“I’m going to lock the door on the studio for a little bit. Maybe a year or something.” — Drake in a SiriusXM.
An image captured from the music video ‘8AM In Charlotte’. Released on YouTube on the 6th of October 2023. Used for commentary and analysis purposes in accordance with fair use guidelines.
“For all the dogs” howling to the Top Charts.
The album released on the 6th of October, “For All the Dogs” by Republic Records (UMG), immediately hit new heights in popularity: Drake song’s ‘First Person Shooter’ is trending at #5 on the Top 50 — Global on Spotify, and sits #55 in the Top Artist Global on Youtube.
The album features an impressive lineup of artists, such as SZA, Bad Bunny, J. Cole, 21 Savage, Chief Keef, Sexyy Red, and Lil Yachty.
Drake Poster ‘For All The Dogs’ New Music Album Cover / Source: Amazon Poster
Making music with his son: Adonis.
The thoughtful video clip of Drake — 8AM In Charlotte, made by the filmmaker Zong Li (who also worked with Kaytranada) already collected over 1.8M views on YouTube within 72 hours.
An image captured from the music video ‘8AM In Charlotte’. Released on YouTube on the 6th of October 2023. Used for commentary and analysis purposes in accordance with fair use guidelines.
The video begins with Drake’s 5-year-old son Adonis explaining the meaning behind the For All The Dogs artwork (made as album cover) he drew:
“So it’s the same story. So the goat was running away from the other monsters. And the other animals. And a flower blocking the way. So the flowers of fire. The racing car was maybe helping the goat. And there was this, some stairs who’s like jail stairs. And there was one person who was on top. And he got killed by the stick by the track.”
The lyrics share gratitude and the importance of faith or spirituality. His financial success, referred to as “fortune-tell” came with a darker side, mentioning attempts on his life, and his concern about the drug trade affecting communities, causing one of his friends to end up in jail.
The lyrics encrypt several comparisons with other artists’ experiences, mentioning Lauryn Hill, who dropped out of the public eye in 2000, as the pressures of fame began to overwhelm her.
Another cultural reference pays tribute to Virgil Abloh with the custom-designed jacket. The American fashion designer — and appointed Louis Vuitton Artistic Director in March 2018 — died in 2021 from cancer.
“It’s All A Blur”: A penchant for alcohol?
Drake has been working hard and released three albums in just a little over a year. However, as he neared the conclusion of his “It’s All a Blur” tour, the artist has been silently battling health issues, forcing him to publicly prioritize his well-being.
“[I’m] probably not going to make music for a little bit, I’mma be real with you. I need to focus on my health, first and foremost.” — Drake in SiriusXM in “Table for One” radio show
Drake disclosed that he has been grappling with persistent stomach issues for several years, deciding to step back from the recording studio for a year or so.
It’s worth noting that the rapper, well-known for his alcohol appreciation, has ventured beyond the music industry with the launch of his high-end whiskey brand called Virginia Black.
“I have a lot of other things I would love to focus on, he revealed. So, I’m going to lock the door on the studio for a little bit. Maybe a year or something. Maybe a little bit longer.”
Our hearts go out to Drake for opening up to his fans and showing his vulnerability. We wish him a swift and complete recovery.
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