Drake - If You're Reading This It's Too Late

Every year, there is often talk among music critics about who the "King of Hip-Hop" is. This constant search for the "King" is unique to hip-hop, most likely due to the genre's association with machismo and competition. Depending on who you ask, and which year you asked it, you could get a multitude of answers: from mainstays like Jay-Z and Eminem, to perennial dark horses like Kanye West and Lil Wayne, to newcomers like Kendrick Lamar (Complex has a very interesting list that compiles the "best" rapper in each year since 1979). One name, especially in recent years, has come up more often than the others, however: Drake. Since his first EP was released in 2009, Drake has stayed at the forefront of the hip-hop industry with each of his releases. His newest mixtape, "If You're Reading This It's Too Late", is no exception. Unlike Drake's other records, IYRTITL was dropped with little to no fanfare involved. There was no marketing strategy, no advertising; just a cold release. Despite the lack of any effort on Drake's part, the mixtape has still seen more exposure than most rappers see in their entire careers.

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One thing that I noticed upon first listen is that this sounds a whole lot like Drake's previous releases. The hazy, emotive style that he pioneered with his masterpiece "Take Care" has now become  Drake's modus operandi in hip-hop. While his music is very euphonic and pleasing to listen to, I would be lying if I said that I was satisfied with him continuing on the same path for yet another release. Drake has essentially been releasing the same songs over and over again since 2012, and I've begun to notice. Now, I get his mentality behind this trend -- if it ain't broke, don't fix it. However, it would be great to see one of hip-hop's giants start to take more artistic risks, like he did with "Take Care". While his emo-rap hits the spot on many the occasion, I am growing slightly tired of Drake's constant soul-baring. Tracks like "Legend" and"No Tellin'", while making some interesting choices production-wise, sound like they are straight off his previous album, with murky beats and Drake's trademark moan prevailing throughout. "Energy" is probably the most interesting song on the record due to its sampling of one of my favorite Jamaicans, Shabba Ranks.

All of this doesn't mean that IYRTITL isn't a solid record. There is a reason why this man holds much of the industry in the palm of his hand. Personally, however, I am getting fatigued by listening to what seems like the same release every year from this artist. Many people think that IYRTITL was just a quick release to hold fans over until Drake's next big album (among other theories, including one postulating that this mixtape was Drake's carefully calculated exit strategy from his record deal with Cash Money). Hopefully this new album on the horizon makes some of the artistic leaps and bounds that I know the current King of Hip-Hop is capable of.

SCORE: 3/5

HIGHLIGHT: "Energy"