Honestly, Never Mind: a long introspective journey. Beats sometimes Electro, sometimes downtempo, Honestly, Never Mind, Drake's 7th studio album pours out the same melancholy, with an emblematic nonchalance of the artist, from the beginning of his career until today. Surrounded by his team of producers from his stronghold of Toronto where he grew up and produced his first mixtapes, Noah 40 Shebib, Noel Cadastre and the prodigy of the afrohouse scene, the South African DJ Black Coffee, with whom he worked in 2015, on the title Get it together, the album plunges us into a moving introspective journey. Hymn to his hometown, reflections on the daily life of a rapper, quest for legitimacy, recognition, the artist opens up and reveals his flaws. He is vulnerable. The arrogance of his first titles gives way to the sincerity of his confidences, which he wants to leave as an imprint, his authenticity. Even if the album offers Dance titles, there are still lyrics that make you think.
The album of maturity
We become attached to the artist, like a passenger in his car speeding through the city of Toronto in a late night. All the pangs overwhelm us like bursts of impulses of life, love and urgency to freeze what we feel before death. Real and metaphorical death lurks like the sublimated break in the flagship title of the album Falling Back, whose clip accentuates the paradox between image and text. Drake has captured all the beauty of this moment when there is still the shadow of the one who has already moved on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOreUnGoIMg
Drake confirms his place as a leading artist
Drake depicts love in all its forms and at all stages, from attachment to drift. Sex is omnipresent, without complex, raw, without taboo. Down Hill talks about the break on a rhythm of finger snapping, the male choirs highlight the velvety lead voice like a whispered plea in the ear. Many hits like Dance among others are present on the album, some will delight gangsta rap purists, Love All feat with Jay-z, Wants and Needs feat with Lil Baby, Knife Talks feat with 21 Savage. Others will speak to fans of alternative rap. Drake combines modernity and musicality. We recognize the inimitable touch and style of Drake, which he has worked since his debut with his favorite producers in Toronto, Noah Shebib, winner of 2 Grammy Awards and Noel Cadastre. An afrobeat touch on electro dance prods from Black coffee, also winner of a Grammy Award. The rapper operates a tour de force. He fights to be the best at the risk of being dethroned, he fights for the well-being of his family. We find themes familiar to the artist and we feel his gaze on himself, his childhood, his parents, his time, heavy with wisdom and serenity. In addition to the feat of taking us from an electro universe with irresistible afrobeats to a downtempo rnb atmosphere, Drake hypnotizes us with his soft and indolent timbre. He pushes the cursor each time a little further with thoughts that hit us and stir our guts!
