If you miss the old Drake, Scary Hours 2 is for you. If you like the new Drake, Scary Hours 2 is for you. The three-track EP, released March 6th, presents a union of the Drake we used to know and love, and the man he is now. From Lil Wayne’s influence on his career to parent-teacher conferences for his son, Drake shows off an evolved side of himself that begs us to ask: What’s changed and what’s next?
THE SOUND
Although the beats featured in Scary Hours 2 are all different, something about the sound feels right. Rather indescribable, the sound created in the overall EP feels like a mix of almost every single album he's made.
Playing off of the individual vibes of each track, Drake allows fans to be fully immersed in his message. Loud and in your face, the beat for “What’s Next” makes sure listeners are tapped in and on their toes. Switching the vibe immediately, “Wants and Needs” recreates the focused intensity of More Life’s “Gyalchester.” But, it wouldn’t be a Drake project without any samples, leaving just one song to check the box.
Even as Drake’s style evolves, he doesn’t abandon his love of samples in beats in his new EP. Sampling Danish duo Quadron’s “Pressure,” Drake shows off his musical creativity: flipping the upbeat, jazzy melody into a slow and soulful trap beat that lays the foundation for “Lemon Pepper Freestyle.”
This dynamic and evolving sound, that feels so recognizable, yet so new, receives a 9/10 on the Intersect 1-10 rating scale.
THE FLOW
Drake’s flow has never aligned with the idea that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Instead, he is always changing things up, influenced by all types of genres and even fellow rappers, something that got him in a little trouble with “KMT.” However, none of his more recent influences, drill, reggaeton, and dancehall, showed up in Scary Hours 2. A blast from the past, Drake’s flow matched that in If You’re Reading This It's Too Late and other pre-2017 albums. It’s playful and sarcastic in “What’s Next,” enticing and smooth in “Wants and Needs” and relaxed in “Lemon Pepper Freestyle.”
Continuing this blast from the past, we're also met with references from several songs across his discography, including an unreleased song. His references to "Started from the Bottom," "What a Time to be a Slime," and "The Motto" bring a familiar feeling of a Drake we once knew, fresh off the set of Degrassi. We're feeling a little nostalgic, thanks to Drake, so we're rating the flow a 10/10 on the Intersect 1-10 rating scale.
THE ART BEHIND THE EP
If there is one overarching theme in Scary Hours 2, it would not be seen in the sound nor would it be in the flow, but rather Drake’s mindset. Coming back to his roots, yet maintaining the evolutions of his sound and attitude, Scary Hours 2 reignites fans’ love for Drake. Ironic, because he is the most-streamed artist of the decade, but his fans’ loyalty has been wavering for a long time. Although garnering support for his adventures in the drill community, his dancehall vibes, and his reggaeton hits, some fans disconnected from Drake’s new rap persona, itching for a reversion. We know for a fact Drake’s work with other genres isn’t over for good, but this quick trip back to Drake’s old flow was much needed.
With this trip down memory lane, we see a new side of Drake’s sentimentality. There’s references to his brand, his music, his relationship with Lil Wayne, and even his son, who Drake has hesitated to speak about publicly. Typically focusing his lyrics on women, friends, and family, Drake took this opportunity to focus on his future. “What’s Next” took a more sarcastic approach to this theme, however it still showed off Drake’s jovial, high spirit view of rapping. His previous feuds with rappers such as Kanye West, don’t drag him down, nor are they the fuel behind his lyrics in Scary Hours 2. He expresses little concern about fake people in his life. Instead, the focus is on him, especially as he switches the focus to his opulent lifestyle in “Lemon Pepper Freestyle.” Old or new, Drake is giving fans something we can get excited for, something beyond his upcoming album, Certified Lover Boy, and that’s Drake’s long-term future.
Stepping into a new pair of Drake's shoes, we rank the art a 9/10 on the Intersect 1-10 rating scale.
Overall, Scary Hours 2 gets a 9/10 on the Intersect 1-10 rating scale. Longterm Drake fans, does this EP stand up to your standards? New Drake fans, do you miss the drill? Let us know in the comments and check out Scary Hours 2 below.