Legend: Starting things off with something really braggadocio, Drake sings over a pretty minimal trap beat that really works, and his voice once again sounds really smooth. There’s a lot of really sonically interesting things going on here, and I think it’s a really great start to this mixtape.
Energy: A track that went viral thanks to his music video, Drake remains very confident and braggadocio as he raps over a kind of moody, minimal trap beat about his haters and his feuds. It’s a great track because it feels like Drake is more confident than ever here. It feels like he definitely wanted to move away from the “radio-friendly” feeling with this project, and so far, it’s a far more successful attempt than “Nothing Was The Same.”
10 Bands: Here, Drake talks about all of the money he’s getting over a trap beat that meshes well with his assured, confident performance. The hook on this one is also pretty catchy, and I like Drake’s charisma throughout his vocal performances on this song. Definitely another really strong track.
Know Yourself: The song that introduced the world to the now-iconic line “running through the 6 with my woes,” I like his moody, sad-sounding crooning throughout the first part of the track, and I love the very ethereal instrumentals on both parts of the track. I also love how Drake switches from some rather sad crooning in the first part to a more confident, energetic performance after the beat change. He blends both vocal styles well, and the result is a really fun, really strong track.
No Tellin: A very light and, again, moody song, Drake speaks about all of the things he plans to accomplish in the future, I love Drake’s flow throughout the track, the hook is a lot of fun here, and I again really love how assured Drake sounds on this track, like he really means business on the song and isn’t really feeling as emotional as he is usually portrayed. Great track.
Madonna: A very loud trap track named after the icon herself, Madonna, Drake talks about a girl he is attempting to hook up with on this track, and he makes it interesting by not letting his usual emotions get to him. He shows us an air of confidence on this song that works really well. Not really all that crazy about the hook on this one, but all in all, it’s a pretty decent track despite its short length.
6 God: A track that surprisingly samples the song "Haunted Chase" from “Donkey Kong Country 2” (a lot of rappers really love sampling video games, now don’t they?), this one feels like a slightly extended interlude since it’s just Drake rapping one verse over a loud, pumping trap beat. Once again, I like his very assured performance on the track and, while I wasn't initially crazy about this track before, it's definitely grown on me with repeat listens.
Star67: On this song, Drake takes us back to his days of growing up in the 6 over a very moody, kind of atmospheric instrumental that I really like, and I like Drake’s flow throughout his verses here. He also adds in a small bit of crooning at the end, which helps to more fully round out the song and put a cherry on top of it. Really great track.
Preach (ft. PARTYNEXTDOOR): A song that features Drake’s protégé PARTYNEXTDOOR, I like his vocals on his verse of this track, even though I’m not really digging the hook on this one (I’m not as crazy about the way his voice sounds on it, and it’s a bit boring). Drake’s sing-rapping is also really solid, and I once again really like the very minimal, moody instrumental on here. Not one of my favorites on the mixtape, but it’s a solid track overall.
Wednesday Night Interlude (ft. PARTYNEXTDOOR): A three-and-a-half-minute interlude that feels more like a slow jam than a rap track, PARTYNEXTDOOR takes this one by himself and he takes an introspective approach to this song, singing over a lower-tempo, lighter instrumental that sounds really pretty. He’s also got a really nice voice, even if it does drown in some autotune, and his voice meshes well with the production. Definitely enjoyed this track.
Used To (ft. Lil Wayne): A song by Drake and Lil Wayne that may/may not have served as a diss about Wayne and Birdman’s feud over at YMCMB, Drake once again oozes energy and confidence, rapping over a bright trap beat, and Lil Wayne shows some confidence on his verse as well. I wasn't all that crazy about the hook on my first listen, but it really grew on me with repeat listens. This is definitely a great track.
6 Man: Another track devoted to Drake’s home in the 6, I again love Drake’s energetic, charismatic performance on this track, and his strong flow indicates his continued assurance and confidence. The instrumental is far less minimal than the others on here, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good: it’s upbeat, fast-paced, and it flows well with Drake’s vocals. Definitely enjoyed this track.
Now & Forever: Another track that sees Drake burning bridges with Cash Money Records (his label), I like Drake’s more emotional singing on the hook, and the moody instrumental blends well with the pumping, fast-paced beat on this song. and there’s a lot of really interesting sounds on this one. This is how you make the transition to something less “radio-friendly,” Drake.
Company (ft. Travis Scott): I’m personally not all that crazy about Drake’s flow on this one, and I think his verse is a bit boring, but his small bits of crooning keep things pretty interesting for me. I again love the minimal, emotional instrumental in the background, and Travis Scott’s verse has some solid flow and vocals. Not one of my favorites on the mixtape, but it’s a pretty decent track overall.
You & The 6: A more introspective song that features Drake talking about life with his mom, I like the pretty, atmospheric instrumental on this one, and Drake’s tone throughout the song is really interesting, as it sounds like he’s having a back and forth with his mom and he’s trying to air out to her. This one really works for me, and I think that, even if it’s not as braggadocio as some of the other tracks on here, Drake’s sound blends well with the rest of the mixtape, and it doesn’t feel out of place.
Jungle: An ode to a familiar neighborhood for Drake back in Toronto, this song feels moody not just because of the minimal instrumental, but because of Drake’s sad-sounding crooning on his verses, which remains smooth and pretty as always. Gabriel Garzón Montano sings the hook and, as minimal as it is, it’s interestingly spacey and beautiful. Really like this track a lot.
6PM In New York: The final track on here, a one-verse, no-hook song, is essentially an all-out attack on several rappers, including Tyga, who he was beefing with at the time. He raps about this over a pretty bright, kind of jazzy beat, and as always, Drake sounds more confident and assured than ever on this track, and it’s clear here that he wants to be the best rapper out there. It’s a really good track and a great ending to the mixtape.
Overall, I definitely enjoyed this project a lot. Drake indicates here that he has far more confidence than ever, and after “Nothing Was The Same,” I think Drake handled the “less radio-friendly” thing far better than before, and I like the reliance on more minimal, moody trap beats on this thing, and the amount of energy he shows on here is incredible. It definitely feels like Drake showed up with more assurance on these tracks, and he’s not letting that typically “soft” image that he gets associated with purge through and impede on the enjoyment of the mixtape. It’s a very well-put-together, well-executed tape that really shows us what Drake can do as a rapper. So far, this definitely stands as Drake’s best project, and it feels good to see him deliver something this well-considered and exciting.
Up next, we’ll look at Drake’s collaboration mixtape with Future, “What a Time to Be Alive.” Don’t know what to expect from that, but stay tuned.
Favorite tracks: Legend, Energy, 10 Bands, Know Yourself, No Tellin’, 6 God*, Star67, Wednesday Night Interlude, Used To*, 6 Man, Now & Forever, You & The 6, Jungle, 6PM In New York
Least favorite tracks: Company (if I had to pick one)
Rating: Excellent
(*An asterisk next to a “favorite track” indicates that the track wasn’t initially one of my “favorite tracks” when I first wrote the review. If a track has an asterisk next to it, it means the song wasn’t initially a favorite of mine, but it grew on me, and the text for the song may have been edited to more properly reflect that.)
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