Having listened to Nothing Was The Same almost six times over now, I can gladly declare that it is definitely one of the top three hip-hop albums of the year.
Drake remains honest, sentimental and sensitive which is what people love, and often mock, about him but there is a new found confidence and boastfulness that underlies many of the lyrics. He can go from sadly reminiscing about the girls he has loved and the relationships that didn't work out to boldly listing off his achievements and acknowledging his rise to the top without sounding arrogant.
Nothing Was The Same may only be his third studio album, but Drake can already compete with the likes of Kanye West, Jay-Z and all the other great lyricists who have been in the industry long before he was even gracing the TV screens on Degrassi.
Here is a track by track review of the deluxe addition :
Tuscan Leather
The perfect way to open the album. It's an aggressive yet refreshingly - from other hip hop albums - honest track that discusses not only his success and makes references to his hits No Lie and Started From The Bottom but also his shaky relationship with Nicki Minaj and friendship with Tatyana Ali. It's obvious that there will be no holding back on this album and I am definitely looking forward to what is to come.
The production is an added bonus, with multiple changes in tempo and flow that keep the song running strong for over six minutes.
Furthest Thing
"Furthest thing from perfect, like everyone I know", once again, Drake is unafraid of being vulnerable and exposing his flaws to the world which is what has set him apart from other rappers who often hide their insecurities behind a façade of cars, clothes and chains.
This is one of few moments where I am reminded of his previous album Take Care but with an obvious new found maturity; embracing his flaws and admitting his past mistakes.
Listen out for the brilliant change in beat during the last minute - it shows the growth in Drake as he switches from a sentimental and thoughtful young man to the powerful and successful rapper he is.
Started From The Bottom
We may have heard it a hundred plus times by now but it never gets old. Although it is Drake's weakest song lyrically, it has slowly become one of my top 5 Drake songs for it's annoyingly catchy hook and club heavy beat. It adds a different dimension to this somewhat reserved album.
Wu-Tang Forever
The first time on the album where we get a bit of singing from Drake, another thing that separates him from the likes of Kanye and Eminem, he doesn't need a bucket load of auto-tune to sound good holding a note. Although some of the lyrics could be seen as a dig at Chris Brown, I found Wu-Tang Forever to be a really pretty and lyrically beautiful 'love song' which is why it's one of my favourites on the album.
Own It
Own It continues on perfectly from Wu-Tang Forever and reminds me a lot of other slow jams from Drake like Practice and Shot For Me. It has the typical sweet-boy Drake lines like "next time we talk I don't want to just talk, I want to trust" which, after a couple of shots, will have you calling someone special in a heartbeat. But that's what is expected and wanted in a Drake album; lyrics that bring about actions which would otherwise been seen as pathetic but when Drake writes about it, it's cool.
Worst Behaviour
This track stands out from the rest but for all the wrong reasons. The first half of the song lacks in lyrical content, with too much "turn up" and "mother fuckers never loved us", but redeems itself slightly when Drake pays homage to Mase's verse in Mo Money Mo Problems. However, it still felt misplaced on the album and should have probably been discarded or released as promo like 5am in Toronto rather than lodged between two stunning songs in a well executed album.
Maybe it will grow on me after a few more listens but I have a feeling it will remain my least favourite Drake song.
From Time
After the chaos of Worst Behaviour, Drake returns to his reflective self and runs through the many girls who got away on this stand out song. Accompanied by the beautiful vocals of Jhene Aiko - a singer/songwriter who worked with Drake on July - every minute of this song is perfection, from the lyrics to the production to Drake's flow.
Hold On, We're Going Home
This is by far my favourite song on the album, and quite possibly my favourite song of 2013, as this is unlike anything we have ever heard from Drake or any other artist in the charts right now. Hold On, We're Going Home has an 80-esque vibe without sounding dated or cheesy, a feat which is hard to achieve in hip-hop. I'm hoping this is released as a single and gets a video a.s.a.p because everyone needs to be singing along to this by the end of the year.
Connect
It's not quite on par with the rest of the album but it has grown on me immensely since my first listen so I might just need to hear it a few more times before I love it. It just feels as though something is missing and I can't quite figure out what - a catchy hook? more aggression on the verses? a feature? - I'm not sure but it left me unsatisfied by the end.
The Language
The Language is Drake at his best. When his flow is strong and rhythmic and you can hear the passion in his voice. It helps that the beat is understated and quiet so you are really drawn to the lyrics which have been highlighted as possible digs at Kendrick Lamar after his controversial Control verse.
It's slightly more up-tempo and I can definitely hear this being remixed in clubs over the next couple of months, which is a welcome change in tone on the album after a succession of slower and more romantic songs.
305 To My City
Another example of a well structured and fluid album, as this follows on nicely from The Language. The production on this track is one of my favourites because it creates a mellow atmosphere that almost juxtaposes the lyrics without sounding chaotic or confusing. It's cleverly executed in a way that only Drake can get away with.
Too Much
Love, love, love this song. The unapologetic honesty in Drake's words, the musical elements in the background and Sampha's soothing vocals are all perfection and elevate this album onto a whole other level of greatness.
Pound Cake
Pound Cake has had a lot of buzz surrounding it because of the Jay-Z feature but there are so many other great tracks on the album it didn't really stand out as a particularly special moment to me. I enjoyed the production, which sounds a lot like something The Weeknd would release, and the unexpected change in tone towards the latter half of the song. But Jay's verse wasn't ground-breaking and didn't live up to the hype in my opinion.
Come Thru
I can understand why this track is only available on the deluxe addition because it doesn't quite feel like a finished track compared to the high quality of the rest of the album. I appreciate the attempt to add an electronic sound 2 minutes and 20 seconds in but it touches on all the subjects that Drake has already explored so really doesn't add anything new or exciting.
All Me
Another track that was released a while ago, therefore many are already familiar with it. But when you listen to it in the context of the album it sounds a lot better because I wasn't a massive fan of it at first.
It's fun - an aspect that is neglected largely by Drake on this album in his attempt to be serious and sensitive and reflective (as illustrated by the two album covers available). It's a moment where he lets loose alongside 2Chainz and Big Sean without sounding unrecognisable like he does in Worst Behaviour. It could be seen as a Started From The Bottom part 2 but more authentic and with better lyrics.
All in all, there are no huge surprises or risks on the album - maybe with the exception of Hold On, We're Going Home - but Drake delivers an honest, emotional and truly original body of work which he should be proud of.
Although it has leaked a week early and there is no controversy surrounding the album and hardly any features on it, I am certain that Drake will go straight to number one and this album will get all the success it deserves. It has already received rave reviews from critics and fans alike and I will add to that by giving it five stars and another listen!
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