By Jon Ingram
Young Money Entertainment, Lil Wayne's record label, doesn't seem to be satisfied with just one multi-platinum artist. Since the evolution of Wayne into an international superstar, the label has been pushing the growth of several other rappers signed to the label in hopes that they will achieve their own level of success. Their development has been predominantly showcased on the plethora of tracks and mix tapes released by Lil Wayne, where they have had the opportunity to rap alongside one of music's biggest star. But recently, the self-proclaimed 'Martian' seems to be focusing his attention on Canadian-born Drake, a Young Money-signee who has just released the most phenomenal mix tape of the past year.
Listeners may recognize Drake as the character Jimmy Brooks on television program Degrassi, but soon he will be known as much more than a supporting character on a teen drama. His third Young Money debut mix tape, So Far Gone, has just dropped, and quite frankly, it's worth way more than a listen.
It's hard to know where to begin when speaking about this mix tape. Perhaps it is because less than half of So Far Gone is actually rap (the rest combines a silky smooth combination of R&B and Pop beats with soothing vocals from the likes of Trey Songz and Peter Bjorn & John), or perhaps it is because it is hard to believe a mix tape of this quality was not released as an actual album. What Drake and the producers of So Far Gone have done, perhaps unintentionally, but probably not, was create an almost entirely different genre of music.
A perfect example to showcase the difference in style between Drake and the rest of the hip-hop world is the song entitled "Successful," which features Lil Wayne and Trey Songz. The eerie, piercing beat combines the constant droning of an organ and the death-like chant of a medieval choir to make a truly epic creation. The slow mood of this track allows Drake to recite three poetic-sounding verses about his yearn for eventual success in life and also paves the way for a surprise ending verse by Weezy himself, who, as always, fails to disappoint with his effortless flow and his unmistakable croak.
Although there is no sound like Drake in the entire rap game, it is fairly easy to tell that So Far Gone was influenced by Young Money. The majority of rap in the South (where Young Money is headquartered) features the slow-moving and relaxed attitude that comes with the South's famous Sizzurp, a narcotic cocktail of Promethazine/Codeine cough syrup and soda that Lil Wayne is never without. This mixtape definitely has that definite mellow feel to it, and although Drake is from Canada, it is easy to distinguish this sound as Southern hip-hop.
While there is never a guarantee about "the next star" in music, Drake definitely has the makings to hit mainstream. His sound is undeniably unique, his lyrics are ridiculously clever, and, perhaps above all else, he is teamed-up with the one and only Lil Wayne, which guarantees a certain level of exposure in itself. For a mix tape, So Far Gone is pure genius, and if it is any indication of his upcoming album, in due time, he will be one of the biggest stars in rap. It's common for music reviewers to recommend an album that they review, but So Far Gone has the potential to be the beginning chapter to the story of a true rap legend.
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