The undeniable sound of his soulful voice has whipped concert audiences across the country into a frenzy as Drake and his band, The Big Fire, raise the roof and summon spirits to life onstage. I’m still hungry for more, and Certified Lover Boy couldn’t come soon enough.To listen to Drake White’s music is to fully experience the soul and rhythm of his upbringing in the Appalachian foothills of Northeastern Alabama. I got pieces of classic Drake with some new flows and ideas mixed in, not to mention the accompanying features which exceeded my expectations.Īlthough I’m not blown away, Scary Hours 2 accomplishes its goal in setting up for the next big thing from the Toronto rapper. In the end, I’m overjoyed to have new Drake music in my headphones - and if the new album can match the energy on this brief EP, we’re in for a treat. Portland rapper Wynne took a turn freestyling over the instrumental herself. The NBA team Milwaukee Bucks posted a video of Giannis Antetokounmpo enjoying some lemon pepper wings during an interview. The song also seems to have inspired people in different ways.
He reflects on his success, considering his origins, and provides insight on what it’s like going to parent-teacher conferences as a superstar. I prefer the authenticity way more than the typical meaningless boasts. We actually hear Drake get a little personal during his frank, if lengthy, verse. Could Drake be ready to bury the hatchet and put together some stellar music with West?Ī lush sample supports the pleasant backing for the closing track “Lemon Pepper Freestyle,” which has Rick Ross give a characteristically dense verse before Drake takes the spotlight. What really stuck out to me was the bar from his first verse: “Yeah, I probably should go link with Yeezy, I need me some Jesus.” Drake and famed hip-hop artist Kanye West have a famous and public beef, stemming from their competition as some of the industry’s leading performers, among other issues. These instrumentals do nicely to aid Lil Baby’s incredible contribution where Drake’s own verses fall short. It’s catchy, easy to sing along with, and dripping with swagger. It’s already one of my favorite features from the Atlanta artist, and he certainly steals the show.ĭrake presents one of his classic choruses, his smooth voice floating over the laid-back instrumentals. Lil Baby absolutely stunned me as he dished out bar after bar of ceaseless, braggadocious rap. The instrumental is vibrant and moody, fluttering melodies washing over resonant bass tones. The biggest highlight from the new drop is “Wants and Needs.” If Certified Lover Boy sounds anything like this track, we’ll be getting another classic. Drake’s original vocals don’t add much else, besides too many “OKs.” He raps nothing new and can’t seem to stop talking about his Virgil Abloh watch. The track is so derivative that the producer Blaccmass tweeted an unofficial version of the beat with Carti’s vocals from “ILoveUIHateU” overtop.
BACK TO BACK DRAKE VOCALS ONLY FULL
The beat, full of fuzzy synths and an attacking bass, sounds like a throwaway from Playboi Carti’s recent Whole Lotta Red. “What’s Next” is honestly outshined by the latter two tracks and fails to grab my attention. Rick Ross provides the introductory verse on “Lemon Pepper Freestyle,” setting the stage for Drake’s introspective bars. Lil Baby is in peak form on “Wants and Needs,” delivering a verse that proves why he deserves $100,000 for a feature. From his collab album with Future to bringing The Weeknd out of obscurity, Scary Hours 2 is his latest exercise in teamwork.
Not only is he undeniably one of hip-hop’s most popular artists, but Drake also finds a way to bring out the best in collaborators. Drake even wore a sweatshirt promoting the upcoming album in the music video for “What’s Next.” In the video, various scenes, from the airport to the aquarium, show Drake singing along and flexing the luxuries afforded by his success. The original Scary Hours appeared several months before 2018’s LP Scorpion, and I’m hoping that the sequel means Certified Lover Boy is right around the corner.