21 Savage continues the absolute tear he has been on since last year’s Savage Mode II, and Drake holds his own over a sinister trap instrumental. Likewise, “Knife Talk,” featuring Atlanta’s 21 Savage and a sample of Memphis legend Project Pat’s vocals, is a welcome homage to the city that Drake’s dad hails from. The collaborations with trap artists are some of the most fun moments on the otherwise unremarkable album. As is standard, Future has a brilliant outing, putting together a hook that will be screamed in clubs for years to come. With “Way 2 Sexy,” the rappers have given us the male strip club anthem we never thought we needed when coupled with a hilarious video in which Drake shows off his comedic chops, the song’s viral ascent is bound to become an iconic cultural moment of this year. Drake has always been elite at effortlessly crafting high-quality hooks, and he keeps up the good work on “Fair Trade.” Another highlight from the album is the Future and Young Thug-assisted “Way 2 Sexy,” which interpolates Right Said Fred’s 1992 hit single, “I’m Too Sexy.” The production is outstanding, as is standard on Drake-Travis collaborations (like “Company” and “SICKO MODE”), and Travis continues the strong feature stretch he has been on leading up to the imminent release of his fourth studio album, Utopia. Drake and Scott almost always come up big when they work together, and this track is no exception. Highlights of the album include “Fair Trade,” a collaboration with frequent compatriot Travis Scott. In a release that is not even close to being his best, there are still multiple flashy moments in which the listener is reminded of his greatness. While Certified Lover Boy is fine to listen to (and even good at times), it comes off as lazy and uninspired from an artist who we know is capable of so much more.ĭespite his many recent shortcomings, there’s a reason that Drake is one of the most-streamed musicians. While Certified Lover Boy broke the streaming records that Scorpion set on its release day, it is stylistically very similar. However, when an artist has experienced record-breaking success for more than a decade, they are susceptible to getting a little too comfortable. Despite a mixed critical reception, Drake has proven time and again that he can make a hit like no other artist. His studio album, 2018’s Scorpion, shattered every streaming record in the book upon its release in June of that year. Along with them I send my condolences to all of the families that have lost loved ones to the senseless violence that has and continues to occur in our city.Love him or hate him, it is undeniable that a Drake album release is a pop culture event. My deepest condolences go out to the Navarro-Fenoy and Hibbert families for their loss of Ariela and Duvel. I encourage my generation to show as much value and gratitude as you can for the lives we have been gifted. I stare into the eyes of so many young people and I wish to see them all shine as bright as they possibly can in this lifetime. I am plagued and pained by the violence that continues to escalate in our city. However, today I am choosing to follow my heart. It’s tough in situations like this where there’s a tragedy and I consider the advice of my trusted advisors and counsel who worry that anything I might say could be misinterpreted. I am used to the fact that my life and the things I say to my fans are closely watched. The last few days I have been in a moral bind.
#Drake open letter instrumental full
“We need each other to further our communities for generations to come. I pray for better times and better understanding.”ĭrake’s Full Statement on OVO Fest After Party Shooting “Although Toronto is globally viewed as a major city, at the core we are still a small close-knit community, and it is our public responsibility to ensure the safety and wellbeing of one another,” the rapper wrote. “When people do not assist with investigations, what it does is it encourages those who decide to bring firearms to locations to use it… when you don’t talk, it encourages these types of people to carry firearms with them.”ĭrake ended his letter by extolling the community-centered vibe of Canada’s most populous city. “Whenever we try to solve homicide cases, it’s not just the law enforcement that makes these outcomes successful,” he said (via the Toronto Sun). While not specifically calling Drake out by name, Toronto police chief Mark Saunders issued a plea earlier this week for any witnesses to the crime to come forward and share what they know with authorities. Following Drake’s annual OVO Fest, police responded to reports of a “sporadic shooting” at Toronto’s Musik nightclub. Duvel Hibbert, 23, and Ariela Navarro-Fenoy, 26, died from their injuries, with the shooter remaining at large.Īs The Hollywood Reporter noted, the party was open to the public and advertised as “the official OVO fest after-party, hosted by Drake with music by Charlie B.”