(Originally Posted Tuesday March 10, 2015)
Can I say something about Drake’s album titles and the allure that comes with them? I don’t even know what half of them mean, but they seem full of meaning, are always poignant and, well … alluring! They speak to the poets, to the artsy, to the dreamers; to those with goals, ambitions, and emotional mishaps. To those who can make sense out of anything, they are a riddle waiting to be solved and to those who ride hard in the trap they are an opportunity to brag, reflect and, possibly, do better, and So Far Gone’s follow-up album, Thank Me Later was no exception.
Can I say something about Drake’s album titles and the allure that comes with them? I don’t even know what half of them mean, but they seem full of meaning, are always poignant and, well … alluring! They speak to the poets, to the artsy, to the dreamers; to those with goals, ambitions, and emotional mishaps. To those who can make sense out of anything, they are a riddle waiting to be solved and to those who ride hard in the trap they are an opportunity to brag, reflect and, possibly, do better, and So Far Gone’s follow-up album, Thank Me Later was no exception.
Thank Me Later, Drake’s first official album, was the last full
Drake compilation I had bought and listened to, so it was my last real support
in the Drake conversation. I was in love with the album at the time of its
release, but I have never really been the type to stay on any one thing for too long. Drake was now
where he wanted to be musically and mass popularity was upon him, so it was
only natural for me to fall back. I honestly felt like there was nothing more
he could say or rap about that would alter my opinion of him; plus I knew it
was only a matter of time before his music made the “luxury” switch – where the
ultimate goal has been reached and though there might be more work to do, you
are now basking in the rewards of your effort – so I was good. I knew that the
luxury switch usually came with more songs about the effects of money and
power, and more songs about emotional states and women, so I quickly lost
fervour, already having my fill. I still enjoyed the singles, the radio hits
and the songs played at the club (in moderation), but I was now disconnected
from the compilations themselves. I plan to change this as we progress to Take Care, Nothing Was The Same and If You’re Reading This You’re Too Late (which
reads like a suicide note, if we’re talking about “titles …”) so I’ll soon have a full scope of who
he became after I let him go; but it is apparent that he’s still the same dude
from Room For Improvement, just 9-years
older with a lot more experience.
The first song I want to
commemorate is my absolute favourite from off of Thank Me Later, “Unforgettable” featuring Young Jeezy. This song
plays with my heartstrings as soon as it starts and I feel like I’m being
pulled into a dream I’ve had so many times before. It’s rolling down a highway
studded with lights in the night and feeling the freeness, and the ecstasy, of
such soothing, accelerated movement. It’s a night-time walk on the Queens Quay
in Toronto, where things are just calm enough and just chaotic enough that you
feel oddly balanced, and somewhere in that—free.
This song was every dream I’d ever had that Drake seemed to understand, and
though it isn’t about dreams in itself, it is about the underlying essence of a
moment being worth something memorable; and what, if not that, is a dream?
Chapter 33: Unforgettable. / Written By: Jae Antoinette
BRIA:
This dude. I can’t believe he would do all that just to see
me. I mean, yeah, he was belligerent and drunk, but no guy has ever made that
much of a fuss just to see me dance—to get me to themselves.
My man
wasn’t having it, though. As soon as Affion got all crazy, searching me out and
causing a scene, Rupert was all over him, ready to get down to why this chump
was calling for his girl. It was unforgettable. Rupert—who I sometimes call,
“Bert”—had him by the collar and was shaking the shit out of his drunk-ass. I
felt bad. Obviously the guy has been going through something why he’s been here
every night lately, and he usually gets so faded he don’t even know which way
is up. It’s kind of sad, which is why I was cool with being there for him, but
he’s getting a little crazy with it now and I’m not sure what I can do to help.
Despite his
antics, I do feel attached to Affion. Like I said, he’s been nothing but sweet
to me, and I love Rupert with all my heart, but I feel like Affion just needs
somebody to show him some love right now—which is why I’m thinking of maybe
going over to his place to see how he’s doing. I wasn’t sure if he would come
back to the club if Bert had his way, so I slipped my personal cell number in
Affion’s pocket in hopes that he would find it and call me. He hasn’t yet, but
he was so far gone I doubt he even noticed. When he comes to, though, I’ll be
over there with bells on, and in my own special way, will do my best to make up
for his altercation with Rupert—if he’ll let me …
TO BE CONTINUED …
**Bonus Track**
AALIYAH - AT YOUR BEST
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