Soon enough Drake begins his signature silky-smooth croon, begging for a good time that has glaringly obvious sexual undertones. These traits are best displayed on “Show Me a Good Time,” which opens with syncopation that begs for sinuous movement in a smoky, dimly lit room at the end of a house party. “Thank Me Later” is an uncluttered album fueled by spare beats, minor keys, moody synthesizers, and Drake’s hypnotically smooth voice. Drake has barely an ounce of the swag possessed at near toxic levels by his musical compatriots, but his tortured thoughts on love, relationships, the downfalls of fame, and the difficulty of privilege make him endearing and relatable to the middle-class masses. While Kanye West’s emotional unrest in the wake of personal tragedy incarnated itself on “808s and Heartbreak” and ended up cold, distant, and whiny-transforming West groupies into haters-Drake’s achievements in “Thank Me Later” what “808s” aspired to. The platinum success of Drake’s “Thank Me Later” is proof that self-deprecating, privileged, lovesick hipsters can find a home on the rap world’s hard streets.

Full thank me later album