What Drake's New Album Can Learn From His Mixtape

Admittedly, I still listen to Drake's surprise mixtape, If You're Reading This It's Too Late , almost every day — which is why I'm so surprised every time I realize that Drake's surprise mixtape came out on February 13, aka, over four months ago. Yes, that's four months of easy, breezy, Drizzy listening, but it's also four months of new new album and no new word on said album. Drake, I love you, but I've gotta say it: your tricks aren't working anymore, and I officially need to know when your full album, Views From The 6, is coming out. In fact, I demand an answer, Champagne Papi: Can you at least give us all a hint about when to finally expect Views From The 6?

Because, sadly, it doesn't seem that there's any real date in sight; some have ventured to painstakingly guess, but it seems like the only answer we have is "late in the year," whatever that means. I mean, don't get me wrong — I trust Aubrey "Drake" Graham and his artistic process, which must be super intense since, if you listened to If You're Reading This It's Too Late as closely as I did, you'll know is something he talks about. If you didn't though, FYI — he talks at length on the album about how he basically becomes an agoraphobic for periods of time at his condo, recording. Case-in-point: In the track "10 Bands," he raps, "Drapes closed, I don't know what time it is/ I'm still awake, I gotta shine this year/ I could never ever let the streets down/ Haven't left the condo for a week now." Hey, if it works, it works; it definitely worked for If You're Reading This It's Too Late, and I'm guessing it'll work just as well for Views From The 6 too.

However, since it appears Drake is still burning the midnight oil in the studio, here are six things that Views From The 6 can learn from his mixtape.

More Woes

Even though Drake is running through the 6 with his woes, If You're Reading This It's Too Late is definitely his saddest, most angry album yet. I love it, honestly — though it pains me to see Drake in pain, it makes for some epic music and even more epic performances.

More Anger

But like I said, mad Drake is mad DOPE. "Energy," for instance, is an entire song about enemies! So bold, so real, so new Drake. Don't lose the bad mood, Drizzy, it's real good.

More Lyrics About His Mom

If Drake is really trying to be true to himself, he's gotta include some more shoutouts to his mom on Views From The 6. Luckily, this is more than probable, since the album is supposedly about his childhood. Yes, he'll have a tough time topping If You're Reading This It's Too Late's "You & The 6," but the mama's boy will find a way to out-Drake himself, I'm sure.

More Featured Artists

One of my only gripes with If You're Reading This It's Too Late is that it's all Drake, all the time. Not that that's a bad thing at all, because the more Aubrey, the better, but one of Drake's many talents is participating in excellent collaborations with other rappers and singers — especially those from his Young Money family. Some of his best tracks are with Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, and Jhene Aiko. Lil Wayne and PartyNextDoor are featured on If You're Reading This It's Too Late, but Views needs more. (Bonus points if they're female artists!)

More Shade

Drake was all about calling out his haters on his mixtape, in general AND specifically. He dropped the burn heard round the world: "You need to act your age and not your girl's age," he rapped on "6PM In New York," in a diss to 25-year-old rapper Tyga who has been reported to be dating 17-year old Kylie Jenner. It's 20 degrees cooler in this shade, and it feels nice. More please, Champagne Papi.

More Fire Lyrics

Even though If You're Reading This It's Too Late has plenty of great beats and hooks, Drake's lyrics are where it's at, as per usual. He is a poet, after all! Even if Drizzy is gonna get more ambitious on Views From The 6, I hope he never loses that fire in him that lets him write lyrics like "Star67's" "I been had these visions of the life I'm livin' since I was Jimmy" and "Text from a centerfold/ I ain't reply/ Let her know I read it though."

We're all waiting, Drizzy — don't make us wait too long.

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