What A Time

.In maybe one of the most out of nowhere and yet most intelligent moves all year, Drake and Future decide to treat the entire rap game with a surprise album. What A Time To Be Alive came on short notice and sparked immediate buzz on social media. The album cover consists of nothing but platinum diamonds which symbolically is reminiscent of the 2011 collaborative album Watch The Throne by Kanye West & Jay-Z. Though not as simplistic as that album, WATTBA continues the popular trend; FUTURE! Future literally is riding one of the hottest streaks in hip-hop (besides Fetty Wap). With the success of his last three mixtapes (Monster, Beast Mode, & 56 Nights) as well as his first number 1 album (Dirty Sprite 2) Future seems to be doing his best Steph Curry with the shot impression. All Drake bars  aside as his close friend is also running rap. Drake is coming off of the only platinum album this year in If You're Reading This It's Too Late. Mix that with the successful burial of Meek Mill's reputation with the summer hit "Back 2 Back", Drake is already prepping for his next album Views From The 6.

As far as this project goes though it seemed a bit rushed. The album doesn't nearly have the quality of DS2 or IYRTITL. I mean but then again this was a rumored 6 day recording session so not much was to be expected. The album sounds more like Future ft Drake anyway. Future feels more at home especially with his beat maker Metro Boomin the executive producer. Digital Dash serves as the intro to the album and as Future shines rapping "I slide on your ass in the 7 deuce/Come back on your bitch in a six trey/Chevy, Mercedes I keep em' coming/Fuck all these bitches I keep em' coming". Drake never seems to be in tune with the track with lines like "We just keep serving and serving again and again and again and again".  The very distant worlds that both artist come from resonates further on "Live From The Gutter". Future shows a glimpse of the rough life he once lived rapping he sees bales, girls, scales, and overall hell everywhere while Drake discusses girls tripping off cocaine and pillow talking. Even though Drake is clearly the better lyrical rapper out the two, Future seems to take charge through his delivery and  emphasis. The odd couple shows what it can do when it actually clicks. Songs like Scholarships, Diamonds Dancing, Plastic Bag, and Change Locations are great examples and also provides Drake with a cushion to relate more due to it concerning more about women.

By far the most popular club banger off the album and also my favorite song from it goes to Jumpman. In maybe the dab anthem of the year, the song essentially references Michael Jordan's brand and logo Jumpman which seems to catch everyone's tempo. Future raps "Bentley spurs and phantom Jordan fadeaway. Drake spits "Jumpman jumpman they gave me my own collection" referring to the OVO rappers collaborations with the Jordan shoe brand. The beat is absolutely crazy. It has recently become a pc game as well.

Overall this tape clearly shows the two artists at the top of there respective lanes but clearly isn't the best work from either rapper. For it being done in six days it still packs a punch.


Rating: 7 out of 10...