For All The Dogs Review
Kaelyn Covington
I have been a fan of Drake since he was Aubrey Graham acting as Jimmy in Degrassi. I have been here through every album rollout, every unreleased track, and every single hit. Consider me to be a Drake aficionado. Do I think he’s the GOAT? Yes. Can he make a bad album? Absolutely. As a critical fan and certified lover of “old Drake”, my opinions on his new music can sound harsh, but it is all totally out of love and desire to see my favorite artist put out the great work that I know he is capable of. “For All The Dogs” didn’t do it for me. It has very high moments and shallow, low moments. As I listened to the album, it became clear that while the record may not have fulfilled the lofty expectations set by Drake’s previous works, it remains a commendable addition to his musical repertoire. Despite falling short of some preconceived notions held by the fans, “For All The Dogs” is a testament to Drake’s continued musical evolution and willingness to explore new territories. Though not the groundbreaking opus I might have hoped for, the album’s strengths lie in its controversy, showcasing Drake’s willingness to take risks and defy expectations.
1. Virginia Beach – The inaugural track “Virginia Beach” finds a home in the lower echelon of the Drake opening song Hall of Fame. Though it is not as drawn out or lyrically punchy as “Tuscan Leather” or “Champagne Poetry,” “Virginia Beach” is a smooth way to begin this project. It has charm, a melodic, dreamy beat, and the classic talk/ sing rap style that Drake has become notorious for. As a lover of the actual Virginia Beach, I think this song does its namesake justice.
2. Amen (feat. Teezo Touchdown) – An R&B meets gospel mesh featuring the luxurious vocals of Teezo Touchdown, absolute ear heaven.
3. Calling For You (feat. 21 Savage) – I hate to admit it, but the Drake x 21 Savage collaboration fatigue may have to set in. I was intrigued (much like everyone else) when the Drake and 21 Savage bromance formed after their 2016 collaboration “Sneakin” and their trap-focused “Jimmy Cooks” on Drake’s dance project “Honestly, Nevermind” was an obvious stand-out. And don’t get me started on all the hits from their 2022 collab album “Her Loss.” 21 and Drake have fostered an almost iconic partnership of creating banger after banger, but “Calling For You” does not stand out as one of their hits. The banging synth beat is strong and promises a song neither artist delivers. Lyrically, it is lackluster, and juvenile compared to their previous work together.
4. Fear Of Heights – Was this a scrapped Playboy Carti song? Maybe. Does Drake do it justice? Sort of. Perhaps it’s because this is such a different vibe sonically than anything Aubrey has ever done, it comes across as performative and inauthentic, especially since it does not match any song before or after. Nevertheless, it is not a bad song by any stretch of the word.
5. Daylight – Adonis is adorable and that is all I have to say about that.
6. First Person Shooter (feat. J Cole) – An obvious stand-out from the album simply off the featured artist alone. I think everyone can agree that things J. Cole touches turn to gold, and this song is a perfect example. The pair trade bars, recapping their success and fame, and solidifying their GOAT status.
7. IDGAF (feat. Yeat) – Beautiful intro that bleeds into a booming BNYX beat where Yeat absolutely steals the show. Once again though, Drake is feeling like a feature on his own song. I hate that this is becoming a pattern on this album!
8. 7969 Santa – This song really did it for me. It could be the Chief Keef adlibs from his 2012 “I Don’t Like” or the airy, barely there beat that Drake skates on, or the Snoop Dog appearance at the end of the track on the fictional BARK storm radio, but this is a sleeper hit from this album.
9. Slime You Out (feat. SZA) – An absolute stand-out from the album, which Drake obviously knew as he debuted this song early as a single. R&B powerhouse SZA floats on this piano-driven track with ease. Her vocals were perfect for a track like this. Kudos to Drake for his fantastic feature selection here. Honestly, Drake is shadowed on this song, but also, Drake is known for yielding the spotlight for the sake of the song. He even says it himself, welcoming SZA onto the track with open arms, “And my slime right here, she got some bars for ya’ll n*ggas / So I’ma fallback and let SZA talk her sh*t for a minute.” And she delivers!
10. Bahamas Promises – I emerge from this song with two questions: who is Hayley and how are we nearing the middle of the album with only two memorable tracks?
11. Tried Our Best – This is where the album starts to pick up for me. On this track, Drake has a dreamy flow that matches perfectly to the twinkly beat and feels the most similar to records previous. My soft spot for R&B Drake strikes again.
12. Screw The World (Interlude) – Just a really good interlude with an interesting sample from DJ Screw, nothing to see here.
13. Drew A Picasso – This feels like a filler song, which is bound to happen on a project with 23 tracks. It’s not a bad song, it just brings nothing new to the album that we haven’t heard already. The beat and flow are reminiscent of what we just heard on “Bahamas Promises” minus the clever lyricism.
14. Members Only (feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR) – The old Drake track we’ve all been waiting for. Drake and Party absolutely surf on a beat like this, blending both of their vocal abilities to create the love letter to Toronto R&B that I went into this album looking for. Here, Drake is not being outshined by his feature, instead, they embrace each other’s strengths and level off well. Definitely a highlight of the album.
15. What Would Pluto Do? – The sequel to “BackOutsideBoyz” that no one asked for, but I needed. At least, that is what I took from this track. This song is a stand-out to me from the moment I heard the ad-libs from a long-time friend of Drake, Lil Yachty. Drake feels the most comfortable on a sound like this. (finish)
16. All the Parties (feat. Chief Keef) –When the track list first dropped and I saw a Chief Keef feature, I expected a gritty, bar-focused heavy hitter, and “All the Parties” is definitely not that. Drake continues his R&B run that began on track 10 “Tried Our Best” but it is starting to drone on. This song isn’t bad, just an unexpected sound given the feature.
17. 8am in Charlotte – I think everyone can agree that time-stamped Drake is the best Drake.
18. BBL Love (Interlude) – Wow, this song is silly. I like that, though. Point Aubrey.
19. Gently (feat. Bad Bunny) – Despite the choppy Spanglish and high-school-level Spanish vocabulary used, this song was my favorite when the project first dropped. It is easily tied with track 20 “Rich Baby Daddy” for the highest energy. I usually like my Drake with a slow-melodic simple beat and punchy lyrics, but “Gently” got me out of my seat, and I have to give props for that. This song has since dropped rankings since my initial listening, but it still stands out to me as one of this album’s hardest hitters. Now lyrically, that’s a whole other story.
20. Rich Baby Daddy (feat Sexyy Red & SZA) – The collaboration that nobody expected, but we all deserve. Sexyy Red has been a breakout artist all 2023 and SZA and Drake, as we’ve witnessed on this project, make fantastic music together, so it should come as no surprise that this has been one of the biggest hits off the album. The catchy, roller-rink type sound blended with Sexyy Red’s raunchy lyrics makes this song one of my personal favorites.
21. Another Late Night (feat. Lil Yatchy) – Once again, I expected a lot more from a collaboration between these two long-time friends, but “Another Late Night” is just okay.
22. Away From Home – While “Away From Home” is a prime example of Drake’s signature sound and showcases his undeniable musical prowess, it pales in comparison to the more dynamic and emotionally resonant songs on this album. With a steady but unremarkable rhythm and a melody that lacks the captivating bars of songs similar, “Away From Home” fails to leave a lasting impression, blending into the background rather than standing out as a definitive highlight.
23. Polar Opposites – I love this song. Beautiful closer to this complicated album.
While “For All The Dogs” undeniably showcases Drake’s mastery of his own sound, the overall listening experience is somewhat hindered by a sense of redundancy. The album, unfortunately, suffers from an excessive length that dilutes its impact, with a notable number of tracks blending into one another due to their similar sound and structure. While Drake undoubtedly displays his artistry and vision, a more concise and focused approach could have elevated the album to greater heights, allowing the standout tracks to truly shine and leaving a more lasting impression. Despite this, “For All The Dogs” still manages to offer glimpses into the mind of Drake and leaves me wanting more. I hope his next project will be more compact and a more potent musical endeavor.