Last week Joe Budden caused quite a fuss when he offered his thoughts on Drake’s new project entitled Views. In short, Budden criticized the album, calling it “uninspired” and saying it lacked an overall cohesion. He continued his “stream of consciousness” stating that the project lacked the feeling his projects are known for invoking, suggesting that the outro left listeners with a disingenuous feeling of triumph or victory. His hour long podcast on SoundCloud can be listened to in its entirety below, but I am going to offer my thoughts on his podcast, listing his key arguments and offering my perspective. 

Joe opened the podcast up explaining his admiration for Drake, labeling himself as one of his biggest fans. He later expounded on their personal and professional relationship as Joe was a fan of Drake prior to his stardom. As an artist he empathizes with the artistic process and the pressure to please fans and label heads alike. But that does not spare him from constructive criticism. He makes what I think are three valid arguments in the midst of his stream of consciousness: 

1. Drake’s the Golden Child

Drake’s potential as an artist is boundless. He is one of the few artists to endure countless personal scandals and rise above it all, everything from ghost writing allegations to bodily altercations. He is also one of the few rap artists left who can blend the line between pop and rap music. Joe holds Drake to a higher standard, placing J.Cole and Kendrick Lamar with him as part of the triumvirate in hip hop now.”I have too much invested in him. Me and the other elder statesman in rap rely on y’all. The fight that we started, the baton is in y’all hand.”

When listening to how he viewed Drake, I thought instantly of Neo in the Matrix , the fictional hero who was destined to bring change in the world and peace. Joey speaks of the pressure he and other artists experienced from record labels to conform to a more rugged or crafted image, explaining how Lyhor Cohen and Kevin Liles forced him to assimilate in some ways to the ways of record labels.  Drake has so far been one of the few rappers to be able to be openly emotional and still balance the commercial and urban appeal. Joe’s frankness in regards to his own personal demons such as his dealings with women is comparable to Drake and is why Joe feels that he is also an emotional rapper who failed to be able to appeal to both commercial and hard core fans alike. Drake has a responsibility to his fans and the culture to be the one to “push the agenda, not let the agenda push him.”

2. Take Care Was His Last Introspective Album 

So Far Gone is heralded as an indisputable classic with Take Care widely viewed by fans and critics alike as his best album to date, possessing the right mixture of commercial hits, introspective lyrics, and contemporary R&B music. Songs like Headlines, HYFR, The Motto, Underground Kings, and Lord Knows gave fans the bars they desperately sought after while songs like Crew Love, Take Care, Make Me Proud, and Marvin’s Room gave fans the top ten singles they craved as well. Songs like The Real Her, Camera/ Good Ones Go, and Look What You’ve Done delivered the introspective and vulnerable works that fans had come to know and love from Drake. Cohesive, it catapulted Drake into another level of stardom and helped solidify his fame. But he has failed to give us a body of work as honest ever since.

Indeed Budden’s comments on his lack of introspection echo this sentiment- “Since Take Care to now, can anybody tell me that Drake has done that? No. but we can tell you where Courtney works!” Drake’s stardom has risen to meteoric levels since 2011 when he stood at the cusp of fame admittedly and so the struggles of it has to be considered. But when listening to Views, one is presented with an ongoing story of women as the dominant theme in his life, a life that used to a wider range of emotions for its viewers.

3. Drake’s More Polished but Guarded

Drake’s musical career continues to ascend to higher heights as he continues to churn out hits, crafting songs like Hotline Bling and One Dance, the latter of which has made its way to #1 on the Billboard 200 , a first in his career. His album Views is number one with the best sales in his career as well as streams, yet his music know seems to be more formulaic and rigid than ever before. The album is a great body of work sonically as Noah shines on the production, showing his progression and genius, but fails where it matters the most and that’s in the hunger it should emanate. This album sounds great and has gems on it that are undeniable, but when looking at what it was and where it could be, one can only feel as if Drake would have better suited going against the grain.

 

 

Link for the Joe Budden Podcast: