| Thank Me Later | ||||
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| Released | June 15, 2010 (2010-06-15) | |||
| Recorded | 2009–2010 | |||
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| Length | 61:02 | |||
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| Drake chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Thank Me Later | ||||
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Thank Me Later is the debut studio album by the Canadian rapperDrake. It was released on June 15, 2010, byYoung Money Entertainment,Cash Money Records, andUniversal Motown Records. Production for the album took place at various recording studios during 2009 to 2010 and was mostly produced by longtime collaborators40 andBoi-1da. It features contributions fromAlicia Keys,Timbaland,Swizz Beatz,Nicki Minaj,Lil Wayne,The-Dream, andKanye West, among others.
Thank Me Later has a languorous,ambient production that incorporates moodysynthesizers, sparse beats, obscured keyboards,minor keys, and subtlearrangements. Thematically, the album focuses on Drake's introduction to fame and his romances over the course of confessional, club-oriented, and sexual songs. Drake's emotionally transparent, self-deprecating lyrics are delivered in both rapped and subtly sung verses, and explore feelings of doubt, insecurity, and heartbreak.
Following an anticipated release,Thank Me Later debuted at number one on theBillboard 200 with first week sales of 447,000 copies in the US, eventually selling 1.8 million copies there by August 2015. It also topped theCanadian Albums Chart and attained aplatinum certification in Canada in its debut week. All four of the album's singles became top 40 hits on theBillboard Hot 100, with "Find Your Love" reaching number five. Reviews ofThank Me Later were generally positive, with critics applauding Drake's personal themes and drawing musical comparisons to the works ofKid Cudi and West, particularly the latter's 2008 album808s & Heartbreak. It later ranked as one of 2010's best albums. The album received a nomination forBest Rap Album at the53rd Annual Grammy Awards.
Released in February 2009,Drake's mixtapeSo Far Gone proceeded his series of early mixtapes and achieved unexpected critical and commercial success, earning him twoGrammy Award-nominations and producing the hit single "Best I Ever Had".[1][2] The single reappeared on hisdebut EP,[2] which was released after a bidding competition among labels and his signing withUniversal Motown Records amid support from high-profile hip hop artists such asKanye West,Jay-Z, andLil Wayne.[1] Drake followed-up onSo Far Gone's success with several guest appearances on other rappers' works, adding to thehype surrounding him at the time.[2]
In an interview forComplex, Drake stated that his debut album will be "a solid hip hop album" and musically distinct from hisSo Far Gone mixtape, which received negative comparisons to Kanye West's808s & Heartbreak (2008).[3] He expressed a desire to work withAndré 3000,Kid Cudi, andSade for the album.[4][5][6][7][8] In an interview forMTV, Drake citedNas and André 3000 as influences for parts ofThank Me Later, stating "Nas was somebody that I used to listen to his raps and never understood how he did it. I always wanted to understand how he painted those pictures and his bar structure. I went back and really studied Nas and André 3000 and then came back with this album".[9] In comparing the album to his previous work, he stated "It's gonna be bigger, it's gonna sound happier. More victorious, 'cause that's where I'm at in my life".[9] He toldEntertainment Weekly that, "I didn't make this album for commercial purposes. A lot of the verses are extremely long. I just made it to share with people. I hope they can enjoy".[10]
Drake resumed work on the album in October 2009, following an onstage injury from a July 2009 concert.[12] Recording sessions for the album took place at several recording studios, includingMetalworks Studios, BLD&DSTRY, andCherry Beach Studios inToronto, NightBird Recording Studios inWest Hollywood, Gee Jam Studios inPortland, Jamaica, The Setai Hotel Recording Studio andThe Hit Factory inMiami, Blast Off Studios and Rock the Mic inNew York, Glenwood Studios inLos Angeles, Triangle Sounds Studios inAtlanta, Takeover Studios inHouston, and Avex Recording Studio inHonolulu.[11] The track "Up All Night" was recorded on a bus "somewhere inLexington", and "Unforgettable" was recorded on a bus "somewhere inNew Orleans".[11] The album wasmixed at Tree Sound Studios, Blast Off Studios, Gee Jam Studios, Cherry Beach Studios, The Setai Hotel Recording Studio, Metalworks Studios, Stadium Red in New York, and Studio 306 in Toronto.[11] Lil Wayne, Cortez Bryant, Gee Roberson,Ronald "Slim" Williams, Oliver El-Khatib,Noah "40" Shebib, Derrick "E.I." Lawrence, Jas Prince, andBryan "Birdman" Williams served asexecutive producers for the album.[13]
Producers 40 andBoi-1da handled most of the tracks'programming and instrumentation.[11] Besides his Toronto-based producer team, Drake also collaborated with European producer Crada, who previously worked on Kid Cudi's 2009 debut albumMan on the Moon: The End of Day.[14] Drake toldEntertainment Weekly that he collaborated with anindie pop band namedFrancis and the Lights.[10]Kevin Rudolf also participated in the album's recording,[15] contributing with keyboards on "Show Me a Good Time" and "Find Your Love".[11] R&B singerMary J. Blige contributed additional vocals to the track "Fancy".[11] In March 2010, Drake confirmed that he had recorded a track withEminem andDr. Dre.[16] In early November 2009, Lil Wayne released an official statement explaining thatThank Me Later had been completed, though Drake later commented that he was still working on the album.[17] On April 26, 2010, Drake announced to a crowd during a show that he had finished recording and had turned in a final copy of the album.[18]
In a genre that demands boldness and bravado, Drake turns his first full-length release into an inward-looking, slow-moving, psychedelicpsychodrama ... it plays like an off-kilter dream by a reluctant rap star.
Thank Me Later has a languorous, ambient production and is characterized by subtle arrangements, obscured keyboards, skitteringsnare drums,[20] andreverbed percussion.[21] Lyrically,Thank Me Later has moody, introspective subject matter,[22] and mainly centers around Drake's introduction to fame and his romances.[19][23] TheToronto Star describes the content as "about the sorts of doubts, excesses, betrayals and creeping paranoid suspicions that arrive hand-in-hand with celebrity".[24] Music journalistGreg Kot describes the album as "personal and eccentric, the journal of a flawed, self-doubting regular guy rather than a strutting icon-in-waiting".[19]
The album's first-half generally discusses fame directly with confessional songs aboutunrequited love, money, and women, followed by club-oriented and sexual songs.[25] Drake's lyrics explore feelings of doubt, insecurity, and heartbreak, while exhibiting both emotional and grammaticalmalapropisms.[20] He raps in anasal voice and sings subtly, with aflow generally inA-B-AB form.[20] Music journalistJody Rosen observes "emotionally transparent" rapping that eschews the "thuggy" style previously popular in hip hop, finding Drake's style to be "subtle and rueful rather than loud and lively".[26]
Music writers likenThank Me Later to Kanye West's808s & Heartbreak.[26][27][28]Nathan Rabin writes that, "musically, Drake favors warm washes of synthesizers that create a melancholy, fragile mood redolent of808s & Heartbreak."[28] Comparisons are also drawn toMan on the Moon: The End of Day by Kid Cudi, a protégé of West.[19][26] By contrast, Joshua Ostroff ofThe Globe and Mail feels thatThank Me Later's "emotional navel-gazing lacks West's often-suffocating self-pity and offers a proper synthesis of rap and R&B."[22] Jeff Weiss of theLos Angeles Times views that the album ignores West's celebratory side "in search of anthems for the easily alienated".[29]
"Fireworks" references the divorce of Drake's parents and alludes to his brief fling withRihanna.[27][31] "Karaoke" features background keyboards that add to the song's1980s musical influence,[27] with lyrics about the difficulty of relationships.[23] In "The Resistance", Drake worries about fame changing him, with lyrics veering from his ailing grandmother to aone-night stand that resulted in an abortion.[23][32] "Over" incorporates an orchestral backdrop, and according to Michael Cragg ofMusicOMH, contains three hooks.[33] The artful song is about the elation and confusion that accompanies fame.[34] "Show Me a Good Time" opens and closes with a squeaky yelling sound.[27] On the song, Drake talks addresses hip hop listeners who find him inauthentic.[23] "Up All Night" has menacing strings,[32] and Drake boastfully rapping about his nightlife, while trading lines withNicki Minaj.[25] The club song "Fancy" has a predominanthook,looped samples, and backwards strings.[23][27][33] It is an ode to women who spend hours primping in preparation for the nightlife.[32] The song features vocals by producerSwizz Beatz andT.I., with additional harmonies by Mary J. Blige at the song's conclusion.[35] "Shut It Down" is aprogressive soul song,[36] in the manner of a piano ballad andslow jam.[24][35]
"Light Up" features loudsynth drums and plaintivepiano strings.[25][32] The Jay-Z-collaboration is a critique on the hip hop industry, its detrimental effects,[23] and the trappings of being an artist: "While all my closest friends out partyin'/ I'm just here makin' the music that they party to," while Jay-Z gives advice: "Drake, here's how they gonna come at you / with silly rap feuds, trying to distract you."[25][35] Jay-Z expands on the album's overarching theme of self-doubt: "And since no good deed go unpunished / I'm not as cool with niggaz as I once was / I once was cool as theFonz was / But these bright lights turned me to a monster."[37] "Miss Me" has Lil Wayne rapping jokes,[37] including a crudepunch line about sucking "the brown" off his penis and subsequently groaning, "Ewwww, that's nasty."[20] "Cece's Interlude" has aPrince-likeLinnDrum and transparent lyrics addressing a girl: "I wish I / Wasn't famous / I wish I / Was still in school / So that I could have you in my dorm room / I would put it on you crazy."[20] Thepop song "Find Your Love" was produced by Kanye West and bears similarity to his 2008 song "Heartless".[38]
Thank Me Later was one of the most anticipated hip hop releases of 2010.[39][40][41] Universal Motown Records announced its release date as June 15, 2010,[42][43] before itleaked on June 1 in its entirety. Drake responded onTwitter: "I gave away free music for years so we're good over here... just allow it to be the soundtrack to your summer and Enjoy! June 15th!"[44] The album was released June 15, 2010, by Aspire Music Group,[45] withYoung Money Entertainment under a joint venture withCash Money Records and distribution by Universal Motown.[46][47] WhenThank Me Later was released, it debuted at number one on theBillboard 200 in the United States and sold 447,000 copies in its first week.[48] It also debuted at number one in Canada with first-week sales of 31,000 copies.[49] By August 2015, the album has sold 1.8 million copies in the United States.[50]
In promotion ofThank Me Later, Drake performed at the9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., on June 13, 2010.[51] On June 15, Drake made an in-store appearance at aBest Buy-outlet in New York City'sUnion Square in promotion of the album's release, interacting with fans and signing copies of the album.[52] On the day of its release, Drake also made interviews for several radio stations through the phone.[53] A planned free concert by Drake atSouth Street Seaport's Pier 17 that day was cancelled by concert organizers and authorities after unruly behavior within crowds and unsafe overcrowding.[54] Following the cancellation, Drake appeared at Manhattan nightspot Amnesia for an album-release party sponsored by radio stationHot 97.[55]
Four singles were released from the album—"Over" on March 8, 2010,[56] "Find Your Love" on May 5,[57] "Miss Me" on June 1,[58] and "Fancy" on August 3.[59] All four singles reached the top 40 of theBillboard Hot 100, including "Miss Me" at number 15 and "Over" at number 14.[60] "Find Your Love" charted at number five on the Hot 100 and also reached number 10 in Canada.[60][61] "Shut It Down" was originally planned for release as the first single in late 2009 and "Show Me a Good Time" was planned to be the fifth single, but both releases failed to materialize.[62][63]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AnyDecentMusic? | 6.0/10[64] |
| Metacritic | 75/100[65] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [23] |
| The A.V. Club | B+[28] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B[66] |
| Los Angeles Times |  [67] |
| MSN Music (Expert Witness) | B+[37] |
| NME | 6/10[68] |
| Pitchfork | 8.4/10[35] |
| Rolling Stone | [26] |
| Spin | 8/10[21] |
| USA Today | [34] |
Thank Me Later was met with generally positive reviews. AtMetacritic, which assigns anormalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional critics, the album received anaverage score of 75, based on 26 reviews.[65] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 6.0 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[64]
Tim Sendra ofAllMusic complimented the album's "rich and nuanced production and Drake's thoughtful, playful, and intense lyrics", writing that his "willingness to be introspective and honest ... makes [him] unique and helps makeThank Me Later special."[23]Pitchfork critic Ryan Dombal said "Drake vies for superstardom while embracing his non-drug-dealing, non-violent, non-dire history-- one that connects with most rap fans in a completely reasonable way."[35] InThe A.V. Club, Rabin wrote that "on his cohesive, bittersweet, assured debut, he proves himself worthy of the sometimes-blinding spotlight".[28] Rosen, writing forRolling Stone, found Drake to be "in total command of a style that would have been hard to imagine dominating hip-hop a few years ago".[26] In the opinion of Ben Detrick fromSpin,Thank Me Later had "dynamics like few other hip-hop albums before it", and while "Drake's personal anecdotes lack the bravado of bullet-wound boasts", they were "intimate and lyrically detailed enough to draw blood".[21]Prefix critic Wilson McBee deemed it one of the fewpop rap records "that comes close to being a classic".[69]
Some reviewers were less impressed. Daniel Roberts ofPopMatters said none of the songs are better than "Best I Ever Had" and believed Drake was suffering from an "identity crisis", finding the record "good at parts, but never great".[27] Josuha Errett ofNow felt Drake "complains about fame way too much" while calling him "humorless".[70] InMSN Music,Robert Christgau deemed Drake "neither thug nor thug wannabe ... plenty talented, but pretty shallow and without much focus as a mack". He wrote of the record: "Pleasing and hookful though it be, [it] consistently bemoans the confusing emoluments and accoutrements of fame".[37] Pete Cashmore fromNME believed "it's those constant and predictable superstar interjections that prevent the album from standing out as much as it had potential to do."[68]Slant Magazine's Jesse Cataldo viewed Drake's "insistentnavel-gazing" as a flimsy "concept", but commended the album for "nail[ing] confused introspection in a genre famous for willful misrepresentation of self."[30]
At the end of 2010,Thank Me Later appeared on several critics' top-ten lists of the year's best albums,[71] includingTime, who ranked it fifth best,[72] andRolling Stone, who named it the seventh best album of the year.[73] At the2010 Grammy Awards, "Best I Ever Had" was nominated forBest Rap Solo Performance andBest Rap Song.[74] In 2013 and 2022,Rolling Stone includedThank Me Later in its list of the 100 Best Debut Albums of All Time.[75][76]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Fireworks" (featuringAlicia Keys) |
| 5:13 | |
| 2. | "Karaoke" |
| Francis and the Lights | 3:48 |
| 3. | "The Resistance" |
| 40 | 3:45 |
| 4. | "Over" |
|
| 3:54 |
| 5. | "Show Me a Good Time" | 3:30 | ||
| 6. | "Up All Night" (featuringNicki Minaj) |
|
| 3:54 |
| 7. | "Fancy" (featuringT.I. andSwizz Beatz) |
| 5:19 | |
| 8. | "Shut It Down" (featuringThe-Dream) |
|
| 6:59 |
| 9. | "Unforgettable" (featuringYoung Jeezy) |
|
| 3:34 |
| 10. | "Light Up" (featuringJay-Z) |
| 4:34 | |
| 11. | "Miss Me" (featuringLil Wayne) |
|
| 5:06 |
| 12. | "Cece's Interlude" |
| 40 | 2:34 |
| 13. | "Find Your Love" |
| 3:29 | |
| 14. | "Thank Me Now" |
| Timbaland | 5:29 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | "Best I Ever Had" |
| Boi-1da | 4:17 |
| 16. | "Uptown" (featuringBun B and Lil Wayne) |
|
| 6:21 |
| 17. | "Successful" (featuringTrey Songz and Lil Wayne) |
| 40 | 5:51 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16. | "9AM in Dallas" |
| Boi-1da | 3:39 |
Notes
Sample credits
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[11]
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Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
Decade-end charts[edit]
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| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[104] | 2× Platinum | 160,000‡ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[105] | Gold | 7,500‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[106] | Platinum | 300,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[107] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Studio albums | |
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| Collaborative albums |
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| Extended plays | |
| Mixtapes | |
| Tours | |
| Related | |
