The Brief: Drake's Dark Lane Demo Tapes is the Canadian-American rapper's fifth mixtape, the Hip Hop project provides a vulnerable glimpse into Drake's casual love life. Musical tropes such as fame, sex, drugs, money, and Drake's signature verses about trust and emotional damage are sprinkled across his newest mixtape. Here's an analysis of the language, pop culture references, and rap verses that compose of the project.
DEEP DIVE
The meticulously orchestrated predecessor to Drake‘s sixth studio album that is set to be released in Summer 2020, Dark Lane Demo Tapes is a familiar-sounding tracklist that is reminiscent of the Hip Hop artist’s earlier projects such as Nothing Was the Same. The Canadian-American rapper’s cover art is representative of the themes covered in the mixtape involving Drake’s emotional affiliations with women and his intimate memories (good and bad) that have resulted in an intense fragility in his trust with his many lovers. The mixtape was released on May 1st, 2020 and it includes 14 unforgettable tracks.
All the songs on Dark Lane Demo Tapes are meant to be turned all the way up in your car, providing the perfect musical backdrop to a night cruise down the highway. Artists featured on the project include Giveon, Chris Brown, Future, Young Thug, Playboi Carti, Fivio Foreign, and Sosa Geek.
References and Cultural Language To Know:
Drake’s Dark Lane Demo Tapes is saturated with street slang, pop culture references, and most importantly, clever rap verses. Here is a careful selection of language and references to help listeners know what Drake is simping about.
- Drug References: Crushed Leaves, Dosed Off
- Love, Sex, and Relationship References: Ten-Speed Freak, Bad Gyal
- Pop Culture and Slang References: Big Meech, Baby Mama, Real MVP, Dawg, Block, Too Turnt, Crew, What’s Brackin’, What’s Hannein’, Trap, The ‘Gram, Woo Walk
- Money and Fame References: White Air Forces, Henny, Hunnid, Alyx
Top Tracks On The Mixtape
Dark Lane Demo Tapes has fourteen tracks that give depth to Drake’s love life that is evidently chaotic, fleeting, and influenced by his stardom.
- “Toosie Slide” is a TikTok dance challenge that went viral and has contributed to the massive amount of popularity that has led to the first single of Drake’s mixtape to become widely-known.
- “Chicago Freestyle” is a melodic love song featuring Giveon. This single outlines Drake’s past relationships and friendships and how dynamics have shifted over his career.
- “When to Say When” samples Bobby Glen‘s “Sounds Like a Love Song” and is reminiscent of Drake’s earlier singles that revolve around his come up and success as a world-renowned rapper.
- “Pain 1993” is an uplifting single that discusses Drake’s accomplishments as an artist and his disputes with other men in the music industry featuring Playboi Carti.
- “Time Flies” is Drake’s casual love life translated into a catchy sing-along where he confesses his admiration for a lover while apologizing for all of his hurtful actions.
Drake’s Dark Lane Demo Tapes is the perfect predecessor for his sixth album that will definitely be one of the major contestants for the best anthems of Summer 2020.