Drake’s unexpected fourth mixtape “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” is easily some of his most creative and confident work. Released on the six year anniversary of “So Far Gone,” the mixtape features collaborations with PARTYNEXTDOOR and Lil Wayne. While there is not really a standout single on this mixtape, Drake manages 17 tracks that show more emotion than his previous album, “Nothing Was The Same.”
“10 Bands” shows Drake’s dedication to success, with a catchy hook and lines like “Drapes closed I don’t know what time it is/I’m still awake I gotta shine this year.” The Toronto-born rapper also raps about his loyalty to his home city, refusing to let the streets down.
A more emotional track on the album, “You & the 6” is written like a phone call from Drake to his mother. He thanks her for working hard to provide for him as a single mother and teaching him well. Drake also tries to convince her to forgive his father: “He made mistakes throughout his life that he still doesn’t accept /But he just want our forgiveness.”
“6 PM in New York” gives shout-outs to the people that have supported Drake since the beginning. The song also attacks other rappers in the game, like Tyga: “It’s so childish calling my name on the world stage,/You need to act your age and not your girl’s age.” Drake implies that Tyga needs stop acting like the age of his rumored, young girlfriend.
PARTYNEXTDOOR’s slow vocals on the track “Wednesday Night Interlude” serve as a bridge between the first and second halves of the album. Another more emotional track, lyrics like “Gotta get myself together/I’ve been thinkin’ about everything/I don’t know if it’s because I’m lonely” set a more somber tone, highlighting the solitude that often comes with success.
Drake makes it clear on this mixtape that he has paid his dues and he is set for more success; the only direction left for the Toronto-based rapper to go is up. Drake more than lives up to his reputation of being soft with his heartfelt lyrics about his childhood and his city, but his hard-earned self-assurance also shines through, increasing anticipation for his next studio album.