Take Care (album)
Take Care is the second studio album by Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on November 15, 2011, by Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records and Republic Records. The album features guest appearances from the Weeknd, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Birdman, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, and André 3000. Alongside prominent production from the album's executive producers Drake and 40, further contributors include T-Minus, Chantal Kreviazuk, Boi-1da, Illangelo, Jamie xx, Supa Dups, Just Blaze, Chase N. Cashe, and Doc McKinney.
Take Care
November 15, 2011
2010–2011
80:18
- 40
- Lil Wayne
- Cortez Bryant
- Boi-1da
- Chantal Kreviazuk
- Chase N. Cashe
- Drew Murray
- Illangelo
- Jamie xx
- Just Blaze
- Kromatik
- The Weeknd
- T-Minus
- Gee Roberson
- Doc McKinney
- Supa Dups
Prior to Take Care, Drake released Thank Me Later, which experienced positive critical success, but left him feeling disjointed about the album's musical content. Expressing a desire to reunite with 40, his long-time producer who featured in parts on Thank Me Later, the duo worked extensively on the new album once recording sessions began in 2010. Drake's vocals on the album feature emotional crooning, alto vocals, a guttural cadence, a melodic flow, and a larger emphasis on singing than on Thank Me Later. In comparison to his debut album, Drake revealed that the album is called Take Care because "I get to take my time this go-round [rather than rush]".
The album also expands on the low-tempo, sensuous, and dark sonic aesthetic of Thank Me Later. It incorporates several elements that have come to define Drake's sound, including minimalist R&B influences, existential subject matter, and alternately sung and rapped vocals. It features a mixture of braggadocio and emotional lyrics, exploring themes of fame, romance, and wealth.[1] The album also highlights other topics, such as Drake's relationships with friends and family, as well as touching on sex and narcissism.
Despite leaking online nine days before its scheduled release, Take Care debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 631,000 copies in its first week. It has been certified eight times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Four of the album's singles peaked in the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100: "Headlines", "Make Me Proud", "The Motto" and "Take Care". The album received acclaim from critics, with praise for its expansive production and emotional themes. It was named one of 2011's best albums, and subsequently one of the best albums of the 2010s, by several publications. It won Drake his first Grammy Award, winning Best Rap Album at the 2013 Grammy Awards. In 2020, the album was ranked 95th on Rolling Stone's updated list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Composition[edit]
Take Care expands on the low-tempo, sensuous, and dark sonic aesthetic of Thank Me Later.[28] Primarily a hip hop album,[29] it has a languid, grandiose production that incorporates R&B,[30] pop,[31] electronica,[32][33] and post-dubstep styles.[34] The music is typified by an atmospheric sound,[35] muted textures, slow tempos,[36] subtle chords,[37] melodic synth tracks, low-end grooves,[38][39] and sparse, ambient arrangements.[3] Noah "40" Shebib contributed to most of the album's production with murky beats, dark synth layers, atmospheric keyboards,[40] moody guitar sounds,[36] smooth piano, muffled drums,[28] dramatic flourishes,[4] and low-pass filters.[41] Although he is credited as producer for only eight of the album's 17 songs, Shebib also served as audio engineer and mix engineer on the album.[4] His production for the album is characteristic of the Toronto hip hop scene, which experienced a mainstream breakthrough with Shebib's work with Drake, producers Boi-1da and T-Minus, and singer-songwriter the Weeknd, all of whom contributed to Take Care.[42] Evan Rytlewski of The A.V. Club comments that the album is "crafted primarily around the oblique production of Drake's native Toronto—all rippling synths, distant pulses, and purposeful empty space".[43]
Music writers noted "late-night" and 1990s-era R&B influence in the album's music.[28][36][38][44] NPR writer Frannie Kelley notes "minimalist reworkings of TLC's minor-key soul and [...] trancey rhythms that land somewhere between paranoid Sly Stone and smoked-out Maxwell".[33] Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork Media comments that the music "breathes heavy somewhere between UGK's deep funk, quiet-storm 90s R&B, and James Blake-inspired minimalism", and interprets its subtle style to be "a direct rebuke" to the prevalence of European dance influences in mainstream music.[28] Los Angeles Times writer Todd Martens views that the album's mood and style are modelled after Kanye West's 2008 album 808s & Heartbreak.[41]
Other producers' tracks are more up-tempo and shift from the melancholic mood of Shebib's production.[36] Songs on the album are lengthy, sonically expansive,[35] and accompanied by playful interludes.[45] Lauren Carter of the Boston Herald writes of the song structure on Take Care, "Musical themes vanish and re-appear, layers build upon layers and then strip down to bare bones as tightly wound tracks give way to gauzy, lush interludes. Most songs sound intentionally distorted and warped".[35] Drake's vocals on the album feature emotional crooning, alto vocals,[41] a guttural cadence,[44] a melodic flow,[46] and a larger emphasis on singing than on his previous album, Thank Me Later.[36][47][48][49]
Release and promotion[edit]
The first track Drake released was "Dreams Money Can Buy" on May 20, 2011 through his October's Very Own blog. Drake mentioned this song was "A Story of Dreams, mixed with reality," and that this was not his first single off the album but that it would be included on Take Care.[55] On June 9, 2011, a second track titled "Marvins Room" was released via his blog. Drake initially stated that the song would not be featured on Take Care, but because of the song's unexpected success, prompting it was released as a digital and radio single on July 22, 2011 and would be on Take Care. "Trust Issues" was then released shortly after on his blog, but was confirmed not to be on the album via Drake's Twitter. He explained that the song was an idea he had from I'm On One and made it "just for fun."[56][57] However, in an interview, Drake stated that Trust Issues, along with Dreams Money Can Buy, would be included in the Birthday Edition of the album.[58]
On September 10, 2011, Drake released a new song titled "Club Paradise" on his October's Very Own blog.[59] "Dropping this for our boy Avery...this was his favorite sh*t during the recording process. 2 more songs coming tonight as well. ovoxo," he wrote on his blog. On September 11, 2011, Drake released another track entitled "Free Spirit" featuring Rick Ross and blogged that another was to be released that night, as well.[60] Later that night he released a remix of Waka Flocka Flame's "Round of Applause". On September 23, 2011, Drake released the official album cover to Take Care.[61] On October 20, 2011, an unfinished version of "The Real Her" featuring only Lil Wayne was leaked online.[62] On October 8, 2011, Drake announced on his OVO blog that Take Care would be pushed back until November 15 because of three sample clearances ("Take Care", "Cameras", and "Practice"). It was originally to be released on his 25th birthday, October 24, 2011.[63][64]
The Club Paradise Tour was revealed to start in November on Twitter. However, it was revealed that the tour was delayed until after Christmas/New Year break so Drake could perform at more schools.[63][64] A chopped and screwed version of the album remixed by OG Ron C and DJ Candlestick of the Chopstars titled Chop Care was released on November 29, 2011, and received over 1 million downloads in the first 48 hours. It was featured on a variety of media blogs, magazines, and newspapers. It was included on year-end lists by several publications, including The New York Times which gave major praise.[65]
Commercial performance[edit]
Take Care debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 631,000 copies, becoming Drake's second number-one album.[100] The album also topped the Billboard Rap Albums and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in its debut week.[101] On January 31, 2012, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of one million copies in the United States.[102] As of August 2015, the album has sold 2,260,000 copies in the United States.[103] On October 25, 2023, the album was certified eight times platinum for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over eight million copies in the United States.[104]
In Canada, the album debuted at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 48,000 copies in its first week.[105] It has been certified double platinum by the Canadian Recording Industry Association, indicating shipments of 160,000 copies.[106] In the United Kingdom, Take Care entered at number five on the UK Albums Chart[107] and on January 18, 2013, the album went platinum with the British Recorded Music Industry, with 300,000 copies shipped to UK retailers.[108]
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[109]
Notes
Sample credits