CHAPTER 5: 'THE PRESENTATION'

(Originally Published Monday November 24, 2014)

Comeback Season was the point at which my regard for Drake started to evolve. As I had mentioned before, I had already taken to him almost immediately in his song “Don’t U Have A Man” featuring Big Brother; but now I was beginning to feel something that hit me on a more profound level than just the hype of the next, up-and-coming rapper. Somehow—and for reasons that seemed deeper than logic—this musician became the physical embodiment of my two greatest passions—writing and music—and in a way that has yet to be matched by any other artist to this day. Of course I’ve liked other artists and felt connections to their music, but the connection I felt to Drake’s music, and ultimately, to Drake, the persona, was, and still is, like nothing else I have ever experienced. I saw so many aspects of sincerity, ingenious, and diligence in his work that I couldn’t help but respect how he portrayed himself as a person; and qualities like humility (even when boasting) and honesty (even if offensive) were ones that I naturally appreciated.

            The track “The Presentation” was/is the first song to open up Comeback Season, and boy, did it do just that! With an introductory beat (produced by the amazing Noah “40-40” Shebib!) that starts off cool, calm and collected, and then switches up part way through, it was the first song to give you a little taste of what Drake would “present” throughout the entire mixtape. One of my favourite lines: “I perfected my craft using mo’ sess/try’na make some cheese off a single is a process/get it? Craft, single, cheese, process …” was an example of Drake’s newly refined wit and was exactly the kind of ingenuity that appealed to me on a literary level. In writing, it is common to connect specific words or phrases to a theme previously mentioned in hopes that the reader will tie them all together, but the way that Drake did it here was clever because it’s not something you notice right away; especially in song format. And in case you happened to miss it, he proceeds to let you know what he’s done—which may seem haughty but is just as well in my books because it’s typically the little things that get overlooked. 

DRAKE - THE PRESENTATION

 What is a Drake line you’ll never forget? 

Chapter 5: The Presentation.
Written By: Jae Antoinette

KENDRA:

I cannot hold out anymore … I feel so weak. So beguiled, and wild. And horny.

I miss the feel of my lover’s smooth hands all over my body … the temptation, the tenderness— the rush. It’s an addiction I’ve tried to quit, but my body is still there and so my mind follows … from my head, into his bed, and suddenly he’s there, whispering my name.

“Come back,” he beckons, “Come back to me …” And I want to, I truly do: I just don’t want the mess.

“The only mess we’ll make is of these sheets,” I hear him croon, and my insides bubble with delight: If only it were that simple.

          But I want it to be that simple; want to make him yearn for me the way I’ve been yearning for him. I know I did him dirty by trying to end things the way I did, but I figure he’s a big boy. We both knew what a relationship like ours stipulated, and now that I’ve made it more than clear that I’m serious, I’m hoping we can get back to business so I can get myself some real, good lovin’.

          How I’m going to make that happen, though, is the real question. Affion is still upset with me, so I can’t just dial him up for a booty-call. It’s going to have to be more thought-out than that, and possibly a little more tricky, if it’s going to work. I’ll have to entice him, enthral him, and engage him enough that he forgets what was said and submits to me. The presentation is all that matters, and if I can master that, I’m sure we’ll have his mattress squeaking in a matter of minutes!

          Mmmmm … So worth it!

                                            

                                     TO BE CONTINUED …