by Ellis Garamszegi

The release of DrakeÔÇÖs latest album, Scorpion, broke all sorts of records – hardly surprising considering the excitement a Drake album release generates these days. In terms of streaming records, it was the first album ever to reach one billion streams in a week. Yet, I certainly canÔÇÖt recall a Drake album dividing opinion as Scorpion has. I for one found it refreshing that at 90 minutes it was closer to a feature-length film. That said, in a 25-song album (22 of which weÔÇÖd never heard before) there are bound to be some pretty average or even ‘Peak’ tracks. This double-sided album I see as trying to give fans what they wanted and, of course, people like Drake for different reasons. The album consists of side A rapping Drake and side B R&B/singing Drake, although the two are not completely mutually exclusive. Side A, draws parallels with If YouÔÇÖre Reading This, ItÔÇÖs Too Late (my favourite Drake Album). Side B IÔÇÖd say is like a weak Take Care, it was definitely the worse of the two sides for me although I like the songs ÔÇÿIn My FeelingsÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿFinal FantasyÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿMarch 14ÔÇÖ.

ÔÇÿSurvivalÔÇÖ serves as a strong intro, continuing the custom of Drake albums opening well. The infectious track ÔÇÿNonstopÔÇÖ is produced by one of the new faces on the album Tay Keith (who also worked on BlocBoyÔÇÖs ÔÇÿLook AliveÔÇÖ which features Drake) is also good. The first song on side A which I really like is the stunning ÔÇÿEmotionlessÔÇÖ, coasting on top of an instantly recognizable Mariah Carey sample we get the first disclosure of DrakeÔÇÖs rumoured child with the lyrics ÔÇ£I wasnÔÇÖt hidinÔÇÖ my kid from the world, I was hidinÔÇÖ the world from my kid.ÔÇØ This revelation was first mentioned by Pusha T in his savage diss track ÔÇÿThe Story of AdidonÔÇÖ.

ÔÇÿ8/10ÔÇÖ is another sample-centric cut ÔÇô which is as close as we get to a Pusha T response. Drizzy also takes further shots at Kanye West from the first bar to the last, yet this song is still an unmistakable bop. ÔÇÿToo rich for who? YÔÇÖall just got rich again, Who grips the mic and likes to kill they friends?ÔÇÖ I, like many, watched eagerly when the Pusha/Drake beef erupted; with it appearing like Pusha landed the fatal blow when Drake decided not to put out another track after Duppy Freestyle, apparently under the guidance of J.Prince. This album, however, seems at times like Drake is just trying to explain himself, something that prompts many to speculate a lot of it had to be rewritten in the final couple of weeks because of lines like ÔÇÿYou are hiding a child/Let that boy come home/Deadbeat muthaf**cka playing border control/Adonis is your son and he deserves more than an Adidas press runÔÇÖ from Pusha T.

ÔÇÿMob TiesÔÇÖ which sounds like it should probably feature Migos has Drake spitting real fast but IÔÇÖm personally not a fan, whack bars like ÔÇ£IÔÇÖm not with the rah-rah/ I am a dadaÔÇØ donÔÇÖt help. ÔÇÿCanÔÇÖt Take a JokeÔÇÖ is pretty good, yet ÔÇÿSandraÔÇÖs RoseÔÇÖ is the next track I really enjoy – ÔÇÿEvery title doinÔÇÖ numbers like IÔÇÖm miss Adele, Sandra knows I pulled us out of a living hell/ IÔÇÖm the chosen one, flowers never picked themselvesÔÇÖ. The DJ Premier collaboration on the beat, alongside some of DrakeÔÇÖs most virtuoso lyricism, makes this track pure comfort food.

When the tracklist was first released ÔÇÿTalk UpÔÇÖ (feat. Jay-Z) was a song I was highly anticipating, for obvious reasons, sadly it was the biggest letdown. The only talking point coming from HovaÔÇÖs line ÔÇÿYÔÇÖall killed X and let Zimmerman live Streets live/ Streets is doneÔÇÖ. The two rap titans just didnÔÇÖt really fit together on this beat for me, it also sticks out like a sore thumb on this album. ÔÇÿIs There MoreÔÇÖ is the final track on side A and serves as a nice transition into side B. It is a more introspective song, what ÔÇÿWeston Road FlowsÔÇÖ was to Views; ÔÇÿIs There MoreÔÇÖ is to Scorpion.

In my opinion, Side B lets the project down. ÔÇÿPeakÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿSummer GamesÔÇÖ, ÔÇÿFinesseÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿBlue TintÔÇÖ (which features an uncredited Future) arenÔÇÖt my cup of tea, they arenÔÇÖt even 3-AM in your feelings Drake. IÔÇÖm not sure what the purposes of these particular tracks are and it just feels like unnecessary filler, which considering the length of the album, probably shouldnÔÇÖt have made the cut. ÔÇÿJadedÔÇÖ is an interesting track with some suspecting itÔÇÖs about Jorja Smith after the two collaborated on ÔÇÿMore LifeÔÇÖ and it certainly makes for engaging listening from that perspective. ItÔÇÖs not all bad though, ÔÇÿIn My FeelingsÔÇÖ, which even if you havenÔÇÖt heard the album you would have had to be under a rock to have missed, ÔÇ£Kiki, do you love me?ÔÇØ, is one of those super catchy songs which will get stuck in your head.

Then thereÔÇÖs ÔÇÿDonÔÇÖt Matter to MeÔÇÖ which isolates a Michael Jackson sample (from an unreleased vocal cleared by JacksonÔÇÖs estate) over gentle synthesisers, emphasising the overlooked eeriness of his voice. When I saw the King of Pop featured I was intrigued as to what the outcome would be. I must admit, although it isnÔÇÖt badly done, it feels self-indulgent from Drake; a clear-cut power move, rather than artistic posthumous collaboration. After all, who else would have had the funds to do that?

One thing Drake definitely delivers on is the awesome variation of samples he utilises and which many you will have instantly recognised. For example, a live version of Nicki MinajÔÇÖs ÔÇÿBoss Ass BitchÔÇÖ makes up the chorus on ÔÇÿThatÔÇÖs How You FeelÔÇÖ. Then thereÔÇÖs Lil WayneÔÇÖs 2008 classic ÔÇÿLollipopÔÇÖ mixed up on ÔÇÿIn My FeelingsÔÇÖ, whilst Lauryn HillÔÇÖs ÔÇÿEx-FactorÔÇÖ features on ÔÇÿNice for WhatÔÇÖ. He also made use of some more niche samples – on ÔÇÿFinal FantasyÔÇÖ we hear a clip from the American tabloid talk show ÔÇÿMauryÔÇÖ in which a woman asks ÔÇÿwho that baby look like? DraaakeeÔÇÖ. This really cleverly leads into the final track ÔÇÿMarch 14ÔÇÖ which is all about DrakeÔÇÖs child. A Boys II Men interlude from 1994 closes out the final song and feels a fitting way to end this interesting album that had potential to be his best, yet at times feels monotonous, bloated and, although indisputably, the most successful album of the year so far leaves us wondering ÔÇ£Is There More?ÔÇØ