If You're Reading This, Drake's Mixtape is Great

Rapper, singer and Degrassi alumnus Aubrey Drake Graham made waves on the Internet when he released his latest project, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, to an unsuspecting audience. 

Taking some plays from Beyoncé are we, Drake? 

However, he didn’t stay completely under the radar, as there were rumors of a new Drake mixtape to be released in January.  Well, IYRTITL finally made its way to hip-hop fans on Feb. 12, with 17 tracks.

IYRTITL is one of the best works Drake has put out thus far. While there are no apparent radio hits on the mixtape, Drake has delivered the most cohesive project of his career. Not too long, not too short, not too sappy, in an R&B sense, and not too aggressive, in a hip-hop sense. With IYRTITL, Drake has artfully mastered his style.

In IYRTITL, Drake has balanced lyricism with melody, something he has successfully attempted on previous albums. But this time, he effortlessly masters this feat. 

One of my favorite lyrics in the album comes from “No Tellin:” “Thinkin’ they lions and tigers and bears/I go huntin’/Put heads on my fireplace, oh my.” Of course, he doesn’t mean this in a literal sense but references the famous line from Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz to compare how other rappers might think of themselves as tough guys. With this line, Drake is here to remind rappers that they are not tough, as he could kill these rappers, lyrically. He actually states this to his mom of all people in “You & The 6,” which is meant as a tribute to his mother and Toronto: “I mean I kill 'em every time they do a song with me...”

In regards to melody, the two go-to songs are “Now & Forever” and “Jungle.” Here, Drake does what he does so well, and inadvertently, what he gets clowned for the most: showing his emotions. “Now & Forever,” a song about a relationship he wants out of, and “Jungle,” where Drake wants to make things right with a special lady and asks the real question: “Are we still good?”

Although there are no immediate hits, there are plenty of standout tracks on the mixtape. However, the first standout of the project is the first song, “Legend.”

As one can probably guess, Drake said that if he were to die, he would be remembered as a legend. “Legend” is slower, more melodic and more minimal than Nothing Was the Same’s, Drake’s previous album, introductory track, “Tuscan Leather,” but establish Drake’s view of himself as one of the biggest figures in the rap game, and well, as a legend.

The first quote-worthy song on the album, “Know Yourself,” brings the lyric, “Running through the six with my woes.” Six refers to 613, one of Toronto’s area codes. Toronto is Drake’s birthplace. The lyric is sure to be the subject of many Instagram captions, Facebook posts and tweets. The next YOLO? Maybe not, but it is sure to be somewhat annoying eventually.  

Another fan favorite on the album, “Madonna,” is one that I don’t particularly understand. The track is very different from anything Drake has ever done – he almost inaudibly mumbles throughout the hook. It is one of the shorter songs on the tape at two minutes and 57 seconds. In my opinion, Drake should have completely left the song on the tape. Other than comparing a girl to Madonna on the track, it has no value for the mixtape.

In comparison with his previous albums, IYRTITL doesn’t have many featured artists. Musician PartyNextDoor is featured on “Preach” and “Wednesday Night Interlude.” Drake’s mentor, Lil’ Wayne, is featured on “Used To” and rapper Travi$ Scott gives a verse to “Company.”

Although not an artist but heavily featured in the mixtape is Drake’s beloved Toronto. The songs, “6 God,” “6 Man” and “You & The 6,” mention Toronto in their titles. In “You & The 6” he gives credit not only to his mother for raising him but also to his city.

Houston also makes a relatively big appearance on the mixtape, especially this particularly funny line from “Company” referencing Houston hotels: “I'm posted at the Derek up on Westheimer/ Hit me when you're done your shift.”

New York is another city mentioned in the mixtape. There has been a “9AM in Dallas,” a “5AM in Toronto” and now we have a “6PM in New York.” Although this is the third song in the series, it will be remembered for the diss against rapper Tyga, who has called out Drake for being “fake.” Drake’s response: “I heard a lil’ lil’ homie talking reckless in Vibe/ That's quite a platform you chose, you should've kept it inside/ Oh, you tried/ It's so childish calling my name on the world stage/ You need to act your age and not your girl's age.” This is a reference to Tyga’s relationship with reality star and sometimes model Kylie Jenner.

Ouch. Only time will tell when and how Tyga will respond. Or if he even has a career after that lyrical blow.

Drake does what Drake does best in IYRTITL. A nice combination of lyricism and melody, IYRTITL will probably be talked about for months to come.

At least until Drake’s fourth official album, Views From the 6, is released.