UOCK: Nothing Was the Same > Take Care


By Elorm Nutakor
When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for a man to honor the one and only Aubrey Graham in the month he was born, the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare their admiration. Every October, I like to take some time out of my busy schedule to listen to Drake’s albums. Each time I do this, I come to the same conclusion: “Nothing Was the Same” is Drake’s best album. However, many people in this world do not hold this notion. So on this most recent listen, I launched into a post-album rant that I have transcribed here poetically. What follows may come off harsh for those who argue for “Take Care’s” superiority… and it was meant to:
After a moment of silence and pacing following Pound Cake / Paris Morton Music.
Ooooh Shiiiit!… Nuh Uh, Y’all Got me fucked up right herre.
Some of y’all been stupid talkin’ ’bout how I love ‘Take Care.’
This dude Drake gave y’all his best shit in 2013 and y’all wanna go back to 2011.
I got news for you… 2011 wasn’t all that.
Cause it was a lot of good ass hip hop albums that dropped in 2013…

Kanye Dropped, Pusha T Dropped, A$AP Rocky and Ferg Dropped…
Earl… Danny Brown… Fucking “Acid Rap”!
And then just ’cause Kendrick did that “Control” verse.
Y’all wanna forget Drake all of a sudden.
You wanna act like Drake wasn’t there for you in your darkest moments.
Like he didn’t always know the right things to say to give you that right feeling.
You should be ashamed of yourselves, all of you.
I don’t even talk like this….
Crouches and sways then proceeds to tell the ground what’s up.
Drake gave you his pettiest,
His most vulnerable, his least corniest,
Hardest rapping, best singing album ever.
He was doing God’s work on this one.  
It just feels right when you put it on…
Shit is cohesive as hell. Forty did his thing on this one.
The whole OVO sweatshop pulled something special on this one.
The man was looking at a younger version of himself on the cover bruh,
Head all in the clouds and shit.
Hops back up and looks to the sky.
“Tuscan Leather”… “Tuscan fucking Leather” and that’s really all I gotta say to y’all.
Best Drake opening track.
Three hard ass verses but he could’a gone an hour on that beat though.
And he doesn’t need the Young Money crew to do it.
Ok I’ll be honest;
I didn’t fuck with “Started from the Bottom” when it first came out.
But I wasn’t on the right wave then.
I regret that to this day but I’m not ignorant anymore.
Not like some of y’all.
Cause he really started from the bottom, though.
Then this dude got all emotional on the Wu-Tang tribute track
and did it way better than when he sung the Juvi tribute track.
He said it was mine.
And he did that thing where he seamlessly switches
From singing to rapping
Back and forth like nobody’s business.

Then PND on the background of “Own It” Oooh.
Drake talking about “Guess Who’s it is, guess whose it is?”
And for a second I didn’t know the answer.
Then he said it was mine again.
And I still doubted him til he said it again ‘cause I got trust issues
But Drake taught us all how to trust.
Takes a sip of water.
Worst Behavior… Worst Befuckinhavoir…
T’d AF and he’s saying the same thing half the time
“Motherfucka neva Loved us” truth.
Then he did that one with Jhene Aiko talking about.
“I needed to hear that shit I hate when you’re submissive”
Like who even says that?
And then he’s talking about his dad, his girl, strippers,
And disses Trey Songz all in one song and
“Hold On We’re Going Home” is the greatest singing Drake song.
Everyone is obligated to play that at their wedding.
You can’t play “Take Care” at a wedding.
But just when Drake gets sweet he gets petty again for a couple more songs (Swangin’).
Stares out a window and begins to cry exactly one tear.
Drake got Sampha on this joint too… Y’all forgot about that didn’t you.
Dude had me crying real tears… tears man… talkin’ bout
I know he had Stevie Wonder on “Take Care”
But low key Drake was trash on that one.
“Don’t think about it too much”
I know that I shouldn’t, Sampha, but I can’t.
Not in a world where people don’t appreciate this album enough.
And then Pound Cake… I don’t even Need to Say What’s Real
“Cake Cake Cake Cake…”
No Cypher is complete without this beat.
People would go on to freestyle to this for years to come.
But the dude always gotta end his shit off petty.
And that’s how I am right now
’Cause Drake knew.
Shrugs shoulders and makes an exit.
As an advocate for “Nothing Was the Same’s”  superiority, I have argued this point for years. I do concede that “Take Care” is Drake’s most important album. I also understand why the basic people would want to claim that as their favorite. I did not aim to make coherent points or draw out concrete reasons. The music is my evidence and it speaks for itself.
But in the Drakiest way possible, I ask forgiveness from those I have hurt. We can still be friends.
 
Edited by Owen Brock and Elena Cruz

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