In 2011, Drake released his sophomore album, Take Care, which ended up going double platinum, winning a Grammy for Best Rap Album. Take Care branded me. It resonated on a deeply personal level and has since become an enduring work of art. Drake's third effort, Nothing Was the Same is a follow-up to the end of "The Ride" on Take Care where Drake spits his last lines: "my junior and senior will only get meaner."

Drake is one of the most popular rappers in the music world. His notoriety as an emotional rapper sunk into the public's consciousness last year due to the soul-baring nature of his lyrics. Nothing Was the Same has only a few songs that focus on romantic relationships, but when the album leaked, Twitter erupted with over-emotional pleas like "Drake leaked. I'm crying now" and "Listening to NWTS = time to call your ex." Publications quickly compiled these tweets into content of their own. Buzzfeed even titled an article, "Drake's New Album Resonates Because We're All Emotional Wrecks." None of these articles mentioned Drake's superior sense of melody and writing, Noah "40" Shebib's perfectly curated music production, or the painstaking brilliance of Nothing Was the Same as the cohesive
next chapter to Drake's star-studded story.

Nothing Was the Same is Drake's boldest statement yet. Every line rapped comes from a place of zen-like confidence that fully embraces his identity. He's at the peak of his career; he's 26 years old and worth $30 million. His "Club Paradise" Tour was one of the most profitable tours of 2012, according to Forbes' "Hip Hop Cash Kings" list. This is a guy who turned his life around-from being a high school dropout and child actor to becoming one of the biggest stars in the entertainment industry. Drake gives a disclaimer to all the people who said he didn't struggle on the album's first single, "Started From The Bottom," that has gone double platinum since February. However, it's best said in "The Language": "People are funny, you don't even know the sh*t that I've been through."

In most popular music, the creative process is usually sent through a byzantine conduit of producers and record label middlemen. This turns out great pop hits like Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" or Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball," but we don't receive art that is powerful. We don't get a unique individual or group telling us that their mind is important. Drake knows this. On "Tuscan Leather," the bold opening track, Drake raps, "this ain't nothing for the radio, but they'll still play it though, 'cause it's that new drizzy Drake, that's just the way it go." It's refreshing.

Drake's authenticity and critical self-evaluations provide vivid imagery throughout the album. He puts other rappers to shame in "The Language," juxtaposing the glamour of his recent tour with criticisms like: "F*ck any n*gga that's talking that sh*t just to get a reaction." Every line is carefully paired with Shebib's dynamic production style that bounces everywhere from early 2000s hip-hop to Kanye West's 808s and Heartbreak to Hudson Mohawke's unique trap style on "Connect." Nothing Was the Same is a sonic synthesis of all that is hip-hop.

"Hold On We're Going Home" is one of the album's smash hits. It's a beautiful song and strategically ex- ecuted. Drake specifically refrains from cursing, so it's an easy entry point for him to build a new fan base. The video for the song, released this Wednesday, is magnificent as well, featuring Bill Pope (who directed the Matrix franchise) in an action- packed Miami Vice-inspired storyline. It's Drake's transition into acting, as he's making an appearance in Anchorman 2.

In the song, "Lord Knows" on Take Care, Drake had a line that goes: "I'm a descendent of either Marley or Hendrix, I haven't figured it out because my story is far from finished." This is Drake's target. He wants to influence a generation. He's aiming for a place among the Kanye's and Jay-Z's. Nothing Was The Same is a statement of excellence and aspiration in a world inundated by music. Only time will tell where Drake takes his career next. I'm excited.