As I listened through Big Sean’s new album, “I Decided,” and reached the eleventh song, a light bulb clicked on above my head. The gospel vibes belted through my headphones and Sean rapped, “Thanking God for all my setbacks, ‘cause he the reason I’m able to get back.” It instantly became my favorite song from the album, but the theme and message sounded eerily familiar.

Flashback to February 2016: Kanye West finally dropped “The Life of Pablo” after the sloppiest album rollout in the history of music. If you recall the first song from that album, “Ultralight Beam,” it evoked a similar chord in me. I wanted to go to church and turn up. The music was beautiful, the melodies were beautiful and the message was beautiful. The song also featured Chance the Rapper—the MVP of 2016 and the man who took gospel rap to another level.

Super sim to May 2016: Chance the Rapper dropped “Coloring Book”—an album/mixtape/project/whatever you want to call a collection of songs filled with church-friendly raps and more gospel vibes. The song that most exemplifies this is the first “Blessings.” Chance rapped, “When the praises go up, the blessings come down.” Again, I wanted to go to church and turn up, but where have I heard something like that before? It kind of followed the same premise I heard when Big Sean rapped, “Feel like I sent the prayers up and got blessed back,” on “Sunday Morning Jetpack.” I think there’s a connection here.

Kanye West started this gospel rap theme with “Ultralight Beam,” but my heart of hearts tells me that Chance the Rapper rubbed off on Kanye more so than the other way around. Weird, right? But where does Big Sean fit in to the scenario?

I think Kanye, Chance and Sean are connected in this Bermuda Triangle of gospel rap, which is pretty ironic because this is also known as the “Devil’s Triangle.” Am I crazy or am I on to something? Let’s explore further.

While Kanye West isn’t the head of G.O.O.D. Music anymore, he still is the label’s biggest and most popular artist. Who else is signed to G.O.O.D. Music? Big Sean. But then where does Chance fit in?

Chance the Rapper has been very outspoken about Kanye West trying to sign him but declining his offer in order to pave the way for independent artists. Chance is also from Chicago—the same birthplace as Kanye.  So Chance rubs off on Kanye who rubs off on label mate Big Sean. Don’t let it go over your head.

CREDIT: Live Science

By Trey Alessio

CREDIT: drizzydrake.org

Back in October of 2016 on a special edition of OVO Sound Radio on Beats 1, Drake announced his follow-up to “Views.” He said it won’t be a mixtape or an album but a playlist.

“I’m off like mixtapes. I want to do a playlist,” Drake said. “I want to give you a collection of songs that become a soundtrack to your life, so this [will be] More Life: the playlist. Like I said—dropping in December, all original music from me. You might hear some tunes from the family on there. [I’m] just really excited. I had a great tour. I had a great summer. And most people would like go probably take a break, but, for me, I just want to get right back to it—be with the people again.”

Well, Drake is a liar and took a page out of his predecessor Lil Wayne’s book because 2016 came and went, and we still have yet to hear “More Life.” Drake did, however, drop three songs that will supposedly be on the project—“Fake Love,” the radio hit, “Sneakin,’” the trap-rap banger with 21 Savage and “2 Birds, 1 Stone,” the song where Drake actually raps. All three songs are very different and very good in their own way. We also know what the album cover will look like.

I think “More Life” will be a game-changer in regard to the shift from projects being laid out as playlists rather than albums or mixtapes. When Drake said this will be a playlist, it made me think “More Life” will have a bunch of tracks, it will have different tones and sounds, it probably won’t have a cohesive theme, it might contain music from other people in his OVO crew and it may be more of a living, breathing piece of work much like Kanye West’s “The Life Of Pablo” where he kept going back and making subtle changes to numerous songs. With Drake’s popularity, I could definitely see this strategy becoming a more recurring thing within the hip-hop community. His deal with Apple Music may also become a factor in this playlist’s release. Will it be available for purchase or will it be a stream-only project? “More Life” could be the beginning of the end for albums, which would suck because I’m an album guy. I like listening to albums through, not on shuffle.

I don’t believe “More Life” will help Drake’s argument for the title of “best rapper alive,” but I do think it will do numbers and have some solid music. I expect good things—not great things—kind of like “Views.” I’d love to see production from the top beat-makers in the game, but I expect another project exclusively produced by Drake’s partner, 40. I expect a ton of features and I’m hoping for some familiar faces on the playlist. I also expect this playlist project to drop sometime in February due to some concert footage that leaked on Twitter from his “Boy Meets World Tour” in Amsterdam. So without further adieu, here’s my tracklist wish list. 

1. More Life – “Tuscan Leather” intro vibes… Give me introspective bars with no hook for the intro. It worked on “Nothing Was The Same,” so I’d like to see Drake bring it back on this playlist.
2. Fake Love – This song dropped back when Drake made the playlist announcement on OVO Sound Radio. I think this will be the “One Dance” of “More Life.”
3. Shorty Fine (feat. Bryson Tiller) – The perfect rap-sung jam… It was rumored that “More Life” got pushed back because Drake wanted to collaborate with B-Tiller, so I think it’s very possible that we see him on this playlist project. I’d like to see a dark song about love/lust here.
4. OK – Drake previewed a new song in Amsterdam on his “Boy Meets World Tour.” Drake appears to be delving into new flows, so be prepared for something different.
5. Sneakin’ (feat. 21 Savage) – This song premiered on OVO Sound Radio. This will be the trap-rap banger with the new-wave trapper 21 Savage.
6. Owls and Vultures (feat. The Weeknd) – another rap-sung mesh with trippy vibes… Please God, give us this collaboration. We all know the story. The Weeknd was signed to OVO but left to do his own thing. Many thought there was some beef there, but Drake showed support for The Weeknd’s latest album, “Starboy,” and The Weeknd also said he wouldn’t be opposed to collaborating with Drake in the future. So, maybe—hopefully—they’ll hop on a song together.
7. YM For Life (feat. Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj) – Old school, “We Are Young Money” album vibes… These three were recently spotted together, so again, please God, give us this collaboration. I love when artists come up together, kill it, part ways for a bit and surprisingly come back together. This could be that moment.
8. Lust Her by dvsn – Lovey, dovey sex vibes… dvsn can hit the vocals, and I could see Drake’s OVO crew having some solo cuts on “More Life,” so this is feasible, in my opinion.
9. 2 Birds, 1 Stone – This song dropped on OVO Sound Radio when Drake announced “More Life.” This will be the quintessential rap song. It has “Weston Road Flows” vibes, which I’m a big fan of.
10. Life of the Party (feat. Jennifer Lopez) – another radio hit with J-Lo on the hook and Drake singing/rapping about women or love or partying. Whether Drake and J-Lo’s relationship was just a fling or a real ting (Drake voice), J-Lo said they have a song together and I think we could see it on “More Life.”
11. Sunset by Roy Woods - Another OVO crew member solo cut with Roy Woods doing his thing.
12. It’s Lit (feat. Travis Scott and Future) – the turn-up song with “What a Time To Be Alive” vibes… Travis Scott recently showed up on Drake’s tour overseas, so I think it’s feasible to see them on a track together.
13. Deep Cut (feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR) – R&B vibes where Drake and PND touch on their heart-breaking experiences… Lately, it seems like PND has rubbed off on Drake and not the other way around. I think we’ll hear some island vibes and maybe some “tings” on this song.
14. Walk Away by Majid Jordan – introspective, dark R&B vibes… This could be another OVO member jam.
15. Life After – introspective, “Over My Dead Body” vibes… I hope we get at least two or three songs with a deeper meaning than just turning up, making money or hooking up. Maybe Drake will ponder what life will be like after rap.
16. Dinosaur – a turn-up song paying homage to Toronto… A raptor is a dinosaur. Drake put a song called “9” on an album about the “6,” so I think this could be possible as he loves his Toronto Raptors.
17. Pull Me Closer by PARTYNEXTDOOR – Dark lovey, dovey vibes… PND will round out the OVO crew solo songs.
18. Got You (feat. Rihanna) – A sung duet between Drizzy and RiRi… They hopped on Gil Scott Heron’s “I’ll Take Care Of You” for “Take Care,” they hopped on Popcaan’s “Love Yuh Bad” for “Too Good,” so give me a R&B/hip-hop rendition of Sonny and Cher’s “I Got You Babe.”
19. Rep It – “Still Here” vibes… Drake also previewed some new music in London, and I think this would be the perfect spot for that.
20. Reminiscing (feat. Lil Wayne) – Drake and his mentor Lil Wayne recall the moment they knew they’d take over the rap world together… I could see something like this being the perfect mesh of wordplay and bars with some introspection.
21. Remember Me – Drake sings about a girl forgetting about him… This could be another radio hit because you know there will probably be three or four songs from “More Life” that will get radio play.
22. Until We Meet Again – Drake raps about he’s going to take a much needed break from the music grind. During a podcast with Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari, Drizzy talked about wanting to do some acting, so maybe he’ll take a little hiatus from the rap game.

CREDIT: Billboard

What do you want to see on Drake's upcoming "More Life?" Let us know!