Before the listen:
If I said I wasn't a Drake fan, I'd be lying. I remember watching the video for Replacement Girl, and laughing because I thought it was corny - I wasn't wrong. Drake is quite corny, but it works. I remember playing Brand New and Fall For Your Type over and over on YouTube. I've been to three different Lil' Wayne concerts with hopes of Drake making an appearance - he never did. I mean, he's just two hours away in Toronto. The time he did do a show in Buffalo, I missed it. Very backwards of me.
Anyway, I'm more excited for Views (originally Views From the 6) than I've ever been for any Drake album. Has a Drake album ever been this anticipated? Maybe I'm just paying closer attention. According to Hits Daily Double, Views could do 2 million in the first week. Um, that's a lot. I don't believe that, if I'm being honest. Drake will have a big first week, but nah. Not 2 million... It's a week long Apple Music exclusive, and a chunk of album "sales" come from streams from Apple + competitors. Again, sorry, Spotify.
Views has a stacked 20 tracks on it, and I'll be listening to 18, as I do not like Pop Style and One Dance is taking it's time growing on me. Hotline Bling will STILL get play, ha! Oddly enough, just judging from song titles Childs Play and Still Here by title seem like tracks I want to hear, if he's out here rapping like I know he can. Please miss me with the ghostwriter rumors. I know Drake can do work, work, work, work, work with the pen. I laughed at that too.
The last Drake album I thoroughly enjoyed was Take Care - that album made me a fan of Kendrick (he murdered Buried Alive). Thanks for putting me on, Drizzy!
But here's my gripe with Drake: I never know who I'm going to get. It's not exactly a bad thing though. Will we get Trapper Drake? Top-Shotta-Drake? Drake who'll make me leave tears on my pillows? or the 30 for 30 Drake who enjoyed seared scallops that were to die for? The latter is who I'm betting on.
Regardless on what Drake decides to give us on Views, someone will love it. Hell, I probably will too.
But! Why wasn't Can I featuring Beyonce & Sal Houdini on the album?! I know the song leaked last year, but damn!
update April 29, 2016. I listened to the album.
... Views is Take Care II. You could take tracks from this album and put them with Views, and I wouldn't think twice. Not a bad thing. Was really hoping to hear Drake flex on this album, because he's at that point in his career where he could rightfully do that.
I definitely don't dislike the album, but I was expecting more.
I really like the opening track, Keep the Family Close, which is weird because I'm a deadbeat cousin. I hate family reunions.
Just a few more spins...
I can't judge it yet, it's way too new but for now...
Favorites:
- U With Me?
- Hype
- Childs Play
- Summers Over Interlude
- Fire & Desire
- Views
Honorary Mention: Hotline Bling. You already knew that!