Scorpion
I apologize for taking so much time to review this album, but with 25 total songs it took a bit. Typically I have a strict rule with albums: anything longer than 10-12 tracks automatically decreases it's rating. This situation is no different. As much as I enjoy Drake's music and typically love his albums, this one just seemed to lack focus and directed more towards quantity as opposed to quality.
Scorpion is what us 90s kids used to call a double disc album, with an A side and a B side. But since everything is digital now, most of that is just a technicality. Drake is a dual threat artist, being able to capture both the hip hop and R&B genres of music. The 2 sided album let's him do just that, using the A side to serve as more of a rapping platform, and the B side as the smoother, slow jams. Although there are good songs throughout this piece, there is a lot of fluff. As I discussed earlier, there is a messy feel. The lack of direction can be heard through varying styles of trap, tropical, and soul. Even so, I really appreciated the Michael Jackson feature on Don't Matter To Me. Apparently this was an unreleased MJ track that Drake was blessed with from the legendary Paul Anka.
For those that enjoy the drama and beefs that surround hip hop, I think we can agree we were waiting to see if he would address the elephant in the room. A few months prior to release of Scorpion, Drake gave a "diss track" against rapper Pusha T. Pusha T, then wasted no time and responded with a diss track of his own. His being extremely personal and taking shots at Drake's family, friends, and character. Push went as far to discuss a bastard child that Drake has (apparently) not been claiming or raising. After listening to Scorpion, there is not much of a response. He does claim his son in Survival, and goes on to basically say he's too positive to feud anymore. A little anti-climactic, but I don't feel it hurt the album at all.
Overall, the album is ok. Drake would've been better off cutting it in half, but I'm sure the diehard fans out there appreciate his extensive track listing. It has done extremely well since it's release breaking many streaming records and even placing him in the conversation with The Beatles. He also sparked the viral #InMyFeelings challenge that has swept the nation. Something that appears to happen a lot with hip hop music lately. I guess people love dancing goofy and posting it on media.
There is no denying Drake has solidified himself as one of the best Hip Hop artists out there, and I respect all he has accomplished. However, Scorpion is not one of his best. I provided an additional section for songs to listen to so you can skip through the fluff.
Photo credit: Wikipedia
Scorpion is what us 90s kids used to call a double disc album, with an A side and a B side. But since everything is digital now, most of that is just a technicality. Drake is a dual threat artist, being able to capture both the hip hop and R&B genres of music. The 2 sided album let's him do just that, using the A side to serve as more of a rapping platform, and the B side as the smoother, slow jams. Although there are good songs throughout this piece, there is a lot of fluff. As I discussed earlier, there is a messy feel. The lack of direction can be heard through varying styles of trap, tropical, and soul. Even so, I really appreciated the Michael Jackson feature on Don't Matter To Me. Apparently this was an unreleased MJ track that Drake was blessed with from the legendary Paul Anka.
For those that enjoy the drama and beefs that surround hip hop, I think we can agree we were waiting to see if he would address the elephant in the room. A few months prior to release of Scorpion, Drake gave a "diss track" against rapper Pusha T. Pusha T, then wasted no time and responded with a diss track of his own. His being extremely personal and taking shots at Drake's family, friends, and character. Push went as far to discuss a bastard child that Drake has (apparently) not been claiming or raising. After listening to Scorpion, there is not much of a response. He does claim his son in Survival, and goes on to basically say he's too positive to feud anymore. A little anti-climactic, but I don't feel it hurt the album at all.
Overall, the album is ok. Drake would've been better off cutting it in half, but I'm sure the diehard fans out there appreciate his extensive track listing. It has done extremely well since it's release breaking many streaming records and even placing him in the conversation with The Beatles. He also sparked the viral #InMyFeelings challenge that has swept the nation. Something that appears to happen a lot with hip hop music lately. I guess people love dancing goofy and posting it on media.
There is no denying Drake has solidified himself as one of the best Hip Hop artists out there, and I respect all he has accomplished. However, Scorpion is not one of his best. I provided an additional section for songs to listen to so you can skip through the fluff.
Photo credit: Wikipedia
Tracks to Listen To: Survival, Emotionless, God's Plan, 8 out of 10, Mob Ties, Sandra's Rose, Nice For What, In My Feelings, Don't Matter To Me
Songs to Move, Groove, and Sweat to: Survival, 8 out of 10, God's Plan, Nice for What
Favorite Song: Emotionless. This song is really slow, but I love the message. I can connect with it personally, and feel it is relevant for our times. The track discusses social media, what we put value in, and how we live life.
Rating: 3.5/5
Rating: 3.5/5
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