Jake Mahr
Theme Editor
While rolling in gold and being in the limelight may seem like a flawless way to live, the stars of today’s generation are often put under constant pressure to be perfect, which isn’t as pleasurable as it sounds.
Drake’s second album, “Take Care,” exhibits his talent and evolution in the hip hop industry as he tries to portray this message. He strays away from the beaten path by avoiding the typical sounds and themes of girls, drugs and sex.
Originally known for his role as Jimmy Brooks in the television series “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” Aubrey Drake Graham started his music career in June 2009, when he signed a record deal with Lil’ Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment.
His first album, “Thank Me Later,” released on June 15, 2010, was an immediate success and quickly ascended the charts. Since then, he has collaborated with several artists including, Lil’ Wayne, Kanye West and Eminem, and has been nominated for several Grammy Awards.
On this new album, Drake succeeds at separating himself from the rest of the crowd, and from his first album by changing the amount of force he puts behind his rapping. Instead of filling the album with intense battle-rap savagery like he did on his first, Drake softens his voice and slows down the tempo on most of the tracks to create a very halcyon atmosphere.
By deliberately slowing down the album, Drake is able to demonstrate his astounding ability to compose opposite environments. On his premier album, Drake shows a rougher side that is heard through his antagonizing, powerful rapping, yet this new album allows Drake be more amiable.
The effect of decelerating the entire album enables Drake to develop the melancholic mood that travels throughout the tracks so smoothly. The rapper seems to save his heavy-duty run off for the song “Lord Knows,” featuring Rick Ross, which is an ample track constructed around a large chorus. This song helps provide a break in the tranquility of the album.
Although the rapping in the album is monochromatic and really quite depressing, Drake did a remarkable job at choosing the guest artists that appeared on the album. The artists, including Nicki Minaj, Rihanna and Andre 3000, help separate parts of the songs from the weary disposition that is asserted so well.
The motif expressed in the album, the downfalls of being a star, is articulated so effectively that the listener begins to commiserate and acquire pity for the billionaire. In the album, Drake’s complaints are felt rather than heard. The listener fosters the great sense of sorrow that Drake intended from the way he has changed his tone, helping establish the forlorn climate.
One of the more pleasing aspects in this album is the appropriateness of the lyrics. He keeps the drug and sex references to a minimum and focuses on moral aspects. In the song “Make Me Proud,” featuring Nicki Minaj, Drake builds the song around a girl who has stayed strong despite difficult times.
“Take Care,” is an engaging album that allows the listener to take a second and ponder the quality of life for the stars that are trapped in the public eye. The discouraging, heartbreaking feelings put into the album are assembled in a way that complements the sorrowful effect Drake wanted. The album is now available in stores nationwide and for Internet download.
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