Drake is a frustratingly mediocre artist with the potential to be really good. We've seen this potential with albums way back at the start of last decade, but now he keeps tripping over himself and it makes projects like these so hard to fully embrace. I kid you not, when I first listened to this thing, I was on board. It felt like some return to form for Drake, that he wasn't just phoning his projects in anymore. Then I gave it another listen. And another one. And it is shocking just how little this mixtape holds up to replay.
I have to wonder whether the first few songs didn't provide me with some false sense of hope when going through this thing, because they are by miles the best tracks on this mixtape. "Deep Pockets" actually does make you feel like you're about to enter into something interesting, and "When to Say When" and "Chicago Freestyle" continue that trend of being generally more interesting and listenable than most Drake work in a while. We then get to "Not You Too", and while it features Chris Brown, something that should not be happening anywhere, it's still a passable track.
Then we get to "Toosie Slide", and I remember why Drake has been a thorn in my side for this long.
"Toosie Slide" was the single released before the tape was sent out, to capitalize on everyone staying in their homes and having nothing better to do than make tiktok videos. Hey, why not start a dance trend? The lamest dance trend known to man. It's such a dull, pathetic song, and what's worse, it kicks off a slew of mediocrity that is pervasive through this tape, and doesn't really let up until the end with "Demons". The thing is, I want to like a lot of these songs. But it's like Drake goes out of his way to ruin them most of the time, by either putting on his most whiny, detached delivery yet on "Landed", or by continuing his trend of concern trolling on songs like "Time Flies" and "Desires". You'd think by now he'd realize it's not a good look, but I guess also by now he's realized that it doesn't matter.
And it doesn't matter, does it? Drake is just going to continue doing this over and over again, and we're stuck with it until his audience demands better, which they should. But they won't. Oh well.
5/10
Best Tracks: "Deep Pockets", "When to Say When", "Chicago Freestyle" (ft. Giveon)
No comments:
Post a Comment