Started From The Bottom: Nothing Was The Same is the third studio album released by Canadian hip-hop artist Drake.
The album opens with a harmonic crescendo in the crazy, sick sample of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” for the song, “Tuscan Leather,” produced by Drake’s long-time friend and producer Noah “40” Shebib.
40 samples the song three times, flips the track and literally reverses the vocals.
Each verse of this six-minute intro has a different beat that’s perfectly meshed together, closing with a sample of Curtis Mayfield’s “When Seasons Change (Live),” forming one powerful opening that sets the stage for the entire album.
Nothing Was The Same is Drake’s third studio album, and stays consistent with the classic Drake style that fans have learned to love.
Although the album is very entertaining melodically, it is filled with tons of social references that really take you back and makes you think.
In “Tuscan Leather,” Drake references the 1988 hit movie Coming to America starring Eddie Murphy.
Drake states, “Prince Akeem, they throwing flowers at my feet…
This line in itself seems to have a deeper thought knowing that from what he’s stated in a previous album, Drake’s mother was a florist.
It’s almost like he’s saying that before he used to prep the flowers and now the flowers are prepped for him to walk on.
He’s really taking after his mentor and boss Dwayne “Lil Wayne” Carter in his lyrical styling technique.
The album is mostly light, with the only dark song being the track “Worst Behavior” in which he addresses all the haters and talks about his time working on the show Degrassi, and states he’s on his worst behavior because “mothaf***** never loved us.”
But, if you love Drake, you will not regret purchasing this album.
4.5 STARS / 5
Track 1 – Tuscan Leather
Track 6 – Worst Behavior
Track 8 – Hold On, We’re Going Home
Track 13 – Pound Cake/ Paris Morton Music 2 (Feat. JAY Z)
Track 15 – All Me (Feat. 2 Chainz & Big Sean)
