Of all the para-social relationships in my life, the one I share with rap idol Aubrey "Drake" Graham has to be one of the most peculiar. If the topic arises (and usually even when it doesn't), I'll be the first to share my two cents on my adamant distaste for the rapper's public persona and unabashed commercialism. When in private, however, there's a solid chance that the first thing I'll be typing into my Apple Music searchbar is any number of my personal favorite Drake cuts. When it came to creating this ranking, I approached it with the same sort of theatrical reluctance that so many critics apply to Drake's work, but I'd be lying if I said I found it to be that much of a slog. After thirteen albums — and probably 20 hours of listening — I think the time has finally come to accept a very hard truth: no matter how much criticism I might have for his brand... I'm definitely a fan of Drake's music... and probably a pretty big one at that.
Now, when it comes to this list, my parameters for what constitutes an actual Drake "album" are somewhat nebulous and almost entirely subjective. Several of the entries on this list are technically categorized as mixtapes; there's one "playlist" (*groan*); and I also included both of Drake's prominent collab albums with other MC's. I omitted projects such as Dark Lane Demo Tapes, Care Package, and Drake's two earliest mixtapes, since none of these felt quintessential or like fully formed bodies of work. In total, that makes for 13 projects on this list, which was definitely a pretty tall order to tackle. While I may have finally accepted my status as a genuine Drake fan, there's no denying that some of my thoughts on a few of the albums on this list are negative and unflinching. I promise, however, that this isn't merely another entry into the music-snob lexicon of dunking on Drake and his music. Like it or not, he's easily the biggest rap artist of the past decade, and the indeterminable status of his discography among fans makes him such an interesting artist to write about for this piece. Now, without further ado, let us begin...
13. Certified Lover Boy (2021)
Since the beginning of his career, Drake's name and image have been synonymous with corniness. In his early years, it was honestly what made his music so fresh, but as time has gone on, the Drake persona has transformed into a semi-self-aware fuckboy who just can't seem to act his age. Certified Lover Boy was a blatant attempt to finally get ahead of the jokes by being as overtly Drake-y as possible (leading up to the album's release, Drake literally had a heart shaved into his head). On paper, this is the exact sort of energy Drake could've used to make a genuinely fun album full of certified hits, but instead, CLB is a 90-minute snooze-fest that seems to think it's far more clever than it actually is. Moments like "Way 2 Sexy" and "Girls Like Girls" aren't the purposefully cheesy subversions they think they are; they're instead just shamefully on-the-nose attempts at meme attention and headlines. Mere minutes after re-listening to the album for this ranking, I had already forgotten what 90% of it even sounded like. Many have criticized his 2018 album Scorpion for sounding like the Drake formula on autopilot, but after hearing CLB, Scorpion sounds like a Greatest Hits mix. There is truly nothing to return to on this album besides remembering the buzz surrounding its release, and it's the exact sort of half-assery that gives Drake's critics fuel to their fires.
Favorite Track: N 2 Deep (feat. Future)
12. For All the Dogs (2023)
At the time this article is being written, Drake's latest album is barely even a week old. This means that there's a possibility that the album will age better than I could have predicted after such a short time... but I think it's safe to say that nearly everyone who has heard For All the Dogs has no such faith in the album's staying power. For me, the central crux of the project's failures come down to something fairly subjective, but it's a nagging complaint I just haven't been able to get out of my head. In my opinion, Drake is just too damn old for this shit. Part of the Drizzy appeal has always been his uncanny — and sometimes sleazy — ability to adapt his style to keep up with the latest trends. For All the Dogs is no different, capitalizing on the baby-voiced quotables that have dominated TikTok and social media over the past several years. The results are bafflingly artificial, and truly sound like an out-of-touch parent trying to reestablish his credibility. On top of that, it's yet another ludicrously long entry in Drake's canon, and consists almost entirely of forgettable filler tracks and wasted features. Because of this, the album's truly quality moments, such as the genuinely great "8AM in Charlotte," feel like even more of a slap in the face. Drake clearly still has it in him to make relevant, well-orchestrated rap music with more merit than a topical courtesy listen, but For All the Dogs is a pretty discouraging indication of his apparent desire to keep cranking out forgettable junk food rather than sitting down and trying to craft something that will actually stand the test of time. As is, I have very little reason to believe that anyone will be talking about For All the Dogs a year from now, and I firmly believe that Drake has finally reached a long awaited crossroads in his career, which could either result in his maturation as an artist... or the beginning of the end.
Favorite Track: 8AM in Charlotte
11. Honestly Nevermind (2022)
A few days after surprise-dropping his seventh studio album, Honestly Nevermind, Drake was filmed saying, “It’s all good if you don’t get it yet. That’s what we do! We wait for you to catch up.” The unofficial statement was in reply to the massive amount of backlash the rapper had been receiving for the release, mostly due to what the record actually was: a house-inspired dance album filled with R&B vocals. Within minutes of its release, fans and haters alike were quick to call it one of the biggest misses of his career. More than a year on, however, I think it's safe to say that Honestly Nevermind is certainly not the lowest entry in Drizzy's catalog... but it still isn't great. Created as a tribute to the late Virgil Abloh and his affinity for house music, the genre-switch is a genuinely admirable attempt at shaking things up for Drake and his music. In practice, however, Honestly Nevermind is a mostly toothless pastiche of overproduced house tropes that showcase little of what makes the actual genre so exciting. While the record does have its moments of genuine greatness — courtesy of names like Black Coffee and Gordo — the continual weak point of the album is Drake himself. Most of his performances here are shockingly bad, and "Falling Back," "Currents," and "Calling My Name" are all well-produced bops that his singing basically ruins. Still, there's no denying that when the sun goes down and the clubs start jumping, songs like "Massive" and "Sticky" are guaranteed to be a good time, and I'd be lying if I said a few of this album's cuts aren't still in my late-night rotation.
Favorite Track: "Massive"
10. Scorpion (2018)
The release of Drake's fifth studio album, Scorpion, proved to be one of the most tumultuous eras in the rapper's career. On one hand, it contained some of his biggest singles to date and broke streaming records across the board. On the other, longtime rival Pusha T thoroughly tainted the album's release by dropping a scathing diss track that revealed Drake's son to the world and permanently tarnished his reputation. Because of this, fans were fairly split on the album upon initially hearing it. Scorpion definitely had flashes of greatness, but a 25 track cash-grab with scarcely any features was simply not enough to fully dispel the aftershock of Push's assault. Five years later, it's a bit easier to view Scorpion for what the album actually is: a bloated attempt at streaming service dominance that still contains some of Drake's most addictive hits of all time. While past records had certainly featured run-times worthy of a double album, Scorpion firmly commits to that ideal with two distinct discs: one that's more rap-oriented, and another for nocturnal R&B cuts. For most people, a full listen of Scorpion probably means enjoying the first half well enough, then completely losing steam during the second disc. Simply put, Scorpion doesn't have enough energy or passion to justify its feature-length runtime, and the only way to really enjoy this album is to come back to a handful tracks and completely ignore the rest. It's a real shame too, considering that songs like "Nice For What," "Sandra's Rose," and "8 Out of 10" are some of the best songs Drizzy has ever recorded, but their inclusion isn't near enough to save the oversized behemoth that makes up the majority of what Scorpion actually is.
Favorite Track: 8 Out Of 10
9. What a Time To Be Alive (with Future) [2015]
Drake had kicked off 2015 with the surprise release of his monumental mixtape If You're Reading This It's Too Late, and he decided to the close off the year by dropping another internet-breaking release alongside one of the biggest rappers in the world. At the time, What a Time To Be Alive felt like a victory lap that fans couldn't believe they'd actually gotten the privilege to hear. In 2023, however, the project is quite easy to overlook, and aside from "Jumpman," nothing on the tape has proven to have much staying power. It's by no means a bad project, but Drake and Future's chemistry on this album just isn't as electric as it should be. On nearly every single track, the rappers' performances feel somewhat separate, and depending on whose verse you're hearing, you might forget that this a collab album at all. The majority of the production is pretty forgettable as well, but Metro Boomin's cold-blooded work on tracks like "Scholarships" is definitely something to behold. Still, when Drake and Future are able to find some sort of chemistry, the result is undeniably infectious; just see "Diamonds Dancing." In the end, it should be pretty telling that the album's two best songs are the solo tracks that close out the record, with Drake's "30 for 30 Freestyle" especially standing out for its moody change of pace. I definitely remember what it was like to be a rap fan when this mixtape came out, and while it was certainly a memorable time to be alive, the actual project is something I hardly ever go back to.
Favorite Track: 30 for 30 Freestyle
8. Her Loss (with 21 Savage) [2022]
Earlier on this list, I criticized Drake's most recent album, For All the Dogs, for sounding like an out-of-touch rapper trying to capture whatever "the youth" are doing. Her Loss is undoubtedly more of the same midlife crisis music, but I think it elevates itself by having a sense of self-awareness that's actually quite entertaining. This is the subversion of Drake's corny image that CLB thought it was doing, and there's something genuinely kind of charming about the album's slew of cheesy one-liners, tacky sample flips, and meme-worthy ad-libs ("Purr"). Her Loss is a successful celebration of Drake's image and brand, but therein lies the album's most obvious shortcoming: this isn't a solo album. While 21 Savage does an excellent job on all of his appearances on the record, his contributions feel far more like extended features rather than actual collaborations. For all intents and purposes, this is a Drake album at its core, a fact which simultaneously aids and ails the record throughout. When the two rappers are trading bars over beats like "On BS" or "Rich Flex," it's some of the most fun pop-rap produced in this decade. When they're expressing latent misogyny and genuinely harmful misinformation about Black women, however? Not so much. In my opinion, Her Loss' greatest flaw is the project's overall rhetoric. Obviously, the album is intended to be all in good fun, and for the most part it is, but the entire approach of an album being built on cheeky chauvinism feels cheap, childish, and stupid. There's plenty of fun to be had here, but there's no doubt that much like For All the Dogs, Drake feels too damn old for many of his shenanigans on this one. Still, I can't deny that it's some of the most fun I've had with any of the projects on this list, and I'd wager a bet that it's going to go down as one of the most enjoyable re-listens in Drizzy's career.
Favorite Track: Middle of the Ocean
7. Thank Me Later (2010)
In the wake of So Far Gone, Drake was officially a bona fide superstar, and after signing to Lil Wayne's burgeoning Cash Money label, his debut studio album was basically guaranteed to succeed. And succeed it did, arriving on the wings of massive anticipation and repping support from some of the biggest MCs and producers of the era. Much like the tape that preceded it,Thank Me Later certainly sounds like a product of its time, and there's definitely a commercial sheen to the project that hasn't aided its aging process at all. Still, there's an undeniable X-Factor to Drizzy's early persona that manages to carry me through some of this album's less-than-quality moments. While his verses are certainly not going to go down in the lyrical hall of fame, his emotional vulnerability and punchline-heavy approach are nothing if not thoroughly entertaining. "Over" is still one of the best and most addictive singles Drake has ever put out, and the cinematic production from Boi-1da still sounds hard-hitting to this day. In general, Drake disregards much of the R&B crooning that defined So Far Gone, instead honing in on rap-heavy performances that seem to firmly plant his feet in the genre. There's still plenty of smoothness to be had on this project, however, whether it be the lovably melodramatic opener "Fireworks" alongside Alicia Keys, or the spacey "Cece's Interlude." Drake has certainly grown tremendously in both his artistry and success, but I find revisiting Thank Me Later to be a generally enjoyable experience, with just enough highs to justify its poorly aged lows.
Favorite Track: Fancy (feat. T.I. & Swizz Beatz)
6. So Far Gone (2009)
The one that started it all. While it's technically the third mixtape Drake ever released, the sheer impact of So Far Gone thoroughly separates the project from both of his earlier works. Drake was certainly not the first rap artist to find mainstream success with a mixtape, but it's not an understatement to say that he completely changed the game. Before So Far Gone, mixtapes were largely seen as showcases of a rapper's lyrical dexterity, with little attention paid to cohesion or radio-play. Drake completely shattered those norms, dropping an album-worthy tape of original material that showcased his superstar pop appeal just as much as his pen. Not to mention, the track-list was bolstered with eye-catching names like Bun B, Trey Songz, and of course, Lil Wayne. Behind the boards, Drake's longtime collaborator Oliver "40" Shabib single-handedly shifted the mainstream through an emphasis on spacey production that complimented R&B vocals and rap verses in equal amounts. Admittedly, the project does sound fairly dated, and Drake's writing is noticeably underdeveloped in comparison to what he would later create, but there's an underdog charm to the tape that transcends many of its tackier facets. "Let's Call It Off" is a baffling attempt at indie-pop trends of the time, but I find myself admiring this project even more for including something so left-of-field, even if it's not very good at all. So Far Gone is mostly easily defined by the gimmick of it being the beginning of such an illustrious career, but I'd argue that the mixtape's bold disregard for rap norms of the era and the hungry energy that permeates the entire project elevates it into being considered one of the finest and most quintessential Drake releases.
Favorite Track: Say What's Real
5. More Life (2017)
It's honestly pretty hilarious that Drake considers one of his most cohesive and well-paced projects to be a commercial "playlist" rather than an actual album. Superfluous categorization aside, More Life is one of the Drizzy albums I've actually warmed up to quite a bit since its initial release. Without a doubt, More Life is probably most widely remembered as being Drake's furthest venture into the music, accent, and style of other cultures, specifically the African-Caribbean culture of the U.K. This discourse on this particular topic is wide-ranging and deeply complex, but from the perspective of nothing more than a casual listener, it's certainly refreshing to hear Drake on something original. The tracklist here is a well-rounded collection of moods and styles, ranging from dancehall to trap and full on house music. To this day, smash hit "Passionfruit" remains an infectious and fairly ambitious exploration into a completely new sound for Drake and his music. As with nearly every album on this list, More Life is most certainly bloated, and the project's second half is especially bogged down by a snooze-fest of forgettable and half-baked inclusions. The list of features and producers is particularly notable this time around, with names like then up-and-comer Jorja Smith, Travis Scott and Kanye, and UK rap legend Giggs. Surprisingly, I think that many of this album's weaker moments come from its more rap-oriented tracks, and the songs that I find myself compelled to return to are the moodier cuts like "Get It Together" and "Teenage Fever." In summation, More Life makes Honestly Nevermind look even more unnecessary in Drizzy's career, since it explores a UK-inspired dance sound far better, and is definitely more worth your time.
Favorite Track: Get It Together (feat. Black Coffee & Jorja Smith)
4. Views (2016)
In an era where streaming has become so ubiquitous, it can be difficult to remember just how different the music industry was before the domination of services like Spotify and Apple Music. Drake was certainly successful before Spotify, but his 2016 album Views proved that streaming was the lane he was born to conquer. Riding on the success of the massive singles "Hotline Bling" and "One Dance" — the latter of which was at one time the most streamed song in history — Views arrived as dancehall-inspired concept album that doubled as a Trojan Horse of streaming number manipulation. Because of this, myself and many others discounted this album upon its release as nothing more than a shameless cash grab. However, in relistening to it for this ranking, I've realized that Views is actually one of the crowning achievements in Drake's catalog. The album is probably best remembered for its poppy singles, but the majority of Views is actually made up of ice-cold performances and electronic soundscapes. While Drake's lyrics certainly lack the depth and memorability of his best works, his solid deliveries work in tandem with the stellar production to create an experience I actually really enjoyed. "Weston Road Flows," "9," and "Grammys" were all sleeper favorites, and there's no denying how good hits like "Feel No Ways" and "Controlla" really are. Like every album on this list, Views is obviously far from perfect, and its 80 minute runtime feels even less justified with stinkers like "Pop Style" and "Faithful." When all's said and done, however, Drake's love letter to Toronto is an album that thoroughly impressed me on this particular listen, and the record was finally able to elevate itself above the blatant money-grubbing of its release.
Favorite Track: Feel No Ways
3. Take Care (2011)
For years, Drake fans maintained a fairly unanimous stance that asserted Drake's second studio album, Take Care, as the pinnacle of his career. As time has worn on, I'd argue that it hasn't aged as gracefully as some of his other works, but there's no denying that Take Care was the first truly definitive Drake record. Drizzy's early career was constantly plagued by a lack of commitment to deciding whether or not he wanted to be a R&B star or a rap mogul, and haters were quick to call him out on the fact. On Take Care, Drake decidely manifests that uncertain identity into a comfortable middle road, which proved to be not only the recipe for his own success, but the rest of the rap industry as well. Oh, you like hearing Drake singing on something smooth? Boom, have a "Marvin's Room." You prefer him to be in his rapper-bag? Boom, "Headlines."Thank Me Later was a strong showcase of Drake's multi-genre appeal, but it was bogged down by a saccharine sheen of record label commercialism. In contrast, Take Care is a moodier and more personal project (heavily inspired by a little up and comer known as The Weeknd), where parties and bottle service are nothing more than lavish backdrops to help you forget the one who got away. You might roll your eyes at such a description, but it's only because Take Care forged a lane so perfect for Drake, it almost feels tacky to revisit his paving of it. Admittedly, the project drags pretty considerably in its second half, and songs like "We'll Be Fine" definitely wouldn't have been missed if they ended up on the cutting room floor. Altogether, though, the album is luxurious and melancholic in equal measures — just like its cover — and it eloquently captures the semi-relatable soul of what has made Drizzy's best music connect so effectively with an astronomical number of fans.
Favorite Track: Over My Dead Body
2. If You're Reading This It's Too Late (2015)
If rap fans are really being honest with themselves, Drake's entire run during the year of 2015 is definitely one for the hip-hop history books. A collab album with Future, the astronomical success of "Hotline Bling," and the widely publicized triumph of his beef against Meek Mill — it's safe to say 2015 Drake was definitely on Cloud 9 (or 6). More notable than all of that, however, was his surprise mixtape that dropped in the first few weeks of the year, and just so happened to be one of the best things he'd ever created. If You're Reading This It's Too Late is a 17 track onslaught of raw energy and peak Drizzy cold-blooded-ness. Alongside production handled almost entirely by longtime collaborators 40 and Boi-1da, If You're Reading This is littered with fan favorites and greatest hits across the board. Even if you've never quite been able to buy into Drake and his music, you'd have to be a different level of hater to not get even the littlest bit hyped up by songs like "Energy" and "6 God." Song after song, If You're Reading This keeps things fresh by providing constant beat-switches, new flows and deliveries, and a variety of different moods and aesthetics. I certainly wouldn't have missed "You and the 6" had it been cut, and I might be one of the only Drake fans in the world who could do without "Jungle." Still, there are few moments in modern hip-hop that have excited and captivated me like the iconic beat-switch on "Know Yourself," and while If You're Reading This is admittedly not an album I tend to revisit that often, it never fails to be a good time whenever I do.
Favorite Track: Know Yourself
1. Nothing Was the Same (2013)
It's bittersweet to realize that for an artist so often criticized for his trend-chasing and in-authenticity, Drake's greatest studio album is also the most him. In both presentation and lyrical content, Nothing Was the Same embodies the true epitome of the Drake brand working at the highest possible level. The bars are cold-blooded, quotable, and just the right level of corny. The beats are spacey, gorgeous, and instantly recognizable. The actual album is cohesive and perfectly-paced, with elements introduced in one song usually bleeding over into the next, creating a fairly seamless listening experience. It's really a hell of an achievement, especially considering the album's universal pop appeal and chart-topping success. While listening to Nothing Was the Same never fails to be a good time, the album does tend to generate a great deal of frustration in me. For 13 tracks and an entire hour — with hardly any features to boot — Drake is charismatic, compelling, and utterly iconic; why the hell doesn't he try to make music like this anymore?! This isn't to say that Nothing Was the Same is a perfect record, as I still think "Started From the Bottom" is one of the blandest and most unnecessary singles Drake has ever produced. These blemishes don't take away from the quality of album cuts like "Wu-Tang Forever" and "Furthest Thing," or hits like the timeless "Hold On, We're Going Home." Not to mention, this album boasts easily the best opener/closer combo of any Drake album, and to this day, you'd be hard pressed to find a "Best Rap Beats" playlist on YouTube that doesn't have "Pound Cake" as an inclusion. All in all, when it comes to being the reluctant and sometimes secretive Drake stan that I am, Nothing Was the Same is still the album I find myself pining for Aubrey to return to, and while his newer music and overall image may one day make my hair turn gray, I can't imagine a time where bumping "Tuscan Leather" doesn't make my day even the littlest bit better.
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