Thank Me Later
Encyclopedia
Thank Me Later is the debut studio album
of Canadian recording artist Drake
, released June 15, 2010, on Young Money Entertainment
, Cash Money Records
and Universal Motown Records
. Production for the album took place at various recording studios during 2009 to 2010 and was mostly produced by longtime collaborators Noah "40" Shebib and Boi-1da
, and also featured contributions from Timbaland
, Swizz Beatz
, Nicki Minaj
, Lil Wayne
, The-Dream
and Kanye West
, among others. Thank Me Later features a predominantly sparse, downbeat production and contains subjective lyrics concerning themes of fame, self-examination, and love.
The album received positive reviews from most music critics, who complimented Drake's introspective lyrics and drew musical comparisons to the works of hip hop artists Kanye West
and Kid Cudi
. Following an anticipated release, it debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200
chart, selling 447,000 copies in the United States in its first week. It reached platinum certification in Canada within its debut week and produced four singles that attained chart success including international hit "Find Your Love
" and Billboard
hits "Over
", "Miss Me
" and "Fancy
". The album has been certified platinum
by the Recording Industry Association of America
, with shipments of one million copies in the United States.
-nominations and producing the hit single "Best I Ever Had
". The single reappeared on his debut EP
, which was released after a bidding competition among labels and his signing with Universal Motown Records
amid support from high-profile hip hop artists such as Kanye West
, Jay-Z
, and Lil Wayne
. Drake followed-up on So Far Gones success with several guest appearances on other rappers' works, adding to the hype
surrounding him at the time.
In an interview for Complex, Drake stated that his debut album will be "a solid hip hop album" and musically distinct from So Far Gone, which received comparisons to Kanye West
's 808s & Heartbreak
(2008). He expressed a desire to work with André 3000
, Kid Cudi
, and Sade
for the album. In an interview for MTV
, Drake cited Nas
and André 3000 as influences for parts of Thank Me Later, stating "Nas was somebody that I used to listen to his raps and never understood how he did it. I always wanted to understand how he painted those pictures and his bar structure. I went back and really studied Nas and André 3000 and then came back with this album". In comparing the album to his previous work, he stated "It's gonna be bigger, it's gonna sound happier. More victorious, 'cause that's where I'm at in my life". He told Entertainment Weekly
that, "I didn't make this album for commercial purposes. A lot of the verses are extremely long. I just made it to share with people. I hope they can enjoy".
, Nightbird Studios in West Hollywood, Gee Jam Studios in Portland, Jamaica, The Setai Hotel Recording Studio and The Hit Factory in Miami, Blast Off Studios and Rock the Mic in New York
, Glenwood Studios in Los Angeles
, Triangle Sounds Studios in Atlanta, Takeover Studios in Houston, and Avex Recording Studio in Honolulu. The track "Up All Night" was recorded on a bus "somewhere in Lexington
", and "Unforgettable" was recorded on a bus "somewhere in New Orleans". The album was mixed
at Tree Sound Studios, Blast Off Studios, Gee Jam Studios, Cherry Beach Studios, The Setai Hotel Recording Studio, Metalworks Studios, Stadium Red in New York, and Studio 306 in Toronto. Lil Wayne
, Cortez Bryant, Gee Robinson, Ronald "Slim" Williams, and Bryan "Birdman" Williams served as executive producers for the album.
Producers Noah "40" Shebib
and Boi-1da
handled most of the tracks' programming
and instrumentation. Besides his Toronto-based producer team, Drake also collaborated with European producer Crada
, who already worked on Kid Cudi
's debut album Man on the Moon: The End of Day. Drake told Entertainment Weekly
that he collaborated with an Indie pop
band named Francis and the Lights
. Kevin Rudolf
also participated in the album's recording, contributing with keyboards on "Show Me a Good Time" and "Find Your Love
". R&B singer Mary J. Blige
contributed additional vocals to the track "Fancy
". In March 2010, Drake confirmed that he had recorded a track with Eminem
and Dr. Dre
. In early November 2009, Lil Wayne released an official statement explaining that Thank Me Later had been completed, though Drake later commented that he was still working on the album. On April 26, 2010, Drake announced to a crowd during a show that he had finished recording and had turned in a final copy of the album.
's 808s & Heartbreak
. Greg Kot
of Chicago Tribune
and Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone
compared the album as coming off like West's protege Kid Cudi
's Man on the Moon: The End of Day. However, according to Joshua Ostroff of The Globe and Mail
said the Thank Me Later 's "emotional navel-gazing lacks West’s often-suffocating self-pity and offers a proper synthesis of rap and R&B." Jeff Weiss of The Los Angeles Times said that the album ignores West's celebratory side in search of what 808s left off, "in search of anthems for the easily alienated." Most of the album is "icy synths", described as making the sound "moody and introspective." According to Michael Saba of Paste
, the front end of the album sees Drake "addressing his fame head-on with a trio of barebones, confessional songs about lost love, money, women and fame", as the others are "star-studded club bangers" and "sticky-sweet Autotune-fueled sex jams".
"Karaoke" makes use of a background keyboard that gives it an 80's
-style feel. "Unforgettable" samples Aaliyah
's "At Your Best (You Are Love)." "Fancy
" has been described as a "club banger" and "fun and sassy summer jam with a huge hook", featuring "looped samples" and "backwards strings." The song features producer Swizz Beatz
along with T.I.
, with additional harmonies at the conclusion by Mary J. Blige
. "Up All Night
", accompanied by "menacing strings" has been called sinister, and described as "drowsy" and "tough-as-nails". "Light Up" has been called "gargantuan" and "rattling", as it features "thunderous synth drums" and "plaintive piano strings." "Shut It Down" is a piano ballad that has been called an "uber slow-jam." "Over
" makes use of an orchestral backdrop, and according to Michael Cragg of musicOMH
, contains three hooks. "Show Me A Good Time" opens and closes with a "squeaky yelling effect."
The lyrical content of the album mainly centers around romance and Drake's introduction to fame, which has been called an "inward-looking, slow-moving, psychedelic psychodrama." The Toronto Star
described the content as "about the sorts of doubts, excesses, betrayals and creeping paranoid suspicions that arrive hand-in-hand with celebrity." "Karaoke" and "Miss Me
" both talk about the difficulty of relationships. "Fireworks" references his parents' divorce, and alludes to his brief fling with Rihanna
. In "The Resistance", Drake worries about fame changing him, as "his mind races from his ailing grandmother to a one-night stand that resulted in an abortion." "Show Me A Good Time", Drake talks about "real hip-hop fans" finding him "manufactured", as the Jay-Z
collaboration, "Light Up", is described as a "fierce takedown of the industry" and the "damage it can wreak". The latter also deals with trappings of being an artist, through lines such as, "While all my closest friends out partyin'/ I'm just here makin' the music that they party to.", while Jay-Z
gives advice to his protege, "Drake, here’s how they gonna come at you / with silly rap feuds, trying to distract you." "First single "Over" has been called "artful" as Drake accounts the "elation and confusion" that accompanies fame. "Fancy" is described as "an up-tempo ode to women who spend hours primping in preparation for Saturday night." "Up All Night
" sees Drake rapping about his nightlife trading lines with Nicki Minaj
.
, Rhapsody.com, Shockhound
, and Amazon.com
. Drake's management sent a cease and desist
order to iTunes, which promptly removed the album from sale on June 5. Drake then planned to sue Canadian Money. MTV News reported in December 2009 that Drake planned for the album to be released by March 2010. Later, Rap-Up
revealed that the album would be released sometime in spring, and it was later confirmed that a May 25, 2010 release has been scheduled. However, Universal Motown Records stated the album has been pushed back three weeks to June 15, 2010. The entire album leaked on June 1, before its official release date. Drake responded by tweeting, "I gave away free music for years so we're good over here... just allow it to be the soundtrack to your summer and Enjoy! June 15th!" The album was released June 15, 2010 on Young Money Entertainment
under a joint venture with Cash Money Records
and distribution by Universal Motown Records
. Upon its release, MTV
ranked it number five on its list of "Top Five Most-Anticipated Rap Debuts".
In promotion of the album, Drake performed at the 9:30 Club
in Washington, D.C. on June 13, 2010. On June 15, 2010, Drake made an in-store appearance at a Best Buy
-outlet in New York City's Union Square
in promotion of the album's release, interacting with fans and signing copies of the album. On the day of its release, Drake also made interviews for several radio stations through the phone. A planned free concert by Drake at South Street Seaport
's Pier 17 that day was cancelled by concert organizers and authorities after unruly behavior within crowds and unsafe overcrowding. Following the cancellation, Drake appeared at Manhattan nightspot Amnesia for an album-release party sponsored by radio station Hot 97.
" was released as the album's first single on March 8, 2010 through digital distribution. The song received positive reviews, which commended the lyrics among other content. It was a success stateside and in Canada, reaching the top twenty on the main charts and one and two on the Rap and R&B/Hip-Hop charts respectively. It also was successful internationally appearing on the UK Singles Chart
, UK R&B Chart
, and German Black Chart. The Anthony Mandler
-helmed clip features Drake reminiscing over an experience, and the struggle between his old life and the new one. "Find Your Love
" was released as the album's second single on May 5, 2010. Initially, the song sparked comparisons between the work and 808s and Heartbreak by Kanye West
, who produced the song and several others on the album. The song became Drake's best charting effort since "Best I Ever Had
" appearing in the top five on the Billboard Hot 100
, and the top ten in Canada. In addition to appearing on the Rap and R&B charts, it charted on the Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs)
, and also on several international charts. The accompanying video, also directed by Anthony Mandler was shot in Jamaica and chronicles Drake's relationship with a gang-affiliated woman. "Miss Me
", the album's third single was initially released as a promo single on June 1, 2010, before going to radio. The single has currently peaked at number 15 in the United States and the Anthony Mandler
-directed video has been filmed. "Fancy
" is the rumored next single as Drake, Swizz Beatz
and T.I.
have shot a music video for the song. The single was given its official release to urban radio on August 3. It will be released in the United Kingdom on October 11, 2010 as a double-A-side single with his previous single "Best I Ever Had
".
chart with first-week sales of 447,000 copies. It attained the third-highest first-week sales of 2010 in the United States. It also entered at number one on Billboard
s R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Rap Albums
chart. In its second week, the album dropped to number two on the Billboard 200 and sold 157,000 copies. It remained at number two and sold 105,000 copies in its third week on the chart. In its fourth week, the album sold 74,000 copies at the same chart position. On July 20, 2010, Thank Me Later was certified platinum
by the Recording Industry Association of America
, for shipments of one million copies in the United States. By January 9, 2011, the album had sold 1,279,500 copies in the United States. As of November 20, 2011, the album had sold 1,489,000 copies in the United States.
In Canada, the album debuted at number one on the Top 100 Albums
chart, selling 31,000 copies in its first week. By the end of its debut week, Thank Me Later had shipped 100,000 copies in Canada and received platinum certification from the Canadian Recording Industry Association
for shipment in excess of 80,000 copies. In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number 15 on the Top 40 Albums
and at number one on the RnB Albums Chart
. It also entered at number 32 in Ireland, at number 92 in the Netherlands, at number 69 in Switzerland, and at number 35 in New Zealand.
, which assigns a normalized
rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average
score of 75, based on 26 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". Tim Sendra of Allmusic said that the album, "lives up to the hype", complimenting "rich and nuanced production and Drake's thoughtful, playful, and intense lyrics", and commenting that the album "is a radio-friendly, chart-topping collection of singles but also a serious examination of Drake's life that holds up as an album.". While Sendra stated his singing may not be the best, he said, "willingness to be introspective and honest that makes Drake unique and helps make Thank Me Later special. It is the rare album, rap or otherwise, that follows through on the artist's potential and the fan’s anticipation." The Washington Post
s Chris Richards commented that "With penetrating lyricism and arresting melodies, it's a truly captivating debut -- a rookie's ticket into the 21st century pop pantheon." Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork Media
complimented that "Drake vies for superstardom while embracing his non-drug-dealing, non-violent, non-dire history-- one that connects with most rap fans in a completely reasonable way." Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club
said "Drake may be powerfully conflicted about stardom, but on his cohesive, bittersweet, assured debut, he proves himself worthy of the sometimes-blinding spotlight." XXL
said, "Drake initially endeared himself to fans by combining lyrical skill with infectious melodies, all while maintaining an everyman’s sensibility. Just an upper-middle-class kid—yeah, perhaps a little well off, so what?—trying to make it. On Thank Me Later, he explores what it’s like to have done that—to have become successful. Turns out, it’s not exactly what he thought it would be. But it still sounds pretty damn remarkable." Although Joshua Ostroff of The Globe and Mail
said Drake was not the "hip hop saviour", he complimented Drake singing the hooks rather than a R&B singer as usual rap hits use, calling the album "cohesive." Rolling Stone
s Jody Rosen said Drake "in total command of a style that would have been hard to imagine dominating hip-hop a few years ago...subtle and rueful rather than loud and lively; emotionally transparent rather than thuggy", and that the album "meant to be listened to from start to finish. And judging by the anticipation around its release, it will be, many times over."
Ben Raynor of Toronto Star
said Drake was not "the second coming" of Eminem
or Jay-Z
, and that he is better when his "R&B vocal skills are pushed to the forefront." Raynor also complimented Drake bringing longtime producers "Boi-1da
and Noah "40" Shebib" instead of what could have been "a big-budget A-list free-for-all", commenting that after listening on the previous duo's tracks "there’s every reason to believe Drake’s going to be at this game for awhile." Renato Pagnani of The Vancouver Sun
criticized Drake's "workmanlike" flow, and commented that the album's guests like Jay-Z and T.I. "effortlessly demonstrate the difference between a good MC and a great MC." However Pagnani said, "His best material comes when he favours introspection over braggadocio, honesty over hyperbole", and commended Drake's ability to pen "towering hooks", and being one of rap music's only "double threats." While Michael Saba of Paste
said that no one could have lived up to the hype of the debut, he said Drake did the next thing, "release a solid and consistent album that showcases his prodigious talent", can commented, "we now have every reason to believe that the hype will ring true on his next album." Although he complained the album was long and contained filler tracks, MusicOMH
's Michael Cragg said, that the album "does indeed mark the arrival of rap's newest superstar." Daniel Roberts of PopMatters
said that no track on the album was better than "Best I Ever Had
" and commented that Drake had an "identity crisis" on the set. However, Roberts commend Drake's ambition, and that the album was "good at parts, but never great", commenting, "It’s unlikely he’s the next Jay, or Kanye, or even Jeezy. But you’ll definitely keep hearing his name. Drizzy’s just getting started." Josuha Errett of Now
liked the singles "Over" and "Find Your Love" as well as features from Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and Kayne West's production, but said "listening to the rest is just thankless", commenting that Drake "complains about fame way too much", and called him "humorless" among other things. In his consumer guide for MSN Music
, critic Robert Christgau
gave the album a B+ rating, indicating "remarkable one way or another, yet also flirts with the humdrum or the half-assed". Christgau described Drake as "Neither thug nor thug wannabe [...] plenty talented, but pretty shallow and without much focus as a mack", while commenting that the album "pleasing and hookful though it be, consistently bemoans the confusing emoluments and accoutrements of fame".
ranked it number five on its list of 2010's Top 10 Albums. Rolling Stone named it the seventh best album of 2010 in its year-end albums list. Pitchfork Media
placed it at number 42 on its list "The Top 50 Albums of 2010".
and Drake's label Universal Motown Records
.
(co) Co-producer
Sample credits
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
of Canadian recording artist Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
, released June 15, 2010, on Young Money Entertainment
Young Money Entertainment
Young Money Entertainment is an American record label founded by rapper Lil Wayne. Young Money's president is Lil Wayne's lifelong friend Mack Maine. The label is an imprint of Cash Money Records and is distributed by Universal Republic Records...
, Cash Money Records
Cash Money Records
Cash Money Records is a record label founded by brothers Bryan "Birdman" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed by Universal Republic Records as of 2011...
and Universal Motown Records
Universal Motown Records
Universal Motown Records was a record label that operated as a division of Universal Motown Republic Group. It was the contemporary incarnation of the legendary Motown Records label, and the "urban" half of UMRG, although there was some rock artists on the label as well.Changes were made at...
. Production for the album took place at various recording studios during 2009 to 2010 and was mostly produced by longtime collaborators Noah "40" Shebib and Boi-1da
Boi-1da
Matthew Samuels , better known as Boi-1da , is a Canadian hip-hop producer from Toronto, Ontario. He has produced for artists and groups such as Chip tha Ripper, Kardinal Offishall, Clipse, Drake, Eminem, Saukrates, k-os, G-Unit, and The Diplomats among others...
, and also featured contributions from Timbaland
Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley , better known by his stage name Timbaland, is an American record producer, songwriter and rapper....
, Swizz Beatz
Swizz Beatz
Kasseem Dean , better known by his stage name, Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer, DJ, rapper and painter. At the age of 17, he gained attention in the hip-hop world through his friendship with rapper DMX. Grady Spivey and rapper Cassidy helped launch his label Full Surface Records...
, Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj
Onika Tanya Maraj , better known by her stage name Nicki Minaj; ), is a Trinidadian-born American recording artist...
, Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
, The-Dream
The-Dream
Terius Youngdell Nash , better known by his stage name The-Dream, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is known for co-writing "Umbrella" for Rihanna and "Single Ladies " for Beyoncé, as well as for his three solo albums, Love Hate, Love vs...
and Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
, among others. Thank Me Later features a predominantly sparse, downbeat production and contains subjective lyrics concerning themes of fame, self-examination, and love.
The album received positive reviews from most music critics, who complimented Drake's introspective lyrics and drew musical comparisons to the works of hip hop artists Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
and Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi
Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi , better known by his stage name Kid Cudi , sometimes stylized KiD CuDi, is an American rapper, singer and actor. He first gained major attention after the release of his debut mixtape A Kid Named Cudi. In 2009, his single "Day 'n' Nite" reached the top five of the...
. Following an anticipated release, it debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart, selling 447,000 copies in the United States in its first week. It reached platinum certification in Canada within its debut week and produced four singles that attained chart success including international hit "Find Your Love
Find Your Love
"Find Your Love" is a song by Canadian recording artist, Drake. The song written by Drake, Patrick Reynolds, Jeff Bhasker, and Kanye West, and was produced by the latter two and No I.D.. The song serves as the second single from his debut album Thank Me Later...
" and Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
hits "Over
Over (Drake song)
"Over" is a song by Canadian recording artist, Drake. The song serves as the lead single from his debut album, Thank Me Later. It was written by Drake with Boi-1da, and produced by the latter and Al Khaaliq. The single was released for digital download on March 8, 2010. The song is midtempo hip-hop...
", "Miss Me
Miss Me
"Miss Me" is the third single by Canadian recording artist, Drake from his debut album Thank Me Later. The song features label mate and Young Money founder Lil Wayne. Produced by Drake's long-time collaborators Boi-1da and 40, the track was released as the third official single from his debut...
" and "Fancy
Fancy (Drake song)
"Fancy" is a song by Canadian recording artist, Drake, from his debut album Thank Me Later. Fancy features T.I. and Swizz Beatz, who also co-produced the track alongside Noah "40" Shebib...
". The album has been certified platinum
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
, with shipments of one million copies in the United States.
Background
Released in February 2009, Drake's mixtape So Far Gone proceeded his series of early mixtapes and achieved unexpected critical and commercial success, earning him two Grammy AwardGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-nominations and producing the hit single "Best I Ever Had
Best I Ever Had (Drake song)
"Best I Ever Had" is the first single from Canadian rapper Drake's first EP So Far Gone. It first became prominent from the release of Drake's third mixtape of the same name. In 2009, the song was named the "Hot Rap Song" of the year by Billboard. The song's popularity helped Drake decide to...
". The single reappeared on his debut EP
So Far Gone
So Far Gone is the third official mixtape from Canadian rapper/singer Drake. Released in February 2009, the mixtape proved to be a major catalyst in the launching of Drake's career on an international scale. Tracks "Best I Ever Had" and "Successful" were released as singles from the mixtape, and...
, which was released after a bidding competition among labels and his signing with Universal Motown Records
Universal Motown Records
Universal Motown Records was a record label that operated as a division of Universal Motown Republic Group. It was the contemporary incarnation of the legendary Motown Records label, and the "urban" half of UMRG, although there was some rock artists on the label as well.Changes were made at...
amid support from high-profile hip hop artists such as Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
, Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, and Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
. Drake followed-up on So Far Gones success with several guest appearances on other rappers' works, adding to the hype
Promotion (marketing)
Promotion is one of the four elements of marketing mix . It is the communication link between sellers and buyers for the purpose of influencing, informing, or persuading a potential buyer's purchasing decision....
surrounding him at the time.
In an interview for Complex, Drake stated that his debut album will be "a solid hip hop album" and musically distinct from So Far Gone, which received comparisons to Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
's 808s & Heartbreak
808s & Heartbreak
808s & Heartbreak is the fourth studio album by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released November 24, 2008 on Roc-A-Fella Records in the United States. Recording sessions for the album took place at Glenwood Studios in Burbank, California and Avex Recording Studio in Honolulu, Hawaii during...
(2008). He expressed a desire to work with André 3000
André 3000
André Lauren Benjamin , better known by his stage name André 3000 is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and actor, best known for being part of American hip-hop duo OutKast alongside fellow rapper Big Boi...
, Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi
Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi , better known by his stage name Kid Cudi , sometimes stylized KiD CuDi, is an American rapper, singer and actor. He first gained major attention after the release of his debut mixtape A Kid Named Cudi. In 2009, his single "Day 'n' Nite" reached the top five of the...
, and Sade
Sade (band)
Sade is a British smooth jazz band that formed in 1983, named for Nigerian lead singer Sade Adu. Their music features elements of R&B, soul, jazz, and soft rock....
for the album. In an interview for MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, Drake cited Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
and André 3000 as influences for parts of Thank Me Later, stating "Nas was somebody that I used to listen to his raps and never understood how he did it. I always wanted to understand how he painted those pictures and his bar structure. I went back and really studied Nas and André 3000 and then came back with this album". In comparing the album to his previous work, he stated "It's gonna be bigger, it's gonna sound happier. More victorious, 'cause that's where I'm at in my life". He told Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
that, "I didn't make this album for commercial purposes. A lot of the verses are extremely long. I just made it to share with people. I hope they can enjoy".
Recording
Drake resumed work on the album in October 2009, following an onstage injury from a July 2009 concert. Recording sessions for the album took place at several recording studios, including Metalworks Studios, BLD&DSTY, and Cherry Beach Studios in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Nightbird Studios in West Hollywood, Gee Jam Studios in Portland, Jamaica, The Setai Hotel Recording Studio and The Hit Factory in Miami, Blast Off Studios and Rock the Mic in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Glenwood Studios in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Triangle Sounds Studios in Atlanta, Takeover Studios in Houston, and Avex Recording Studio in Honolulu. The track "Up All Night" was recorded on a bus "somewhere in Lexington
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
", and "Unforgettable" was recorded on a bus "somewhere in New Orleans". The album was mixed
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
at Tree Sound Studios, Blast Off Studios, Gee Jam Studios, Cherry Beach Studios, The Setai Hotel Recording Studio, Metalworks Studios, Stadium Red in New York, and Studio 306 in Toronto. Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
, Cortez Bryant, Gee Robinson, Ronald "Slim" Williams, and Bryan "Birdman" Williams served as executive producers for the album.
Producers Noah "40" Shebib
40 (producer)
Noah Shebib, better known as 40, is a Canadian hip-hop producer from Toronto, Ontario. He is currently signed to Hip Hop Since 1978, a management and production company. In addition to a strong affiliation with Young Money Cash Money Records , Shebib has produced for artists such as Drake, Lil...
and Boi-1da
Boi-1da
Matthew Samuels , better known as Boi-1da , is a Canadian hip-hop producer from Toronto, Ontario. He has produced for artists and groups such as Chip tha Ripper, Kardinal Offishall, Clipse, Drake, Eminem, Saukrates, k-os, G-Unit, and The Diplomats among others...
handled most of the tracks' programming
Programming (music)
Programming is a form of music production and performance using electronic devices, often sequencers or computer programs, to generate music. Programming is used in nearly all forms of electronic music and in most hip hop music since the 1990s. It is also frequently used in modern pop and rock...
and instrumentation. Besides his Toronto-based producer team, Drake also collaborated with European producer Crada
Crada (producer)
Christian Kalla ,better known as Crada, is a German urban music producer and Songwriter from Frankfurt, Germany. He has produced and written for artists and groups such as Drake, Alicia Keys, Kid Cudi, D-Block, Young Buck, Termanology, Stat Quo, B.o.B and Rell among others...
, who already worked on Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi
Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi , better known by his stage name Kid Cudi , sometimes stylized KiD CuDi, is an American rapper, singer and actor. He first gained major attention after the release of his debut mixtape A Kid Named Cudi. In 2009, his single "Day 'n' Nite" reached the top five of the...
's debut album Man on the Moon: The End of Day. Drake told Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
that he collaborated with an Indie pop
Indie pop
Indie pop is a genre of alternative rock music that originated in the United Kingdom in the mid 1980s, with its roots in the Scottish post-punk bands on the Postcard Records label in the early '80s, such as Orange Juice, Josef K and Aztec Camera, and the dominant UK independent band of the mid...
band named Francis and the Lights
Francis and the Lights
Francis and the Lights is the symbolic band name used by American performer and songwriter Francis Farewell Starlite. The term "and the Lights" refers both to the lights on a stage and pixels on a computer screen....
. Kevin Rudolf
Kevin Rudolf
Kevin Rudolf is an American singer-songwriter and record producer signed to Cash Money Records. Rudolf is mostly known for singing and producing rock/pop music...
also participated in the album's recording, contributing with keyboards on "Show Me a Good Time" and "Find Your Love
Find Your Love
"Find Your Love" is a song by Canadian recording artist, Drake. The song written by Drake, Patrick Reynolds, Jeff Bhasker, and Kanye West, and was produced by the latter two and No I.D.. The song serves as the second single from his debut album Thank Me Later...
". R&B singer Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
contributed additional vocals to the track "Fancy
Fancy (Drake song)
"Fancy" is a song by Canadian recording artist, Drake, from his debut album Thank Me Later. Fancy features T.I. and Swizz Beatz, who also co-produced the track alongside Noah "40" Shebib...
". In March 2010, Drake confirmed that he had recorded a track with Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
and Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
. In early November 2009, Lil Wayne released an official statement explaining that Thank Me Later had been completed, though Drake later commented that he was still working on the album. On April 26, 2010, Drake announced to a crowd during a show that he had finished recording and had turned in a final copy of the album.
Composition
Most critics compared the album's composition to Kanye WestKanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
's 808s & Heartbreak
808s & Heartbreak
808s & Heartbreak is the fourth studio album by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released November 24, 2008 on Roc-A-Fella Records in the United States. Recording sessions for the album took place at Glenwood Studios in Burbank, California and Avex Recording Studio in Honolulu, Hawaii during...
. Greg Kot
Greg Kot
Greg Kot is an American writer and journalist. Since 1990, Kot has been the music critic at the Chicago Tribune, where he has covered popular music and reported on music-related social, political and business issues...
of Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
and Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
compared the album as coming off like West's protege Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi
Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi , better known by his stage name Kid Cudi , sometimes stylized KiD CuDi, is an American rapper, singer and actor. He first gained major attention after the release of his debut mixtape A Kid Named Cudi. In 2009, his single "Day 'n' Nite" reached the top five of the...
's Man on the Moon: The End of Day. However, according to Joshua Ostroff of The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
said the Thank Me Later 's "emotional navel-gazing lacks West’s often-suffocating self-pity and offers a proper synthesis of rap and R&B." Jeff Weiss of The Los Angeles Times said that the album ignores West's celebratory side in search of what 808s left off, "in search of anthems for the easily alienated." Most of the album is "icy synths", described as making the sound "moody and introspective." According to Michael Saba of Paste
Paste (magazine)
Paste is a monthly music and entertainment digital magazine published in the United States by Wolfgang's Vault. Its tagline is "Signs of Life in Music, Film and Culture."-History:...
, the front end of the album sees Drake "addressing his fame head-on with a trio of barebones, confessional songs about lost love, money, women and fame", as the others are "star-studded club bangers" and "sticky-sweet Autotune-fueled sex jams".
"Karaoke" makes use of a background keyboard that gives it an 80's
1980s in music
For music from a year in the 1980s, go to 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89For a history of music in all times, see Timeline of musical events....
-style feel. "Unforgettable" samples Aaliyah
Aaliyah
Aaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
's "At Your Best (You Are Love)." "Fancy
Fancy (Drake song)
"Fancy" is a song by Canadian recording artist, Drake, from his debut album Thank Me Later. Fancy features T.I. and Swizz Beatz, who also co-produced the track alongside Noah "40" Shebib...
" has been described as a "club banger" and "fun and sassy summer jam with a huge hook", featuring "looped samples" and "backwards strings." The song features producer Swizz Beatz
Swizz Beatz
Kasseem Dean , better known by his stage name, Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer, DJ, rapper and painter. At the age of 17, he gained attention in the hip-hop world through his friendship with rapper DMX. Grady Spivey and rapper Cassidy helped launch his label Full Surface Records...
along with T.I.
T.I.
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....
, with additional harmonies at the conclusion by Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and occasional actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B. Blige has...
. "Up All Night
Up All Night (Drake song)
"Up All Night" is a song by Canadian hip-hop artist, Drake from his debut album Thank Me Later. The song features label mate Nicki Minaj.-Composition:The song has been labeled contemporary R&B that is topped off with menacing strings...
", accompanied by "menacing strings" has been called sinister, and described as "drowsy" and "tough-as-nails". "Light Up" has been called "gargantuan" and "rattling", as it features "thunderous synth drums" and "plaintive piano strings." "Shut It Down" is a piano ballad that has been called an "uber slow-jam." "Over
Over (Drake song)
"Over" is a song by Canadian recording artist, Drake. The song serves as the lead single from his debut album, Thank Me Later. It was written by Drake with Boi-1da, and produced by the latter and Al Khaaliq. The single was released for digital download on March 8, 2010. The song is midtempo hip-hop...
" makes use of an orchestral backdrop, and according to Michael Cragg of musicOMH
MusicOMH
musicOMH is a United Kingdom-based website which publishes independent reviews, featues and interviews from across all musical genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.-History:...
, contains three hooks. "Show Me A Good Time" opens and closes with a "squeaky yelling effect."
The lyrical content of the album mainly centers around romance and Drake's introduction to fame, which has been called an "inward-looking, slow-moving, psychedelic psychodrama." The Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
described the content as "about the sorts of doubts, excesses, betrayals and creeping paranoid suspicions that arrive hand-in-hand with celebrity." "Karaoke" and "Miss Me
Miss Me
"Miss Me" is the third single by Canadian recording artist, Drake from his debut album Thank Me Later. The song features label mate and Young Money founder Lil Wayne. Produced by Drake's long-time collaborators Boi-1da and 40, the track was released as the third official single from his debut...
" both talk about the difficulty of relationships. "Fireworks" references his parents' divorce, and alludes to his brief fling with Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
. In "The Resistance", Drake worries about fame changing him, as "his mind races from his ailing grandmother to a one-night stand that resulted in an abortion." "Show Me A Good Time", Drake talks about "real hip-hop fans" finding him "manufactured", as the Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
collaboration, "Light Up", is described as a "fierce takedown of the industry" and the "damage it can wreak". The latter also deals with trappings of being an artist, through lines such as, "While all my closest friends out partyin'/ I'm just here makin' the music that they party to.", while Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
gives advice to his protege, "Drake, here’s how they gonna come at you / with silly rap feuds, trying to distract you." "First single "Over" has been called "artful" as Drake accounts the "elation and confusion" that accompanies fame. "Fancy" is described as "an up-tempo ode to women who spend hours primping in preparation for Saturday night." "Up All Night
Up All Night (Drake song)
"Up All Night" is a song by Canadian hip-hop artist, Drake from his debut album Thank Me Later. The song features label mate Nicki Minaj.-Composition:The song has been labeled contemporary R&B that is topped off with menacing strings...
" sees Drake rapping about his nightlife trading lines with Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj
Onika Tanya Maraj , better known by her stage name Nicki Minaj; ), is a Trinidadian-born American recording artist...
.
Release and promotion
The album was one of the most anticipated hip hop releases of 2010. On May 28, 2009, independent label Canadian Money Entertainment sold an unauthorized Drake album, The Girls Love Drake, on iTunesITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
, Rhapsody.com, Shockhound
ShockHound
ShockHound was an online music download site, retail store and social networking platform launched by Hot Topic in 2008. ShockHound music files are available for download in the MP3 format, making them compatible with most digital music players, and free from digital rights management software...
, and Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
. Drake's management sent a cease and desist
Cease and desist
A cease and desist is an order or request to halt an activity and not to take it up again later or else face legal action. The recipient of the cease-and-desist may be an individual or an organization....
order to iTunes, which promptly removed the album from sale on June 5. Drake then planned to sue Canadian Money. MTV News reported in December 2009 that Drake planned for the album to be released by March 2010. Later, Rap-Up
Rap-Up
Rap-Up is a magazine launched in 2001 by founder Devin Lazerine. The publication was originally a website devoted to hip hop, until Lazerine decided to pitch the possibility of a magazine to several publishers. The magazine is focused on the hip hop and R&B aspect of the music industry, and...
revealed that the album would be released sometime in spring, and it was later confirmed that a May 25, 2010 release has been scheduled. However, Universal Motown Records stated the album has been pushed back three weeks to June 15, 2010. The entire album leaked on June 1, before its official release date. Drake responded by tweeting, "I gave away free music for years so we're good over here... just allow it to be the soundtrack to your summer and Enjoy! June 15th!" The album was released June 15, 2010 on Young Money Entertainment
Young Money Entertainment
Young Money Entertainment is an American record label founded by rapper Lil Wayne. Young Money's president is Lil Wayne's lifelong friend Mack Maine. The label is an imprint of Cash Money Records and is distributed by Universal Republic Records...
under a joint venture with Cash Money Records
Cash Money Records
Cash Money Records is a record label founded by brothers Bryan "Birdman" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed by Universal Republic Records as of 2011...
and distribution by Universal Motown Records
Universal Motown Records
Universal Motown Records was a record label that operated as a division of Universal Motown Republic Group. It was the contemporary incarnation of the legendary Motown Records label, and the "urban" half of UMRG, although there was some rock artists on the label as well.Changes were made at...
. Upon its release, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
ranked it number five on its list of "Top Five Most-Anticipated Rap Debuts".
In promotion of the album, Drake performed at the 9:30 Club
9:30 Club
Foo Fighters Promise to come back to D.C. and play the 9:30 ClubNightclub 9:30 is a nightclub and concert venue in Washington, D.C. Originally located at 930 F Street, NW, Washington, D.C., in the 1970s it was called the "Atlantis Club", and hosted primarily rock, New Wave, and punk bands...
in Washington, D.C. on June 13, 2010. On June 15, 2010, Drake made an in-store appearance at a Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
-outlet in New York City's Union Square
Union Square (New York City)
Union Square is a public square in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York.It is an important and historic intersection, located where Broadway and the former Bowery Road – now Fourth Avenue – came together in the early 19th century; its name celebrates neither the...
in promotion of the album's release, interacting with fans and signing copies of the album. On the day of its release, Drake also made interviews for several radio stations through the phone. A planned free concert by Drake at South Street Seaport
South Street Seaport
The South Street Seaport is a historic area in the New York City borough of Manhattan, located where Fulton Street meets the East River, and adjacent to the Financial District. The Seaport is a designated historic district, distinct from the neighboring Financial District...
's Pier 17 that day was cancelled by concert organizers and authorities after unruly behavior within crowds and unsafe overcrowding. Following the cancellation, Drake appeared at Manhattan nightspot Amnesia for an album-release party sponsored by radio station Hot 97.
Singles
"OverOver (Drake song)
"Over" is a song by Canadian recording artist, Drake. The song serves as the lead single from his debut album, Thank Me Later. It was written by Drake with Boi-1da, and produced by the latter and Al Khaaliq. The single was released for digital download on March 8, 2010. The song is midtempo hip-hop...
" was released as the album's first single on March 8, 2010 through digital distribution. The song received positive reviews, which commended the lyrics among other content. It was a success stateside and in Canada, reaching the top twenty on the main charts and one and two on the Rap and R&B/Hip-Hop charts respectively. It also was successful internationally appearing on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
, UK R&B Chart
UK R&B Chart
The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week...
, and German Black Chart. The Anthony Mandler
Anthony Mandler
Anthony Mandler is a commercial and music video director, who has written and directed music videos for several artists. His most notable and frequent collaborator is Rihanna...
-helmed clip features Drake reminiscing over an experience, and the struggle between his old life and the new one. "Find Your Love
Find Your Love
"Find Your Love" is a song by Canadian recording artist, Drake. The song written by Drake, Patrick Reynolds, Jeff Bhasker, and Kanye West, and was produced by the latter two and No I.D.. The song serves as the second single from his debut album Thank Me Later...
" was released as the album's second single on May 5, 2010. Initially, the song sparked comparisons between the work and 808s and Heartbreak by Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
, who produced the song and several others on the album. The song became Drake's best charting effort since "Best I Ever Had
Best I Ever Had (Drake song)
"Best I Ever Had" is the first single from Canadian rapper Drake's first EP So Far Gone. It first became prominent from the release of Drake's third mixtape of the same name. In 2009, the song was named the "Hot Rap Song" of the year by Billboard. The song's popularity helped Drake decide to...
" appearing in the top five on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, and the top ten in Canada. In addition to appearing on the Rap and R&B charts, it charted on the Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs)
Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs)
The Mainstream Top 40 is an airplay chart from Billboard magazine, and is also known as Pop Songs on billboard.com. It was often mistaken for and confused with the now discontinued Pop 100 Airplay chart...
, and also on several international charts. The accompanying video, also directed by Anthony Mandler was shot in Jamaica and chronicles Drake's relationship with a gang-affiliated woman. "Miss Me
Miss Me
"Miss Me" is the third single by Canadian recording artist, Drake from his debut album Thank Me Later. The song features label mate and Young Money founder Lil Wayne. Produced by Drake's long-time collaborators Boi-1da and 40, the track was released as the third official single from his debut...
", the album's third single was initially released as a promo single on June 1, 2010, before going to radio. The single has currently peaked at number 15 in the United States and the Anthony Mandler
Anthony Mandler
Anthony Mandler is a commercial and music video director, who has written and directed music videos for several artists. His most notable and frequent collaborator is Rihanna...
-directed video has been filmed. "Fancy
Fancy (Drake song)
"Fancy" is a song by Canadian recording artist, Drake, from his debut album Thank Me Later. Fancy features T.I. and Swizz Beatz, who also co-produced the track alongside Noah "40" Shebib...
" is the rumored next single as Drake, Swizz Beatz
Swizz Beatz
Kasseem Dean , better known by his stage name, Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer, DJ, rapper and painter. At the age of 17, he gained attention in the hip-hop world through his friendship with rapper DMX. Grady Spivey and rapper Cassidy helped launch his label Full Surface Records...
and T.I.
T.I.
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....
have shot a music video for the song. The single was given its official release to urban radio on August 3. It will be released in the United Kingdom on October 11, 2010 as a double-A-side single with his previous single "Best I Ever Had
Best I Ever Had (Drake song)
"Best I Ever Had" is the first single from Canadian rapper Drake's first EP So Far Gone. It first became prominent from the release of Drake's third mixtape of the same name. In 2009, the song was named the "Hot Rap Song" of the year by Billboard. The song's popularity helped Drake decide to...
".
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart with first-week sales of 447,000 copies. It attained the third-highest first-week sales of 2010 in the United States. It also entered at number one on Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
s R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Rap Albums
Top Rap Albums
Top Rap Albums is a record chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks Rap and hip-hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart began publication for the week of November 13, 2004....
chart. In its second week, the album dropped to number two on the Billboard 200 and sold 157,000 copies. It remained at number two and sold 105,000 copies in its third week on the chart. In its fourth week, the album sold 74,000 copies at the same chart position. On July 20, 2010, Thank Me Later was certified platinum
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
, for shipments of one million copies in the United States. By January 9, 2011, the album had sold 1,279,500 copies in the United States. As of November 20, 2011, the album had sold 1,489,000 copies in the United States.
In Canada, the album debuted at number one on the Top 100 Albums
Canadian Albums Chart
The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS...
chart, selling 31,000 copies in its first week. By the end of its debut week, Thank Me Later had shipped 100,000 copies in Canada and received platinum certification from the Canadian Recording Industry Association
Canadian Recording Industry Association
Music Canada is a Toronto-based, non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, artists, manufacture, production, promotion and distribution of music in Canada...
for shipment in excess of 80,000 copies. In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number 15 on the Top 40 Albums
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
and at number one on the RnB Albums Chart
UK R&B Chart
The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week...
. It also entered at number 32 in Ireland, at number 92 in the Netherlands, at number 69 in Switzerland, and at number 35 in New Zealand.
Critical response
Thank Me Later received positive reviews from most music critics. At MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
, which assigns a normalized
Standard score
In statistics, a standard score indicates how many standard deviations an observation or datum is above or below the mean. It is a dimensionless quantity derived by subtracting the population mean from an individual raw score and then dividing the difference by the population standard deviation...
rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average
Weighted mean
The weighted mean is similar to an arithmetic mean , where instead of each of the data points contributing equally to the final average, some data points contribute more than others...
score of 75, based on 26 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". Tim Sendra of Allmusic said that the album, "lives up to the hype", complimenting "rich and nuanced production and Drake's thoughtful, playful, and intense lyrics", and commenting that the album "is a radio-friendly, chart-topping collection of singles but also a serious examination of Drake's life that holds up as an album.". While Sendra stated his singing may not be the best, he said, "willingness to be introspective and honest that makes Drake unique and helps make Thank Me Later special. It is the rare album, rap or otherwise, that follows through on the artist's potential and the fan’s anticipation." The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
s Chris Richards commented that "With penetrating lyricism and arresting melodies, it's a truly captivating debut -- a rookie's ticket into the 21st century pop pantheon." Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
complimented that "Drake vies for superstardom while embracing his non-drug-dealing, non-violent, non-dire history-- one that connects with most rap fans in a completely reasonable way." Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
said "Drake may be powerfully conflicted about stardom, but on his cohesive, bittersweet, assured debut, he proves himself worthy of the sometimes-blinding spotlight." XXL
XXL (magazine)
XXL is a Hip-Hop magazine, published by Harris Publications.In 1997, XXL was founded by former Source staffers as well as other Harris Publication employees, who wanted to create their own magazine about the hip-hop music and culture using the model developed by the founders of The Source...
said, "Drake initially endeared himself to fans by combining lyrical skill with infectious melodies, all while maintaining an everyman’s sensibility. Just an upper-middle-class kid—yeah, perhaps a little well off, so what?—trying to make it. On Thank Me Later, he explores what it’s like to have done that—to have become successful. Turns out, it’s not exactly what he thought it would be. But it still sounds pretty damn remarkable." Although Joshua Ostroff of The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
said Drake was not the "hip hop saviour", he complimented Drake singing the hooks rather than a R&B singer as usual rap hits use, calling the album "cohesive." Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
s Jody Rosen said Drake "in total command of a style that would have been hard to imagine dominating hip-hop a few years ago...subtle and rueful rather than loud and lively; emotionally transparent rather than thuggy", and that the album "meant to be listened to from start to finish. And judging by the anticipation around its release, it will be, many times over."
Ben Raynor of Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
said Drake was not "the second coming" of Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
or Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
, and that he is better when his "R&B vocal skills are pushed to the forefront." Raynor also complimented Drake bringing longtime producers "Boi-1da
Boi-1da
Matthew Samuels , better known as Boi-1da , is a Canadian hip-hop producer from Toronto, Ontario. He has produced for artists and groups such as Chip tha Ripper, Kardinal Offishall, Clipse, Drake, Eminem, Saukrates, k-os, G-Unit, and The Diplomats among others...
and Noah "40" Shebib" instead of what could have been "a big-budget A-list free-for-all", commenting that after listening on the previous duo's tracks "there’s every reason to believe Drake’s going to be at this game for awhile." Renato Pagnani of The Vancouver Sun
The Vancouver Sun
The Vancouver Sun is a daily newspaper first published in the Canadian province of British Columbia on February 12, 1912. The paper is currently published by the Pacific Newspaper Group, a division of Postmedia Network. It is published six days a week, Monday to Saturday...
criticized Drake's "workmanlike" flow, and commented that the album's guests like Jay-Z and T.I. "effortlessly demonstrate the difference between a good MC and a great MC." However Pagnani said, "His best material comes when he favours introspection over braggadocio, honesty over hyperbole", and commended Drake's ability to pen "towering hooks", and being one of rap music's only "double threats." While Michael Saba of Paste
Paste (magazine)
Paste is a monthly music and entertainment digital magazine published in the United States by Wolfgang's Vault. Its tagline is "Signs of Life in Music, Film and Culture."-History:...
said that no one could have lived up to the hype of the debut, he said Drake did the next thing, "release a solid and consistent album that showcases his prodigious talent", can commented, "we now have every reason to believe that the hype will ring true on his next album." Although he complained the album was long and contained filler tracks, MusicOMH
MusicOMH
musicOMH is a United Kingdom-based website which publishes independent reviews, featues and interviews from across all musical genres including classical, metal, rock and R&B.-History:...
's Michael Cragg said, that the album "does indeed mark the arrival of rap's newest superstar." Daniel Roberts of PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
said that no track on the album was better than "Best I Ever Had
Best I Ever Had (Drake song)
"Best I Ever Had" is the first single from Canadian rapper Drake's first EP So Far Gone. It first became prominent from the release of Drake's third mixtape of the same name. In 2009, the song was named the "Hot Rap Song" of the year by Billboard. The song's popularity helped Drake decide to...
" and commented that Drake had an "identity crisis" on the set. However, Roberts commend Drake's ambition, and that the album was "good at parts, but never great", commenting, "It’s unlikely he’s the next Jay, or Kanye, or even Jeezy. But you’ll definitely keep hearing his name. Drizzy’s just getting started." Josuha Errett of Now
NOW (magazine)
Now is a free weekly newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It was first printed on September 10, 1981 by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein. Now is an alternative weekly mixing arts and entertainment news with political coverage....
liked the singles "Over" and "Find Your Love" as well as features from Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and Kayne West's production, but said "listening to the rest is just thankless", commenting that Drake "complains about fame way too much", and called him "humorless" among other things. In his consumer guide for MSN Music
MSN Music
MSN Music was a part of the MSN web services. It delivered music news, music videos, spotlights on new music, artist information, and live performances of artists. In 2004, Microsoft created an MSN Music download store to compete with Apple's iTunes Music Store, though its sales in comparison were...
, critic Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
gave the album a B+ rating, indicating "remarkable one way or another, yet also flirts with the humdrum or the half-assed". Christgau described Drake as "Neither thug nor thug wannabe [...] plenty talented, but pretty shallow and without much focus as a mack", while commenting that the album "pleasing and hookful though it be, consistently bemoans the confusing emoluments and accoutrements of fame".
Accolades
The album appeared on several music critics' and publications' end-of-year albums lists. TimeTime (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
ranked it number five on its list of 2010's Top 10 Albums. Rolling Stone named it the seventh best album of 2010 in its year-end albums list. Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
placed it at number 42 on its list "The Top 50 Albums of 2010".
Track listing
The track listing was confirmed by MTVMTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
and Drake's label Universal Motown Records
Universal Motown Records
Universal Motown Records was a record label that operated as a division of Universal Motown Republic Group. It was the contemporary incarnation of the legendary Motown Records label, and the "urban" half of UMRG, although there was some rock artists on the label as well.Changes were made at...
.
(co) Co-producer
Sample credits
- "Fancy" contains elements and samples of "I Don't Want to Play Around" written by Aubrey Johnson, Henry Zant, and published by Ace Spec Music (BMI)
- "Unforgettable" contains elements and excerpts from "At Your Best" performed by AaliyahAaliyahAaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
and written by Ronald Isley, Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley, O'Kelly Isley, and Chris Jasper published by EMI April Music Inc (ASCAP) - "Miss Me" contains elements and excerpts from "Wild Flower" performed by Hank Crawford and written by Doug Edwards and Dave Richardson published by Nettwerk Tunes (BMI)
Personnel
Credits for Thank Me Later adapted from liner notes.- Executive producers: Lil Wayne, Cortez Bryant, Gee Roberson
- Cash Money executive producers: Ronald "Slim Tha Don" Williams, Bryan "Baby Birdman" Williams
- Aspire executive producers: Derrick "E.I" Lawrence, Jas Prince, J. Prince for Young Empire Music Group
- October's Very Own executive producers: Noah 40 Shebib, Oliver El-Khatib
- A&R: Oliver El-Khatib, Noah 40 Shebib
- Administrative A&R: Josh Berkman
- Mastered by: Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound NYC
- Management: Hiphop Since 1978/Bryant Entertainment
- Legal affairs: Chris Taylor for TMKO Lawyers
- Business Management: Shawn Gee for SEFG
- Photography: Jonathan Mannion, Anthony Mandler
- Design: Mark "Darkie" Mayers - darkiemade.com
- Additional art and photography: Philip Golebiewski
- Art direction: Oliver El-Khatib
Chart positions
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
81 |
| Australian Urban Albums Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
6 |
| Belgian Albums Chart Ultratop Ultratop is an organization which generates and publishes the official record charts in Belgium, and it is also the name of most of those charts... (Flanders) |
98 |
| Canadian Albums Chart Canadian Albums Chart The Canadian Albums Chart is the official album sales chart in Canada. It is compiled every Wednesday by U.S.-based music sales tracking company Nielsen Soundscan, and published every Thursday by Jam! Canoe and Billboard, along with its sister charts the Canadian Singles Chart and the Canadian BDS... |
1 |
| Dutch Albums Chart MegaCharts MegaCharts is responsible for the composition and exploitation of a broad collection of official charts in the Netherlands, of which the Mega Top 50 and the Mega Album Top 100 are the most known ones. Mega Charts also provides information to the Stichting Nederlandse Top 40, of which the Dutch Top... |
71 |
| French Albums Chart Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
117 |
| French Digital Albums Chart Syndicat National de l'Edition Phonographique The Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique is the inter-professional organization which protects the interests of the French record industry... |
27 |
| German Albums Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
34 |
| Greek Album Charts IFPI Greece International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Greece or IFPI Greece is the Greek branch of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and is the official charts provider and recording sales certification body for Greece. Currently two charts are compiled, one for sales of... |
35 |
| Irish Albums Chart Irish Albums Chart The Irish Albums Chart is the Irish music industry standard albums popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on its behalf by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured electronically... |
35 |
| New Zealand Albums Chart | 35 |
| South African Albums Chart Recording Industry of South Africa The Recording Industry of South Africa is a trade association that represents the collective interests of producers of music sound recordings, major and independent record labels in South Africa. Formerly known as the Association of the South African Music Industry it was established in the 1970s... |
16 |
| Swiss Albums Chart Swiss Music Charts The Swiss Music Charts are Switzerland's main music sales charts. The charts are a record of the highest-selling singles and albums in various genres in Switzerland.The Swiss Charts include:* Singles Top 75... |
69 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
15 |
| UK R&B Albums Chart UK R&B Chart The Official UK R&B Chart is a forty-position R&B/Hip-Hop chart compiled by The Official UK Charts Company. Although the chart does not receive any airplay, its compilation is viewed on BBC Radio 1's website and publications such as ChartsPlus and Music Week... |
1 |
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
1 |
| US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
1 |
| US Billboard Rap Albums Top Rap Albums Top Rap Albums is a record chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks Rap and hip-hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart began publication for the week of November 13, 2004.... |
1 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2010) | position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
16 |
Certifications
| Country | Certifications |
|---|---|
| Canada Canadian Recording Industry Association Music Canada is a Toronto-based, non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, artists, manufacture, production, promotion and distribution of music in Canada... |
Platinum |
| United Kingdom British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... |
Gold |
| United States Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... |
Platinum |
Chart precession and succession
External links
- Thank Me Later at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Thank Me Later at MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
- Streets takeover: Charting Drake's progress — The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...