Canadian singer and rapper Aubrey Drake Graham, also known as Drake, is a leading artist in today’s music scene and has been popular among the younger generation since his debut mixtape, Room for Improvement, in 2006.
His new album, For All The Dogs, released Oct. 6, takes listeners on a musical journey showcasing his singing and a mix of hip-hop, R&B and pop.
Drake’s eighth studio album consists of 23 songs and 10 featured artists, including Bad Bunny, 21 Savage and Yeat. The cover, a white dog with red eyes, was drawn by his son, Adonis Graham. For All The Dogs was originally to be released on Sept. 22, but was postponed to 6 a.m. on Oct. 6. However, fans may find this album worth the wait.
From the get-go, Drake creates a feeling of nostalgia through his first track, “Virginia Beach,” which reminds listeners of his music style from the late 2010s. Throughout the album, melodies and rhythms resembling his older songs, such as “One Dance” and “In My Feelings,” are woven into each track. This can be seen as Drake’s tribute to his past self and works as a long-time artist.
Arguably, the similarity between For All The Dogs and his previous tunes can be viewed as unoriginal and repetitive. As the album progresses, the beats start to sound redundant, calling Drake’s talent and originality as an artist into question.
Though For All The Dogs seems to lack inspiration and uniqueness, the featured artists on this album certainly make up for its shortcomings. Drake and his collaborators sing about the rough parts of relationships, including trust issues and emotional manipulation. Various rappers and singers help to enhance the tracks during their parts, such as SZA on “Rich Baby Daddy” and J. Cole on “First Person Shooter.”
In “Slime You Out”, the ninth song and lead single featuring SZA, Drake conveys the confusion and frustration of being used by someone else. He expresses, “Next time, I swear on my grandmother grave / I’m slimin’ you for them kid choices you made”, while SZA choruses, “Slimin’ you out, I’m slimin’ you out, I’m slimin’ you out,” revealing that the artists recognize how toxic their exes were and are careful not to let them in again.
For All The Dogs has more of an R&B vibe than the rap-style music listeners have received from Drake lately. A series of chill beats and sounds accompany the mesmerizing lyrics of each track, creating a summery feel.
Some tracks, such as “Bahamas Promises” and “8AM in Charlotte,” successfully blend soulful music with Drake’s melodies. On the other hand, many elements in this album struggle to mix together, sounding randomly and carelessly thrown into the songs.
Drake concludes the album with “Polar Opposites,” where he expresses the feeling of being disappointed by his lover after trying to trust her again. In the second verse of the track, he sings, “Had plans to understand ya / Mariana, you broke my faith / Why you gotta listen to the propaganda? / We just broke the ice, and now you’re both leaving,” indicating he was willing to give his ex another chance, but she once again proved to be unreliable.
For All The Dogs is a rollercoaster of nostalgia and moodiness, leaving listeners feeling wistful. While Drake manages to release a portion of magnificent songs on this album, a majority of these tracks sound unoriginal and tedious. It could be suggested that Drake prioritizes quality over quantity, taking the time to enrich his music instead of focusing on releasing as many songs as he can.
Nevertheless, For All The Dogs is certainly a chill album and a good listen.
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