Drake
Nothing Was The Same

Yesterday, "Nothing Was The Same" arrived on the shelves of all music stores, the third solo album of the Canadian rapper/singer Drake. Today, after many careful listens, I'm ready to review it.                             

Needless to say, the anticipation surrounding the album was significant. Drake, with his practically unique style that blends melody and rap, has established himself as a leading force in American rap/pop. His previous albums "Thank Me Later" (a debut album of variable quality) and "Take Care" (his second, high-quality album) had produced numerous hit singles and allowed the Canadian artist to achieve, cumulatively, 3 platinum records in the United States alone. I think it can be said that the wait was well rewarded. The album reaches and surpasses the quality of the previous work "Take Care," establishing itself as Drake's best work, at least so far.

The work overall stands out in several ways from previous efforts. The album will probably not produce many singles, and the few that will reach the radio are unlikely to top the charts (the 3 singles released so far, compared to 7 from the previous album, despite their success, did not enter the Billboard TOP 5, which is unusual for this artist). This is a deliberate choice by Drake, as he himself claims in the opening track of the album. The work focuses, unlike previous works, less on self-celebration of his success (though still present in some tracks) and much more on narrating the artist's life and how it has changed with the arrival of success (hence the album's title), and this is precisely what makes the album extremely interesting. Drake is direct, no frills, speaks with his heart on his sleeve, perfectly depicting the changes that have affected his life. Moreover, it's worth noting how the purely rapped parts have increased compared to previous albums (considering there are only 13 tracks on the CD), whether this is pleasing or not depends solely on personal taste.

From a purely technical standpoint, Drake shows no growth compared to "Take Care." The artist's flow is effective and does not bore the listener, the metrics are simple, and the same goes for the structures, as was to be expected. It's futile to look for Eminem-level rhymes or jaw-dropping lines in a Drake album.                       

The productions of the album are of very high quality. Drake is accompanied by his longtime collaborator "Noah 40" in the majority of the tracks. The producer, who did not disappoint in previous albums, gives his best in "Nothing Was The Same," crafting the best beats of his career. Among all his productions, the fantastic musical background of "Tuscan Leather," the first track of the album, stands out. Disappointing are the 2 productions by Boy-1da, who fails to immerse himself in the atmosphere of the album and simply ends up giving 2 pale imitations of "Noah 40"'s beats. 

As for the features, Jay-Z's presence is noted in the last track of the album. It was reasonable to expect more from Jigga, who seems uninspired on this occasion.

In conclusion, Drake's third album meets expectations and proves to be his best work both musically and content-wise. Recommended for all rap/pop and R&B lovers looking for something light but not trivial or predictable.