If you’re reading this, you are right on time

Drake’s new album

By Vera Boateng

On Jan. 13, the platinum selling hip-hop record artist and Grammy-Award winner Aubrey Drake Graham, known simply as Drake, released a mix tape album.

The last album the artist came out with was called, “Nothing Was The Same” in September 2013. Some featured hits on the album include song titles such as “Started From the Bottom,” “Worst Behavior,” “The Language,” and “Hold On, We’re Going Home.”

Before the release of “If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late,” in July the artist revealed to various magazines that his next album was going to be called “Views From The 6.”

According to Kean University students this unannounced album is not too late but in fact, right on time for the summer concerts and music festivals to come.  With the local radio stations repeatedly playing songs from the new album, listeners can hear what’s on the record.

“On Drake’s new album, I have only heard the songs called, ‘Energy,’ ‘Ten bands,’ and ‘Know Yourself’,” said Elaina Brown, a junior at Kean University.

“I am not really a big fan of him, but I like the songs and might download the album off of iTunes at some point,” commented Brown.

“I like Drake a lot so I was happy when this album came out all of a sudden,” said Alyssa Defonte a senior at Kean University and a Drake fan.

“What made it so exciting, was the fact that no one really expected Drake to come out with a hot new album now, right before the summertime,” said Defonte.

Previous albums by Drake have been about the arduous journey he faced to be successful in hip hop, emotional songs about relationships, his debut as an artists and his transition from being an actor to a musician. He also talked about his own personal insecurities.

The surprise released album is, according to the “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” description, a compilation of songs that question the loyalty of Drake’s old friends and questions the artist’s future of his career in hip hop, most heard in the song “6PM in New York.”

Kendrick Lamar, another popular hip-hop artist also recently released an album called, “To Pimp A Butterfly” on March 16, around the same time that Drake released his album. Lamar’s album has influences of jazz and reggae, and challenges issues of racism, sexism, and self-destruction within his own community.

“I don’t think that there is competition between the artists simply because they are both different lyrically, and have such different sounds,” said Justin Rodriguez, a freshman at Kean University.
“It’s like day and night,” added Rodriguez.

“If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” offers a new sound and a more aggressive narrative that helps with telling the compelling story of Drake’s life. The album is a treat for fans and it is a great start for him in 2015.

The album is available for download on ITunes, Google Play Music Store, and Amazon. For more information on Drake and his upcoming plans visit www.drakeofficial.com.

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