What is it about this man? How did he release an EP's length of a mixtape with So Far Gone and suddenly change the game?
The man was a star on the Canadian tweener drama Degrassi: The Next Generation, which, by logic's standards should be a reason for no one to be talking about him. Instead, he's been championed by Lil' Wayne, shared the stage with Jay-Z at MSG and his first official full-length Thank Me Later (upcoming on Weezy's Young Money label) is easily the most anticipated hip-hop album of 2010.
Atmospheric synthwaves punctuated by off-kilter, underwater beats swooned their way around So Far Gone, creating the kind of lacksadaisacal haze most modern hip-hop avoids. Add in Drake handling the brunt of the MC'ing and actual singing and the boundaries were officially pushed.
This week, Drake himself posted "Over" -- the first (and only) taste we've gotten of Thank Me Later. In place of So Far Gone's ambience is a caffienated string section, shape-shifting military beats and Drake's own admissions on dealing with the impending fame (yes, we all know it's on the way). Initially, "Over" is a jarring listen given the earlier, smoother jams we cut our teeth on, but ultimately it's been on repeat around here.
Check it now -- and here's to hoping Thank Me Later makes good on our appetite.
