Coming back from the dead, Drake drops his fifth studio album “Scorpion”. This double-sided tape comes fresh off the L’s in the beef with Pusha T. Prior to this one-sided bout, Drake was on a golden streak with singles(Nice For What, God’s Plan & Look Alive) and Duppy lining us up nicely for proper a Views followup. With Scorpion, subliminals, Ex’s and Family Fueds is what I expect from Drizzy on this.
I’m not even going to waste any more words let me get to it there are some “Scary Hours” ahead at 25 tracks.
A-Side
1. Survival
Survival, a funny title for the opener, its like he knows going into this he is on the backfoot. Real reflective to the beef with Diddy, Meek and most recently Pusha T. This song isn’t touching Tuscan Leather though, let me keep going.
2. Nonstop
Ok I like the pickup but I cant take these songs seriously at all, did BlocBoy JB write this? This is a rip off of Look Alive even down to the production. I’ve realized the modern-day Drake does a lot of recreating when he notices what works opposed to innovating.
3. Elevate*
This is sounding like some Godly production. Don’t get it twisted and think this is a soft song, this is extremely tunnel visioned. I really think only Drake can make you want to turn up and pray at the same time. This will be one for my loop song list.
4. Emotionless*
The stuff he talks about on this song coupled with the production make this moving and direct at the same time. Fed up and angry, it’s almost like this was a huge weight on his shoulders prior. The way he interlinks social media validation and why he doesn’t broadcast his child to the world so openly is so real. This hits home.
I wasn’t hidin’ my kid from the world
I was hidin’ the world from my kid
From empty souls who just wake up and look to debate
Until you starin’ at your seed, you can never relate
5. God’s Plan
5. I’m Upset
The first time I heard this I was 100% not a not a fan of it. It’s not that bad hearing it again now, still not outstanding though. I think this ATL flow Drizzy is might be growing on me.
7. 8 Out of 10
The old school 9 am Dallas Drizzy is back on this, the flow is a perfect pocket. This is almost a direct response to both Kanye and Pusha aswell. He’s letting GOOD know he’s letting them off easy and be the GOOD guy(see what I did there?). The Plies segment is a masterstroke as well as it links right into the narrative of the song.
Kiss my son on the forehead then kiss your ass goodbye
As luck would have it, I’ve settled into my role as the good guy
I guess luck is on your side
8. Mob Ties*
This is very nice, Quavo and Travis must’ve had some behind the scenes though with this one. I will give the boy his credit since he started collabs with these guys moments like this occasionally come out. He ain’t with the fake love basically is what he’s saying.
9. Can’t Take a Joke
This might have to be my new alarm clock it’s got a vibe of “I’m the sh*t and what”. He would never do it but a video I can vision, which is in KOD(King of Diamonds) with hella cheeks clapping.
10. Sandra’s Rose
As we get closer to end of this side I’m trying to listen out for the cohesive narrative. So far it all seems consistent with a “don’t watch me you don’t know me, know yourself” attitude. Songs like this remind me of the NWTS album where the line between paranoia and awareness are thin.
11. Talk Up f. JAY-Z
I never thought I’d see a Drake and JAY on the same song again after their constant jabs. It’s almost like they scripted the beef for attention purposes. This, however, is one of their worst collabs, Pound Cake and Light Up are untouchable classics. This must’ve been a last minute entry with Jay mentioning the tragic death of talented and controversial artist XXXTentacion.
Y’all killed X and let Zimmerman live, shhh, s-streets is done – JAY Z
12. Is There More*
He really is ending this like its the end of the album, impressive I didn’t expect that. This is Drake in his question time mode, who really asks these level of questions of themselves like this? It sounds like More Than A Woman is playing in reverse. This one of my favorites so far, the questions he asks are so relatable in places. RIP Aaliyah.
Is there more to life than goin’ on trips to Dubai?
Yachts on the 4th of July, G5 soarin’ the skies
Is there more to life than all of these corporate ties
And all of these fortunate times
And all of these asses that never come in proportionate size?
Am I missin’ somethin’ that’s more important to find?
Like healin’ my soul, like family time
B-Side
Are you still with me then? or nah haha, let me crack on with the B-Side!
1. Peak
Now, this is that dark Toronto cruise music from Take Care era Drizzy. This is a complete contrast to the A-side of the project. Was funny hearing the Stefflon Don sample but guess circles back round to the origins of why he’s using the word Peak.
2. Summer Games
Ok, this is some experimental electronic production, the energy injection at 1.30 is cool. The song is layered to build on itself, some high-school summer journey vibe. Ok, next.
3. Jaded
Now, this is much less of a reach than the first two. I think we got Ty Dolla $ign and PND on the adlibs in the back by the sounds of it. The song feels like its taking you in and out of focus, a proper throwback feel.
4. Nice for What
I’m sure this has to be the same sample of Draft Day maybe he couldn’t get clearance at the time. Nice for What is coming from a more positive place so it makes sense why he’d go for the cherry again. Uplifting banger for the females sampling one of the greatest of all time, how can you go wrong?
5. Finesse
The tempo really is R&B all the way through isn’t it? I don’t know how much lovey-dovey Drake I can hack.
6. Ratchet Happy Birthday
For an R&B song to catch me from this side it’s going to have to be amazing. This is just some cool background music, its actually boring.
7. That’s How You Feel
Finally, some flow which is half-hearted and asleep. That Nicki segment is something else, gives the song a punch. He got one with this one for sure the rap/song hybrid is my wave. I expect to hear Drake featured on the Queen album from Nicki.
I know you like to drink ’til the sun up
Grind ’til you come up
Work all winter, shine all summer
Ride for your brother
You die for your mother
Keep that shit a hunna
8. Blue Tint
Ok wow now this was unexpected, super Hendrix coming through late in the day with flavor. These two have had good chemistry from the time G, I need a WTTBA2. This is solid on all fronts maybe a Future verse would’ve been nice in the breakdown/bridge part.
9. In My Feelings
How’s this turning up like this on this half of the project? this is some old school Hot Boys bounce, with hints of To The Max. The sample game is easily the best hands down on any Drake project, this is ridiculously good. This cant be the vibe of the next song surely?
10. Don’t Matter to Me ft Michael Jackson
Before I even listen to this let me get a few thoughts off my head; how did Drake get clearance for this? how long has he had it in the stash? Now to the song itself. This song doesn’t disappoint, despite MJ’s passing almost 10 years ago it still sounds very fresh. It’s not overproduced or too cluttered its got the Hold On, We’re Going Home vibe. Makes me think back to the collab album Drake had with Aaliyah, so sad that will never be released.
11. After Dark ft Static Major & Ty Dolla $ign*
Drizzy just keeps switching the vibes, how have we ended up in the late 90s-00s era?. The Static Major section of the song just gives it that funk. This is one of my favorite ones so far overall, you cant get any more chill.
12. Final Fantasy
He’s back in his calculated Picasso with the Pen flow, 4 pm In Calabasas Drizzy.
13. March 14
This is the songs everyone has been waiting. Drake is putting it all out in the open about the challenges with his son’s mother and the appreciation for the blessing. This is a deep one especially the breakdown, very solid album NWTS esque.
I was so let down with the lackluster Views album and like many fans wanted a Take Care 2. What we got was cool for a collaboration album, but it wasn’t a Drake album. This left a vacancy, there was just too much going on with More Life and Drake was more like the executive producer than the leading artist.
Despite how OVO play it this album is 25 tracks to manipulate the streaming somehow like what everyone and their dog is doing nowadays. That aside, there are actually two separate stories going on. One is a concoction of not giving a sh*t about anyone, stomping his territory(e.g 8 out of 10) and being paranoid/super alert. The second is talking directly to the females and celebrating having them in his life as he always does.
I can’t fault it too much, there’s something for everyone(slow, turn-up and retrospective etc). Although, there are about 5 misses with the JAY feature being one of them. Apart from that, it isn’t just a ton of tracks to make up numbers. I think he’s done enough on his own now he needs to push the other members of the crew for a while, that’s how he’s going to build that higher level respect #FreePartyNextDoor #ImUPSET.
Top 5 Tracks(this was very hard): Elevate, Mob Ties, Emotionless, Is There More, and After Dark
Rating: 8.6/10
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