Like most event albums in rap today, Drake's new project For All the Dogs was analyzed, dissected, and reassembled sans context as first-time listeners streamed the album upon its release at 6 a.m. on Friday. Naturally, The FADER's writers were there as well, pouring over each track with a depth of concentration usually reserved for telekenesis. After playing the albums once each, we each selected a standout moment from the project. Sometimes cringy and sometimes cool, all of the moments are listed below.
The debut of a new Spanish accent
When Drake made a guest appearance on Bad Bunny’s 2018 track “Mia,” the listening public marveled at his command of the Spanish language. Returning the favor five years later as Bad Bunny’s host on “Gently,” he seems to have regressed. “My G, Tití came VIP with a baño,” he begins, his forced tone indicating that he’s in said baño right now, fighting for his life on the porcelain throne. “Me gusta su sonrisa aunque me haga daño,” he goes on, eliding the diphthong in “aunque” and pronouncing the silent “h” in “haga.”
Things only get worse: “I live like Sopranos, Italianos,” he proclaims, referring to a non-Spanish-speaking population. “I’ve been El Chico for cincuenta años.” (This is incorrect math: Drake is 36.)
“Me gusta su culazo perreando / Le da hasta abajo, le gusta este tamaño,” he continues against all better judgement, shaping his words as a two-year-old would a ball of clay. “Dale, Papi Champaño, jheez / Ah, eh, eh, eh, eh, eh.” — Raphael Helfand