Drake, reimagined

Drake. A household name around the world, and an artist to be heard for years to come. Released on Nov. 4, Drake and 21 Savage’s new album “Her Loss” is “the most relatable album ever,” according to Michael B. Jordan. 

As a longtime Drake listener, he accomplished things on the album that haven’t been seen for years. It includes throwback tracks such as “Privileged Rappers” and “Broke Boys” as nods back to Drake and 21 Savage’s early days when 2018’s “Sneakin” saw Drake and 21 first join forces.

The nostalgia continued with re-sampled vocals from Drake’s 2013 song “Come Thru” on “Hours In Silence,” with a somber chorus reminiscent of the sound from “Nothing Was the Same.” Lyrical continuity in the track furthers this familiar sound, creating a sense of repetition and familiarity.

“Her Loss” is a masterclass in seamless transitions. On “Rich Flex,” the melody often switches between 90’s nostalgia heard in the intro to R&B in Drake’s murmuring segue, and there are almost drill-esque hi-hats in the chorus and the track’s second half. The flow is equally as transient: from Young Nudy’s conversational lines in the intro and outro to 21 Savage’s raunchy lyrics.

The very next track, “Major Distribution,” follows this trend, and performs a 180 on its beat and throws in slapstick lines, but the subs don’t stop there, with controversial lyrics on “Circo Loco” taking swipes at artists like Kanye and Megan Thee Stallion over a Daft Punk sample of “One More Time.”

The samples play a big part in bridging these gaps, like in “Spin Bout U.” With vocals pulled from B.G.O.T.I. ‘s “Give Me Your Lov-N,” Drake breaks fourth walls between the samples and production with the line, “But just like that R&B group from the ’90s.” This self-awareness is a fantastic look for post -“Certified Lover Boy” Drake, who chose to lean into a cheesier style of his rapping and branch out of his old mold. 

As a whole, “Her Loss” by Drake can be seen as either fanservice or a step backward, to an older sound. A surplus of fans were outraged at the release of “Honestly, Nevermind.” Seen as a useless attempt to branch out to a sort of house music experimentation, the hit song “Jimmy Cooks” was truly the prelude to “Her Loss.” As an album, “Her Loss” is definitely a solid record, with tracks that are sure to make playlists. Still, it kept a new, yet familiar glow, and proved Drake as an adaptable artist capable of learning from his previous discography.