Now that Drake successfully broke the internet with the surprise album, “If You’re Reading This Itap Too Late,” we have a better perspective about the price of fame and the contractual riff with Cash Money.
Like many rap empires, all good things must come to an end. The imprint has been untouchable for the past few years, especially as and Nicki Minaj continued their reign on the pop/hip-hop charts. Since the release of Lil Wayne’s “Sorry 4 the Wait 2” was catapulted by a $51 Million lawsuit against Cash Money Records, the dirty laundry has been effectively aired out. The saga continued late last week with Drake’s surprise release of “If You’re Reading This Itap Too Late.” With the album, we have a better perspective about the price of fame and the contractual riff with Cash Money.
Thematically, “If You’re Reading This Itap Too Late” is a far cry from the gloomy gush found on “Nothing Was the Same.” There are no sad odes to strippers he couldn’t save, and even fewer places of trying to prove himself as a rapper in the grimy rap game. Notorious B.I.G.’s famous declaration about money and problems couldn’t ring more true than it does on “If You’re Reading This Itap Too Late.” The problems he faces as a superstar rapper are detailed with almost hilarious authority. He has to entertain more than one girl in his numerous homes and has to eat his pasta in the kitchen at V-Live to get a momentap peace.
He takes us to where he’s from without any of the frill of the flashing lights. We see Toronto through Drake’s eyes with the tracks sopping with Caribbean references, phrases of Jamaican patrois and the inclusion of other hometown heroes like PARTYNEXTDOOR. Drake’s muse and producer Noah “40” Shebib shows off the chemistry between the two by flipping muted samples from Timbaland’s production that add to the dark storytelling.
Not since the release of “So Far Gone” have we seen such an underground persona from Drake. He details paranoia with a provocative nature on par with Jay-Z’s “Can I Live,” and he’s moved on from being the Drake of four years ago. This isn’t the Drake you might know from his sad Internet memes. In fact, to use a symbolic moment from “Breaking Bad,” Drake Not only is he unafraid of taking risks and accepting challenges, he knows he’s got the heart and the talent to do what it takes to preserve his birthright as a legend in the game.
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Ru Johnson is an arts and culture music writer living in Denver. You can follow her on
