May 15, 2020

Dark Lane Demo Tapes

Drake - OVO

In drakes dark lane demo tapes we get the classic mix of braggadocio and vulnerability that makes Drake’s signature lane. With songs like Deep Pockets we get the version of Drake where he knows no one active is on his level. There are very few people in hip hop history who can speak from the position of power that Drake can. He talks about his money, yes, but he also talks about his rapping ability all the while explaining that his drive is unmatched. Songs like Chicago Freestyle is where Drake flexes his ability to make a listener feel present to events of the song. Throughout the duration of Drakes career his tendency to make songs feel so personal has helped him resonate with fans world wide. At a time where Drakes place in music is solidified and any release just pads his legacy, I’m always interested to see the direction of a drake project. This one did not disappoint. My drawback for this album is I feel there was a lot of filler. In an era where music is so abundant, the projects with the least amount of filler tend to have higher replay value which means staying power. I’m not a fan the experimentation with grime music especially in the closing songs of the project. However I do appreciate Drake’s willingness to reach out to young artist and give them opportunities as he did in Demons.

Closing Remarks: Overall I felt like the project was strong. It’s my favorite drake project since 2015’s If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late. The mixture of crooning and rapping is constant for most Drake projects but sometimes as with all artists it’s done better than others.

Favorite Song: Deep Pockets

Favorite Verse: Chicago Freestyle (First Verse)

Favorite Beat: D4L (Southside)

Favorite Feature: Future (Desires)

Rating - 4.1