Review: "More Life" Gives More "Views"
What many feel is Drake's accelerated path to get out of his current deal continues as Drake releases his 4th project in 2 years, More Life. Every time Drake releases music, it is a topic of conversation. This is no different. Drake continues to bring out the lovers, haters and the constant critics with More Life.
Drake does not put out 100% rap albums. He's bigger than the genre of hip-hop. Get over it. I don't believe Drake has been concerned with being the best rapper for some years now. Then you have his biggest records not being rap songs and you have no choice but to understand that More Life is indeed a playlist. A playlist of music Drake likes to experiment with. In what sounds like an extension of Views and the response from it, More Life is "Drake doing Drake "with no apologies or respect for your personal opinion.
In case you were wondering. Yes. Joe Budden, Meek Mill and Jay Z all get a few shots thrown their way throughout the project. See songs "Free Smoke", "Portland", "Lose You", "Do Not Disturb", and "Can't Have Everything". You can throw "Fake Love" in that mix too. Although there is a large population that doesn't like or respect the subliminal diss and the lack of saying names while throwing slander. It must be understood that Drake didn't create that game. He just plays it well. More Life forces you to listen and pay close attention to more of Drake's life. You also get some good music to vibe to.
Whether you believe Drake took down J.Lo or not. You better believe he took a hook to one of her biggest songs and made a nice track called "Teenage Fever". The title of the song should tell you what's up though. I like "Passionfruit". That's honestly one of my favorites on the album. Makes me want to sip and sing passionately. "Blem" has that real question every man wants to know "I wanna know, how come we can never splash and stay friends?". So you will want to repeat that one cause at one point in life you've related. "Nothings To Somethings" is either the Drake you love or kind of hate, but you listen cause it's vulnerable and emotional.
Drake's mother says the realest thing on the album while being concerned for her son on "Can't Have Everything". Kanye West appears on "Glow". It's a good song, but I'm still not excited about them coming together for a project. Young Thug chose to shut every mumble rap critic up with his features on "Sacrifices" [also features 2 Chainz] and "Ice Melts".
Long review short. Drake is over you ni**as that got too much to say about a life you never lived. His "real" and your "real" are different. He doesn't care and you shouldn't either. Drake is also confused how you all question his pen game when he's literally gave you more than one for what will be 10 summers this year. More Life is focused on making hits in a genre that is not focused on solely rap or R&B. But don't get it confused. There are dope rap moments throughout More Life. More Life like every other Drake album is worth your ear and listen. Take your expectation out of his mission and enjoy!
The running theme? And more chune for your head tops. So watch how you speak on my name. You know?
"This Is Us" Series Unexpected Season One Finale
Over the course of six months, the new NBC series This Is Us has captivated audience’s hearts. The series tells the beautiful story that revolves around six individuals and how their lives connect as one family.
It is no surprise that the series was nominated for several awards, including screen actors guild awards and golden globe awards for best television series and best performances by an actress; This is Us has also won awards for the series’ overall quality from the People’s Choice Awards, the Writers Guild of America, the AFI awards, and more.
(Spoilers) As I sat down to watch the season one finale last week on March 14th, emotions were high. The previous episode had left off with the family patriarch, Jack Pearson, driving drunk on his way to make amends with his wife Rebecca. As most long-term audience members of This Is Us know, Jack faces an early death. His children are in their teens/early 20s when his passing occurs. But the "how" is still uncertain. Many expected this to be it, the big reveal of how Jack dies and the story behind his death.
Yet, pleasantly, the season finale of This Is Us did not end with a sorrow tone. Instead, there is hope and the promise of a future. These goals are not only shown through Jack and Rebecca, but a new possible life-altering avenue for Randall too. Randall proposes that he and his wife adopt a baby.
This decision allows the story to come full circle in a way. Randall's choice to adopt a child shows his understanding and appreciation for his parents on a new level. Randall realizes that although Rebecca didn’t make the best decisions when it came to Randall’s birth parents, she was always there for him 110%, and he believes that Rebecca did what she thought was best for Randall growing up. Although Randall didn’t get much time with his birth father, he understands how loved he was by William, Jack, and Rebecca. Randall, in turn, wants to give that same powerful love that he had with Jack and Rebecca to another child.
As for Jack and Rebecca, despite their hostile words exchanged with one another, they didn’t simply apologize. Although both felt guilt at the way the expressed their feelings, they both meant what they said. Rebecca even states this truth directly. Rebecca has sacrificed having something of her own, and her opportunity to have her “big break” as a singer was ruined by Jack who showed up drunk. She depicts herself as a house wife and a mother of teenage children who don’t need her anymore. Yet, Jack has visibly made sacrifices too; such as, asking his drunk abusive father for money, so Jack and Rebecca didn't have to move in with Rebecca's parents. But at the end of the day, Jack is fighting for his marriage with Rebecca. He is showing the lengths of his love for her, and that this is only the beginning of their story.
It is in this episode that we discover how Jack and Rebecca meet. It is a joyful revelation, rather than one filled with tragedy and pain. We, the audience, see how Rebecca saved Jack from acting out a really stupid plan; a plan that could have altered the course of his life and ruined his future. Rebecca was Jack’s “big break.”
Although many were anticipating the season finale to reveal the truth about Jack’s death, this episode gave audiences so much more in such a positive, uplifting way. It gives these characters time: time to mend, time to heal, and time to continue to build a life together with the ones that they love. The This Is Us season finale continues to tell the story of the Pearson family and their journey together.