Hi, I'm Brave, and before the 49ers wash the Chiefs at the SuperBowl later today, I wanted to take an in-depth look at the intro to one of Drake's greatest projects Nothing Was the Same

Following the release Drake's signature album Take Care, production began on Nothing Was the Same in 2012. At the time, Drake's public image was that of a "sensitive rapper" with defining songs such as "Take Care" (featuring Rihanna) and "Marvin's Room"; songs that showcase a sappy romantic rather than a hardened rapper (along with other croon-y r&b songs on the project)

....this was all about to change

Tuscan Leather:

This six minute long track, which has gone on to become the rap superstar's most beloved intro, shows Drake at his hungriest - a demanding performance more akin to a speech, smooth flows, and clever yet condescending wordplay like "Aye b I got your CD you get an E for effort"

Backed by hard hitting production from 40 with a sample from Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing", this track sets the tone for a tougher Drake than we heard on his previous projects with endless braggadocio:
"This is nothin' for the radio, but they'll still play it though
'Cause it's that new Drizzy Drake, that's just the way it go"

"I reached the point where don't s*** matter to me, nigga
I reached heights that Dwight Howard couldn't reach, nigga
Prince Akeem, they throw flowers at my feet, nigga
I could go a hour on this beat, nigga
I'm just as famous as my mentor
But that's still the boss, don't get sent for"

"Tuscan Leather" takes the listener on a journey through its beat switch from an aggressive hip-hop beat suited for bars to a slower, near r&b instrumental

Amidst the bravado we also get a peak into where Drake is at in his personal life, ie his relationship with fellow Young Money artist Nicki Minaj "Not even talkin' to Nicki, communication is breakin'
I dropped the ball on some personal s***, I need to embrace it"

The track crescendos into a sample from a live Curtis Mayfield performance of "When Seasons Change" at Montreux where Mayfield speaks to the audience:
"If there's hell below, I'll see you when you get there
Are you enjoying yourself?"
If we may we'd just like to close off with somethin' a bit inspirational
Hopefully something a bit relevant as to us all
Are having the same fears, shedding similar tears
And of course dying in so many years
It don't mean that we can't have a good life
So we'd like to just maybe close out with something
Some food for thought for all of us"

This now legendary intro grabs listeners and puts them in the driver's seat, and the rest of the project following it - as well as Drake's reputation - nothing was the same

A B I got your CD you get an E for effort 😄

no

Didn’t read, but it’s an amazing Intro

Absolute classic intro

someone tldr now

Didn't read and don't care

Paper Trail$ >>>>>>

JUST GIVE IT TIME, WE’LL SEE WHO STILL AROUND A DECADE FROM NOW

Bit hyperbolic, but overall good write-up. 👌

nicki wasn't having it

IN

What the f*** is this

was listening to NWTS today fantastic album

Trynna be in u

Followed it up with furthest thing too

Ridiculous album

That line will hit so hard in 2023

Best rap intro of the 2010s

Good thread

classic song

Classic song, his best project, still a sappy romantic and not an hardened rapper lol why can't people appreciate Drake for what he is? It's like pretending Ye is a tough guy