🌺🌺 More Life, New Sounds, Old Flows 🌺🌺

Drake has reinvented himself. He really is one of the greatest, but is he trying to hard to always find something new? Why can’t we have the same sound again and again, I wouldn’t be bothered if we had a Take Care styled album again. Then again, change is not always a bad thing, and that is what I can certainly say about this album.

I had expected a dull, flex flex album with a few dance tracks to keep the people happy. I mean that is what we have but it is different, it is so much more than Views. How you ask? Well it is because of the artists he has collaborated with, he’s brought together a mixture of different artists from different backgrounds, cultures, and different music genres. All in an effort to create something new and different but similar if you get what I mean. The collaborations are as follows: Sampha, Kanye West, 2 Chainz, Young Thug, Quavo, Travis Scott, and PARTYNEXTDOOR. This are all artists you’d be familiar with, but they aren’t the only collaborators on the album, some new faces for some are, South African House legend Black Coffee, up and coming R&B artist Jorja Smith, also man like Giggs, and finally his BBK bedrin Skeppy. He has brought all these guys and combined with them to create a banging album, that has so many levels. For me the album is really up there as one of the greats, I’ve listened to it now 6 times since it’s release on the 18th of March. It has 22 tracks, and I’m a busy lad so listening to it 6 times in the space of 72 hours is impressive. I felt like I needed to listen to it as many times as possible before writing about it, I am listening to it right now as I write it. The album is great, as the title says “new sounds, old flows” for me the album does present us with a new reinvented Drake with tracks like, Get It Together, Madiba Riddim, No Long Talk, Passionfruits. There are sounds that we have heard already with tracks like, Can’t Have Everything, Sacrifices, and Portland (that flute tune is so good in that song). Surprisingly, we also get the old old Drake, the Take Care Drake with the track Do Not Disturb. This for me is the best song on the album, I love it when Drake opens up and is honest with his fans. That is why we, and I fell in love with his music.

“Yeah, ducked a lot of spiteful moves

I was an angry yute when I was writin’ Views

Saw a side of myself that I just never knew I'll probably self-destruct if I ever lose, but I never do Steady doin' double shifts”

This is the Drake that I love. The whole sound of that track, it just takes me back to the Take Care. The sample used for the background is brilliant, combined with the trademark Drake beats it is just flawless. I have already listened to this song on it’s own so many times.

The inclusion of Jorja Smith and Black Coffee is one that surprised me. In the song that all three artists collaborate together, I just love it. It has that unique Black Coffee sound the rich South African house beats and the vocals from Jorja Smith are piercing and really make the song fantastic. I had no idea that he was into that, but Drake is always searching for all the hottest artists internationally and always wants to up his own level and game with the help of new artists. On the album Views we had Wizkid sample his track for One Dance. His Future collaboration album, and the many features he has had with Drake and his future projects with Bryson Tiller whom has risen dramatically last year.

Notable track mentions are: KMT, Passionfruit, Do Not Disturb, Get It Together, and Gylalchester, 4422, Glow, and Blem.

Drake gives us his trap side with the thunderous deep bass track Free Smoke, but the opening of track we hear the singer of group Hiatus Kaiyote sing the song ‘Building a Ladder’. The vocals are sublime, and beautifully gets us ready for this album. Then the whole complexity of the album changes with this South African vibe that he gives with the songs Passionfruit, Get It Together, and Madiba Riddim. However, before this we have that UK artists really taking over the album with Jorja Smith and Giggs whom both feature twice in the album the UK vibe is evident throughout the album but you really get hit with it in the second and fourth tracks in the album, and later on with Skepta's interlude and Giggs second feature on KMT. There is a little break up of the three different sounds with the rich feel good track Passionfruit, which is track three. Like I said there are so many levels to this album. Every song has its own sound and style. It reminds me of Kanye West’s album TLOP where every track on his album could stand on it’s own and was just brilliant. The Jamaican vibe is there as well for those that loved that new side to Drake, with the track Blem, the track repurposes the key components of pop dancehall, it’s breezy and playful.

On Drake’s 30th birthday, he made the special announcement of More Life, premiering three tracks from the project: “Two Birds, One Stone,” “Sneakin’” featuring 21 Savage, and “Fake Love.” In his explanation of More Life, he said:

“I’m off like mixtapes, I want to do a playlist. I want to give you a collection of songs that become the soundtrack to your life, so this More Life: The Playlist. Like I said, dropping in December. All original music from me. You might hear some tunes from the family on there. Just really excited. I had a great tour, I had a great summer. And most people would like go probably take a break, but for me I just want to get right back to it. Be with the people again.”

The album is Drakes 8th released album, the man is regarded as one of the best rappers to have ever been in the game, and there is no doubt that he did change the game when he entered it, back in 08 with his mixtape/album So Far Gone. He has come a long way, and we have seen so many sides to Drake. The tracks on this are without a doubt some of the best he has ever released, new sounds, old flows. The album is a 4.8/5 it really deserves that; he has brought us something that is bold mesmerising and visionary. The album of life. He has teased that he will be sharing something in 2018 so be on the look out. For now, enjoy this album because it is great, man dun good, bless man from the 6 🌺🌺.