Drake’s New Tape is Pandemic Vibes
Dark Lane Demo Tapes is everything you need for a relaxing evening of quarantining
Drake’s latest project, with the feel of a mixtape, Dark Lane Demo Tapes showcases the artist’s return to the basics. Filled with throwaways, leaks, and new chunes, we are offered a side of Drake we rarely see in the music. A glance at the authentic.
Arguably his gloomiest release yet, the cover art tells us what is contained before pressing play. The striking artwork transports us to a dark space, with bright spots featured throughout, and provides an unflinching look at the artist behind the mask.
Considering our dreary containment, the tape fits the times. And Drake has delivered a perfect 50-minute reflection, while we don’t have much better to do.
“I’m not tryna make no song, these are cold facts”
In the wake of the apparent shot at Tik Tok dance stardom, fans concerned the single warned a turning corner got their response: Sort of, sometimes, but not really.
Speaking on Lil Wayne’s radio show, Drake says this tape was about creating “a body of something to listen to, as opposed to just one isolated song.” Fully acknowledging the time we are in, he focused efforts on making the soundtrack for our collective quarantine.
Moving from the heavily polished hit-making machine, Dark Lane opts instead for an ambient heavy sound that is more reminiscent than anything. The gloomy soundscapes and snappy drum kits provide Drake the runway to bare his soul as usual, while allowing him to experiment as he sees fit.
And he sounds like he is having fun. As much as can be had for “a man who is intensely concerned with the politics of text messages and bro-daps.”
“Wrote this with a Cartier pen, do I sound different?”
Keeping close to the status quo, we are comforted with the usual. Boasting lines hinted with a biting sense of suffering. We are also introduced to Air Drake, the million-dollar stripper fund, and the Cartier pen used to write it all into existence. Nevertheless, he continues to struggle with regrets from past relationships. “Desires” showcases such concerns, giving us a sense of comfort from what has become expected subjects.
Sounding like he has finally accepted his perpetual bachelor lifestyle, these subjects are attacked with renewed energy. No longer illuding to a past woman who got away, Drake has embarrassed his desires to remain free. On “Time Flies” he openly confesses he is not ready to settle down his “too turnt” lifestyle just yet. Instead, admitting the truth and continuing to gush about the stories a wealthy single life has afforded him.
While his projects have always functioned as some sort of confessional, the mixtape — without the stakes of sales expectations — sees his guard down just enough to get a better sense of the man outside of the booth. Speaking on his thoughts on Kobe, mending fences with The Weeknd, a Chubbs and Detail featured incident, and his thoughts in the wake of his robbery, we get more than the relationship crooning typified in his music.
“I could be your man but maybe down the road / Right now I would rather see my heart turn to chrome”
The brief skits (really just Instagram Live recordings) add an extra layer, inviting us into his home—as we are literally in the video for “Toosie Slide.”
Takes like those pulled from the father-son Instagram Live session sprinkled throughout “Losses” add a personal touch. Coming at the end of the originally Future teased “Desires,” a backgrounded Drake vocal introduces the subsequent “Time Flies.” Throughout the project, the transitions can be so seamless that if you don’t pay attention, the tape can feel like one long song.
Of course, the obligatory Future feature is spotted — perhaps a throwaway from the ever teased WATTBA 2 set to release, whenever. We are gifted with a baby voiced Playboi Carti feature, as well as a Chris Brown spot — which is quickly becoming a natural addition. Fivio Foreign and Sosa Geek also make a somewhat surprising, but oddly fitting, appearance.
Overall, the project sounds good. A taste before the upcoming album set to release Summer 2020. The bars are on point, he sounds like he is having the time of his life, and the gloominess reflects our collective cabin fever.
Drake continues to give his base just enough content to keep us talking and prevent him from being neatly type-casted to a specific wave. He offers up something for everyone, while still spinning out captions to ensure his wisdom endures. I am interested to hear the next album to see how he develops his narrative as the driver of our culture.
