If You're Reading This It's Too Late

by 
AlbumFeb 12 / 201517 songs, 1h 8m 50s
Trap Pop Rap
Popular Highly Rated

Drake surprised everyone at the beginning of 2015 when he dropped *If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late*, an impressive 17-track release that combines the contemplative and confrontational with plenty of cavernous production from longtime collaborator Noah “40” Shebib. While Drizzy joins mentor Lil Wayne in questioning the loyalty of old friends on the woozy, Wondagurl-produced “Used To,” “Energy” is the cold-blooded highlight—on which he snarls, “I got enemies.” Later, amid the electrifying barbs of “6PM in New York,” Drake considers his own mortality and legacy: “28 at midnight. I wonder what’s next for me.”

8.3 / 10

The surprise release of If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, a retail mixtape arriving on the six-year anniversary of Drake's star-making So Far Gone, has inspired much speculation: Is it a ruse to close out his Cash Money deal? But the music itself gives Drake room to breathe outside the lumbering commercialism of his studio albums.

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In 2015, the distinction between albums and mixtapes has never been blurrier, but that didn’t stop the Internet from trying to parse which category Drake’s surprise If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late fits into. In his liner notes, the rapper referred to this unexpected release as a mixtape, and though its quickie,…

8 / 10

Check out our album review of Artist's If You're Reading This It's Too Late on Rolling Stone.com.

By far Drake’s most dense and complex album.

After a typically busy and fascinating 2014, Drake's 2015 started off much the same way.

8 / 10

The Boy wears many hats: he can host a sports-related award show with ease, poke fun at himself on Saturday Night Live, patiently croon "I n...

6 / 10

Music Review: Drake - If You're Reading This It's Too Late.

Drake’s grumpy new album is compelling – and broke Spotify’s first-week streaming record

8 / 10

Drake’s surprise album release might be a stopgap, but it offers plenty to love with its fresh and fabulous experimental beats

70 %

Album Reviews: Drake - If You're Reading This It's Too Late

3.5 / 5

Drake - If You're Reading This It's Too Late review: Not the same Drake from 4 years ago.

Drake's shock new album is a jumping off spot for anyone interested in rap’s future