7 Things You Probably Missed on Your First Listen of 'More Life'

Here's what you might've missed during your first listen of Drake's 'More Life' playlist.

Photo Removed
Complex Original

Blank pixel used during image takedowns

Photo Removed

Today was the day. Drake finally rolled out his More Life playlist on the 39th episode of OVO Sound Radio, nearly five months after he announced it. The big unveiling, of course, caused the Twittersphere to freak out, with fans live tweeting their immediate reactions to all 22 tracks. Because there was so much to take in—from the samples to the bars to slew of guest appearances—there’s a chance fans might’ve missed some of the project’s key moments during the first listen. We don’t blame you: Attention to detail can prove to be difficult when you’re freaking out from excitement.

Before you revisit More Life (and we know you will), be sure to keep your eye out for these highlights.

  • Drake reaffirmed his obsession with U.K. grime by enlisting two of the genre’s biggest names: Giggs (“No Long Talk” and “KMT”) and Skepta (“Skepta interlude").
  • He gave several shout outs to his once-rumored love interest Jennifer Lopez. In the playlist’s opening track, “Free Smoke,” Drizzy rapped set social media ablaze by rapping, “I drunk text J-Lo/Old number, so it bounce back.” He also sampled the singer’s 1999 hit “If You Had My Love” on “Teenage Fever.”
  • One of the most-talked about tracks on More Life was the Kanye West-assisted “Glow.” Obviously, any Yeezy feature is going to generate buzz, but it seemed many listeners were more moved by the sample at the end. For those unfamiliar with 1970s funk, the familiar tune is from Earth, Wind and Fire’s “Devotion.” 
  • More Life is basically a rap world all-star game, with some of hip-hop’s biggest names making major contributions. And while everyone will be talking about the Kanye West-assisted standout “Glow,” don’t sleep on the two Young Thug features on “Sacrifices” and “Ice Melts.” The collab was pretty much a forgone conclusion after the Atlanta rapper joined Drizzy on his European Boy Meets World Tour. OVO acolyte PartyNextDoor comes in at a close second for most underrated guest spot on the bouncy “Since Way Back.”
  • No one has a pulse on new music quite like Drake, and he proved it once again on More Life. And while previously obscure artists like Giggs and Jorja Smith take center stage on the playlist, pay close attention to Black Coffee, the South African house DJ whose contribution on “Get it Together” is a More Life highlight.
  • What would a Drake offering be without a voicemail from a close somebody in which real emotions are laid bare. On More Life, that clip comes courtesy of mama Aubrey Graham herself, who laments her son’s recent aggressive tone in response to his beef with Meek Mill. Oh, and her Michelle Obama quote—“When others go low, we go high,"—is a More Life mic drop moment.
  • More Life’s closing track, the infectious "Do Not Disturb", is a classic Drake outro, in which he reminisces about his days as a an ambitious Toronto upstart, and promises new music when he raps “I’ll Be back in 2018 to give you the summary.”

View this video on YouTube

youtube.com

 

Latest in Music