I'd originally planned on giving a somewhat biased review on Take Care. As a fan going back to the underappreciated Comeback Season mixtape, I'd touch on how this is exactly what we should be expecting from Drake at this point in his career. About how he's in a much more comfortable place this time around, and doesn't need support from the likes of Jay-Z, T.I., Kanye West and Timbaland to back up any lingering insecurities he might have about his unique brand of music. And after praising the strong overall quality and honesty of the album, I'd mention how much the influence of Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, helped steer Aubrey Graham to this point of universal acclaim. Take Care could even be considered a Canadian 808s and Heartbreaks- Kid Cudi's effect on West being analogous to Tesfaye and Graham- and it's set the perfect stage for Drake's own Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, where he finally puts all his tools together and creates his masterpiece.
Despite all of this, the album might leave listeners wanting more on some fronts. If you fully expected Drake to be the next Jay-Z after hearing So Far Gone, redirect yourself to Cole World: The Sideline Story. It wouldn't be too tough to prove J. Cole as more of a pure rapper and lyricist, but that's mainly because he won't be mistaken for an R&B singer over nearly half of his album. Drake and producer/engineer Noah “40” Shebib have perfected the art of ‘Hip-Hop&B,’ with the type of seamless genre blending we originally heard on tracks like “Karaoke” off of Thank Me Later. But the soulful themes and earnestness of his storytelling are really what set him apart from the current pack of ambitious 20-somethings. It's that same raw honesty that makes Kendrick Lamar's “Buried Alive Interlude” one of the most lyrical and telling tracks off of Take Care.
We've come to expect magic now every time we get new music from the OVOXO general, but Lamar's verse actually provided something that might have gone missing from the album otherwise. It often takes an outside perspective to see the intricate details of a lifestyle that would overwhelm anyone embroiled within it, and that's no fault of Drake. For a track that could've easily been left off the album for the picture of vanity it paints him in, it actually helps us better understand his psyche.
Kendrick Lamar's encounter with Drake in Toronto left him with visions of where he could end up if he fully buys into this world of musical celebrity. At the same time, the luxuries of this life can make it extremely tough to hold on to the authenticity that got you there in the first place. That's the line that Drake's been walking since 2008, after an invite to Houston from Lil' Wayne. So difficult to walk that Kendrick could only imagine being buried alive under all the money, power, women and fame, losing touch with his roots. That could be the main reason for the notorious “sophomore slump” we hear about in a lot of professions, when praise and accolades separate someone from the drive and dedication that inspired that success.
Take Care might be an early contender for some 2012 Grammy Awards, and deservedly so. The Rihanna-featured title track will surely touch a wide demographic, while the success of previous singles like “Marvin's Room,” “Headlines” and other bass-jarring tunes will please the rap loyalists. Underneath all of this, Kendrick Lamar's insight and introspection give Take Care an idea of where Drake's own mindset is at and where he's come from. So do yourself a favor and enjoy one of the finest releases of 2011, and give Lamar's Section. 80 a listen after you're through.
Chuma Chukwu - Chuma Chukwu is a freelance writer with a particular fondness for films, sports, and music. A graduate in electrical and computer ...
Join the Conversation