After a long wait, on October 6, 2023, Drake released his highly anticipated 8th studio album, “For All The Dogs.” The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, making it Drake’s 13th US number-one album. The album featured many famous artists, including J. Cole, SZA, Yeat, and Lil Yachty, but got mixed reviews from the students at Scituate. With a run time of 84 minutes with 23 songs, critics, and listeners, he had plenty to analyze and listen to.
Senior Jack Curreri thought the album was a nine out of ten and liked almost every song, stating, “Drake albums get over hated when they first come out” and “give it a few months.” On the other hand, senior Nick Mutter thought the album was a six out of ten. Despite a few standout tracks, he could have been more impressed by most of the songs. Both seniors enjoyed the features on the album but thought the Frank Ocean Sample on the first track, “Virginia Beach,” was one of the best parts of the album and their favorite song.
An everyday favorite among the students we interviewed was IDGAF featuring Yeat, which debuted at number one on the Billboard charts. Junior Savanna Garabedian said it was the best feature on the album. The song has a futuristic feel, utilizing a sample from British jazz trio Azimuth’s song “The Tunnel,” followed by a powerful beat drop, switching the beat to an upbeat, synth-heavy melody with punching drums.
Although the feature list was extensive and included several big names, there was shared disappointment across grades that Travis Scott wasn’t featured on the album.
Drake’s album was viral among Scituate High School students and received decent reviews from critics like Pitchfork and The Guardian.