Dylan's Deep Dives

  Drake links with OVO understudy to fuel his self-pitied, R&B-heavy return to the top By Dylan Barbee Courtesy @champagnepapi on Instagram Release Date: February 14, 2025  This past year, Drake has had his name dragged through the mud in what some would say was the biggest rap beef ever. From being called a sex offender by the whole world to his two exes, SZA and Serena Williams, dancing on the Super Bowl halftime show stage dedicated to talking down on his name, Drake has had his back against the wall.  Despite this, Drake has returned to the spotlight with a R&B collaboration album with fellow Canadian artist PARTYNEXTDOOR called $ome $exy $ongs 4 U. The 21-track Valentine’s Day released album extends over a 70-minute listen. Drake returns to his melancholic sad boy R&B roots similar to his approach on past albums like his 2009 release So Far Gone and his 2011 Take Care. However, this is a collaboration album, and I can't help but recognize that PARTYNEXTDO...

  The Weeknd's Grand Finale  By Dylan Barbee Courtesy of Apple Music Release Date: January 31st, 2025  The Weeknd’s career has been a rollercoaster. Beginning as a mysterious new voice in the industry after his debut mixtape House Of Balloons in 2011, he became one the most commercially successful pop stars of all time with albums like his 2015 Beauty Behind The Madness and his 2020 album After Hours . The Weeknd’s discography has been well-decorated over the last 14 years. Now, with his latest album release Hurry Up Tomorrow the 34-year-old artist from Toronto says goodbye to his persona with a cinematic grand finale.  Hurry Up Tomorrow is a long listen, containing 22 songs that prolong to a runtime of an hour and 25 minutes. On the album, The Weeknd yearns for self-redemption and personal transformation as he is emotionally seeking forgiveness from his fans and even God. He confesses the sins of the persona he donned throughout his career and acknowledges his self-...