Drake: Nothing Was the Same – review

Of all the big pop stars, and he is certainly one, Drake does the best job of being all things to all men. He's a rapper and singer, a pedlar of both braggadoccio and melancholy, boy next door and baller, lover and womaniser, dork and hunk, Jewish and black. Fans find what they like in Drake, but his bundle of contrasts also seems authentic and, as a result, charismatic. On this third album, we get a song in which Drake discusses trying to repair his relationship with his father over a couple of beers, and another in which he praises the skills of a stripper and suggests she should reward herself with some lobster. Each feels consistent with the man. There's a consistency to the music, too, a subdued tone framed by sub-bass and synth washes. That's the work of producer and childhood friend Noah "40" Shebib, who on Wu-Tang Forever and From Time captures the same blend of glamour and gloom as Drake does in his lyrics; and Hold On, We're Going Home is one of the best pop tunes of the year. There's nothing overly complex or profound here, but try to resist the charm.