Drake, Dark Lane Demo Tapes | Album Review 💿

On his first project of 2020, Drake releases yet another mixtape, Dark Lane Demo Tapes, which ends up having its share of moments.

Cutting straight to the chase, Drake hasn’t released a proper studio album since dropping his 2018 double album, Scorpion.  Even so, the rapper/singer has remained firmly in the spotlight, rereleasing a mixtape from 2009 (So Far Gone) in 2019, as well dropping a separate mixtape of unreleased songs from various points of his career on Care Package (2019).  While it would seem, a brand-new album was on the horizon, once more in 2020, fans received another mixtape from one of the biggest rappers in the game, Dark Lane Demo Tapes.  Among familiar records that grace this 50-minute project are “When to Say When,” “Chicago Freestyle,” and “Toosie Slide”.  Dark Lane Demo Tapes has its share of moments.

“Deep Pockets” 

The vibe is established with opener ✓ “Deep Pockets,” which features production by Noah “40” Shebib and Plain Pat.  The sound is cloudy, laid back, and lush.  While the backdrop lacks finesse where a clear, crisp sound is concerned, it fits Drake perfectly.  His flow here provides an excellent contrast.

✓ “When to Say When” should sound quite familiar.  Why? The sample, “Sounds Like a Love Song” (Bobby Glenn) has been used numerous times, most notably perhaps on the Jay-Z classic, “Song Cry”.  Once again, it’s effective in Drake’s hands.  Like on “Deep Pockets,” we get a winning, agile flow, working quite successfully over the soulful backdrop. One standout, eyebrow raising lyric:

“And I got your girl on the second floor, beggin’ me to put it in
And it’s not because all of the money that you wouldn’t spend.”

✓ “Chicago Freestyle” gives Dark Lane Demo Tapes a third consecutive standout.  This subtle, moody number features a memorable, low-key chorus by Giveon, again, creating that vibe (“Windy city, she blowin’ me kisses, no / Thirty degrees, way too cold, so hold me tight / Will I see you at the show tonight?”).  Drake packs more punch, but even so, he doesn’t ‘slaughter’ with biting rhymes; he’s more calm, cool, and collected.

“Not You Too”

I know I’ve used the word ‘vibe’ a lot while analyzing Dark Lane Demo Tapes, but that’s one of the best ways to characterize Drake and his approach to and brand of music.  That sensibility continues on the extremely slow but rhythmic “Not You Too.” Here, he enlists Chris Brown for the assist.  Notably, Brown plays more of a background role, interesting considering how much the singer’s voice usually cuts through. There’s a subtlety, like the preceding songs, with the drum programming generally being the most driving aspect of the song. Eventually, one of the pads adds an additional tone color, providing some additional contrast to a record that remains a bit more static for a period of time.

“Don’t you wanna dance with me? No? / I could dance like Michael Jackson / I could give you thug passion / It’s a Thriller in the trap where we from.” Former number one hit ✓ “Toosie Slide” is named after Atlanta choreographer Toosie. On “Toosie Slide,” we don’t get any hardnosed bars but rather smooth, vibe-laden pop rap.  Over the course of four-minutes-plus, it honestly doesn’t sound as if he ever perspires.  Even though reference to ‘the street’ is made, “Toosie Slide” doesn’t sound ‘street,’ though don’t characterize the movement as dance-pop either:

“It got right foot up, left foot, slide
Left foot up, right foot, slide
Basically, I’m sayin’ either way, we ‘bout to slide, ayy
Can’t let this one slide, ayy (Who’s bad?).”

Besides melodic vocals, Drake pretty much chills over smooth, hypnotic production work.  Much like the rapper himself, OZ doesn’t construct a backdrop that ever gets too high, save for that hard hitting, trap percussion.  The production works well for the ever-mellow rapper without being particularly distinct.  “Toosie Slide” is okay, if a bit underwhelming ultimately.

“Desires”

“Desires” marks the first appearance of Drake’s ATL pal Future with respectable results. D. Hill and Noel Cadastre bless thee track with gorgeous production work, anchored by a trap beat and restrained, cloudy pads.  Minimalist in sound, it’s all the fuel needed for either performer.  Among the best moments are the chorus and the change of pace on the third and final verse performed by Drizzy. OZ gives the rapper more ear catching production on “Time Flies,” again embracing a minimal script with little harmonic variance. As always, Drizzy is the focal point, delivering a melodic performance.

I actually prefer the shorter, more aggressive ✓ “Landed.”  No, Drake doesn’t reinvent the wheel or suddenly increase the innovative spirit, but he brings more energy and intensity.  Rarer these days do we hear him shift away from more of a pop-rap approach.  On “Landed” he’s not profound, but it’s great to hear him deliver straight bars.   

“D4L”

✓ “D4L” featuring Future and Young Thug is definitely an entertaining banger.  All three rappers exhibit ample of personality, with the ad-libs and sound effects arguably being the best part.  Of course, the chorus is pretty great too, with Young Thug leading the charge:

“FBG, YSL, know just what’s brackin’, yeah
Told my story, gotta clear it by your daddy, yeah
…Bowen Homes, you know, that shiesty shit
You go outside, you better back it.”

Drake, of course, is the least ‘artistically eccentric’ of the trio, but he shines as well on this trap joint produced by Southside.

Follow up “Pain 1993” has promise.  I like the toughness that Drizzy showcases over the simple but energetic backdrop and beat.  His flow compels, even if he doesn’t say anything game changing.  Where “Pain 1993” falls flattest is the guest appearance by Playboi Carti.  This is frustrating AF TBH… Why? Playboi Carti brings similar energy to Drizzy but the pitch-shifted vocals completely kill things.  This same thing occurred on Cart’s comeback single “@MEH”, which I considered to be quite underwhelming.

“Losses” is the longest record on Dark Lane Demo Tapes.  It commences with an intro by Dennis Graham (his father), before settling into a slow, but effective, honest record. “Lost you to the game, I gotta hug that / I was here when you was asking where the love at,” he raps on the first verse, adding on the second, cleverly, “We started this from the bottom, now you alone there.”  Dennis reappears on an interlude between the two verses, as well as the outro alongside his son.

“From Florida with Love”

Beyond “Losses,” listeners are treated to the Noah “40” Shebib / MexikoDro production, “From Florida with Love,” which was actually recorded in Miami in December 2017, prior to the release of Scorpion.  There’s nothing profound here, but again, we get a vibe (there I go again) and a simple but catchy chorus:

“Booted up, turned up, piped up (Plugg)
I’m back, baby, where the love? (Where the love at?)”

✓ “Demons,” which dabbles in drill music, features some of the most ‘souped-up’ production of Dark Lane Demo Tapes, thanks to JB Made It.  Furthermore, Drake enlists the services of Fivio Foreign and Sosa Geek.  Fivio Foreign brings some serious toughness on the second verse, complementing JB Made It’s dramatic backdrop perfectly.  Similarly, Sosa Greek is aggressive AF on the third verse.  Backtracking, Drake raps the opening verse, throwing in some French and Jamaican patois.  His best moment, however, is the chorus:

“Fivi, Sosa, vira, movie
I’m in this bitch with the Wooski
Ball in the summer like Drew League
Champagne got me loopy
Glizzy Bop lookin’ groovy
All the demons lookin’ moody.” 

Interestingly, Drake remains aggressive and more assertive on the closing cut, “War.”  Like “Demons,” the backdrop is angrier, darker, and more overt.  Am I wowed by the results? Wowed is not the right word, but I appreciate the fact that he ‘goes in’ on this hook-less joint.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, on Dark Lane Demo Tapes, Drake has his share of moments.  He doesn’t change or flip the game on its side with anything he serves up here, but, all in all, this is an enjoyable mixtape.  He provides a variety of his more melodic side as well as surprises with his edgier moments.  Would an album like this suffice as his next studio album? No, but there are moments he can take from Dark Lane Demo Tapes and incorporate into the next album.

✓ Gems: “Deep Pockets,” “When to Say When,” “Chicago Freestyle,” “Toosie Slide,” “Landed,” “D4L” & “Demons”  

Drake • Dark Lane Demo Tapes • OVO / Republic • Release: 5.1.20

Photo Credits: OVO / Republic