I am an avid Drake fan. Drake announced his new single, Search & Rescue, on Thursday April 6th and delivered it on all streaming platforms just a few hours later. It left me missing Drake’s older style.
One thing that I realized very young growing up with brothers is that men most certainly express themselves and their emotions differently than women.
I think that often times women react to things as they happen. Whether it be good or bad circumstances, women confide in others, make decisions based on how others will react, and more often than not try to problem solve right away. I think that women are more likely to express themselves out loud and communicate openly with ease.
Men, on the other hand, seem to need more motivation to express their emotions. There always has to be a reason and I think that comes down to a toxic culture surrounding men opening up to one another.
Drake is a sensitive guy as well as a very strong public figure. I think the difference between how men and women express themselves shows most when faced with challenges.
My intuition was confirmed yet again after listening to Drake’s new song, Search & Rescue.
After listening to the finished product, I feel like it was just – okay. I think that he may have missed the mark in his assumable intentions on giving fans an emotional song. Was I amused by the Kardashian cameo? Definitely. I think if one of the goals for the track was for it to be talked about amongst different audiences, it is being accomplished. But, after sitting with the song for a moment, I am not overly impressed.
The chorus states, “I need somebody to be patient with me. Someone to get money with, not to take it from me, look. They don’t even need to be as famous as me. I don’t think I’ll meet ‘em at the places I be (I-I-I)”.
Drake is rapping about the fact that he cannot seem to meet women outside of the strip clubs or bars that he spends most of his free time in. He’s claiming he is not looking for women that are even as famous as him but also vaguely rapping about or to Kim Kardashian, one of the most famous women in the world.
He uses an excerpt of a conversation between Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner about the former’s divorce from Kanye West which said, “I didn’t come this far, just to come this far and not be happy”. The single cover art features Drake and a woman who, if not Kim, certainly is intended to look like her.
Drake has been vocal in some of his other songs that the alleged beef between him and Kanye West was far from buried. As an outsider, it feels like an unnecessary hit at Kanye. Although I do not agree with any of the controversial statements Kanye West has made recently in the news, I do acknowledge that it is most likely an unfortunate side effect to his mental illness.
I do not think that Kim Kardashian was unaware of the release of the song. I always thought that she was admirable by the way she, for the sake of her children, gracefully handled the media surrounding her divorce. This track, on the other hand, left a bad taste in my mouth. It felt calculated; I thought it was borderline petty of Drake to get involved, I do not understand his motive.
While the song is repetitive, I do think the lyrics are intentional. Within his words, he is telling us that he has had enough, is ready to settle down, he wants someone to “take me out the club, what? Take me out the trap”. I do not think that the lyrics match the overall vibe of the song. I imagine Drake has lived a very extensive life and I wish he would rap about something new.
I think that as Drake’s career has grown, he has become less introspective and less vulnerable in his music. His early albums Take Care and Nothing Was the Same are some of his best works. He met criticisms of being “corny” or “soft” by confronting them head-on and adapting. His newer albums, though, feel less genuine.
There are major differences in Marvin’s Room and Hold on We’re Going Home compared to his new releases. Those tracks felt real and authentic. It was raw Drake.
I think that Search & Rescue feels detached and that is why I think it will most likely boil down to being a TikTok trend.