The 6 God has us all wondering: what’s next for Drake? The Toronto rapper, who’s built an empire on his slick flows and emotional vulnerability, has been dominating the music scene for over a decade. But as his latest album, “Certified Lover Boy,” has left fans and critics alike craving more, the question on everyone’s mind is: what’s the next move for the boy who cried wolf?
With his unparalleled streaming numbers and chart-topping hits, Drake’s success is nothing short of phenomenal. But as he continues to push the boundaries of what hip-hop can do, the question remains: can he sustain this level of greatness, or is it time for him to take a step back and reassess his approach? Should he continue to ride the wave of his current fame, or use this momentum to venture into new territories?
Drake: The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
The Notorious Diss Track and Drake’s Unusual Response
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” has broken both wondrous and dubious ground: It’s a first-time/five-time Grammy-winning, Billboard “Hot 100”-topping rap diss almost destined to make the further history of being the first song of its kind performed at a Super Bowl halftime show. Meanwhile, Drake, the song’s subject, is suing Universal Music Group for defamation, claiming his and Lamar’s label boosted lies unnaturally to hurt him. With an attorney who repped the literal pizzeria from Pizzagate in tow, Drake frames “Not Like Us” as a similarly malicious flowering of lies into real-world violence. But the filing otherwise comprises a mountain of internet commenters calling Drake a predator and colonizer, treating the roasts and illegal intrusions onto his property as equally deserving of federal intervention. The gesture might rank as one of the most embarrassing in hip-hop history.
Drake’s suit is an uphill battle because it requires him to peel “Not Like Us” out of the context in which it exists to frame it as a fully believable attack when it’s actually an aggravated crystallization of weeks of arguments spread out over songs that saw he himself revel in unprovable claims. The filing avoids mentioning this part because acknowledging other records establishes the single as part of the rhetorical tradition of the rap diss. Collecting a mountain of reactions to “Not Like Us” attempts to document listeners taking lyrics at face value. The song made enemies out of posters, who see a tough talker clamoring for cruder and faster responses, only for him to contact the feds in fear after a shooting at his mansion. But it’s more useful to process what looks like the plug being pulled on Drake’s mafioso era as the latest in a litany of fluid evolutions for a persona that’s always been nervously on the move.
The Evolution of Drake: From Relatable Boy Next Door to Hip-Hop Heavyweight
Presented with an obstacle, like fans calling him soft or fellow rappers questioning his authorship and authenticity, Drake adapts, shifting into a more appealing shape. His transformation into a ’10s and ’20s industry and internet terror — trackable in the transition from “I just wanna be successful” to “I know way too many people here right now / That I didn’t know last year” to “I got enemies” — mirrors a stiffening of modern men in an era increasingly defined by division and displays of dominance. “Not Like Us” is the hardest hit Drake’s reputation has taken. Can he evolve again?
Facing a hard time for being different, not originally the image of a hip-hop tough guy, Drake built himself hard, like Chiron in 2016’s Moonlight. The confident rapper, R&B singer, indie-rock admirer, and lover boy of 2009’s So Far Gone was the better part of a decade in the making. Prone to hero worship early on, Drake hashed out his style in public, dabbling in rap while working on the Canadian teen soap Degrassi: The Next Generation. Early works pitched diaristic stories about insecurities: 2006’s “S.T.R.E.S.S.” recalled sneaking around with a girl whose parents didn’t approve of her having a biracial boyfriend. 2007’s “Closer to My Dreams” huffed, “I’ve been Urkel for some years, it’s better being Jaleel.” So Far Gone, one of that decade’s high watermarks of blog-era taste and jocking-for-beats curation, ramped up the transformation, getting cagier about the oversharing and locating a vulnerability that didn’t scan as corny. The guy the American masses met in 2009 had already worked out a sound, approaching the sad-robot pop of Ye’s 808s & Heartbreak from the chilly arrogance of boardroom Jay.
Hip-hop heads didn’t always respect the swing of the pendulum, though. Framing Ja Rule as a softie and a crooner, 50 Cent had just tucked the artist’s chart-topping career into an eternal slumber. Author Andrew Lipstein Believes There Are Two Kinds of Bagel Shops “There are those that try to dominate you, and there are those that want to be dominated.”
Drake on the Brink: Can He Weather This Storm and Evolve Again?
Drake’s lawsuit against UMG and the public firestorm surrounding “Not Like Us” present a pivotal moment in his career. The stakes are high. Drake’s already formidable reputation within the music industry and among his devoted fanbase is on the line. A successful outcome for Drake could solidify his position as a top-tier artist and a savvy businessman, while a loss could cast a shadow over his legacy, potentially alienating fans and damaging his brand.
Drake has faced challenges before, and he has a history of overcoming them. He’s been criticized for his lyrical content, dissected for his relationship choices, and even accused of plagiarism. Yet, he has always managed to bounce back, evolving his sound and persona to stay relevant and connect with audiences.
This time, however, the stakes feel different. The nature of the allegations against him, the public scrutiny, and the potential fallout are unprecedented. Drake’s ability to navigate this crisis will depend on his ability to learn from past mistakes, adapt to the changing landscape of hip-hop, and reclaim his narrative.
How Drake chooses to respond to these challenges will likely shape the trajectory of his career. Will he double down on his tough-guy persona, or will he seek a more introspective and vulnerable approach? Will he engage with his critics, or will he continue to fight back in court? Only time will tell what the future holds for Drake, but one thing is certain: the next chapter in his story is sure to be a fascinating one.
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