Drake, the Canadian-born former teen soap star whose debut album, Thank Me Later, sold 1.5 million copies, is one of music's most successful rappers — and one of its most lampooned. "Hip-hop's hardcore faithful don't know what to make of him," says Greg Kot at The Chicago Tribune. "He's too soft, too sensitive, and does too much crooning. And where are the beats?" Translation: He's "too emo." With his new sophomore album, Take Care, Drake continues to deliver introspective hip-hop, and some critics argue that it's time to embrace the rapper's "emo-inspired" tracks. Is the album good enough to silence the haters?
Yes. It's that good: Drake boasts "inspiration, motivation, sincerity — and no shortage of style," says Darryl Sterdan at the Toronto Sun. He writes intelligent, contemplative lyrics, and delivers them in a way that's simultaneously low key and confident. A series of "confessional masterpieces" that combine "moody melodies and icy textures," Take Care is the sophomore album "any artist and fan would wish for."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
