For an institution less than twenty-five years old, the Canadian hip-hop scene is anything but mature. While most of its brief history may have been a time of constant transition, the toil and tears put in by names like The Get Loose Crew, Maestro, and Organized Rhyme is actually starting to pay off. Artists such as Classified, k-os, Shad, and K’naan have been coming out of the woodwork for the last few years, each one seemingly more ripe and ready to rise than the last. While Thank Me Later proves a little early to definitively add another mononym to the list, hip-hop’s newest wunderkind does at times prosper in a contemporary R&B environment complete with personal outlook and some pop know-how.
Drake’s sound is one of a smooth delivery accented by methodical beats, as well as sublime synth and effects – the Toronto native’s only real inconsistency is the content of his writing. While the album starts out with a series of introspective songs, the unique situation surrounding his instant and meteoric rise to fame creates a back and forth between deeply personal and entirely ridiculous songs. Thank Me Later travels between intimate mementos like "The Resistance" and slightly indulgent, equally enjoyable numbers such as "Show Me a Good Time" and "Up All Night". While he’s close enough to his beginnings to trace the sentiment of his words, Drake’s genuine nature is conflicted, perhaps even slightly corrupted by his growing celebrity status.
Overall, the poppy nature of the former television star’s new career creates a light, enjoyable atmosphere. Despite his cult following and sporadic glimpses of promise though, one can’t help but notice a fleeting note of authenticity, the further Drake moves away from the reality of the past he’s leaving behind.
MP3 Stream: "The Resistance"
