Ranking Every Song in Drake’s ‘AM to PM’ Series

“Calabasas” is the fourth version in Drake’s “AM to PM” sequence, and finds The Boy with extra of a jiggy stream. As an alternative of dipping his toes in one other ominous instrumental, he provides Puff’s “Can’t No one Maintain Me Down” a modern-day facelift. Drake takes a victory lap, proclaiming OVO because the new-age Yankees whereas throwing an array of jabs at Joe Budden and Diddy. And whereas the line might look like a stretch to some (“They complete demeanor simply spells envy, they tryna tempt me”), it was directed on the “Pump It Up” MC, who later launched a myriad of diss tracks aimed toward Drake. From the Diddy ad-libs (“Take That”) to the reinvention of the Unhealthy Boy traditional, Drake’s troll degree was on 100 right here. 

On the eve of his hotly anticipated 2010 debut album, Thank Me Later, Drake unleashed an unbelievable show of lyricism, marking the start of his timestamp sequence. “9 AM In Dallas” finds a 23-year-old on the precipice of superstardom, brimming with confidence. “Individuals ask how music is goin’, I heard it pays/ I simply got here off makin’ two million in thirty days,” he buoyantly raps initially of his exhibition. And regardless of the spirited showcase, he nonetheless shows his insecurities, rhyming concerning the considered failure and never exceeding expectations. “What if I don’t actually do the numbers they predict?/ Considerin’ the truth that I’m the one which they simply picked,” he questions later within the tune. 

The storyline round For All of the Canines has been fascinating. Although Drake scored one other Billboard Sizzling 100 No. 1 with “Slime You Out” with SZA, the report fell out of the highest 10 in its second week and was panned by critics, most notably Charlamagne Tha God, for its vanilla lyrics. That mentioned, it’s no coincidence that Drake shifted gears hours forward of his anticipated launch to revive religion in his fanbase. 

“Charlotte” is the place Drake thrives: a soul-stirring soundscape with punchy Instagram-worthy captions. Within the tune’s third verse, the self-proclaimed “Petty King” leans on his thrill for destruction and enters Godfather mode, reminding his adversaries why beefing with him will all the time stay a lifelong warfare. “Subsequent factor you recognize, we tip-toein’ previous enemy traces/ Diss me so way back, we making your recollections fly/ Conspiracy theories begin floatin’ ’spherical just like the Kennedy man/ I’ll prolly maintain a grudge in opposition to you guys ’til I’m seventy-five,” he says.

The feud between Drake and Kanye West was a weary one. Relationship again to 2018’s Scorpion, The Boy was loading up artillery, firing away pictures at Ye’ and his Good Music tribe, most notably Pusha T. “Bridle Path” was most likely Drizzy’s most scathing try, as he pointedly goals at his idol-turned-rival, who appeared to rattle the Toronto star when he posted his residence tackle on Instagram forward of Drake’s CLB album launch. “Give that tackle to your driver, make it your vacation spot/ ‘Stead of only a publish out of desperation,” he mocked Ye. 

The elevation in contempt and Drake’s rhyme scheme are evident in “Bridle” in comparison with “Dallas.” His metaphors are sharper and extra complicated, with rhymes like “Clouds is hanging over you now, ’trigger I’m reigning supreme” or “If we talkin’ high three, you then been slidin’ to 3rd like stolen bases.” 

“New York” might be considered one of Drake’s most underrated songs. Whereas the extent of focus and aggression stays top-tier, his power is totally different. Sure, he pokes enjoyable at his Younger Cash teammate, Tyga — and even throws stones at The Throne — however the theme of “New York” facilities round sacrifice and reflection. Deep ruminations of what the long run holds for a then 27-year-old Drake are what propels the report to a better stratosphere. The next eight bars are a few of the strongest of Drake’s profession, the place he conveys confidence and concern concurrently. 

“Final night time I went to sleep wanting extra/ Tryna resolve what path I ought to go in the direction of/ Some nights I want I might return in life/ To not change sh-t, simply to really feel a pair issues twice / 28 at midnight, surprise what’s subsequent for me/ Longevity, surprise how lengthy they’ll examine for me/ Prolly ceaselessly if I keep in my zone/ I converse on this technology, however can’t change it alone.”

Although Drake usually relishes the villainous position, he understands that transferring mountains, particularly for his technology, would require extra assist. Fortunately, Kendrick and Cole have executed that alongside him at excessive ranges. 

By this time, Drake wasn’t the identical wide-eyed rookie seeking to befriend his idols. Although he was on the high of his recreation, releasing two Billboard 200 No. 1 albums, together with his 2011 sophomore try, Take Care — a nod again to his So Far Gone days — by this period of his profession, he was a bloodthirsty MC seeking to behead his foes seeking sheer dominance. The manufacturing of “5 AM” is darkish and menacing, which permits a trigger-happy Drake to ship a volley of pictures in the direction of the competitors. He revels in his platinum standing, acknowledging how each tune appears like “Drake that includes Drake,” whereas quipping that with out him, “The rap recreation is a bunch of corpses.” 

In fact, “Toronto” was the equal of LeBron James’ emphatic 2012 Sport 6 efficiency in opposition to the Boston Celtics, the place he poured 45 factors and saved his legacy. By 2012, the stats and acclaim had been in Drake’s favor, however he wanted one other lyrical dagger to reaffirm his place within the GOAT race. This tune was it.