Whenever Drake’s name is on a song, the word “featuring” should preface it. The Canadian rapper is tolerable, even bordering on compelling, for a verse at a time, but full tracks of him rapping about women, money and alcohol don’t quite have the same effect.
Drake’s sophomore album, Take Care, does nothing to change this impression and, in addition, is oddly bipolar. It seems Drake is trying to croon like John Legend and rap like T.I., mixing R&B and hip-hop elements throughout the album, but rarely seamlessly. The thing is, he doesn’t have Legend’s pipes or a flow as polished as those of his rap counterparts. It makes you wish he focused on one style or the other instead of constantly and frustratingly switching back and forth.
Or better yet, he should just focus on his raps and drop the synth-infused R&B altogether. Why does every rapper think these verses, dripping with fake sounds and R&B sensibilities, add anything to the proceedings? They stop a song in its tracks, which is especially evident on the two inexplicably long and boring interludes, “Cameras/Good Ones Go” and “Marvin’s Room/Buried Alive.”
This is a particularly sad truth because when Drake gets a full head of steam on a rap verse, the album comes alive. Songs such as “Underground Kings” use Drake’s trademarked enunciating style from start to finish, and that’s what people are paying (or pirating) to hear. The album really gets going, as Drake says in the egotistical but engaging “Headlines,” when “the real is on the rise.”
Take Care is full of cameos, though some of them are downright bizarre. On the already lackluster “We’ll Be Fine,” Birdman shows up at the end and just talks. There’s no rapping involved, just him building “Drizzy” up and telling him to “take care of the business.” Small contributions from Rihanna, Rick Ross and Stevie Wonder are also pretty useless.
Collaborations are responsible for the album’s two best songs, however. Drake and Lil Wayne reunite for “HYFR” (the acronym is too dirty to spell out), which is sure to be the album’s party anthem. On “Make Me Proud,” Drake verbally spars with the firecracker Nicki Minaj, who comes close to upstaging him with her huge voice and personality.
Getting outshined on your own album is pretty embarrassing. So is releasing something that fails to distinguish itself from other (much better) hip-hop offerings.
Drake, take a little more care next time.
Verdict: Take Care is a step back for Drake, whose occasionally strong work is overshadowed by ineffective R&B, unnecessary cameos and a sense that this is just another generic hip-hop/R&B album.
diversions@umdbk.com
