7) Views
Released: April 29, 2016
Length: 20 tracks, 1 hour 21 minutes
I want to be clear here. I don't hate any of Drake's albums and find good things to enjoy from all of them. I consider Views to be the least good Drake album because it just didn't know when to stop. There are many good songs on this album, but it runs for far too long and hearing the same moody tone for 80 minutes can get boring after a while. If it were a few tracks shorter, I would rank this album a lot higher because the high points of this album hit very hard.
Best Tracks
9
Feel No Ways
Controlla
Childs Play
Worst Track
Hotline Bling (a song I enjoyed heavily at first before it became a huge meme)
6) More Life
Released: March 18, 2017
Length: 22 tracks, 1 hour 21 minutes
Although this album was longer than Views, it was much more enjoyable. There were many different styles of music used throughout this album, which kept my attention throughout such as dancehall, grime, and trap. I will say that this was one of my favorite listening experiences of 2017, but in terms of its ranking in Drake's discography, he's made way better. I also think it would be ranked higher if it were shorter and if he just called it an album instead of a playlist.
Best Tracks
Passionfruit
Portland - feat. Quavo x Travis Scott
Sacrifices - feat. 2 Chainz x Young Thug
Do Not Disturb
Worst Track
No Long Talk - feat. Giggs (he was horrible on both features on this album)
5) So Far Gone
Released: September 15, 2009
Length: 7 tracks, 33 minutes
This was the part of the ranking that started to get difficult. I ranked this album lower than the rest because it was only a taste of what was to come for Drake's career. This album features some of Drake's best songs and features one of his biggest hits "Best I Ever Had." I liked this album, but I believe that it isn't even close to the caliber of what was to come in the 2010s.
Best Tracks
Best I Ever Had
Uptown - feat. Bun B x Lil Wayne
I'm Goin In - feat. Lil Wayne x Jeezy
Worst Track
The Calm
4) Thank Me Later
Released: June 15, 2010
Length: 14 tracks, 1 hour 1 minute
I consider Thank Me Later as the album where Drake established himself as an artist. He wasn't quite at his peak yet, but he was getting pretty close. Drake showcases a perfect balance between R&B and rap throughout this album. Some of my favorite songs are on here, but I don't consider this near his best work.
Best Tracks
Over
Up All Night - feat. Nicki Minaj
Fancy - feat. T.I. x Swizz Beatz
Find Your Love
Worst Track
Karaoke
3) Nothing Was the Same
Released: September 24, 2013
Length: 15 tracks, 1 hour 7 minutes
This album took a few listens for it to truly hit me. When I first listened to this album, I didn't know what to think. There were many good songs, but was the album good? The more I listened, the answer became clearer. The answer was that it wasn't a good album, it was a great album. There weren't as many features from other artists and it was mostly Drake just doing his thing. Drake showed a ton of improvement in his rapping on this album.
Best Tracks
Worst Behavior
The Language
Pound Cake / Paris Morton Music 2 - feat. Jay Z
All Me - feat. 2 Chainz x Big Sean
Worst Track
305 to My City - feat. Detail
2) Take Care
Released: November 15, 2011
Length: 18 tracks, 1 hour 20 minutes
This was the album where Drake started to become the musical juggernaut that ruled hip-hop, R&B, and pop music. This album is beautiful in just about every way. In my opinion, Drake's singing was best on Take Care. There are so many amazing cuts on here. The first 8 tracks from "Over My Dead Body" to "Under Ground Kings" is one of the best album stretches of all time. This was essentially Drake at his most Drake.
Best Tracks
Marvins Room
Make Me Proud - feat. Nicki Minaj
The Real Her - feat. Lil Wayne x Andre 3000
HYFR (Hell Yeah Fucking Right) - feat. Lil Wayne
Worst Track
We'll Be Fine - feat. Birdman
1) If You're Reading This It's Too Late
Released: February 13, 2015
Length: 17 tracks, 1 hour 8 minutes
This album is just incredible. It was the most hip-hop album Drake has ever made. It was Drake at his most passionate, Drake at his hungriest, and Drake at his most confident. There isn't a single dull moment throughout this album's 68 minute run time. I think that this was the best album of 2015 without a doubt, which isn't a popular opinion considering this came out the same year as To Pimp a Butterfly. I listened to this album all the time when this came out. It was the first time I truly felt like Drake was my favorite artist and I consider this album to be a modern-day classic.
Best Tracks
Legend
Energy
Know Yourself
6 God
Worst Track (or in this case, least good)
Madonna
As far as his other work goes, I know that he has countless loosies like "0 to 100" and "Summer Sixteen," most of which are incredible. His collaborative project with Future, What a Time to Be Alive, is one of my favorite albums and I'm thankful that it existed because it put me on to Future. Now that I think about it, Drake's 2015 was probably the best year for anyone in hip-hop. Overall, Drake has one of the most polished discographies of anyone in hip-hop and will be remembered as a legend when his career is said and done.
I will be putting this series on hold for quite a while since I will be reviewing every 2018 XXL Freshman artist every Wednesday throughout the summer. Tomorrow, I will be revisiting what is considered the greatest hip-hop album of all time, Illmatic by Nas, ahead of his upcoming release.
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