The music industry bows to Drake. Hits are the currency, and Champagne Papi delivers them consistently without fail. And despite his last studio album being an objectively bloated poorly masked excuse for Spotify streaming fodder, it had hype and hits, the simple formula to Drake’s continued dominance. No matter how much mood music throwaways and mids-level bangers he drops, when he’s on point — you can’t ignore him.
So when rumors of a new mixtape from Aubrey Graham swirled through the timeline, fans and haters made it a point to at least give the new project a listen. The 6 God still holds Thanos-esque power over the streaming ecosystem. He can make you abandon your release day listening plans, or at least delay them just so you can hear whatever he’s cooking up: regardless of quality.
He achieved this feat again with his latest (mixtape, project, playlist? Who knows at this point?) release Dark Lane Demo Tapes, a collection of moody bangers and ballads that show glimpses how Drake can still command the attention of the masses, while simultaneously shooting himself in the foot with unfocused loosies, allowing filler to poison the few good crops he produces.
Drake Delivers Surprise 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes' Project
The project basks in dour ambiance, projecting a setting of drizzling rain cascading from the clouds in the grey sky as vibrating 808s set the tone. Drake sounds like he’s crooning from the balcony of a high rise loft at 3 a.m., draped in a Versace Baroque bathrobe as he sips on red wine. He’s set this vibe before. Retread is one of Drake’s greatest strengths and weaknesses. He excels at repackaging the same song heard multiple times over, but sometimes he overestimates when the schtick has gone stale.
The inaugural track “Deep Pockets” is evidence of the latter. It’s another spacey and dulled intro that he’s made countless times before; “We Made It” energy without any stakes.
“Chicago Freestyle” finds Drizzy lamenting over his lost connection with women, which interpolates Eminem’s “Superman.” It fits perfectly, creating this pitch-black night-time atmosphere that’s somber enough to make Heartbreak Drake sound like he’s reminiscing on old flames like they’re deceased rather than just posted in another city. Long Beach vocalist Giveon adds to the melancholic melodies delivering a performance so haunting, people initially got him confused with the incredible Sampha.
Even when the record produces something of interest, the consistent dreary vibe makes things drag out a bit, and the early placing of “Toosie Slide” doesn’t help. The Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit is arguably one of his most comatose singles in the past few years, dimmed further by lethargic energy that acts as lullaby music rather than a dance track. It’s made for TikTok and to go viral: nothing else.
The guests on the tape bring out the best in Drake, like a sleeping king who gets awoken by challengers coming for his crown.
He matches the pace of the completely manic features from Future and Young Thug on “D4L,” a surefire college kegger staple for whenever house parties return, and plays cold-blooded straight man alongside Playboi Carti’s helium-induced harmonies on “Pain 1993,” one of the more polarizing tracks on the record.
Drake turns to biting Brooklyn Drill on the watered-down “Demons,” though he at least gives rising New York rappers Sosa Geek and Fivio Foreign a platform to shine. Fans are still better off checking out Sheff G, 22Gz, the late Pop Smoke, or Fivio’s solo work.
He doesn’t always need guests to generate an energetic banger. Drake delivers a catchy chorus on “Time Flies,” despite the song still feeling like a second draft rather than a fully formed product. And the imagery of hanging with Lil Wayne and the late Kobe Bryant in the back of the tour bus on the MexikoDro produced, plug beat backed “From Florida With Love” makes for yet another regional anthem the natives will cherish endlessly.
Drake’s ‘Dark Lane Demo Tapes’ Back Cover Art Is A Tribute To His Slain Friend
However, it’s “Losses” that nails the balance Drake’s been going for, dropping bars about acquaintances buying their friends, how he could have turned to a life of crime, and doing it for the Grahams, not the ‘Gram. “I’m not tryna make no song, these are cold facts,” he raps with stern honesty. He’s hurt and doesn’t mind telling his truth. For the first time during this listening experience: you can’t help but feel for Drake. It’s a shame this thoughtfulness isn’t put on display more because it’s the most well-written ballad. If only it came sooner than the latter half of the mixtape: intro worthy material that gets relegated to the back seat.
Once again Drizzy has found a way to craft songs that will deeply resonate with some and less with others, continuing to get listeners to press play — quality be damned. Even with its faults, Dark Lane Demo Tapes has already built anticipation for his next album scheduled for this summer. Intentional or not, he’s captured the shared sadness of the moment; a fitting soundtrack to the grim reality we all currently live in.
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To me it sounded
1. Uninspired
2. Boring
3. Just gonna drop some crappy songs but all the sheep wil love it anyway.
And this review sounds like pure dickriding bullshit
Drake fans are like Trumpkins…no ability to discern the truth.
More sissy ass crooning about some stripper that didnt call him back. Only this weak ass generation could worship someone so weak.
you ever notice that sophie bitch smiles so happy but drake is always straight face whenever there seen together?. drake is the simp of the decade.
Unfortunately , this review doesn’t matter . His music still gets the vaginal juices flowing like a waterfall.
This is a good album of loosies
You need help…and a tampon.
Crap 2/5 at best , more like 4/14 … basic sorry Stan’s .
shutup bitch
Take drakes dick off ur mouth pussy , this shit is basic at best 4/14 is actually below average making it below basic . Sorry Stan
Not a Drake fan, but I think this is his best release since Take Care
On Point
Drake doesn’t miss
Loving Drake’s new project. Played it all the way thru and then played it all over again! Loving all this new music!
It has come to my attention through hitsdailydouble that Kenny Chesney is buying albums of his recent release to try and deny drake his hard earned no.1 position. I’m hoping honestly will prevail and drake will reach no.1 but if Kenny’s cheating actions somehow prevail, do not acknowledge his false accomplishment in any way. Kenny chesney’s fallen off in sales for many years and even him resorting to purchase albums for himself won’t save it from being a flop. Ignore that trump supporter and give thanks to champagne papi instead
2.5 our of 5. Drake sounds uninspired. He has low energy on tracks. He sounds like he is in the studio reading his raps. I know he has ghost writers but dont make it so obvious.
Drake is falling off and it shows. As a big fan in the past, I’m tired of backing up Drake at this point. Toosie slide? For real?
Drake better than all his peers, he doesn’t have a equal.. it’s just Drake vs Drake..
What peers ? Surely you can’t be comparing a RnB SINGER with full-time lyrical spitters? No CERTIFIED hip hop head goes to a SINGER for bars
“You aint gotta respect you just gotta accept”
Classic.
Expected it to be bad but it’s really good tbh
Feeling the vibes on this one. 5/5
Notice the deluge of 5/5 ratings fro 5:30 to 7:00pm on 5/2/20. Clearly the artist has a team to manipulate public opinion by posting on the internet as just regular fans.
You underrate the power of Drake stans
But it’s not an album, he literally said it’s a bunch of losses tracks that leaked and to expect an album in the summer. Some of the songs were unpolished and not mastered
Can’t wait for the album.
Drake is the best female rapper of all time.
I need that Drake VS. MC Lyte instagram battle ASAP!
Don’t know why everybody is hating on the Toosie slide so much. Yeah it’s lullaby music for TikTok not an actual dance track. ALL THE DAMN CLUBS ARE SHUT DOWN BRO?? YOU NOT PAYING ATTENTION?? Sure it’s trash but it’s trash for a specific audience. Drake does this all the time. It’s freakin Drake bro not Griselda.
WHAT’S UP WITH THE ALBUM COVER? LET ME GUESS, DRESSED LIKE SHINOBI TO PEEK INTO AN EX’S CRIB.
Boring, generic, commercial, empty talk
Music for wide human masses
I cannot believe he uses the Champagne Papi moniker and then tries to act macho.
The majority of you haters are just that, Because you have absolutely nothing going on in your lives so you want to complain about someone else that you can’t stop or compete with. DEAL WITH IT ?????????
^ Irony.
Not a fan, but in terms of making easily digestible quasi pop-rap for teenage white girls, he is extremely good at what he does.
Lol, nailed it.
Champagne Papi does it again. ‘Demons’ is fire! That must be the third Music Video. Respect Future on that ‘Desires’ record. Toosie Slide Bitches!!!
Champagne Papi does it again. ‘Demons’ is fire! That must be the third music video from the album. Respect Future on that ‘Desires’ record. I hear the BIRDMAN calling, “Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!”
Why do white girls from the surburbs love Drake, a gay rapper? They can try on women’s clothes together, get their nails done, smell women’s frangance, shop for tampons and blow random ghost writers in the studio. Seriously, imo this is typical Drake garbage. I can’t wait until auto tunes are played out. Drake and auto tunes make ears hurt no bullshit.
Sit your Pussy Ass down hater. We don’t care about your hating stinking opinion.
then why you scrolling down the the comments ?. o thats right, u yet another drake dick riding lame that gets no pussy and seeks approval from strangers on the internet. please seek professional help before you end up shooting up a school
If you didn’t care you wouldn’t have replied to the comment.
For “throw-aways,” there’s more than a handful of great tracks.