Drake's unexpected pivot from trap to house music
In short: In June 2022, Drake shocked listeners by abandoning his signature trap sound for a vibrant, dance-focused project. This stylistic departure, titled Honestly, Nevermind, embraced house, Baltimore club, and amapiano, marking a significant evolution in his discography and the second installment of a planned trilogy.
Released via a surprise announcement on Instagram on June 16, 2022, Honestly, Nevermind represented a major aesthetic shift for the Canadian artist. Moving away from the trap-heavy sound that had defined much of his recent work, the album leaned into dance, house, and Baltimore club influences. The project featured executive production from Black Coffee and included a single guest feature from 21 Savage on the track "Jimmy Cooks."
The album's reception was largely positive, earning a Metacritic score of 73 based on 14 reviews. Critics noted the shift; while some found the songwriting lackluster, others, like AllMusic's Tim Sendra, praised it as a refreshing departure from an endless stretch of trap. The New York Times described it as an escapist, weightless marvel that signaled a new era for the influential star.
Commercially, the album was a significant success. The record entered the US Billboard 200 at the top spot, moving 204,000 album-equivalent units. It also set a record as America's most successful Dance/Electronic album of 2022, leading the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums list for 20 weeks. By August 13, 2023, the RIAA certified the album platinum for over one million units in the US.
The album is also notable for its dedication to the late American fashion designer Virgil Abloh. This connection is echoed through the music, as the track "Sticky" contains uncredited dialogue from Abloh's 2017 "Everything in Quotes" lecture at Columbia University.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Honestly, Nevermind
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