Take Care- Review

Reviews often refer to Drake's sophomore album as "moody," or "dark." Which is true, as he goes deeper into his inner conflicts involving fame and its burdens, but I would argue that the album is more refined and mature, more so than is being talked about. Slow crooning tracks, which make up half of the album, display the young artists growing versatility in R&B and the emerging Toronto style. Tracks like "Practice," "The Real Her," "Crew Love," and "Over My Dead Body" present this "new" sound and style with clear definition. This direction is indicative of Drake's rite of passage as an artist, and is defining itself as a distinctive T-dot sound, especially with features from The Weeknd. (Read Drake on his own sound here).

That's not to say that the old Drake is completely gone. Decisive, hard-hitting raps still form the body of the album. The verses in "Headlines," "HYFR," "We'll Be Fine," and "Lord Knows," will keep Drake-the rapper in the same realm that Jay-Z, Kanye, and Wayne now occupy. As a lyricist, Drake is unmatched. 

Drake's progression as an artist is clearly evident in this album. With the album's distinctive sound and emotional content, I argue that he is growing in maturity more than Wayne and Jay-Z had in their young careers. The third album could prove this. Although this may not be the best album of the year, it is a major stepping-stone in Drake's artistic growth, and I'm glad to witness it.

We give Take Care a 9.0 out of 10.