Aubrey Drake Graham’s entertainment career started with being an actor on Degrassi: The Next Generation. He was a part of the series until 2007 when he decided to focus all his attention on being a singer. What the future would have been if he continued on the path of being an actor, no one can know. But, the fact that his music has resonated with listeners across the globe and continues to impress with each new album has made him one of the most recognised and admired musicians in the industry.
Billboard
The release of Drake’s fifth studio album, Scorpion, has been astounding. This two-disc set, with a total of 25 songs, comprises of Rap songs on one disc and R&B and Soul on the other. Fans and critics have already been hard at work picking out their personal favourites, and there are some stand out performances in the form of Summer Games, Emotionless, I’m Upset, and of course his previously released hits God’s Plan and Nice For What. When it comes to record-breaking, Drake broke The Beatles record for having the maximum singles in the Billboard Top 10 list by listing seven of his songs from the album Scorpion simultaneously. He also has the most tracks on the Hot 100, 27 in total, breaking his own previous record. All the 25 songs of Scorpion have a place in the Hot 100 list at present.
Streaming
Streaming has become the latest trend when it comes to watching films or listening to music. In tune with the new generation, it is only apt that the industry keeps track of streaming records just as they have done for digital downloads or CD sales at one time. Drake’s Scorpion broke all previous records with over 1 billion streams in a week. But, his accolades don’t just end there as he also managed to surpass his own record of maximum one-day streams on Apple Music. The previous record stood at 89.9 million streams, but with Scorpion, he has almost doubled it at 170 million streams.
Opening up
As is the case with any double album release, there are going to be songs that are loved, while others that don’t strike the right chord. For an artist, an album remains a personal labour of love. In Scorpion, Drake opens up about his private life and admits to having a son in the song Emotionless. One of the reasons why Drake continues to rules the charts is because his lyrics often show a side of his life that not many are aware of. Take God’s Plan which has such a universal appeal to it and works on the theme of being generous and sharing the wealth. On a more individual note, the video of I’m upset sees Drake regroup with the cast of the TV show Degrassi, a sign that no matter his fame, he is still grounded in his past.
Standout performances
Even with continuing success and record-breaking, Drake’s music is never considered genre defining or path-breaking. Still, fans can relate to it, and they love the honesty with which he sings. It is the standout performances, like the release of his EP Scary Hours earlier this year, which highlight his talent as a rapper, singer, and songwriter and makes him a bankable musician. Scorpion is a sure sign of Drake’s genius, and with his best work still in the wings, his fans have something to look out for in the future.
Rishma
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