Views hovers between concept and theme album, with the centerpiece being the unbreakable bond that Canada has with Drake or vice versa. Now, in 2016 Drake’s star is at its highest yet with Views. I could feel Wayne’s mentorship unquestionably poking through in Drake’s attitude of just doing his thing regardless of how others perceive it. That is until his Take Care and Nothing Was The Same albums. I was a big fan of Drake’s collaborations with the likes of Lil Wayne, Bun-B, Rick Ross (woof), Eminem, and more but I never ventured into his original stuff. Who wouldn’t rather listen to music that comes from a real place within the artist, versus the cookie cutter “turn down for what” style of club music? I know I do, but to each their own. He doesn’t seem to care that the thing that makes him a talent often is ribbed about. Drake has his fair share of haters, who mostly pick on his often emotionally/relationship driven lyrics but I commend his commitment to his own authenticity.
Of course, there was no way for me to tell in 2001 that this same man who was known more as “Aubrey” to the world, would become the giant in hip-hop that he is today. His character had a major story arc, had impactful emotional moments…and he rapped.
I first became aware of “Drake” before his YOLO days back in his “ Degrassi: The Next Generation” (a Canadian TV show) beginnings. “ I’d share more of my story but you wouldn’t believe it It’s farfetched like I threw that shit a hundred meters I keep it a hundred like I’m running a fever I might take a breather but I won’t ever leave you If I was you, I wouldn’t like me either”