[REPRESENTING THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA’S JOURNALISM PROGRAM]
Not an image of Drake reading this article
PAIGE MARQUEZ - ENTRY 003: IF YOUR’RE READING THIS IT’S ABOUT DRAKE
Dear Drake,
First off – I am putting it out there in advance: This is definitely not a diss track.
Because my friends and I in high school were quite literally obsessed. We all had a form of Teenage Fever – meaning that we would pretty much listen to Drake every spare minute that we got.
So let me play hype woman here for a moment:
You just surpassed 80 billion streams on Spotify – which easily makes you the most famous hip hop artist from Canada.
You played a small but memorable role in cheering the Toronto Raptors onto their first NBA title (and that is on top of what was already a brief but enduring career in Film and Television).
Finally, your iconic meme stature keeps you squarely in the public eye.
Let’s face it: As far as entertainers go, you’re pretty much a legend who is “playing with house money” at this point in your career.
To boot – you once even shared the stage with LeBron James:
This last point considered, at this juncture in both of your enduring careers, LeBron continues to make new hits.
Barbershop included.
On the court: This past season King James broke the all-time scoring record – and even made getting swept by the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs look valiant. All while on a busted foot.
So my question and challenge to you is this:
When are you going to step up your game like your old pal LeBron?
BACK IN THE DAY
The day I knew I loved Drake was back in 2014. It wasn't even a Drake song per say, it was more of a feature. The trifecta: Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne and Drake. It was titled Only.
Looking back, I remember being able to rap this song in its entirety - and I still can. My Dad would find it mildly entertaining. My Mom, on the other hand, never found it to be as much fun.
Anyways, I digress.
As a (former super) fan, I will respectfully elaborate:
The first album that I heard of yours was So Far Gone. At this time in my life I only knew one song on the album: Best I Ever Had. Front to back, this album represents a fantastic introduction to what we, as fans, were to expect. It was relatable. And it had a charismatic energy to it.
Then you came out with arguably your three best albums in a row: Take Care, Nothing Was The Same and If You’re Reading This It's Too Late. As Kendall Roy famously once said: “All bangers all the time.”
This is when I went from a low-maintenance listener to a Drizzy-obsessed fan.
Take Care is easily one of the most relatable and transcendent albums that you have made to date. I can say for myself, and a few others I know, that Take Care changed lives and outlooks.
You were more real about relationship problems than my own parents were. I grew up with Take Care. As wild as this sounds, it raised me to some extent and prepared me for relationships and life before I was even old enough to understand what was on the horizon. This album added a realness to your digital persona.
In Nothing Was The Same, you were hungry to be on top. This album showed how far you came at that point. It is, in my opinion, the most cohesive album in your catalog. Arguably the best lyrics, production and inclusivity to all of your sides. NWTS showed how passionate you were about wanting to be on that pedestal – alongside the greats of your world.
If You’re Reading This It's Too Late is my personal all time favorite. It’s when you sounded the most confident in yourself and your work. It’s a project that is pieced together so well: No interruptions to the flow.
When this album came out, my High School friends and I would have it on repeat. IYRTITL is the most hype out of all your albums. It delivers in every way that it should.
After If You're Reading This It's Too Late – you and Future dropped What A Time To Be Alive. It was a solid album. But at that point you had basically made it. And at least you didn’t go full-on cruise control.
In this respect, Views was yet another masterpiece. And I remember all your fans waiting for it.
According to Spotify, One Dance is your most popular song of all. According to me, Views was the album that made 2016. Not sure about Millennials but for many Gen Z individuals, 2016 was THE year. So, Drake, your timing here was perfect.
Says me: In its totality, Views represents all of your sounds as an artist. It’s a steady compilation of “the old Drake,” pop-star Drake and new artist Drake. That is what makes Views.
AS TO TODAY
I can confidently say that the last album on your discography that I thoroughly enjoyed was More Life and a little bit of Scorpion. But when you dropped Care Package – that’s when I really started really wondering:
What happened?
It didn't sound like “Drake.” The charismatic motions of yesteryear only arrived in fleeting moments.
In other words, for six straight years (2011-2017) you straight up dropped the album everyone was waiting for and now, no offense: You’ve turned into the radio music man.
Via your old music – you can feel it: The passion, the drive, the need to find yourself and be great. Now that you have accomplished so much, it seems as if you stopped striving to be the best. It seems like you have become less committed to making music (all while maintaining the same drive to make more bank).
Like LeBron this past season, can’t knock the hustle though.
AND TO THE (HOPEFULLY) IMPROVED, FUTURE DRAKE
In summary, as a forever Drake fan, I simply have no motivation to listen to the newer albums – especially since Care Package showed up on my Spotify doorstep.
So be like LeBron!
I am defying what you said in Headlines – and doing my best to tempt you: Please go back to the “old Drake.”
This means to take more risks. Call some people out. Get your game on for crying out loud.
Be the ball.
Because even though your old pal LeBron is threatening the Lakers with retirement, he is at least willing to repeatedly throw himself into the competitive crosshairs and the spotlight – like it’s his job.
Respectfully speaking, and coming from a fan, It is overdue that you do the same.
Sincerely,
Paige Marquez
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Paige Marquez is an alum of the University of Florida, lives in Hoboken and is a CKTH Ambassador