Drake —AP
If you think you can resist the dancehall vibe of Drake’s “Get It Together” and the pounding hooks of “Can’t Have Everything”—two of the radio-ready tunes in the singer-rapper’s record-setting latest album, “More Life: A Playlist from October Firm”—be forewarned: You’re bound to lose.
We got our copy of the 30-year-old recording artist’s latest mixtape two weekends ago, just as we were beginning to get hot and bothered by the encroaching scorch of the summer heat—and we haven’t stopped listening to it since.
Unless a catchier and more accessible collection comes along, “More Life” is our top choice for this year’s Soundtrack of the Summer appellation—which is saying a lot, because Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran, The Chainsmokers and even the groove-generating quartet of DNCE are also making their presence felt on the hectic music scene these days.
Yes, the songs on the playlist are that catchy. And that’s probably why the album, Drizzy’s seventh consecutive No. 1 on the Billboard 200, broke streaming records on Spotify and Apple Music last week.
It reset the record for most streams from an album in a single day—specifically, 89.9 million units on its first day of release.
“No Long Talk” (featuring UK rap sensation Giggs), the Caribbean music-channeling “Blem” (interpolated with Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long”), “Skepta Interlude” (with British grime artist Skepta) and the exhilarating “Passionfruit”—arguably the album’s best track—are instantly infectious and winsome because of the groove-heavy and cleverly realized instrumentation that brings their riffs and hooks to palpable life.
“More Life” album
But “More Life” singles owe their likability and crowd-pleasing appeal to thematic pertinence as much as the unshakable hooks that frame them.
Drizzy alternately sings and raps about carving his own path on the rap scene and what it takes to be a trailblazer (“Free Smoke,” “Portland,” with Quavo and Travis Scott), the struggles he had to overcome on his climb to the top (“Sacrifices,” with 2 Chainz and Young Thug), and the people he “lost” along the way (“Lose You”).
There are also compelling numbers about fair-weather friends and colleagues who only love him because of his phenomenal success (“Fake Love” and the luscious “Madiba Riddim”), and the perks and blinding excesses of fame (“Glow,” with Kanye West).
Drake, who turned his back on acting early on in his performing career to pursue his passion for music, has concocted a delightful musical brew that is made more fascinating by references to his own backstory, as well as snippets of his speculation-drawing relationships with women, some of them as famous as he is.
“Passionfruit” monitors his struggle to remain faithful in a long-distance relationship. Drake’s collaboration with the exceptional Jorja Smith and Black Coffee, “Get It Together,” discusses issues that get in the way of a healthy relationship.
“4422,” featuring electronic soul artist Sampha, fascinates with its existentialist musings about origin, identity and forgiveness.
“Since Way Back” (with PartyNextDoor) examines friendship and promiscuity.
Album closer “Do Not Disturb” brims with insightful introspection as Drake consolidates lessons learned from his life, love and career.
Even more thematically tantalizing are songs inspired by his tabloid-fodder love life: “Teenage Fever” is supposedly about his boyhood crush, Jennifer Lopez.
“Ice Melts,” the singer-rapper’s collaboration with Young Thug, woos a “cold” woman who’s been burned by a callous, two-timing lover—and could either be about J Lo, Rihanna or Nicki Minaj: “I want you to myself / But I know you just left someone else / I know he did a number on you / That must be why you move so icy / Like there’s nobody you’d ever need / Better not give that up to anyone but me.”
And there’s the delectably moody “Nothings Into Somethings,” which reveals the tension between the singer and his former squeeze, Serena Williams, who recently announced her engagement to Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian.
In the single, Drizzy pointedly sings: “Did I read that you just got engaged on me?/ I heard from your friend, you couldn’t even tell me/ Or better yet wait on me/ Do I get an invitation or something?/ Here’s another nothing that you made into something.”