| "From Time" | |
|---|---|
| Song byDrake featuringJhené Aiko | |
| from the albumNothing Was the Same | |
| Recorded |
|
| Genre | |
| Length | 5:22 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | Noah "40" Shebib |
"From Time" is a song recorded by Canadian recording artistDrake for his thirdstudio album,Nothing Was the Same (2013). The song was written by Drake and its producersChilly Gonzales andNoah "40" Shebib, while American singer-songwriterJhené Aiko provided additional vocals and writing. "From Time" is the second collaboration between Drake and Aiko, during which she wrote to the music Drake provided for her.[1]
The resulting production is a slowR&B song, accompanied by a light piano, during which Drake addresses his past relationships with women and his father. "From Time" received critical acclaim from contemporary music critics, who lauded Aiko's guest feature, the song's lyrical content and production. Upon the release ofNothing Was the Same, the song charted in the lower regions of singles charts in France, the United Kingdom and the United States.
On June 1, 2013, Drake confirmed the first guest appearance on the album as singerJhené Aiko.[2] Aiko and Drake had previously collaborated on Aiko's "July" for her mixtapeSailing Soul(s) (2011). However, their recording sessions took place at different locations. Drake and Aiko went into the studio to record and he played some beats for Aiko. Enthused by one of the beats, Aiko took it home with her to work on the lyrics to it. She said "I actually wrote like a different song to it. I had it for like a month. And then one day, it was super-specific to me, so I was like "I don't know if he's gonna like... you know I don't know what he would be able to do with that. So... I gave it one more shot and I just sorta like free-styled my whole like, my hook and my verse."[3] Despite initial speculation that the song title would be "Momentous Occasions", Drake denied the title onTwitter, adding "That's a terrible title".[4]
"From Time" was written by Drake,Jhené Aiko,Noah Shebib, andJason Beck. Production for the song was handled by Shebib under his production moniker "40", who also served as the recording engineer and main instrumentalist. Background vocals were provided by Travis Savoury Baka while the piano featured was played by Chilly Gonzales. The song was mixed by Noel "Gadget" Campbell at Studio 305 inToronto,Ontario. Recording sessions for the song were orchestrated by Shebib and Noel Cadastre at Metalworks Studios (Mississauga, Ontario) and The Yolo Estate (Hidden Hills,California), with assistance from Travis Sewchan. Aiko's vocals were recorded by Brian Warfield and Christian Plata at Fisticuffs Gym (Culver City, California).[5]
"From Time" is a slowdowntempoR&B song that is composed of finger-snap beats and a piano, the latter provided byChilly Gonzales.[6] The sound, according to Jesal "Jay Soul" Padania ofRapReviews, mirrors the soundscape of Drake's previous album,Take Care (2011).[7] The song's lyrical content has been described as reflective and confessional as it delves into different parts of Drake's life. It begins with Aiko's verse, which towards the end she sings "I love me, I love me enough for the both of us/That's why you trust me, I know you been through more than most of us/So what are you? What are you, what are you so afraid of?/Darling you, you give but you cannot take love", which becomes the hook for the entire track. The song deals with Drake's past relationships with other women. According to Aaron Matthews ofExclaim!, the song "Jhene Aiko deflates Drake's ego while he meditates on selfishness, immaturity and arrogance in past relationships over sumptuous keys."[8] "From Time" also features a reference to a woman named "Courtney from Hooters", who was later discovered to be a waitress at the restaurant and a model.[9] Katie Hasty ofHitFix was critical of the mention of his former relationships on the song, calling it petty and accused him "intentionally inflicting his exes and with the same spotlight that so alienates him."[10] It also discusses his fractured relationship with his father, during which he laments about asking for his advice while smoking marijuana and drinking Corona beer.[11]
"From Time" received critical acclaim, with critics lauding it as one of Drake's best tracks.Greg Kot of theChicago Tribune lauded the song's lyrics and production as a "perfect marriage of words and sonics",[12] while Aaron Matthews ofExclaim! commended the song's writing as the strongest on the album.[8] Nick Cartucci ofEntertainment Weekly called the song "real talk of the highest order" and further applauded it as "why no one else can touch him — long as he might for the company."[13] Randall Roberts ofLos Angeles Times praised the song's lyrical content as "smart and touching" and classified its production as "liquid."[14] Eric Diep ofXXL called "From Time" and "Worst Behaviour" "direct", while Nick Henderson ofTiny Mix Tapes and Jim Carroll ofIrish Times labelled "From Time" as a standout track on the album.[15][16][17]
Elysa Gardner ofUSA Today listed it among the tracks to download while stating the song was enhanced by Aiko's soft vocals.[18] James Reed ofThe Boston Globe wrote that Aiko adds an "airy sophistication" to the track.[19] Jesse Cataldo ofSlant Magazine praised Jhené Aiko for enlivening the song while also dismissing the lyrics as "weird' and "robotic".[20] Mike Diver ofClash Music lauded Aiko's vocals, while noting that the song and "Hold On, We're Going Home" provide an "essential contrast" to the album's overall hip-hop soundscape.[21] Andrew Unterburger ofPopdust rated "From Time" three and a half stars out of five, praising it a necessary touch of "sweet and sentimental" while lauding Aiko's vocals as a "most welcome sound."[11] Drew Malmuth ofPretty Much Amazing express an opinion similar to Diver's, commenting "The personal details and specific pieces of imagery are welcome in an album that can veer into the overly abstract."[6]
Jesal "Jay Soul" Padania ofRapReviews noted its similarities to Drake's previous albumTake Care (2011) in terms of sonics and called it "beautifully subdued."[7] Jordan Mainzer ofmusicOMH said the song "shows not only Drake’s emotional improvement but his lyrical dexterity."[22] Jake Jenkins ofAbsolute Punk commented that "From Time" and "Worst Behavior" display unforced confidence and vulnerability. Jenkins further wrote that Drake is "painting himself as a complex character with many sides to who he is, which is why the album comes across as such a varied project."[23] American journalistJody Rosen, writing forNew York Magazine's blogVulture, noted how Drake's lyrics about "money and pussy and vacation" try not to sound boastful by rapping "about his feelings about money and pussy and vacation."[9] Will Lavin ofGigwise dubbed the song the "perfect reminiscent record" while praising the song's setting and chemistry between the artists.[24] Andrew Barker ofVariety called the lyrics "incisive" and commented "Drake may tackle more universal themes than many of rap's earlier superstars, but on moments like these he's about as relatable as Kool Keith."[25]
Credits adapted from the liner notes ofNothing Was the Same, OVO Sound, Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, Republic Records.[5]
Upon the release ofNothing Was the Same, "From Time" appeared on several international charts based on the strength of digital downloads. The song debuted on the UK Singles Chart, dated October 5, 2013, at number 56. The song also debuted on theUK R&B Chart at number 13.[26] In the United States, it entered theBillboard Hot 100 at number 68.[27] The song fell to number 89 before leaving the chart altogether.[28] In France, the song debuted at number 126 on the singles chart.[29]
| Chart (2013) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| France (SNEP)[29] | 126 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[30] | 56 |
| UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[31] | 13 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[32] | 67 |
| USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[33] | 26 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[34] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[35] | Platinum | 30,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[36] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[37] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
