Drake unveils More Life
Toronto rapper’s new album gives fans plenty to chew on while raising a new batch of questions. David Friend asks the following:
1 Where Did JLo go?
An appearance by Jennifer Lopez seemed like one of the few certainties of More Life. The Latina songstress posted an Instagram photo cuddling Drake a few months ago, which fuelled rumours of a tryst in the studio. Within days, a clip of their presumed collaboration Get It Together leaked online. But Lopez is missing from the final version, with her part replaced by U.K. newcomer Jorja Smith. However, Lopez isn’t entirely absent — Drake raps “I drunk text JLo. Old number so it bounce back” on Free Smoke, and a distorted sample of If You Had My Love appears on Teenage Fever. Could it be a subtle jab at the singer, who recently started dating former New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez? 2 How did he pick those samples? Drake spares no expense in showcasing his eclectic taste for memorable songs. He digs into the record crates for Lionel Richie’s All Night Long, and throws it on the outro of Blem, while fellow soul legends Earth Wind & Fire get their song Devotion worked into Glow. But more surprising is Drake’s magnetism to underdogs such as South African house DJ Black Coffee, whose jazzy Superman is the backdrop for Get It Together. He even throws a total curveball with a sample of His World, the theme from the Sonic the Hedgehog video game, on the track KMT. 3 Will Drake’s love for Canada ever fade?
While some fans on the Toronto Raptors are harrumphing about Drake’s absence from recent games, he’s still got props for Canada. Hints of his homeland are scattered throughout More Life, including a subtle nod at the mac and cheese formerly known as Kraft Dinner (“Mama never used to cook much. Used to chef KD,” on Free Smoke) and local Toronto-area spots he once knew (“Used to be at SilverCity Indigo. Used to be in lunchroom playing dominoes,” on “Do Not Disturb”). He even leaves time for one of Canada’s most popular tourist attractions, though it’s not exactly a shining endorsement (“We evolved, used to think vacation meant Niagara Fall s”he raps on Can’t Have Everything). 4 Did mom bring him back to earth?
Drake’s mom Sandi Graham offers wise words on the final moments of Can’t Have Everything. In what appears to be a voice mail clip, she suggests her son checks his emotions. “I’m a bit concerned about this negative tone I’m hearing in your voice these days,” she says. “That attitude will just hold you back in this life. ”She ends with a slight paraphrase on Michelle Obama’s famous 2016 Democratic National Convention quote: “When others go low, we go high.” 5 Will Drake settle down?
Drake seems to take his mom’s advice to heart, suggesting on Do No Disturb that he’ll slam the brakes on his whirlwind music career. On the final track he lays out his plan, saying, “Take the summer off ’cause they tell me I need recovery. Maybe getting back to my regular life will humble me. I’ll be back 2018 and get you the summary.” Maybe that’ll be enough time to settle into his new mansion in Toronto’s posh Bridle Path neighbourhood and ring a few doorbells.