“I’m tired of hearin’ bout who you checkin’ for now. Just give it time, we’ll see who still around a decade from now,” Drake raps on “Tuscan Leather,” an iconic cut from his 2013 album, “Nothing Was the Same.”
A decade later, the Toronto rapper is still one of the most popular acts dominating music. His latest LP, “For All the Dogs,” features many of Drake’s common musical themes: money, haters and plenty of failed relationships.
He opens the album with a vulnerable and sincere track, “Virginia Beach,” featuring a reversed Frank Ocean sample, one of the many superstars to appear on the album. Drake has never been a stranger to rounding up the stars for his albums. Frequent collaborators 21 Savage, Lil Yachty and PartyNextDoor make keynote appearances on “Calling For You,” “Another Late Night” and “Members Only.”
On the other hand, he also is known for recruiting the younger generation to get their spot in the limelight. Rappers Yeat, Sexyy Red and Teezo Touchdown did not take these opportunities for granted, and shined bright when they got their chances on the gritty and distorted hit “IDGAF,” upbeat dance anthem “Rich Baby Daddy,” heartfelt ballad “Amen” and the lighthearted interlude “BBL Love.”
But of all the features, singer SZA and rapper J. Cole were the ones who stole the spotlight with their amazing appearances on the breathtaking R&B cut “Slime You Out” and the boastful “First Person Shooter.” SZA and Drake both reminisce on what could have been, exploring both perspectives on a failed relationship in their verses on “Slime You Out.” It seems, on this track, Drake has recognized an annual cycle that a partner of his embarks on throughout the calendar year, naming the different stages they go through month by month.
From a lyrical standpoint, this is a staple of the album: Drake picks apart the actions of his many partners without much introspection on where he may lack as a partner himself. As a whole, many might say that “For All the Dogs” is a shallow body of TikTok hits with Drake looking to collect more cash.
But is Drake’s latest body of work really just a lazy installation in his catalog? The answer isn’t clear-cut. While there are some moments of filler on this album, there are many instances of artistic brilliance from Drake scattered across its hour and 24-minute run time.
Drake enlists producer Conductor Williams, known for his work with Griselda, and hardcore rap artists on “8 am in Charlotte.” The song features a grungy piano sample and a classic hip-hop drum scheme on top of which Drake executes one of his most polished lyrical performances yet, illustrating to the critics that he can still put together a great rap song.
“Daylight” contains a quote from Tony Montana. “You don’t have the guts to be what you wanna be. You need people like me” — and maybe Drake is right in this aspect. He has always been unapologetically himself — since many were telling him he should stop singing, or that he had no place in hip-hop culture.
Over a decade later, the rapper is still making great music, pleasing fans across many different genres using the niche “rage” beats on “Fear of Heights” ready to rock the frat houses of America, and the thumping 808s on “Gently” ready to fuel the reggaeton parties with a verse from superstar Bad Bunny.
“For All the Dogs” is yet another testament to Drake’s longevity, an album for all the fanatics and casual listeners alike.
