The choice to delay Drake’s newest album has created a combination of madness and badness within his fanbase.
On Sept. 15, exactly one week before the release of his eighth studio album, “For All the Dogs”, Drake took to his Instagram story to let his fans know of his sudden decision to delay his upcoming album. Citing concerns with balancing a new album and finishing his tour, he made the call to push back his album by two weeks, giving it the new release date of Oct. 6.
Boasting over 76 million monthly listeners on Spotify, all eyes are currently on the Toronto-based rapper. It has been over a year since the release of Drake’s last solo EP, “Honestly Nevermind”, which left fans with mixed reactions.
“I think it’s [“Honestly Nevermind”] different than anything he’s ever done before,” Katie Stewart, a junior at State High, said. “It’s more, like, house genre, and it’s not something that I really listen to. There’s two songs that I like, but I feel like it’s not typical Drake.”
Despite the lukewarm reception following his previous solo release, many fans are still hopeful that “For All the Dogs” will be well worth the wait.
“I’m very excited for Drake’s new album,” Sawyer McLaughlin, a senior at State High and self-proclaimed Drake fanatic, said. “I’ve been waiting a very long time, looking at YouTube videos about the leaks about a new song, or about when an album might drop or something.”
As a way to apologize to his fans, Drake released a song off the new album on the same day he announced its delay. The song, titled “Slime on You”, includes a feature from fellow musician and ex-girlfriend, SZA. This may not have been the best song to release early, as fans are not sure what to think about it.
Luke Fuller, senior at State High, was not impressed.
“I found it kind of hard to get into, I mean, it was alright. It was just mid… I never really got into it,” Fuller said.
More and more people have been saying that Drake has gotten worse, claiming his newer music will never reach the peaks of his older discography. However, his fans are quick to dismiss this.
“People always talk about Drake,” Fuller stated. “He still has the same social media engagement, so yeah, I’d say he’s still at his peak.”
Whether it’s fans tuning in or critics listening out of skepticism, Drake’s new album will surely not go under the radar.
“Drake,” McLaughlin. “If you’re hearing this, I’m sure it’s good. Just release it please, for the dogs. Release it.”
