NBA Youngboy is being released from jail after his judge granted conditional bond release (House Arrest in Utah with Military Guards). - HipHop | HipHop Channel

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NBA Youngboy is being released from jail after his judge granted conditional bond release (House Arrest in Utah with Military Guards). - HipHop

NBA Youngboy is being released from jail after his judge granted conditional bond release (House Arrest in Utah with Military Guards). - HipHop

NBA Youngboy is being released from jail after his judge granted conditional bond release (House Arrest in Utah with Military Guards).

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 02:14 PM PDT

Harry Mack does freestyle for guy’s fiancé who passed away

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 09:32 AM PDT

Aminé announces new single 'Charmander' dropping Monday 25 October

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 12:02 PM PDT

[DISCUSSION] Drake and the Art of Album Intros

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 08:09 AM PDT

Disclaimer: I'm just a guy who grew up in the Drake/Kendrick/J. Cole era of hip hop who enjoyed 'Certified Lover Boy' and likes talking about music. Take my opinions here with however much salt you like, and read on if you enjoy music thinkpieces.

With the release and lukewarm reception of Drake's 6th studio album, 'Certified Lover Boy', Drake and his camp have come under fire for what many are calling a string of uninspired releases, backed up by relatively mediocre review scores from popular online music review sites like Pitchfork for the back half of his studio album discography (Views, Scorpion, and CLB all received scores under a 7, along with 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes', though that one's a mixtape). Contrast this with Drake's earlier album scores (8.4 for 'Thank Me Later', 8.6 for both 'Take Care' and 'Nothing Was The Same', and an 8.3 for 'If You're Reading This It's Too Late', though again, a mixtape), and it would be easy to call the past half-decade the beginning of a "fall-off" for Drake, and I wouldn't blame anyone who did. Between the difficulties that come with maintaining a fresh sound through 15 years of 6 studio albums, 7 mixtapes, and 4 EPs, and the recent trend in the music culture to make albums as long as possible to take advantage of streaming platforms and numbers, listening to a Drake project all the way through can admittedly become harder and harder with each subsequent attempt. However, I'm not here to defend Drake's discography. I'm here today to talk about Drake's album intros, and hopefully by the end of this, show you why CLB is anything but uninspired (at least for the first 5 minutes and 36 seconds).

With that, let's dive into the intros off each of the 6 studio albums, starting with 'Fireworks' off Drake's 2010 Studio Debut 'Thank Me Later'.

Fireworks is aptly named, starting the song and album with a literal bang as fireworks go off in the background of a piano melody so clean, they're the second most beautiful "Keys" on the record.

"Money just changed everything

I wonder how life without it would go

From the concrete who knew that a flower would grow

Lookin' down from the top and it's crowded below

My fifteen minutes started an hour ago"

Coming off of the recent successes of So Far Gone and a signed deal with arguable GOAT rapper Lil Wayne, Drake immediately comes into this record letting us know how his life has changed as a result of the money and hard work. It's only been a year since that mixtape's release, but he already finds himself climbing to the top of the rap game, and he knows his fame isn't fleeting. This is the first glimpse we get of Drake's more braggadocious side that we come to know well in later installments, but it quickly fades as he moves into letting us know about certain struggles his kind of success brings. He talks about wanting the truth from others, and learning to deal with haters for the first time. He's approaching the top, but there's a dream he's still chasing, so until he gets there, he'll enjoy this success with Wayne and show the world what he's got.

"All I see is fireworks

Taking off like fireworks

Taking off like—Oh"

Alicia Keys then comes in, bringing Drake's feelings to life. His career is taking off like fireworks, and it's only up from here until he can inevitably go out with a proverbial bang.

"​​I could tell it wasn't love, I just thought you'd fuck with me

Who could've predicted Lucky Strike would have you stuck with me

Damn, I kept my wits about me luckily

What happened between us that night? It always seems to trouble me"

Drake then comes back in for verse 2, introducing us to the 'soft/corny' Drake we all know and love. Here, the fireworks are the intensity and eventual blowup of a failed relationship, a common theme we'll see in Drake's music even to this day. Rumors of this verse being about singer Rihanna (since she and Drake were first spotted at the Lucky Strike bowling alley mentioned in this verse) give this track more nostalgic weight, looking back on what could have been for both of their careers and personal lives had something not fizzled out there.

"Everythin' the same but it feels different

My dad called me up knowing that I still listen

And he's still got his foot out, guilt tripping

It's been years though, I just learn to deal with it"

Verse 3 introduces us to Drake's family. From this verse alone, we get a sense that Drake's father was absent for some time, and his mother needed help that Drake couldn't give her until his recent successes, something he is now very proud of. However, despite the money, Drake also realizes he can't give his mother everything, as she expresses her loneliness from being unable to make her marriage work. Drake comments on a trend of failed marriages in society, revealing that as a personal fear he has for his own love life, and another reason that he feels he needs to succeed in life, so he can find a good girl and make a relationship work.

This introduction leads us into the rest of Thank Me Later which, like all of Drake's albums, went on to reach #1 on the charts in both the US and Canada, and would be followed up only 17 months later by Drake's 2nd studio album and my personal favorite, 'Take Care', opening with 'Over My Dead Body'.

"How I'm feeling, it doesn't matter

'Cause you know I'm okay"

Keeping in theme with a female feature on the opening track, this one starts with a haunting chorus sung by Canadian singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk, who was not the only Canadian feature to put in work on this album (The Weeknd's all over this thing, a story and analysis for another day). Chantal's crooning over some (you guessed it) piano keys sets up the tone of the rest of the album, and again acts as a mouthpiece for Drake's own thoughts of being at the top, worrying about fake friends and lovers, and keeping the success he's garnered so far.

"I think I killed e'rybody In the game last year,

man, fuck it, I was on though"

Drake once again comes in swinging, this time with even more to brag about. Thank Me Later peaked at number 1, and there was no reason to believe the story this time around would be any different. The confidence is at an all time high for the boy, and we begin to notice a shift in the way he views life. He's spending more time at strip clubs and bars, getting attention from dancers, free shots from strangers, paying 6 figures in taxes. Drake has 'made it' and it seems like whatever dream he was chasing in Fireworks has been realized here.

"Are these people really discussing my career again?

Asking if I'll be going platinum in a year again?

Don't I got the shit the world wanna hear again?

Don't Michael Jordan still got his hoop earring in?"

It's around this point in the song we start to see a new development for Drake; expectations. Thank Me Later was a smash success, and Drake now has expectations placed on him to follow that up with similar impact. Drake is confident he has what it takes to go back-to-back, but if he's not worried about these pressures of performing to a standard he inadvertently set for himself, he's at least well aware they exist. He then goes on to talk about how he's not worried about other rappers taking his spot, because nobody is as good as him, and they can hate all they want because they're just jealous. A notion that sounds childish at face value, but really, Drake's just being honest here. It's amusing now to look back at this persona he gave us and see just how big of an artist he became during this album run. "Untouchable" is beginning to feel like an understatement.

"My city love me like Mac Dre in the Bay

Second album, I'm back paving the way

The backpackers are back on the bandwagon

Like this was my comeback season back, back in the day"

Many would call this album the start of Drake's run as Toronto's international ambassador. He makes a concerted effort to work with Canadians on this record, and his city loves him for putting them on the map musically. Drake aside, nowadays it's hard not to mention a Toronto artist when talking about modern hip hop & R&B, and you could argue Drake is the biggest reason for that. In contrast with Fireworks, this song sees Drake striving to put on for others now that he's already on himself, and sets up the rest of the album as a showcase for Canada's finest (Chantal, The Weeknd, Illangelo, Kromatik, T-Minus, and Doc Mckinney all had their hands on this project). He's shown the world what he has to offer, now he can show off where he's from as well.

Also…"shout out to asian girls, let the lights dim sum". I laugh Every. Single. Time.

Fast forward 2 years and another chart topping album and sold out tour later, and we finally get to hear many peoples' favorite Drake intro, 'Tuscan Leather', off his 3rd studio album, 'Nothing Was The Same'.

"Comin' off the last record

I'm gettin' twenty million off the record

Just to off these records, nigga, that's a record"

Drake sets records for his records and gets money off the record to record. Geez. There's a reason this one's a fan favorite. Immediately coming in over a pitched up Whitney Houston sample with some wordplay and hunger still in his voice, Drake uses this intro as a victory lap for the work he and his team accomplished with Take Care, which by this point was already a certified classic in the hip hop community, having just sold over 2 million copies by the time NWTS released. Drake doesn't stop there, bragging about getting radio play even if his songs don't have choruses, reaching heights NBA players couldn't, and being able to rap for an hour straight if he wanted to.

Going into verse 2 is where we start to see another weapon Drake has added to his arsenal; the beat switch. Suddenly, the track reverses, skips, then the drums pick up tempo as Drake comes back in.

"Not even talkin' to Nicki, communication is breakin'

I dropped the ball on some personal shit, I need to embrace it

I'm honest, I make mistakes, I'd be the second to admit it

Think that's why I need her in my life, to check me when I'm trippin'"

In a rare glimpse into Drake's personal relationships with named individuals, Drake admits here that he and fellow Young Money artist Nicki Minaj have drifted apart, and publicly expresses his desire to bridge that communication gap. While Nicki was present on Take Care, she is noticeably absent from NWTS, so it was refreshing to hear such a personal explanation up front that we as the audience were not entitled to.

"Born a perfectionist, guess that makes me a bit obsessive

That shit I heard from you lately really relieved some pressure

Like ayy, B, I got your CD, you get an E for effort

I piece letters together and get to talkin' reckless"

Drake goes on to deliver what I think is the most clever wordplay he's ever penned. Playing off the "A for Effort" phrase, Drake strings together the first six letters of the alphabet like it's nothing, all while letting his competition know they sound so bad, it's like they're not even trying (no A's for effort being given out here).

"How much time is this nigga spendin' on the intro?"

Coming off the 2nd beat switch in one song, Drake isn't slowing down, deciding now is a good time to drop like 7 different 90's references between the Fresh Prince, Cappadona, Married with Children, Family Matters, Memento, and the fuckin game of limbo which I haven't played myself since at least 1999.

"If we may, we would just like to close off with somethin' a bit inspirational

Hopefully something a bit relevant as to us all are having the same fears, shedding similar tears, and of course dying in so many years

It don't mean that we can't have a good life

So we'd like to just maybe close out with something, some food for thought, for all of us"

Drake let's Curtis Mayfield, one of the most influential black musicians to ever do it, take us out and into the rest of the album. A power move on Drake's part, as it's hard not to draw parallels between Curtis' influence and Drake's own influence that he's starting to have in the music world.

Fast forward almost 3 years later to 2016, and we get to Drake's first album released to a mixed reception, 'Views', opening with 'Keep The Family Close'. The lore behind this album and the year leading up to its release could fill a book, with the endless teasers and promotions, a name change from 'Views From the 6', and sky high expectations thanks to the success of his first three albums and coming off the back of his critically acclaimed mixtape, IYRTITL. Drake made the bold choice on this intro to start by singing.

"All of my "let's just be friends" are friends I don't have anymore

How do you not check on me when things go wrong

Guess I should've tried to keep my family closer

Much closer"

It's lonely at the top, and Drake's been up there for a while. Drake's solemn crooning about fake friends and lovers feels a little more real this time around, like it's harder at this point in his career for him to find real friends than enemies (a sentiment only slightly ruined by his yearning over that one Chrysler car that looked like a Bentley).

The instrumentals pick up heading into verse 2 where Drake is either still talking to the fake girl from the first verse, or a new fake friend that he's outed as a fraud. Referencing the lessons he learned on Kennedy road, Drake brings up his ties to Scarborough, a place we know from NWTS when he said, "luckily I didn't have to grow there, I would only go there cause there's niggas that I know there."

"You sit and you pray hoping that the stars align

My luck is a sure thing cause I'm living right

When I needed you, you couldn't give me any advice

But you always had something to say every other time"

Heading into the 3rd verse, Drake solidifies the tone for the rest of this album; icy. This album dropped in April, but we can tell it's still winter in Toronto, as Drake turns a cold shoulder to those he used to trust, and tightens his circle so small, it becomes a period (something he said himself on his feature on The Game's 2015 track '100' just a year prior). Drake wraps a bow on this intro with a snippet from patois-slinging Toronto Native 416Jamz, who's just fine on her own.

"I'm not afraid no gyal heart man

And I'm not afraid of no cyattie

And I'm not afraid of no waste yute neither

So anybody who want it can get it

Seh feh"

This intro marks a turning point for both Drake and his listeners. While Drake received a lot of criticism for his previously braggadocious lyrics and played up 'gangster' lifestyle, a lot of those same critics reacted negatively to the tonal shift of Views. While not as fun of a subject matter as the victory laps he took on previous projects, this is arguably Drake at his most vulnerable up to this point, even choosing to take the risk of letting his singing carry the entire track, not rapping a word. This, in my opinion, is where Drake turns an introspective heel, and regardless of the quality of the tracklist following, this intro is Drake's first public realization that life isn't going the way he thought it would. He's a decade removed from his first couple mixtapes, and STILL having girl problems. Still not knowing who he can trust. Still facing opposition from every direction. This song is one of Drake's most important to me because for the first time on an album intro, Drake is not winning, and he KNOWS it.

All this leads to 'Survival' off 2018's 'Scorpion'. An album two years removed from his passion project that was 'Views', but with a Pusha T beef in the middle that outed Drake as a father and had many fans feeling like, for the first time, his back was against the ropes.

"I've had real Philly niggas try to write my endin'

Takin' shots with the GOAT and talked about shots that we sendin'

I've had scuffles with bad boys that wasn't pretendin'"

Addressing old beefs with Meek Mill and P. Diddy, Drake assures his listeners that he and his legacy are just fine, stating he still holds the crown and he's still taking up all four slots on Mount Rushmore. This may be personal opinion tainted by my own dislike of Scorpion as an album, but Drake on the defense for nearly the entire song makes this arguably his weakest album intro, and definitely isn't helped by the boring Claude Larson sample hanging over the entire runtime. While it sounds like he is in denial about public perception about his situation at this time, there are still some good snippets on here that I'll include below:

"I am a cream-of-the-crop nigga

You niggas pop mollies, my 'Malis pop niggas

House on both coasts, but I live on the charts"

"Always got a ace up my sleeve for whatever was dealt

Daddy got suits like Bernie Mac, he dresses himself"

All of this FINALLY brings us to 2021. Covid delayed many highly anticipated releases, and Drake's 6th Studio Album 'Certified Lover Boy' was no exception, with Drake releasing 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes' to tide his fans over until the album was ready. Going through another promotion-heavy runup, this album rollout felt like it rivaled 'Views', with a major exception; Drake's fans had been burned before, so now expectations were not as high. September 3rd, 2021 would be the day we would finally see CLB in our streaming queues, and many were quick to give their opinions on what they deemed a lackluster performance, but Drake hooked me from 'Champagne Poetry', the very start of the album, and what I believe to be the most inspired intro Drake has delivered yet.

"I love you, I love you, I love you

Until I, until I

I love you, I love you, I love you

Until I find the only words I know that you"

Starting with what is essentially a sample of a sample, Drake uses the MOTHERFUCKING BEATLES as his mouthpiece for this intro. You thought bringing Curtis Mayfield into the mix was a flex, imagine using the Beatles as your backup singers.

"I been hot since the birth of my son

I remain unphased, trust, worse has been done"

Braggadocius Drake is back, and this time he's evolved from Champagne Papi into Champagne Dad. Embracing fatherhood, Drake takes big personal strides by moving into a headspace where he is proud of his son, and no longer feels the need to hide it for fear of his family life tainting his professional endeavors.

"Nothing else bigger than the OVO letterman boys

Cashmere knits for the nighttime boat rides

Oli got the first еdition parked up roadside

The only sign of strugglin' is coming from thosе guys"

Since 'Keep the Family Close' on 'Views', Drake has learned his lesson and it's OVO only from here on out. Drake emphasizes the importance of family first, both his OVO family and his son, and recognizes how lucky he is to be in his position.

"Friends in high places and friends that I hide still

Still managed to moonwalk straight through a minefield

And then I'll come back to tell you how that feels"

Through all the controversy and bad characters that Drake has been involved with, it's a wonder that he's still as big a name in the industry as he is, and he recognizes that. There's growth here as we witness the first time Drake addresses his luck regarding these situations, and how thankful he is for his current position.

"Champagne poetry, these are the effortless flows

Supposedly something else is controlling me

Under a picture lives some of the greatest quotes from me

Under me I see all the people that claim they over me"

Here Drake ends a line with a double entendre, claiming both that the people who claim to be better than him actually aren't, and the women who claim to be over him are still under him in bed. A cool bit of wordplay we'd been missing in recent releases.

"The city's on fire and people are in denial

Charges being laid, but we'll see what they do with trial

I'm calling this shit from now

Sweetheart deals that the judges been handing down"

Heading into verse 2, we see a rare instance of Drake using his platform for activism, referencing the police brutality riots and protests that have been happening across America for the past couple years. Having not heard from Drake about issues like these since 2015's '6PM in New York', it's interesting hearing Drake's personal take on issues like police brutality, not being able to see family due to covid, and in recent years being criticized by his own city's police department for things like not using his own influence to help solve/prevent crimes, or for wearing a Hell's Angels hoodie in public. Drake spends this entire verse talking about real issues and real things that he is going through, without invoking a "woe is me" tone about any of it, but rather recognizing that life is hard for everyone in one way or another, no matter the hand that's dealt.

"My parents divorce is on me

My therapist's voice is making the choices for me

And I always censor myself 'cause no matter what, they reporting on me

The pressure is weighin' on me

Career is going great, but now the rest of me is fading slowly"

Drake's vulnerability and self-awareness in this verse is a major step up from the veil he used to hide behind. We used to never get a glimpse of what specific problems the REAL Drake faced, only some generic plots about a vague failed relationship or supposed enemies. Here, Drake is trusting his listeners with real information. He's not just sad about his parents' separation, he feels genuine guilt. He's not just feeling pressure to be successful, he's spelling out the pressure to act as a role model for his city.

"This the part where I don't ever say "Pardon me" anymore

This the part where I'ma find a new part of me to explore

This the part where all my partners know what we in it for

This the part where we gon' throw us a party after the war"

Coming up on the close of this last intro, Drake sounds like he's gearing up for a second wind in life. He's no longer going to apologize for his luck, wealth, fame, fortune, or family. He's going to look for something that will fulfill him personally. He's sounding like he's ready to settle down. And he's going to celebrate his successes and getting through the hard times.

These 5 minutes and 36 seconds give us the most personal glimpse into Drake's psyche that we've seen yet, and now we know who he thinks he is. He's a rapper on top of the game. He's a father who is proud of his kid and trying to figure things out with his baby mama. He's lonely and under pressure. He's worried about his parents. He's going to be alright. And now he's finally left it all on the table for us to decide if we believe him or not.

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NBA Youngboy not free today, bond placed on hold in California and another case opened up. Insta source in post

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 05:23 PM PDT

IDK Announces USEE4YOURSELF Part 2, releasing Friday, October 29th.

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 11:11 AM PDT

Tweet

Assuming August 29th, 2021 is a typo.

submitted by /u/liamfellows06
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Quavo tells Complex the Migos are releasing another round of solo projects before next group album

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 12:33 PM PDT

[DISCUSSION] Odd Future - 12 Odd Future Songs (10 Years Later)

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 10:45 AM PDT

On October 3rd 2011 Odd Future released a compilation album called "12 Odd Future Songs" the project has 13 songs and a run time of 48 minutes. The project was released exclusively on I tunes.

The project is the less known of OF's 2 works on streaming. OF vol 2 is much better with 12 songs being very rough (even rougher than vol 2).

Best songs off the project is Forrest Green and Rok Rok. Worst is French, VCR, and They Say.

I'd personally give this project a 5.6 (5.2 song score and 6 project score)

What is your favorite song? Least favorite?

How do you feel about OF?

Did you know this was even a project?

My rating in more detail

If you are interested in learning more about where OF is now This is a good video.

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[FRESH VIDEO] Big Sean & Hit-Boy - What A Life

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 09:02 AM PDT

Daily Discussion Thread 10/22/2021

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 08:05 AM PDT

Welcome to the /r/hiphopheads daily discussion thread!

This thread is for:

  • objective questions with right/wrong answers (e.g. "Does anyone know what is happening with MIXTAPE?", "What is the sample in SONG?")
  • general hip-hop discussion
  • meta posts...e.g. ideas for the sub

Do not create a separate self post for these types of discussions outside of this thread - if you do, your post will be removed, as stated in the guidelines.

Weekly/Monthly Threads

Other ways to interact

There are a number of other ways to interact with other members of HHH:

New to /r/hiphopheads or hip-hop in general?

Check these out:

23rd: Celly Ru - Ru Gotti 2 (featuring Mozzy, Peezy, Kash Kidd, Kalan.FrFr., Lil Zay Osama, Lil Poppa, E Mozzy, Tsu Surf & Paris Bueller) [Sacramento Street Rap, Free the Lost / Fo Eva East]

26th: Dillon & J57 - '83 Kids (featuring Blu, Skyzoo & Diamond D) [Boom Bap, FULL PLATE]

27th: SahBabii - Do It For Demon [Cloud Trap, Horny, Arena]

29th:

  • Curren$y & Harry Fraud - Regatta [Stoner Rap, Which Way Is Up / Jet Life]
  • Mick Jenkins - Elephant in the Room (featuring serpentwithfeet, Greensliime + more) [Chicago Rap, Cinematic Music Group]
  • Swindle - THE NEW WORLD (featuring Knucks, Ghetts, Kojey Radical, Loyle Carner + more) [UK Rap, BMG]
  • Scarlxrd - DEAD RISING (featuring Lil Darkie + more) [Trap Metal, Blackmage]
  • Philanthrope - Saxred Gin (Instrumentals) [Lo-Fi Beat Tape, Bad Taste]
  • UnoTheActivist - Unoverse 3 (featuring YEAT, MATT OX, MadeinTYO, Ty Dolla $ign & Zelly Ocho) [SoundCloud Rap]
  • ROMderful - PLEASE RECONNECT CONTROLLER (featuring Phonte, Matt Martians, CJ Fly, Xavier Omär + more) [Future Beats, EMA]
  • Jelani Blackman - Unlimited [UK Rap, 18 / MNRK]
  • Rome Streetz & Ransom - Coup de Grâce (featuring The Game, Che Noir, Lou from Paradise & Tyrant) [Boom Bap, Momentum / Bad Influence]
  • DJ Abilities - Phonograph Phoenix [Backpack Hip Hop]
  • ​cktrl - zero EP (featuring Mereba, anaiis + more) [Jazz, Independent]
  • Sematary - Screaming Forest [Cloud Rap, Haunted Mound]
  • BabyTron - Bin Reaper 2 (featuring Lil Yachty, Krispylife Kidd, RTB MB & Shittyboyz) [Scam Rap, Detroit, Hip Hop Lab / EMPIRE]
  • WebsterX - 1 of 1 (featuring Kweku Collins + more)
  • Theon Cross - Intra-I [Jazz, New Soil]
  • BAD WITH PHONES - Marinade [Indie Rap, Don't Sleep]

Full Calendar

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[FRESH] Chief Keef - Like It's Yo Job

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 07:49 AM PDT

[FRESH] JPEGMAFIA - OG!

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 11:22 PM PDT

[FRESH VIDEO] Moneybagg Yo, Lil Durk, EST Gee - Switches & Dracs

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 10:52 AM PDT

JPEGMAFIA - Rainbow Six - Live @ Field Day London

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 11:14 PM PDT

[FRESH VIDEO] Matt OX - TAKEOFF

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 03:32 PM PDT

[FRESH] Matt Ox - TAKEOFF

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 08:38 AM PDT

Pooh Shiesty to plead guilty in Florida case. What's next for Memphis rapper?

Posted: 22 Oct 2021 12:01 PM PDT
at