For All The Dogs

Drake

Released on 10/6/23 by OVO - Republic
Main artists: Drake
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap

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After a bit of surprising and quite good genre exploration on his previous solo album, Honestly Nevermind, on 2023's For All the Dogs Drake slides back into his usual M.O. of slow-as-taffy pull beats, alternately aggressive and morose rapping, and topics that range from how great Drake is to how rich Drake is to how misunderstand Drake is, with the occasional bit of misogyny added in to put some rotten cherries on top. Instead of the possible future glimpsed on Honestly Nevermind where he wasn't a one-note trap miserablist with a bad attitude toward women, Dogs brings to mind Drake at his self-defeating worst. He indulges in corny Scarface samples, takes tired shots at Kanye and Pusha T, drops so many names and cultural references that it sounds like an episode of Family Guy as written by AI, and almost every line revolving around women falls flat. Either he berates them for being liars, celebrates them for being of age, or criticizes them for being educated, unsophisticated, or not up to his exacting standard. It's depressing, and it's an act that's completely played out. Any hopes that Drake might have matured with age or thanks to being a father -- his son drew the album cover and it's one of the best things about the record -- are dashed within a few songs.
It's annoying that Drake can't get out of his own way lyrically because quite a few of the songs have interesting music. Tracks like "IDGAF" and "Away from Home" have warped samples, dubby techno synths, and dazed beats that could have made for good backing for something less toxic and over the top. Drake seems to be going out of his way to convince people once again that he's for real, that he's the GOAT, that he started from the bottom and he's so high now he can't even make it out through the smoke. It's exhausting and obvious, making it a chore to get to the end of the 26 songs. He does rope in his usual cadre of established stars (21 Savage, J Cole, Bad Bunny) and up-and-comers (Teezo Touchdown, Yeat) to help out. Most of them are just along for the ride, slotting into the gray grind of the record like interchangeable Lego pieces. SZA does bring some balance to "Slime You Out," though, and she and Sexyy Redd add some juice to the bass track "Rich Baby Daddy." Drake the vocalist guests on the R&B ballad "Bahamas Promises" and proves again that he knows his way around a baby-making jam. Too bad the lyrics are the usual steaming plate of self-serving self-pity. It is a respite from the trap overload, but the sheer weight of the familiar beats and similar moods, same old Drake lyrical stance, and unrelenting misogyny add up to an overall negative listening experience. It might not be the worst Drake album, but it's in the conversation for sure.

© Tim Sendra /TiVo

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For All The Dogs

Drake

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