Drake’s newest album, “Nothing Was the Same,” does not have a misleading title. On tracks like “Connect” and “Hold On, We’re Going Home,” he shows off a newfound vocal confidence that sounds mature and in control. This voice translates well to his rapping, too, as he goes line–for–line with Jay–Z on “Pound Cake” and spits vicious rhymes for six minutes on intro song “Tuscan Leather.” There are some missteps on the more shallow rap songs, like “305 To My City” and “Worst Behavior,” but overall the album delivers. As he declares on the DJ Khaled–featured track “No New Friends,” Drake really is “the leader of the new school.”
Grade: A– Download: “Furthest Thing” Sounds best when: You need a quick confidence boost before going out Saturday night
