects like More Life and *Hndrxx-*but it worked then because they imbued it with a real sense of pathos and self-loathing. Listen, with a title like Her Loss, it was pretty evident that this album would see Drake and 21 being gleefully petty and toxic. He even used it on his controversial song “Money Over Fallouts” where he said Megan’s team was trying to “frame” him for the shooting.ĭrake doubles down on his trademark pettiness. On “Circo Loco,” Drake repeatedly uses the Toronto slang term “Crodie,” which hasn’t been a regular part of his vernacular, but is a favorite of fellow Canadian Lanez. Drake and Tory have had their issues on and off wax before, but they’ve since squashed their beef: Tory was an opener for Drake’s European Assasination Vacation tour and the pair are frequently seen playing basketball together (including post-Megan shooting). Mainstream rappers initially seemed hesitant to work with Lanez following the incident with Megan, but since then he’s made music with Kodak Black, A Boogie wit Da Hoodie, and DaBaby. She followed up with a reference to the assault trial against accused assailant Tory Lanez, which is scheduled to take place between late November and early December. Her Loss is filled with darker-tinged beats, slow tempos, and bars with the occasional croon that define a typical Drake release. All in all, the album is a swerve back to the norm following Honestly, Nevermind, his surprisingly fun, house music-indebted summertime album. The album is light on features-the only credited guest is Travis Scott on the subtle-as-a-sledgehammer “Pussy & Millions”-while production is handled by a mix of longtime collaborators like Metro Boomin and Noah “40” Shebib, as well as southern rap standouts Go Grizzly and Tay Keith. His precise, controlled flows make him the straight man for this particular double act. (“Jumbotron Shit Poppin,” especially offers a hearty dose of Playboi Carti, with Drake proclaiming “I’ma die lit” and “I’m a real vamp,” and even creeping his way up into a baby voice for certain ad-libs, over co-production from Carti collaborator F1lthy.) 21 is the anchor here. At times, his cadences undeniably borrow from Young Thug and Playboi Carti. After a one week delay and a non-rollout rollout marked by fake appearances on NPR Tiny Desk, Vogue, and the Howard Stern Show, Drake and 21 Savage’s Her Loss has arrived.ĭrake, inevitably, uses the proximity to Zone 6’s own Savage to lean into the sounds of contemporary Atlanta rap.
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