This week I’m going to take a break from the controversies surrounding rap music and discuss a recently released rap album of this month instead.
Just one month ago, two renowned rap artists collaborated to produce a surprise mix-tape that drew great attention from the public. Within one week of release, the mix-tape climbed the Billboard chart and reached No.1 in best-selling albums. In the following week, the debut earned its recognition as the “Second Largest Sales Week for an Album in 2015.”
Yes, we are talking about Drake and Future’s latest mix-tape “What A Time To Be Alive.”
When rumors about the collaboration between the two most influential rap artists of the year took place, the Internet community was stirred with curiosity and excitement. This reminded the audience of the glorious success of “Watch The Throne” by the two major rap figures Jay-Z and Kanye West back in 2011. Even though both monumental albums yield great success, they have different production processes and bear different styles. “What A Time To Be Alive” is a result from a spontaneous six-day collaboration and was released on the next Sunday. It is more of an impromptu and spontaneous fun than of a professional hip-hop album. Drake and Future are very distinctive in styles, adding uniqueness to the mix-tape. Drake mainly raps about his feelings and relationship issues; in contrast, Future raps about the struggles he faced in drug abuse and street life in Atlanta. While Drake focuses more on conveying emotions and vulnerability through lyrical R&B patterns in his song, Future employs strong auto-tune to emphasize his grumbly and emotive voice. The two combined create a balance between soft melody and accentuated beats. Although Drake has frequently featured in many of Future’s songs prior to their mix-tape such as Billboard Top 100 “Where Ya At?”, the release of the mix-tape still brings great enthusiasm in public.
The mix-tape contains 11 songs, two of which are solos from each rap artist. Blending with the diamonds graphic album cover, the song “Diamonds Dancing” is applied with alliteration to create the catchy hook, “Diamond, diamond, diamond on me dancing” with the saxophone playing in the background. Future’s noticeable soprano note is well-corporated with Drake’s low voice. The track ends with Drake’s smooth style as the music fades out echoes a melancholy in the audience’s mind. On the contrary, another track in the mix-tape “Plastic Bag” has significant focus on the distinctive beat as the artists rap about the women accepting their low life statuses and exercising a limited amount of agency. Drake’s pop style is dominated in the song, but Future harmonizes perfectly with his strong voice. “Jumpman” is another track that must be mentioned to highlight the success of the two. The song has a cheerful melody that fits partying mood, with Drake and Future improvising and hitting high notes at the end of the bar. While the song is a work of collaboration, individuality is also highly exposed, where Drake raps in fast verses and Future adds in relaxing melody. The mix-tape containing two solos indicates that each rap artist is talented in their own styles, combining together to create potential success.
If you are either a Drake fan or a Future fan, you know what to search next on Spotify.
jmm7346 says
This album just adds to Drake’s tremendous year of success in music which included “If You’re Reading this its too Late”, his Meek Mill diss track, and this album. He is solidifying his legacy of being one of the greatest artists of all time, and his musical brilliance is portrayed in his mixtape with Future. Although the two have contrasting styles, the way in which their abilities were combined in the album was successful as you mentioned. I have listened to “Diamonds Dancing” and “Plastic Bag”, and I agree that they are catchy songs that feature the best of both rappers.
jpm5919 says
This mix tape sounds like a must hear from your description. It sounds like perfect mood cohesion amidst talented young rappers. It is beautiful when a rap album comes together to blend two unique personalities seamlessly. These artists both have powerful messages to portray, and it is well worth listening when the harmonies blend the messages together and present. And to think this was all done in 6 days… that just proves that artistic creativity is still alive in rap.
Thanks for the Spotify suggestion by the way, that’s the right move.