Drake surprisingly released his seventh solo studio album at midnight on June 16, giving fans only a few hours notice for the September 2021 Certified Lover Boy follow-up.
So far, the reception is divided, although this is to be expected after only 12 hours with the album and a lot to dig into the 14 tracks inspired by house music, which mainly show Drake singing, not rap . Below we’ve put together six conclusions so far, including some of Drake’s new collaborators, inspirations, and an amazing video.
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There is only 1 guest
A Drake album is usually full of guest appearances from the famous rapper Rolodex, but in Honestly, Nevermind, there is only one feature. In the closing number of the album with the assistance of saxophones, “Jimmy Cooks”, Drake is reunited with the collaborator of “Knife Talk”, 21 Savage, who offers a prominent performance in the song produced by Tay Keith. (In his verse, 21 Savage refers to Bart Simpson, Drake’s collaborator on “Lemon Pepper Freestyle,” Rick Ross, and Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at this year’s Oscars.) , frankly, Nevermind could have benefited from a few more voices, the album at least leaves listeners with a high note from two top rappers. .
‘Tie That Binds’ hits contemporary adult territory
Although not nominated as a featured artist in the title track, Ramon Ginton, based in the Netherlands, plays a lead role in one of the album’s highlights, the “Tie That Binds” flamenco inflection. . In addition to co-producing the song, Ginton contributes a mind-blowing guitar that adds a new twist when it comes just after the one-minute mark for a prolonged solo and then plays the song. It’s the album’s softest song, to the tune of a contemporary adult sound that will further expand Drake’s audience (if possible).
There are less than 40, but more space for other producers
Drake’s favorite producer since the beginning of his career has been Noah “40” Shebib, who is credited with helping to shape Toronto’s new hip-hop sound and change the music scene with his work. in the innovative releases of Drake Take Care and Nothing Was the. Same. But in Honestly, Nevermind, 40 spends a bit of time in the back seat, only working on two of the album’s 14 songs (“Overdrive” and “Down Hill”). (40 is still accredited as the executive producer of the album.)
Undoubtedly, this contributes to the more varied sounds and production of the album, which goes in a direction more inspired by house and dance than his previous releases, and also opens up space for other contributions. The introduction of the album and the song “Flight’s Booked” involves the Montreal producer Kid Masterpiece. This is his third collaboration with Drake, having worked on Certified Lover Boy’s “N 2 Deep” and starring Nicki Minaj, Drake and Lil Wayne “Seeing”. Green “before Honestly, it doesn’t matter. Elsewhere, Drake incorporates Toronto producers Govi and Alex Lustig (Young Thug, Machine Gun Kelly), as well as Gordo, also known as DJ Carnage and Beau Nox.
Drake is making music for another type of club now
Drake has always been proud to be a chameleon. He enjoys venturing into sounds outside of the popular hip-hop bubble, from the afrobeats to the bounce of New Orleans, is one of the ways he has maintained his relevance all these years. Honestly, Nevermind is full of insights into the legacy of dance music genres created by black and queer artists and producers in Chicago, Detroit, New York, and New Jersey. After a recent move to reclaim historically black genres such as house and techno, Drake stays on the pulse, adding to an ongoing lineage, and much of that is thanks to Black Coffee.
The South African DJ / producer is credited with three tracks, and is listed as an executive producer alongside Drake’s regular cast (Oliver El-Khatib, Noel Cadastre and 40). Black Coffee is a pioneer in the South African house scene and was also featured on “Get it Together”, a featured song from Drake’s 2017 release, More Life. In “Currents” there are elements of the Jersey club (complete with the iconic squeaks of the spring box) and the producers of the Jersey club have been making smuggled editions of Drake for years, so you know they are about to have a day field with this track. “Calling my Name” breaks down into a sensual house rhythm with high-pitched voices, a signature New York fashion trend. “Flight’s Booked”, “A Keeper” and “Overdrive” are atmospheric and reminiscent of melodic and Balearic house. “Sticky” is set to become a hit, halfway between the Jersey club and the big beat: it’s the most appropriate song on the album to return.
He dedicated the record to Virgil Abloh
In the description of the album Honestly, Nevermind on Apple Music, Drake included a long and poetic statement for fans. In it, he delves into his motivations and the emotions that inspired these songs: “I work with every breath of my body because it’s the work, not the air, that makes me feel alive.” The note concludes in capital letters: “DEDICATED TO OUR BROTHER V”. It’s a reference to fashion designer Virgil Abloh, who died last December after a two-year battle with cancer. Shortly after his death, Drake paid tribute by getting an Abloh tattoo.
Teamed up with Director X on the first video of the album (so far)
In 2018, Drake released a video of her hit single “Nice for What” which was an ode to a list of famous women to match a song about female empowerment. The “Falling Back” video – the only image that accompanies the new album so far – is not that. In it, Drake marries a long line of 23 women, whose names appear on the show’s show (and who appear to be mostly Instagram models and influencers), after receiving a lively talk from the godfather and player of the Chicago Bulls Tristan Thompson, whose board may not hold much weight.
There are some other cameos, including one from Drake’s mother, who says, “I think you’re really taking these seriously,” giving us a moment of lightness when the video (successfully) presents itself as a bit of a parody. . (The other moment is when Dan Finnerty, the wedding singer of The Hangover, performs Drake’s hit “Best I Ever Had” as a ballad.) Drake joined the collaborator often and also director of Toronto X for the lavish almost 10 minute video. , which is perfect for a song where Drake sings accusingly: “You don’t feel anything / time is not healing / time is revealing / how do you feel? / you don’t feel anything”.