On Friday (Oct. 6), Drake’s long-awaited eighth solo studio album, For All The Canine, dropped after seemingly limitless delays — together with a last-second pushback to six:00 a.m. to obtain buzzer-beater options from J. Cole and SZA. Together with gift-wrapping his 23-track set, Drake revealed to followers on his SiriusXM sequence Desk For One that after this album, he would take a hiatus from recording music, citing well being causes.
After a Herculean run, which features a staggering 14 albums since his 2009 entrance with So Far Gone, Drake not solely borrowed Hov’s blueprint for holding the rap sport hostage each summer season, however he personified it. The Golden Age of Aubrey consisted of scintillating options, club-ready bangers, and trigger-happy volleys aimed toward whoever had the unmitigated gall to check the 6 God. Now, a much-deserved break is important for one of many style’s most prolific artists. Not solely can Drake concentrate on his bodily and psychological state after a grueling nationwide tour, however he can come again with brisker experiences to brighten up his catalog after his back-breaking efforts over the past decade and a half.
Now, if Drake does take a breather, the place does this depart hip-hop? Will anybody dare contest him for the throne? With Drizzy out of fee, extra artists can step as much as the plate and problem for the enviable place. The tradition ought to depend on one thing aside from a Drake album to save lots of the 12 months as a substitute of treating his annual launch like hip-hop’s Tremendous Bowl. And although this 12 months has been the least spectacular displaying from the style commercially in fairly a while, Travis Scott, Gunna, and Rod Wave nonetheless shined with their new releases.
After a prolonged layoff amid anticipation and turmoil from his Astroworld Pageant debacle, Scott executed a riveting album that once more tinkered with listeners’ imaginations. His futuristic palette was on full show with Utopia reinforcing the hope that La Flame can proceed to thrive as an unassailable power in music. Not solely did the star-laden album debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 final August with near 500,000 models, however Utopia remained on the summit for an additional three extra.
The story of Gunna in 2023 may be one for the books. Upon being launched from jail final December after taking an Alford Plea within the YSL case, questions arose about how his music profession would proceed. Followers believed that the allegations that he had snitched on YSL head Younger Thug would beset the rapper’s legacy, as his friends largely steered away from displaying him any public help. In June, he quashed doubts about his continued star energy as he doled out his fourth studio album, A Reward and a Curse. Using solo, Gunna swatted detractors on tracks like “Again at It” whereas pushing out arguably the track of the summer season with “Fukumean.” After 15 weeks on the Sizzling 100, the RIAA platinum-certified hit stays contained in the chart’s prime 10, sitting at No. 9 this week. His greatest win got here final month when he offered out New York’s Barclay Middle Enviornment and delivered a rousing and well-received 90-minute set, signaling his prowess as a top-billing performer and mainstay within the style.
And we will’t neglect Rod Wave, who has develop into hip-hop’s silent murderer over the previous few years. Adept at soul-stirring vibes, Wave can puncture the hearts of even the darkest souls, which is why he’s rapidly rising into one in all hip-hop’s most noteworthy artists. And although his emotional savvy and heart-on-sleeve demeanor borrows from the E book of Drake, Rod’s soulful voice is one in all one, proving why hip-hop may have legs for years to return. His final three releases together with this September’s Nostalgia, have all debuted at No. 1 with over 100,000 models, and the second week of Nostalgia boxed out Olivia Rodrigo from the highest spot final week.
These three artists, together with the same old suspects corresponding to 21 Savage, Lil Child, Lil Durk, Uzi Vert, and extra, have the stamina and pleasure to proceed pushing the style ahead even within the prime canine’s absence. Burgeoning rookies like Teezo Landing and Yeat — featured on Drake’s FALD album — are solely getting began and have room to develop into perennial hitmakers. In the meantime, the women – from veterans like Nicki Minaj, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion to still-rising stars like Latto, Ice Spice and Sexxy Pink — are persevering with to take over, fueling the events with their salacious raps.
So, will hip-hop be wonderful with out Drake for the subsequent 12 months or two? Certain, so long as the artists can proceed to develop commercially and creatively, and do it collectively, since there’s room for everyone to make an affect going ahead.
