If You're Reading This It's Too Late

It has now been five years since the release of If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, the album which is widely accepted as Drake’s best. This was a surprise drop on the night of February 13, 2015, with no announcement being made prior to the release. Drake released a short film named Jungle the night before, featuring snippets of songs on the album, such as “Know Yourself”. With the album being an ode to Toronto, it is what Astroworld is to Houston, what Good Kid, M.A.A.D City is to Los Angeles, and what 2014 Forest Hills Drive is to North Carolina. This album solidified Drake’s position in the hip hop scene, with him not being taken as seriously on previous albums due to making “pop rap”. Featuring PARTYNEXTDOOR, Lil Wayne, and Travis Scott, the album spanned 68 minutes, featuring production credits from close friends Boi-1da, Metro Boomin, and Noah “40” Shebib.

We start out with “Legend”, with PARTYNEXTDOOR setting the groove perfectly structuring a smooth but hard-hitting beat. The drums are what make this beat so special, and Drake’s voice fits it so perfectly and creates the vibe. The slow pacing allows Drake to be at his best, with him singing about running the city of Toronto. “If I die, I’m a legend” sums up the mindset he brings throughout the whole album, pressing on the gas and never stopping. It is the first time Drake has completely let us into his mind and soul, with there being no doubt of Drake proving himself anymore. The album provides the perfect balance between Drake rapping and his R&B skills, with each track standing out in its own way. There are almost no skips on this album, with the production being the best Drake has ever had.

The most exceptional track on the run from “Legend” to “Star67” is “Know Yourself”. It pays homage to Toronto and the grind it took to make it out of the 6. The sound is perfect on the track, with Drake truly showing us a vision of what he did to make it to his heights and what he had to do to make it out of Toronto. Life before fame and the doubt of others is highlighted in the lyrics of the song. Drake emphasizes this by saying, “Don’t fuck with them ni**as, they too irrational, woah.” He talks about how others thought he was delusional in terms of what he wanted to do with his life. Producer Noah “40” Shebib sets the mood with the beat switch, as Drake goes from singing slowly and calmly on the first half of the track to breaking out in an angrier tone while rapping about setbacks and how he managed to overcome them. The beat goes higher and quicker as Drake’s voice grows louder, providing us with a sense of high intensity. This is quite honestly the first song where it feels as if Drake completely raps about his past and what molded him into the person he is today.

PARTYNEXTDOOR is a big standout on this album, featured in the songs “Preach” and “Wednesday Night Interlude”. He creates a masterpiece on the hook of “Preach”, outshining Drake on the song as he boasts about liquor and women, while still managing to make it sound fresh. If there is one thing Drake is good at, it is recognizing the standouts of the R&B community and collaborating, giving the newer artists exposure. PARTYNEXTDOOR is no different, showcasing his singing ability on “Wednesday Night Interlude”, crooning, “Been a minute since we’ve slept together, gotta get myself together,” to kick off the vibe of the track. It’s a step in another direction from the rest of the album, fighting loneliness and insecurity in an album full of braggadocious bars about success.

Another breakout feature on the album is “Company”, featuring Travis Scott. Both songs are about the fear of loneliness, one of Drake’s favorite topics. He’s afraid to commit, thinking that no one loves him for who he is, but rejects the girl who truly loves him. It’s a story of regret and rejection, and the production does not disappoint, adding a layer of despair to the story. Travis is the antithesis of Drake in this tale, allowing his carnal desires to take over, rather than regretting not being with someone who wants him for who he is rather than what he has. While Drake is the mental aspect of the body in this track, talking about emotional desires of wanting a long-term partner, Travis is the physical embodiment, wanting a girl to fulfill his sexual desires for the night. Their parts are outlined by the beat switch, with the sad ambience in Drake’s part turning into a dark tone, perfect for Travis’s voice.

We end the album with “6 PM in New York”, Drake’s response to his critics. He throws shots at Tyga, calling the rapper out for dissing Drake in an interview with the magazine Vibe, where Tyga expressed his dislike and inability to get along with Drake. Drake has multiple lines in this song at Tyga, such as, “You need to act your age and not your girl’s age.” This is referring to Kylie Jenner, ex-girlfriend of Tyga, who was 17 at the time of the release of the album. This is a good track on its own, but as a whole, the song doesn’t seem to fit the vibe of the rest of the album. While “Wednesday Night Interlude” and “Company” share some kind of connection with the other tracks on the album, and are brilliant in their own ways, “6PM in New York” falls a bit flat compared to the other tracks and the narrative on the album. By the end of the album, the track doesn’t sound original, but seems as if it’s trying to emulate the sound of other songs on the album, such as “6 God” and “You & The 6”.

If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late is Drake’s most personal album, and that’s what makes it his best album. Specific memories, insecurities, and intense production bring out the best in him. While other albums had the feel of sounding commercialized, this is Drake going back to his lowest points and what he did to get out and make his name known. If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late is the auditory embodiment of the city of Toronto. We’re transported to a cloudy day in Toronto with Drake, with him taking us to specific spots of his time growing up in Toronto. Every track is a destination to another time and place in his life, every line being another addition of information. There is no one holding Drake back on this album, and that is what makes it truly realer than anything else he has ever put out.