Drake’s new project More Life is …good. Like really good.
There are many critiques that have been penned against the rap-esque artist, mentioning that he appropriates Caribbean culture norms and is not making his original music. That is just the thing; it is not his old music. It’s better.
This musical project, which he describes as a playlist, is an ode to the African Diaspora. Before anyone reading says this is a reach, I have evidence. The cultural appropriation argument that Drake has been called out for, is an argument with valid points, but is flawed nonetheless. Drake grew up in Toronto, a distinctly heavily immigrant populated city. There are almost 100,000 Jamaicans, 47,000 Trinidadians, 50,000 Americans, and the numbers keep growing. When growing up in an immigrant-populated city, you pick up cultural norms along the way. It’s the reason that I can understand bits of Spanish and tell you specifically what Dominican food I enjoy, while still being true to my Bronx roots that stem from deep southern black norms. Therefore, Drake has been experiencing these different cultures from a young age while simultaneously being raised by a white Jewish mother.
More Life is a nod to the cultures Drake has explored in his own city, while incorporating how much his world has widen since becoming a well-established rapper. On this playlist, he incorporates Caribbean beats and dialect while also inviting newcomers on his journey. The project starts off very Caribbean focused, but when he gets to "Get It Together," it shifts and brings in up and rising British singer Jorja Smith who has been compared to Sade and the likes of it. Her sultry voice brings in the soulfulness that has always been associated with black British singers, while the song is sung over the beats of South African producer Black Coffee. This trend of incorporating the musical styles of black people all over the world continue. He brings in Sampha, Skepta and Giggs (for the second time, he first shows up in No Long Talk), incorporating the grime scene which has always had stakes in the Caribbean.
Drake comes back to America on "Portland," by paying attention to what’s hot now and having Migos’ Quavo on his track and staying true to his love of the south by also having the authentic 2 Chainz on this track. Drake is no fool and is paying attention to his fan base. My favorite track on the playlist is Teenage Fever. A love song with a sample from Jennifer Lopez’s "If You Had My Love," is laced with Drake’s familiar cooings about a woman he has fallen deep in with. Maybe that's why they were taking all those pictures, he was waiting for that sample to clear. See, despite this project being different from the others, there are distinct Drake characteristics that will never fade. His love for women and singing about how they always leave him.
One of the stars of the whole project is "Glow," which features Kanye West, Hollywood’s favorite villain. The song has the air of Kanye’s beginning roots and a powerful beat to go along with his voice. Drake goes home to Canada with PARTYNEXTDOOR on "Since Way Back," bringing the project full circle. We then get "Fake Love," which came out as a single and signals the ways in which Drake continually feels like he is not supported in his career by haters. This playlist, which goes between dance, grime, hip-hop, and smooth R&B, is an ode to all the places and people Drake has and will interact with in his career.
More Life is good and you can’t even lie.
