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Typically, Drake songs will receive remixes that would fit a regional club scene. Whether this be Jersey Club, Chicago Deep House, Afrobeats; Drake’s songs receive these treatments because of his level of stardom. On Honestly, Nevermind, Drake tries his hardest to put remixers & DJs out of business. The album is essentially a cheat code in a DJ set, with tracks blurring & running together fairly seamlessly. While it can be interpreted as an artistic statement, the approach here comes off as lazy.
This album comes off as more of a mixing challenge for Drake’s partner in crime 40 than for Drake himself. The album’s rumored only feature was 21 Savage, but the biggest feature here is dead air. Plenty of tracks here find Drake dipping out & letting 40 figure out how to mix in a pointless guitar riff or blend from a Jersey Club track to an Afrobeat track. Its some of his most layered work to date, but at what cost?
Drake’s performances are some of his laziest to date, with plenty of repeat choruses that feel goofy rather than hypnotic. For some this may be the “R&B” album they were looking for from Drake for years, but this album seems set to highlight how poor a singer he is rather than talented. It never highlights his vocal talents, instead opting for lazily riffing in an autotuned delivery than 40 undoubtedly how to figure out how to fix.
Honestly, Nevermind feels like drowning, never knowing which way is up & which way is down. Never knowing when it will end or how it even began. All you know is when its all over, there’s a feeling of sweet release. Thankfully, 21 Savage provides that release.