Pop Style by Drake – Be Henney Review

I’m going to be honest. I’m not really a fan of most of this new “rap.”

Rap used to be regional. There used to be distinct slang, dialect, and even production based on region. And, I’m not a fan of beef outside of wax, but the difference in sound allowed you to take pride in your area “showing out” yet, still allowing different regions to come together on a common theme (i.e. hip hop culture). This new-age hodge podge reminds me of when Peter Griffin did his “bippity-boppity” skit on Family Guy, or better yet, Mush Mouth from Fat Albert. I honestly can’t tell the difference between Rae Sremmurd, Young Thug, (new) Future, Yo Gotti, and the list goes on and on. To me, they all sound like they just scooped up a spoonful of mac-n-cheese, took a huge bite, and then got recorded trying to talk. However, most of these songs have catchy hooks with infectious beats. Whenever I’m driving, it’s not uncharacteristic to see me going in on some song that I couldn’t sing back to you if you paid me.

To that, I went into full fan geek mode when I heard Drake was releasing a new album. He’s one of the newer guys I actually like. When I heard there would be a collaboration with Kanye (one of my favorites) and Jay-Z (who doesn’t love Jay-Z), I almost exploded with childhood excitement and wonder. I was more excited than the first fat guy to eat chicken and waffles at the same time. Multiple things that I like coming together; how could this not be epic? The last time these guys came together, they invited T.I. and Eminem and it was a total banger. So, I had high hopes for this 2016 get together. I must say, when I first heard Pop-Style, I was a bit disappointed. “Got so many chains they call me Chain-um Tatum” gave me a little bit of hope. It’s not the greatest line, but it’s just enough to ras my berries. However, he follows that up with “..And I like to finish what you think you started/You boys just got to Hollywood, you boys just starrrrted..”. Rhyming started with started? Huh? Later, he says “…you been on my mind laaaately….girl you need to call meeeeee”. I’m adding extra letters because he makes those words longer than they should be. AND THEY DON’T RHYME. It doesn’t even go together well. Southern rappers have been doing it for years, but at least they make the words sound similar. This is the mush mouth, bippity boppity, hashtag rap that has taken over the air waves and it’s really grinding my gears to hear it out of Drake. Thank goodness he’s added Jay-Z and Kanye to the track…or DID he? He did. No. Seriously. He did.

I don’t want to give away the entire song, but, at one point, Kanye says “Ima letchu finish..” WHAT!!!!??? Yes!!! That, alone, is a win.

Jay-Z only says like 18 words in this entire song. Yes, it’s just 18. I counted. You’re counting now too aren’t you? It’s ok. I won’t tell.  

It really sounds like I don’t like this, but here’s the thing. Again, being honest, the song is catchy. I’m going to hear it a few more times and I’ll probably be dabbing to it or hitting the folk or something, while at work. I’m not saying I like the song, but I’m saying I don’t dislike it. I was just disappointed. I expected more out of it, based on whose it was. Drake recorded a new verse for this that is giving me a new found hope for his new album , Views from the 6. However, I’m hoping that there’s more stuff like Summer Sixteen and less bippoty boppity.

Written by Be Henney