At 29 years old, Drake has lived what sounds like many lives. From Degrassi child star to mixtape Drake and now Toronto rap mogul, the self-proclaimed 6 God offered his fourth album Views on Apple Music as well as a sit-down with Beats 1’s Zane Lowe. He reminisces on his ex girls, next girls and his world in Toronto. Here’s a primer of what to expect from each cut on Views.
1. Keep the Family Close
“It’s cold out there” Street noise and horns follow. Drake reflects on his inner circle with ocean-deep thought. “Let’s just be friends/ Friends I don’t have any more … How do you not check on me when things go wrong?/ Always saw you for what you could have been,” he croons. Later, he says, “You’re supposed to put your pride aside and ride for me/ Guess it wasn’t time/ You went and chose a side that wasn’t mine.” *Insert chin stroke emoji*
2. 9
With a mixed bag of beatsmiths including his go-to Noah “40” Shebib, Boi-1da and Brian Alexander Morgan, Drake reminisces on his good fortune (brand deals, handouts, loyalty he doesn’t have to pay for) and brags about turning his native 6 upside down, “it’s a 9 now.”
3. U With Me?
Waves crash in on the Kanye West-produced beat (40 was also a co-producer) before opening the floodgate about his relationship status. While the rapper/singer who claims he “made a living out of reminiscing” may have a girl “sponsored by Audemars” who checks him when his time’s off but he seeks validation elsewhere by asking his late-night pal, “Is you with me or what?”
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4. Feel No Ways
OVO signee Jordan Ullman of Majid Jordan hits the boards as producer of the groovy R&B number, which finds Drake trying to evade the drama and singing, “I stopped listening to things you say because I feel no ways.”
5. Hype
Boi-1da, Nineteen85 and The Beat Bully triple team this menacing beat that find Drizzy chucking the peace sign to “the hype.”
6. Weston Road Flows
“WRF” samples Mary J Blige’s 1994 “Mary’s Joint” before sounds of a lighter flicker and he pens a note to a homie back from the the days he couldn’t afford a pizza as he rhymes from Weston Road in the TO.
7. Redemption
The rapper seeking revenge on “Summer Sixteen” goes on a word hunt (he repeats “I’m searchin’ for these words”) and settles on “Redemption,” a note about the lack of commitment in his love life. “Relationships slowin’ me down, they slow down the vision,” he offers before eventually asking, “Who’s gonna save me when I need savin’?”
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8. With You (feat. Partynextdoor)
“It’s about us right now, girl where you going” OVO Sound’s PND sings while Drizzy stays put, “mixing vodka and emotions” for an emo happy hour.
9. Faithful (feat. Pimp C & DVSN)
Featuring an Amber Rose sample, bars from the late Pimp C and the third OVO cameo from Drake’s alt-R&B duo DVSN, Track No. 9 finds the album’s headliner gassing up his lady before laying it down.
10. Still Here
The bouncy Daxs and 40-produced track features Drizzy getting his Toronto woes in formation. If you ain’t from the 6, you may exit.
11. Controlla (feat. Popcaan)
The previously leaked dancehall jam brings the island vibes and also features a Beenie Man sample.
12. One Dance (feat. Wizkid & Kyla)
Currently grinding at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, Drake’s WizKid and Kyla-assisted collaboration is an instant wine (the dance, not the red or white kind) magnet.
13. Grammys (feat. Future)
“Tell me how you really feel/ Tell me how you really feel,” taunts Drake on “Grammys” (co-produced by 40, Cardo, Southside and Yung Exclusive) as he teams with What a Time to Be Alive collaborator and future Summer Sixteen tourmate Future.
14. Childs Play
Drake isn’t shy about his reputation as a lady’s man or that he hates fights at the Cheesecake Factory.
15. Pop Style
Though previously released as a bundle with “One Dance,” the now-featureless rap track gets a facelift as Drake scraps the previously featured Throne tandem, Jay Z and Kanye West.
16. Too Good (feat. Rihanna)
The pop-leaning jam reunites “Work” duo Drake and Rihanna, whose chemistry feels as good as the song’s title.
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17. Summers Over Interlude
The smooth and dreamy sequence provides a short and sweet intermission.
18. Fire & Desire
Drake is 2 for 2 in the R&B sample game. This time, he pays homage to Brandy’s 1994 “I Dedicate (Pt. 1). “Should I cut these other girls out of my life,” he asks out loud before stating the obvious. “You a real ass woman and I like it.”
19. Views
In comparison to his last two R&B samples, Drake digs through the crates 10 years back and grabs The Winans’ 1984 classic “The Question Is” before leaving it all on the mic for the grand finale.
20. Hotline Bling
The viral cellphone ditty appears as a bonus track.