Album Review: Drake is Searching for Revenge All 'Summer Sixteen' with New Album "Views"
/(Young Money/Republic Records)
Drake has released his new album, shortened from Views from the 6 to simply Views, late last night. This album has been highly anticipated not only because Drake is a well-known, well-liked rapper in the hip-hop realm, but also because his single “Summer Sixteen” included lyrics hyping up the value of his new music. He raps, “All summer sixteen, playin’ dirty not clean… Lookin’ for revenge all summer sixteen.” Though this album certainly brings the sexual coolness that makes Drake able to play with pop queens such as Rihanna in her song “Work,” Views also creates an introspective view on his undoubted success derived from a humble upbringing as a Toronto native.
In addition to Drake’s twenty-track album, he also includes huge stars as features on multiple tracks. Future, Rihanna, and PARTYNEXTDOOR are all artists that add to his album without overshadowing the unique-sounding rapper. In general, the album directly parallels Drake’s sound that has made him famous: it’s light and smooth while still maintaining quick and witty rap lyrics that rise to the surface of every track. Songs like “Weston Road Flows” describes a humble beginning for the rap star that verifies his relentless ego that pervades his music now. Though the hip-hop genre is filled with proud ego, Drake argues through this song that the hard work put in along the way is the reason it should be rewarded. Furthermore, “Grammys” featuring Future includes like such as “I pull up in yachts so big that they try to hit me with boat fines OVO a gold mine… but I'm going to go no time… hall of fame, hall of fame.” This is the cocky contrast to the explanation in “Weston Road Flows,” describing the beginning versus the current luxurious lifestyle.
Drake also includes songs on the album like “Childs Play” that is an extremely witty insult song to a girl that lightens the mood of Views. The following lyrics are in only one verse of the song that accurately describes the brilliant yet cold attitude Drake ensues to the female subject of the song. “Why you gotta fight with me at Cheesecake? You know I love to go there, say I'm actin' light skinned, I can't take you nowhere. This a place for families that drive Camrys and go to Disney. They don't need to know all of our business. You wildin', you super childish; you go to CVS for Kotex in my Bugatti. I took the key and tried to hide it, so you can't drive it, and put on mileage, then you find it, awkward silence.” He compares the relationship and her actions to child’s play; it’s the best way to describe immaturity between two people in reflection of a relationship.
In total, Views is the epitome of Drake’s artistic identity to present day. The extensive twenty-song track list includes icy sensuality, witty attitude, and insight into his journey towards the current pinnacle of his career. Though Drake’s tendency towards lighter, smoother rap pervades the tracks, his also includes tracks with features such as Future to highlight harder, louder rap to even out the album’s tone. Fans should be satisfied, even after “Summer Sixteen” and its hype, at Views’s well-rounded sound.