It’s a strange and sad coincidence that Drake has become famous as a rapper.
To put it simply, there is nothing interesting about Drake, and the Canadian star’s newest release, “Take Care,” only further proves this point.
Compared to other popular rappers today, he’s lacking personality. While Jay-Z grew up hustling on the streets, Drake grew up on the sets of the campy TeenNick drama “Degrassi.” If Mos Def is iconic, Drake is a sponsored sellout. If Kanye West is unafraid to rap about anything, Drake is afraid to surprise anyone with his lyrics and instead sticks to stereotyped subjects he thinks rappers rap about, such as money, girls with implants and expensive cars.
On the subject of his lyrics, the sheer contrast from one song to another is just disturbing. Going from a song like “Underground Kings,” with the lines that repeatedly call women by derogatory terms to his song “Make Me Proud” that compliments a woman for “sounding so smart like [she] graduated college,” it’s hard to believe Drake could have much respect for women.
Compared to rappers performing at talent shows in every small town, Drake’s voice is basically indistinguishable. It’s not necessarily bad—it’s just not unique . Unlike others, it’s hard to distinguish his sound from a crowd.
Even worse is when he tries new things, like double-speed rapping on “HYER.” It’s uncomfortably evident how limited his style must be.
The same can be said about the rhythms and beats on the album. “Take Care” sounds as if the background to Drake was provided by a group of musician who just graduated R&B 101. They know the basics and can pull it off, but don’t expect showstoppers here.
“Take Care” does have some bright spots. “Crew Love” opens with a section by The Weekend, and “Make Me Proud” features a verse by Nicki Minaj.
It’s not a good sign when the best parts of “Take Care” are the parts without Drake.
