Drake — Honestly, Nevermind
Nine months after Certified Lover Boy, Drake stunned the world with the sudden release of Honestly, Nevermind. A proper review is impossible without acknowledging South African house DJ and Executive Producer Black Coffee.
The opening track, “Falling Back,” finds Drake recalling heartbreak. “How do you say to my face, time heals” he sings with the help of autotune. Desire, lust, and unattainable love are the staple of his artistry, but on Honestly, Nevermind, Drake adds a wrinkle.
With Black Coffee and TRESOR assisting with production, Honestly, Nevermind is rooted in the tempo and rhythms of house music. Some fans appreciate Drake’s elevation of the genre founded by Black DJs in Chicago in the 1980s that has since become global. Yet, the album does not resonate with me due to Drake’s inability to change for the better.
The shift to house music is creative but finds Drake out of place. House is demanding on artists, requiring either a quick delivery to stay on the beat or unorthodox tempos that create a smooth contrast. This rhythmic flexibility is a skill Azealia Banks — stay with me, lol — has mastered. Azealia, Rochelle Jordan, Vic Mensa, and Tkay Maidza are examples of how to rap and sing on house beats. Their ability to alter tone and tempo flex a control Drake often lacks.
Throughout Honestly, Nevermind, Drake never finds the right cadence and timing with his delivery. He opts for drawn-out singing that does the instrumentals a disservice and routinely falls flat. His stale delivery and absence of superior vocal talent zap the energy, making the album a difficult listen. “Texts Go Green” is missing the feel, emotion, and urgency that makes house a unique genre.
The album also has perplexing moments where Drake chooses to do nothing. The second half of “Calling My Name” features an enticing beat that finishes with Drake loosely chanting, “your pussy is calling my name.” Too often, Drake chooses to disengage from tracks and makes Honestly, Nevermind lazy.
It’s pointless to think deeply about Drake’s musical shifts considering his history. His flirtations with dancehall, UK grime rap, and now house are all geared toward remaining relevant. Through KAYTRANADA — and far too many to name — the influence of house is growing within R&B and rap. Yes, Drake is pulling from something trendy, but that doesn’t correlate to Honestly, Nevermind being a good album. Highlighting the history and importance of house music within Black culture is meaningless without acknowledging the elements that make it so powerful.
Like the rollout, Honestly, Nevermind seems rushed. It’s a flawed album with a great concept. Unfortunately, Drake does not seem fit nor willing to realize its potential.
