Nothing Was the Same review

Drake has just released his third full-album, which many are calling his best yet. But how does it hold up?

The answer is wonderfully. Nothing Was the Same is a fantastic album, melding the talents of Drake and his producer 40 to the greatest possible effect. It proves that they have staying power as musicians, having a unique sound that stands apart from all of their peers in the hip-hop world.

Being partially a rap album, the quality of the lyrics should be noted. Drake's writing on this album is great. Even when it would get less interesting, such as on "Started From the Bottom", it still works, because of his delivery and charisma. Usually, however, it doesn't even need to fall back on that, because Drake has nailed the content of his rapping. He lets out all that's on his mind at this point-even if it's not the most revealing, it's still very personal, and manages to elevate the album above how great it still would be without it.

Drake's blend of singing and rapping tends to have a mellow tone, which does go with the introverted, quiet tone of the album. On its own, he's a good singer and rapper with a unique flow, but when you add the production it becomes something else entirely. The album's collective sound is one that continually pushes inwards instead of outwards like most other albums, which gives it a very dark tone. The result is beautiful. It is simply an amazing listening experience, and one that is unlike anything else I've heard. The maker of the album's beats, Noah "40" Shebib, has this uniquely murky style that has become his signature. As opposed to some other producers, who you'd need to hear their voices to recognize them, 40's style is instantly recognizable. It is fitting that he's become attached to Drake, because their styles perfectly complement each other, as mentioned earlier.

Overall, it's a great album, one that will hopefully establish Drake as one of the great musicians of his time. It's really a masterpiece of a record, and after its time I'm certain that people will look back on Drake the same way that people look back on the greatest artists of decades gone by. Critics are loving it, and it'll likely top the Billboard 200 both here and in the United States next week-and the album deserves it all. It's fantastic.