Nothing Was the Same – 10 Year Review

For my very first post, and on the horizon of For All the Dogs, I thought it would be a good idea to review my favorite album of all time, Nothing Was the Same. For me, NWTS isn’t just an album, but a time capsule. I remember how fascinated I became with rap when it was released, starting with a triumphant intro in “Tuscan Leather.

Tuscan Leather is that type of song you play when you get randomly motivated at 3:00 am to clean your room and turn your life around. With lines like “Comin’ off the last record I’m gettin’ 20 million off the record Just to off these records Nigga, that’s a record” and “This is nothin’ for the radio But they’ll still play it though ‘Cause it’s that new Drizzy Drake That’s just the way it go”, Drake doesn’t hesitate to assert his dominance at the top of the game.

He continues this concept on “Started From the Bottom”, and I couldn’t agree more with the title. Being forced to play a disabled guy in a poopoo tv show for 50k a year is indeed the bottom. “Wu-Tang Forever” is a great slow-paced song with a good blend of rapping and singing while “Own it” is probably my least favorite song the whole album. Now to the song dedicated to all his haters in “Worst Behavior”. Many people didn’t think that a light skin child actor who occasionally sang in his songs could ever become a serious rapper. “Take Care”, “Thank me Later”, and “So far Gone” effortlessly proved them wrong, and he lets them know on “Worst Behavior”.

On “From Time”, Drake talks about his past history with women and his realization that actions have consequences. All while being accompanied by the talented Jhené Aiko, whom Big Sean fumbled might I add.

Skipping allllll the way to the end of the album, we have arrived ladies and gentlemen. “Pound Cake / Paris Morton Music 2” is the epitome of an outro song. From the epic intro with “Jimmy Smith” and sampled vocals of “Ellie Golding”, to the fitting last line of the song where Drake says “I guess that’s just who I became, dawg Nothing was the same, dawg”, Drake expresses his desire to be the greatest and won’t rest until he is. “Nothing Was the same” didn’t just set Drake at the top of the rap game during that year, it sat him into the rap throne, which he continues to occupy to this day.  

 Tuscan Leather – 10/10 

 Furthest Thing – 8/10 

 Started from the Bottom – 8/10 

 Wu-Tang Forever – 9/10  

 Own It – 7.5/10 

 Worst Behavior – 9/10 

 From Time – 10/10  

 Hold On, We’re Going Home – 9/10 

 Connect – 7.5/10 

 The Language – 7.5/10 

 305 to My City – 8/10 

 Too Much – 9/10 

 Pound Cake / Paris Morton Music 2 – 10/10