Drake's Views Are Changing

  (*No, I did not make this amazing cover, and I wish I could shout out the artist*)                                

I'm going to be completely and utterly 100% honest, lately (always) I haven't been feeling like anyone understands my views on hip hop. Not too many people go THIS in depth with hip hop, or anything having to do with it. Not many people can do what I do, not many people even want to do what I do, but I do it because at the end of the day, there are unanswered questions that need to be asked (plus I fuckin love what I do, so why else would I do it?).  I digress; Views is clearly taking over anything and everything hip hop, the culture is in a threshold of it's throat by this kid turned man from Toronto, because no matter how much you call him soft, no matter how many memes are made of him to look ridiculous, at the end of the day, people STOP EVERYTHING THEY'RE DOING to see the newest thing Drake has put out. That's just the fact of the matter. If you grew up in the blogging internet hip hop era (and even if you didn't, which is a point that will be made later), you understand the magnitude of Drake's career; what it has been, what it is, and what it will be. (*Note, I have not listened to Views minus the Future assisted "Grammy", so my opinions are solely expressed given the current state of Drake's career and based off of what people are saying about Views)

If you tune in to Joe Budden's I'll Name This Podcast Later podcast series and you've listened to the latest episode, then you'll understand the points I'm about to make. Joe and I share a lot of the same views on hip hop; while we aren't as tight as you'd believe (he rarely answers my tweets), I've always respected the real and the "that's my opinion and if you don't like it then fuck off" attitude that Joe gives, because who would have ever guessed that pushing the agenda would be so frowned upon nowadays?  Let's throw it back to 2009, because hindsight is a beautiful thing.



And with that, here comes Drake; the freshest thing to hit (and the biggest thing to hit the web possibly ever, a point could be made that the "blogging hip hop era" was started with Drake, and look what it's turned into now, with artists starting their careers off of this method) since Will Smith. Drake's level of shwag (I'm still on a mission to kill "swag", since people like conforming so much) was unprecedented. At this point in time, we had seen nobody in hip hop like Drake; he was a new kind of cool, a voice in hip hop that made everything he said sound like the new "wave", he was like that really cool guy in high school that everybody liked and everybody wanted to be like. Drake had such an influence on this generation of teens and high school kids that if he said he threw Subway sandwiches at homeless people for fun and called it "Subway-ing" in one of his songs, then you'd have seen a spike in Subway's sales right around the time this song had dropped (probably that same day, knowing this generation).

Joe Budden in his latest podcast, episode 64 of his I'll Name This Podcast Later series; "Drake, Cole, Kendrick... those 3 move the needle. Those 3 transcend music. Those are 3 people that my grandparents, my parents, and my child would ask me about. That's a unique set."

Look at the change in what matters now. What matters in hip hop is not where it was 10 years ago when 50 Cent was moving records with G-Unit and Eminem along his side, though they all did their own thing. That era has ended. Like most good things, it had to come to an end sometime. But this ending spelled a new beginning for hip hop and the newer, (hopefully) "hungry" artists wanting to eat. It's 2016 and Drake has still remained relevant to hip hop, which is amazing considering his career, dating all the way back to 2009 when Drake dropped his now classic (debatable to those who look at what it did, but not debatable to many others) So Far Gone mix tape back in 2009. To many, this shows his work ethic and his drive to be the best, and there should be a major asterisk when looking at the details of this era (aptly named the "microwave era") based on how fast things are born and how much faster they die out.



The memes have become a part of Drake's career, it's sad to think that when people look back at what an illustrious career Drake has had, that they're also going to be thinking about the ruthless memes that have been made about Drake and how much of a running joke he has become, although he has now become part of the joke and running with it only shows his maturity... for the most part. After projects like If You're Reading This, It's Too Late and What A Time To Be Alive dropped, it seemed like part of Drake had been lost. The bad came with the good, (which it always does), but the bad seemed to have shifted Drake's focus dramatically. There's probably only so many times you can get on the internet and see someone you don't even know posting and laughing at a meme that jokes about how soft you supposedly are, which turns you into this heartless, seemingly emotionless robot that is so stoic that it makes you feel like you wouldn't even cry if your mother died (which is... yeah, still pretty bad. Have you ever heard the saying, "I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all"?).


(*I do not own these videos, pictures, podcasts, or the rights to them*)

You're probably waiting for a point to what I'm saying, and if you're still reading, then it's not too late. I'm proud of you for sticking with it so far. The attitude has changed in hip hop. What has made it so great up to now is that there were always artists that pushed the agenda. While there were artists that were amazing at what they did well, there were always the artists that pushed the agenda to make hip hop competitive, and force the other artists to make a calculated move as to what they would do next. When you think of hip hops leaders, right now, everyone pales in comparison to what Drake does. Every move he makes is put under a microscope, and every album and song he does is studied by fans who believe that they work for NASA and that they can use these "skills" to diagnose Drake's newest record, and determine whether or not he has a classic album (based on Twitter's reactions of Views, he still doesn't). I'm going to be a hypocrite here because I have to make a judgment call on my "Views" of Drake; I believe that Drake has lost himself.  Drake is too easily distracted by the wave of what everyone else is doing (and ultimately let people get to him with their judgments), and has forgotten about his status in hip hop and where he stands. Drake has stayed true to himself through all of the bullshit, all of the waves, and all of the memes, and the craziest part of it all; he used to be relatable. Drake is a giant, and as a giant, you're supposed to set the precedent for what hip hop should sound like, and though Drake did this early on in his career, it seems he's too far gone to be able to recognize what he's doing. So if I'm making this an open letter to Drake, not just as a hip hop writer, but as a fan who cares about his direction, and his place in this game we call hip hop, then I'll say this; Drake, we miss the old you. I hope we tempt you.

Check out the podcast that sent me off into this thought piece spiral below, Joe Budden's I'll Name This Podcast Later, episode 64.

https://soundcloud.com/joebuddenpodcast/ill-name-this-podcast-later-episode-64          

           


           







              

What Drake's Views From The 6 Will Determine

(This billboard certainly interests me, almost insinuating that Views From The 6 could be dropping today, 4/2)

What's there to say about Drake that hasn't already been said?  He sings too much, he doesn't write his own rhymes, he's too sensitive, blah blah blah. When it comes down to it, the man puts out some of the best music in hip hop, and some of the most vibe worthy and widely listened to in all of music. Women love him, the gangsters love him, teenagers love him, even middle aged men and women love him, Drake makes music for ALL people. He's been a staple in hip hop for over 7 years (give or take), and he's not even making hip hop music all of the time. But Drizzy's latest leaks haven't been sitting well with the people. Now most of the time this means nothing, the Drake formula has always been to drop a questionable track that people will have to get used to, then drop something that everybody is going to love immediately, but this time seems a bit different. Is Drake getting bored?  I'm here to find out.

Drake - Faithful (ft. Pimp C)

The above song is Drake's latest leak (came out today) featuring a Pimp C verse that was also featured on Jay Z's "Tom Ford" remix. Drake's other recent leaks include "Controlla" featuring Popcaan (which you can listen to here) and "These Days" featuring Barf Troop's Babeo Baggins, a cover of singer Nico's 1967 song, written by Jackson Browne, which Drake and Babeo (quite a name) renamed to "Things I Forgot To Do" (you can listen to that here).

So I don't know if it's just me, but to me these newest Drake leaks seem very... un-Drake-ish. On "Controlla", Drizzy seems to be taking the experimental Snoop Lion route, (it's like the next thing you know we'll be seeing him rocking some kick ass Rasta dreads) on the "These Days" cover Drake seems to be getting suicidal about past loves (which is very Drake-ish, but even "suicidal" seems a bit too far for Drake). The only leak that seems up to Drake's typical speed is the Pimp C feature "Faithful". It features all the wavy sounds and recorded-conversations-that-will-get-your-girl-mad later type of vibes that Drake is so well known for. The real question here seems to be; is Drake really getting bored?

The only assumption that could be made is that Drake is in fact getting bored, I mean you can only emotionlessly shout "JUMP MAN" so many times before you go completely numb (What A Time To Be Alive it is, indeed). Drake has mastered the pop #1 smash hit with "Hotline Bling", He's mastered the #1 album and going platinum (all 3 of his solo efforts have done so), and he's practically mastered being able to sing a hook for your girl on one track, while being able to body your favorite rapper's career on the next track (obviously a stretch, but you've seen, or better HEARD what the guy can do on his "am" tracks). So what is left for Drake to do but walk away in the sun set while we retire his #6 jersey in the rafters like Jordan?  (Or I suppose that's a statement better reserved for Jay-Z; "when I come back like Jordan"... never mind.)

No, Drake certainly doesn't want to walk away from it all yet (or so we hope). But the only place to go from up on top of everything... is down!  Is Drake on his way out?  I think it's a bit far fetched to say that, although I do think it's safe to say that Views From The 6 could have a much bigger impact on Drake's career than any of us are able to tell right now. Views From The 6 can once and for all prove whether or not Drake is actually as much of a "wave rider" as fans and critics think. Based on the turn of events in Drake's career (including WATTBA, "Hotline Bling", etc.), Drake has to prove that he can still make great music. Obviously he can still make music, he can make music that people absolutely enjoy, and music that people can jam to for years to come, but the real question is; does Drake still own his own lane?  I'll cap this off with one of my favorite Drake tracks ever below, you could almost think of it as a simulation of what I'd hope that Views From The 6 brings.


(*I do not own any of these songs, or the rights to them*)


                            

Hip Hop Year In Review 2015

There is a give and take in any good relationship; relationship meaning a status you hold with someone (or in this case, someTHING) in your life. There's always going to be someone or something that gives you a different perspective on life (or anything, for that matter). Variety in life means choices, such as different types of hobbies, or different kinds of people you associate yourself with, for example; there's the guy that has to make everything a competition, that guy who you could call your brother and open up to about anything, then there's those partiers that are just too fun not to hang out with, and maybe every now and then you'll encounter that person that just makes you feel cooler than the rest of the block. Such is hip hop; introducing the year of variety.

Drake owned 2015. In fact, if we name this year like people do the Chinese new year, then 2015 was the year of the owl. Despite the (not what anyone would call setbacks at all because, domination) setbacks that Drake encountered (Meek Mill beef, ghostwriting accusations, the "contract" struggle on Cash Money, and being in the middle of the battle of Lil Wayne vs. Birdman), Drake still managed to have the biggest year in hip hop (again). If You're Reading This It's Too Late was Grammy nominated, his collaborative album with Future What A Time To Be Alive was at one point the biggest album in the world, and his annoyingly catchy "Hotline Bling" became #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 list. Oh, and ever hear of a diss track becoming Grammy nominated?  Also this year, Drake's Meek Mill diss "Back To Back" was Grammy nominated for "Best Rap Performance". October's Very Own did it again; the year of the owl.


(Because I didn't want to share a Drake and Future song. Also, this song represents what 2016 could bring. For those looking for change.)

Although the Grammy's are yet to happen (not until 2/15), hip hop heads can rejoice at the notion that this year's "Best Rap Album" nominees are (arguably, not really though) some of the most deserved. To say J. Cole's 2014 Forest Hills Drive has gotten all the attention it has deserved would be criminal, and the same goes for Kendrick's To Pimp A Butterfly and Dr. Dre's Compton; The Soundtrack (Dre could probably do without winning considering the movie's success as well) . Lupe Fiasco's Tetsuo & Youth might be the most slept on album of the year, while fans might also be angry that Mac Miller (GO:OD AM), Earl Sweatshirt (I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside), Big Sean (Dark Sky Paradise), The Game (The Documentary 2), A$AP Rocky (At. Long. Last. A$AP), and Future (DS2, 56 Nights, Beast Mode) didn't get the nods they thought they deserved. Also, Travis Scott, Rich Homie Quan, and Rae Sremmurd (as much as I hate to admit) all had huge years.


(Kendrick was one of the biggest contributors to bringing back the "music video with a concept")

What else did I miss that's worth talking about?  Marvel did an incredibly dope thing called "Marvel Hip Hop Variants" with their very own super heroes remaking classic album covers (you can see a gigantic list of those covers here http://hiphopgoldenage.com/list/35-marvels-hip-hop-variants/), and Stretch & Bobbito finally got their just due with Radio That Changed Lives!  If there is one piece on hip hop that needs to be seen from this year, the Stretch and Bobbito documentary is that piece. Old unreleased freestyles and interviews from the likes of legends such as Eminem, Jay Z, Nas, Fat Joe, and more surface in their documentary, and if you're one that likes "diggin' through the crates" as the old heads say, then this is your thing.



In terms of coming up, a lot of names could be put on this list. Michael Christmas, Boogie, and Mick Jenkins immediately come to mind, but it'd be wrong to say that there aren't several more artists that could blow up in 2016. Rap took a turn for hilarious, ridiculous fun when Run The Jewels put out their mega-cat-remix album Meow The Jewels made up of 90% cat sounds. The Game got into more beef and legal problems (surprise), and Grantland staff writer Shea Serrano also released his very successful book "The Rap Yearbook", which chronicled the biggest rap song of every year from 1979 to 2014, and also illustrates how hip hop is the product of multiple musical genres mixed with the poetic word expressing the oppression that blacks have faced throughout U.S. history.


   (*I do not own any of these songs, videos, or the rights to them*)

Was 2015 the year of the wave riders (which Drake and Future so often got accused of being, although I can't say I disagree)?  It could be argued that this is the case, certainly. But I think 2015 turned out to be much more than that. Not just because there were too many dope projects that dropped and made us all jig in our own way, but because you created a sort of relationship with every rapper you heard this year. Some rappers pushed you to do big things because of their competitiveness and work ethic (Eminem, just because he works on his craft, Kevin Gates because he doesn't get tired), some rappers opened themselves up to the world and were accepted (Kendrick), some rappers made you want to party until the world ends (Future, Rich Homie Quan, Rae Sremmurd, etc.), and some rappers just made you feel like you were fresher than the rest of the block (Fabolous). The year of variety happened so fast because people were looking for the next thing instead of enjoying what they already had (which makes an argument for 2015 being "the year of the wave rider"), but here's to hoping 2016 stops that trend. A flood of music forces the listener to move onto the next thing faster than the brain can process, so why would artists want to ruin the impact of the music that they just put out?  Anyways, here's to an incredibly bumpy, roller coaster year for hip hop and hoping for a more consistent one, yet just as entertaining.