We discovered him on mixtapes and became believers when he rose up from underground and dominated the radio, collaborating with just about every R&B and hip–hop artist that is considered “hot.” He landed the number one spot on Billboard within one week of the release of his first studio album, Thank Me Later, in 2010. And now Canadian rapper Drake has another accomplishment: his sophomore LP, Take Care.
It's 17 tracks of light–a–candle, sit–in–the–dark and zone–out music with head nodding beats and collaborations with Lil’ Wayne, Rihanna, Rick Ross, Andre 3000 and the Weekend. Once again, Drake resists the hardcore “resident rapper” stereotype. Take Care sounds less like hip–hop and more like a cross between R&B and pop. Drake uses his falsetto to sing over soft string instruments. He raps slowly and poetically over piano chords. Drums patter in the background to add variation to the otherwise somber melodies and computer generated sound effects. Drake even collaborates with powerhouse Stevie Wonder, who closes the song “Doing It Wrong” with a seductive and relaxing harmonica solo, transporting the listener into what feels like a dimly lit jazz club.
A few upbeat songs dot the album, though even these don't fall for cliches either. The title track, “Take Care,” featuring Rihanna, is a dance song with a hint of the Caribbean. Drake glides from singing to rapping as the piano and drums speed and slow. It abruptly switches from disco to tribal as a voice chants words over a fist pumping, constant base. Then, Rihanna returns with her flavor, singing the chorus.
Throughout the album Drake sprinkles recollections of the women he let get away and those he will go back for after he matures. Maybe it's his mom or aunt he sensitively speaks of in the song “Look What You’ve Done for Me.” Regardless of who these women are, they're responsible for the album’s confessional ballads about family and love that serve as insights or anthems for any boy who is becoming a man.
In songs like “Over My Dead Body,” “Underground Kings” and “The Ride,” Drake talks about what he has done to overcome his personal struggles and make a name for himself in the music industry. He doesn't dwell on regret or negativity. He also dismisses the disses from those who don’t believe in him, instead drawing attention to his expectations for the future.
Take Care is centered around audience awareness. Drake recognizes what his fans need and want to hear. Then he reveals things about himself to which they can relate. Drake is “taking care” of his listeners by sharing his knowledge and experiences that can teach us lessons about our own lives. On the title track Rihanna sings, “If you let me, here’s what I’ll do: I’ll take care of you. I’ve loved and I’ve lost.” That one line is the album’s purpose in a nutshell.
