Drake’s new album, More Life has just reached number one on the Billboard 200 album chart. With 22 fresh new songs, it was no shocker to the public that this new work of creative genius is number one. In honor of the album reaching number one, Thomas and Emily analyzed and gave feedback on each of the 22 songs on the album. With Thomas handling the first 11 songs, and Emily taking on the last 11, we’ve got all of your musical needs covered. Drake is hands down, one of the most popular rappers of our time, and he didn’t earn that title by releasing mediocre songs. Read on to hear the Media Office’s rap analysts’ thoughts on Drizzy’s new album.

Thomas Moore

1. “Free Smoke”

“Free Smoke” is one of the hottest songs on the album and one of the top songs of March 2017. With a great intro, chorus, and a crisp outro, it was a recipe for a hit. This song is about the changes in positions of Drake’s life. At first he talks about how he started out in the rap game and to where he has come. Lots of rappers just show their current situation but Drake is showing the good, bad, and ugly. He is saying that just a few years ago he was nothing and now he is something. Drake is basically stating that he is the best rapper now and no other rappers have anything on him. “Free Smoke” means that if anyone tries to challenge him, he will destroy them. He is now the best.

2. “No Long Talk” (ft. Giggs)

Another banger to start out the album is “No Long Talk”. This one is not the most popular song on the track due to all of the other phenomenal songs, but I can assure you within the next few weeks every station will be playing this. It has a nice beat, and features two fire verses (one by Drake and one by Giggs). Unlike his other super deep and complex songs, in this song Drake is basically saying that he has a close group of friends that he hangs with, he is shouting out Toronto (his hometown), and no other rappers can touch him.

3. “Passionfruit”

A classic slow and smooth Drake song, this is the type of song that Drake is known for. It is extremely catchy and attracts a wide variety of listeners. The title pretty much sums up the gist of the song. It is basically Drake talking about his love life and how he has passion. Guys, if you are trying to impress the ladies, play “Passionfruit”.

4. “Jorja Interlude”

This song is rather mid paced and has a very nice beat. The first verse is very personal and has some great lines such as “Worried ‘bout takin’ my lane, They ain’t even got on the road, They turn their back and leave you, They gon be back when they need you, I practice good over evil”. This track is mostly just about Drake’s everyday life. A tune you can find yourself singing to.

5. “Get It Together” (ft. Black Coffee & Jorja Smith)

This is another classic Drake song about romance, heartbreak, and relationships. This one doesn’t have the sappy and sad feel, it is actually somewhat happy and calming. Black Coffee and Jorja Smith add a nice jazz and tropical element to the song. The lyrics are pretty general and refer to heartbreak. Once it stops talking about heartbreak, it begins talking about repairing heartbreak. A nice one by Drake and company, but not a mega hit.

6. “Madiba Riddim”

A smooth transition from the previous song to this one due to the subject. This song is rather upbeat and talks about rehabilitating his heart. This song is relatively simple and short, but catchy. The beat will be sure to be played at parties and dances because it makes the listener want to dance.

7. “Blem”

The combination of its techno beat and smooth vocals makes this a very popular song. The UK influence also really comes out in this song. The beat reminds me of a beat that would be played in an underground London club. The lyrics reveal Drake’s feelings about a relationship with a woman. It hints about how he wants a somewhat long term relationship with a special girl.

8. “4422” (ft. Sampha)

This song is very slow paced and repetitive but extremely smooth. Sampha has incredible vocals and a very deep, soulful voice. I personally believe that the lyrics refer to his commitment problems regarding a relationship. This is a good track among many others on this album.

9. “Gyalchester”

After a few slower songs, “Gyalchester” changes the mood of the album back to a harder and hyper sound. This is one of the better songs on the album, in my opinion. Drake shows his confidence in this song. He talks about his lifestyle and how is essentially larger than life. This song will be one remembered by Drake fans.

10. “Skepta Interlude”

Skepta, a British rapper, performs this song solo. Being a huge Drake fan, I was originally disappointed that Champagne Papi was not rapping, but grew to like this song. Skepta is a fast rapper and pairs very nicely with the music. The meaning behind the song was not what is going to draw people in, but the overall music and rapping will.

11. “Portland” (ft. Quavo & Travis Scott)

Hands down my favorite song on the album, I am slightly partial to this song. With a verse from Drake, a verse from Quavo, a verse from Travis Scott, and a hook from Quavo, there is not much to dislike about the song. The beat features a flute and fits right in. Portland is a very unique song, but people are loving it. The meaning behind the song is just about how Drake, Quavo, and Travis are flexing on everybody. They are rich rappers and are living life at the highest level. From multiple web sources this song was voted as one of the top 5 best songs on More Life.

Emily Cheston

The second half of Drake’s album (or as he calls it, a playlist) naturally balances out the first. Drake’s popular topics of his love life, the experiences of young adulthood, and working at the top of the rap game all come together to form songs 12-22. With features from artists like Young Thug, Kanye West, and more, Drake reels in his listeners. Frequent samples of various songs from other artists also show Drake’s ability to envision interesting combinations of lyrics, beats, and everything inbetween. After listening to tracks 1-11, you’ve only gotten half of the story. Don’t stop now!

12. Sacrifices (ft. 2 Chainz & Young Thug)

This track starts off the second half of the album and leads in with a piano intro. Here, Drake speaks candidly about the recent and distant events in his life. The track’s swift subject changes characterize it as a work that represents the artist’s stream of consciousness. The featured artists certainly leave their marks on this track as they throw in rhymes that showcase their signature phrases. Similarly to Drake, 2 Chainz and Young Thug throw in unrelated happenings throughout their lives that have come together to shape who they are. In the hook, Drake emphasizes that he has, in fact, made the sacrifices that the track is named for. Even so, he takes a step back to acknowledge that he has gotten to this point because of a higher being– as he puts it “someone watching over us”.

13. “Nothings Into Somethings”

This song clearly addresses a past relationship that Drake has never really gotten closure from. While its overall theme could relate to really any of his old flames, the line that asks, “Did I just read that you just got engaged on me?” hints that he could be referring to Serena Williams. Her engagement to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has recently been in the headlines. The fact that Ohanian’s Reddit username is “kn0wthing” allows Drake to cleverly hint that what is now Williams’ something was once nothing.

14. “Teenage Fever”

This slower song continues the trend of slower songs addressing Drake’s relationships. The chorus comes directly from Jennifer Lopez’s “If You Had My Love”, and shows his inability to tell if this new connection is something he can trust. The bold sample unapologetically points to the rumored relationship between the rapper and J. Lo. The title shows that the way he feels around this new love interest reminds him of how he felt as a teenager. While the song is chilled out and slowed down, it’s still something anyone can vibe with.

15. “KMT” (ft. Giggs)

Breaking the spell of emotional and relaxed songs, Drake hypes listeners up with this next track. The letters KMT stand for “Kiss Mi Teeth”, a Jamaican phrase which refers to a look of disapproval or stifled anger. Giggs comes in on the track with an energy that makes the audience liven up. If you’re looking for a song to get everyone around you hyped up, this is a solid choice.

16. “Lose You”

Going back to the emotion that he is known for, Drake hits his fans with this next track. Here, he questions those who are important to him if he has pushed them away by focusing more on his career. He describes all of the effort that has gone into getting himself to this point in his life and emphasizes that it hasn’t been easy. As always, he uses clever wordplay and references subjects that you wouldn’t imagine him to. For example, he describes his appreciation for his current status as being “Grateful like Jerry, Bob, and Nicky”, a nod to the Grateful Dead.

17. “Can’t Have Everything”

On brand with his occasionally braggadocious tendencies, Drake explains that he is in the rap game with the goal of being the absolute best. The quick beat of this song shows how Drake is riled up and ready to put in the work for the success that he wants to achieve. He briefly acknowledges that he knows everything will not go the way he wants all the time, but he quickly shifts back to the narrative of outdoing everyone else.

18. “Glow” (ft. Kanye West)

A common theme, this song speaks about just how far Drake and Kanye have come since their humble beginnings. As one line states, the artists have come from “9 to 5 to auto-pilot drive”. While it may not have been easy, both rappers have worked toward the “glow” of stardom that they always dreamed of. The outro of this track features the classic “Devotion”, by Earth, Wind, and Fire. This nostalgic tune fits perfectly with the reminiscent quality of Drake and Kanye’s verses.

19. “Since Way Back” (ft. PARTYNEXTDOOR)

This next one is about, you guessed it, a confusing and complicated relationship. This time around, Drake wishes things could go back to the way they were when he and this woman first met. In the song, featured artist PARTYNEXTDOOR says, “We gotta listen to the old Kelly” which refers to the sampled song that Drake uses on the track, “Clipped Wings” by R. Kelly. Drake’s fans are all too familiar with his love for sampling some songs, whether they are widely known, or lesser known personal favorites.

20. “Fake Love”

This song was released by Drake as a single a few months back and has been a favorite for many ever since. Here, Drake calls out the people that have been his friend to his face, but an enemy behind his back. Fittingly, Drake borrows and adapts the lyrics to “Back Stabbers” by The O’Jays by stating, That’s when they smile in my face, whole time they wanna take my place”. The song also discreetly features a slowed down version of the beat for “Pony” by Ginuwine. “Fake Love” is ultimately a track meant for letting the haters know that you’re simply not falling for the act. The shade is real, and boy does Drake throw it.

21. “Ice Melts” (ft. Young Thug)

A personal favorite of mine, “Ice Melts” keeps the upbeat feel of “Fake Love” going. In the song, Drake asks his latest love interest to let the ice around her heart, after a relationship that has wronged her, melt. As a team, Young Thug and Drake attempt to persuade this woman to relax and go with the flow. The duo’s ability to make you want to jam out to this song is infectious. You will certainly see some RMA students breaking out the dance moves for this track in the near future.

22. “Do Not Disturb”

The final track on the lineup, “Do Not Disturb” has an open and airy feel that leaves listeners satisfied. The song gives almost a bird’s eye view of Drake’s life and closes the compilation on an appropriate note. Certainly the most contemplative song on the album, the artist is able to vent, almost ramble, about his authentic thoughts as they come to him. Drake hints that he has now earned the ability to relax and reap everything he has sown when the last lyric states, “Maybe gettin back to regular life will humble me, I’ll be back in 2018 to give you the summary. More life.” Even though the song ties up all of the ends of his latest work, Drake does what he always does best– leaves his fans wanting more.