Digital Dash: Already starting off with something braggadocio and uptempo, Metro Boomin produces what kind of feels like any other modern-day rap/trap track (even if it’s nothing short of energetic), Future delivers a pretty typical, boring performance on the track, and Drake’s performance is not one of his strongest. Not a great start to this tape.
Big Rings: Where Future took the lead on the last track, Drake leads things off here, and once again, they brag about their accomplishments over a Metro Boomin track that honestly doesn’t sound much different from the last song. Drake’s performance, while a bit goofy-sounding at points, is at least energetic and confident enough to keep things exciting, and I can at least applaud that Future gives us some energy on this track. Not a great song, but nothing too bad overall.
Live from the Gutter: Future leads this track as both he and Drake discuss some of the harsher things in life. I do like the more dark, moody trap instrumentals on this one, though I don’t really care as much for Future’s performance on this thing. His flow is solid, but his vocals are just kind of uninteresting to me. Drake’s performance is where the track really shines, as he sounds extremely confident and his flow is pretty solid. An okay track, but nothing I’ll really want to come back to in the future.
Diamonds Dancing: A track that’s not particularly led by one artist or the other, I feel like the two of them have some pretty solid chemistry, as they go with something more sing-y here. Future’s kind of broken vocals mesh well with Drake’s sad but still smooth vocals, and the trap beat on this one flows well with the two artists. I like this track.
Scholarships: A more Future-led track, I feel like his performance throughout this song just feels really boring to me. And while Drake’s performance is more exciting and assured than Future’s, the song itself just feels painfully dull to me. Drake’s solid performance can’t save this basic trap song with a sleepy performance from Future, unfortunately.
Plastic Bag: Drake takes the lead on this track, and things get a lot more uptempo on this one. The hook on this song isn’t really all that interesting, but it’s pretty energetic, I like Drake’s sing-rapping and solid flow on his verses, and there’s some decent flow from Future on his verse. Don’t think I’ll be coming back to this one that much, but it’s not a bad song overall.
I’m The Plug: I actually like the sound of this one, even if it is a standard trap beat, but unfortunately, I’m not really digging Future’s performance, because his flow just sounds too boring to me. The hook is also not too exciting or memorable, though Drake’s rapid-fire flow and very confident performance really make the song better. Will I be coming back to it? Probably not, because Drake’s verse is really the only amazing part of the song, but overall, it’s not all that bad.
Change Locations: A track that relies more on the interplay between the two, this song shows Drake and Future talking about their spending in strip clubs, because…what else? The instrumental on this song is a nice mix of light and moody, and loud and excited, and I again like the interplay between Drake and Future on this track. I feel like the tracks like this that aren’t really led by one or the other are the stronger ones. The hook is also a lot of fun, and I feel like I’ll be coming back to this track a bit.
Jumpman: One of the bigger tracks from this tape, I never dug the whole “Jumpman, Jumpman, Jumpman, Jumpman” thing going on in this one, and I’m still not digging it too much. Sure, Drake and Future’s performances are interesting enough, and I like the interplay and chemistry between the two of them on this one, but I feel like the song just feels very repetitive to me, both lyrically and sonically, as the beat on this just sounds like any old standard trap beat.
Jersey: A Future solo track, here we have a wallpaper trap beat that honestly doesn’t really do much for me, and while Future has some decent flow on this track, his vocals remain kind of sleepy and unexciting for me. Still, it’s bright and uptempo enough to be sporadically enjoyable, and while Future’s vocals are cliché and generic (and again, somewhat boring), they’re definitely smooth enough on here. Not a track I’ll be coming back to, but it’s not one of the worst on here.
30 for 30 Freestyle: Ending things off, Drake gets a solo track as well, and while it starts off a bit creepily to me, I like the very stripped-down feel of this one, in that it’s a lighter piano-driven song. And while it might seem a bit cliché that Drake is ending one of his projects with a one-verse, no-hook track, it still works for me. It feels pretty introspective and kind of emotional, and that’s what makes it enjoyable. It’s a very nice ending to the mixtape, and I feel like I’ll definitely come back to this song more and more.
Overall, though, this mixtape didn’t really do much for me. After how impressed I was with “If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late,” which showed Drake performing over some very interesting, moody trap beats, the production on this tape just feels a bit too bland for me. And while Drake had some consistently strong performances here, I couldn’t say the same for his co-star Future. A number of his moments on the tape just sound a bit sleepy to me, and even though I’m not really a fan of Future and I don’t really listen to his music, I feel like I’ve already heard all of his songs just by listening to this project. Just take off Drake and you’ve got a very standard, nothing special Future project with this one. I feel like there’s definitely an audience for this, but unfortunately, I’m just not part of it.
In the context of the Drake marathon I’ve been doing, though, I don’t really blame him for this mixtape not clicking for me. It’s clear to me that, fresh off of “If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late,” we’re still hearing the very confident, assured, not-so-soft Drake on this project, which is good news. And again, his performances throughout this tape are consistently rock-solid, to the point where he’s honestly the most interesting thing about the project. Overall, though, not really a totally interesting mixtape, and for my money, I’d say even if you’re a big Drake fan, skip it and just listen to “If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late” again. This thing isn’t terrible, it’s just nothing special.
Next up, we’re gonna round out the Drake marathon with “Views” (since I already reviewed “More Life”). Been interested in that one for a while, you’ll learn why when the review is posted.
Favorite tracks: Diamonds Dancing, Change Locations, 30 for 30 Freestyle
Least favorite tracks: Digital Dash, Scholarships, Jumpman
Rating: Bad
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