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Take Care is the second studio album by the Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on November 15, 2011, by Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Republic Records. The album features guest appearances from The Weeknd, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Birdman, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Stevie Wonder, Lil Wayne, and André 3000. In addition to primary production from Drake and 40, further contributors include T-Minus, Chantal Kreviazuk, Boi-1da, Illangelo, Jamie xx, Supa Dups, Just Blaze, Chase N. Cashe, and Doc McKinney. Prior to Take Care, Drake released Thank Me Later, which experienced positive critical success, but left him feeling disjointed about the album's musical content. Expressing a desire to reunite with 40, his long-time producer who featured in parts on Thank Me Later, the duo worked extensively on the new album once recording sessions began in 2010. Drake's vocals on the album feature emotional crooning, alto vocals, a guttural cadence, a melodic flow, and a larger emphasis on singing than on Thank Me Later. In comparison to his debut album, Drake revealed that the album is called Take Care because "I get to take my time this go-round [rather than rush]". The album also expands on the low-tempo, sensuous, and dark sonic aesthetic of Thank Me Later. It incorporates several elements that have come to define Drake's sound, including minimalist R&B influences, existential subject matter, and alternately sung and rapped vocals. It features a mixture of braggadocio and emotional lyrics, exploring themes of fame, romance, and wealth. The album also highlights other topics, such as Drake's relationships with friends and family, as well as touching on sex and narcissism. Despite leaking online nine days before its scheduled release, Take Care debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 631,000 copies in its first week. It has been certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Four of the album's singles peaked in the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100: "Headlines", "Make Me Proud", "The Motto", and "Take Care". The album received acclaim from critics, with praise for its expansive production and emotional themes. It was named one of 2011's best albums, and subsequently one of the best albums of the 2010s, by several publications. It won Drake his first Grammy Award, winning Best Rap Album at the 2013 Grammy Awards. In 2020, the album was ranked 95th on Rolling Stone's updated list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
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Reviews
Take Care is the second album of Canadian hip hop artist Drake. With the number of Drake fans it was just a matter of time before one of his albums would be submitted. The problem is that Drake makes some kind of very boring middle of the road hip hop, while he is also a very mediocre rapper. He tries to hide it on his albums with a lot of guest singers and guests contributors that can actually rap. Apart from the elevator music he produces the lyrics are on an even lower level. It mainly consists of bragging about money, bitches, Hennessey, Mercedes and how he made it. He probably has a lot to compensate. I like hip hop a whole lot, but would prefer at least 1001 other rap albums over this one. Does that make it a bad album? No, just very very lame one.
Pish. There is so much good hip-hop out there, from golden age to right now, but this just isn't it.
I listened to the whole album even though I didn’t want to. He’s obviously got appeal but I don’t know what it is. I didn’t particularly like the voice or the music or the lyrics, and yet it was still better than jazz.
Ugh I knew someone would put Drake on here. Only good songs are the ones with Kendrick and Rihanna.
It was fine
I never really got into Drake and didn't think much about him until briefly during the more incandescent phase of the Kendrick feud. In honesty I find the strata of rap a lot of this is delivered in a little dreary. Monotone, obstinately low energy, kind of whiny. Lyrically I can't connect at all: I'm so famous, I'm so rich, I'm so drunk at the club making sad calls to girls I'm not with. It wasn't relatable to me when I was young, much less now as an old middle class dad. For all this I didn't dislike this and listened through the hour and twenty minutes of the "deluxe" edition (the only one YouTube music had on offer) without particular complaint.