Drake's For All The Dogs Scary Hours Edition Drake's: Mediocrity Prevails

By: Evan Sprung

January 26, 2024

When For All The Dog’s Scary Hours came out on November 17, I was a little bit puzzled because even though I really liked for all the dogs a lot of people did not like it especially some of the features. But, I was also excited because it had another J. Cole feature listed on the 6 new songs that were added but enough said about that lets move on to the songs. 

The first song of the 6 new tracks added in scary hours was “Red Button” and well, this song just did not match what I thought it would be. don’t get me wrong the beat was good but the lyrics were just weak it sounded like Drake was just whining about things that have happened in the last year. One example would be when drake said this “Radio Is King Again, Billboard Got Me Regulated Wanna Make It Fair For You, Numbers That I Generated.” In this lyric, Drake is referencing how in Travis Scott’s album ASTROWORLD, even though he was featured in the song “SICKO MODE” Scott decided to not list featured artist names on the album’s songs and by doing that, Drake was snubbed from having more Billboard number 1’s than Michael Jackson.  

Number 2 “Stories About My Brother” Drake talks about how he and his brothers have accomplished and achieved so much in their lives yet again, the song was boring. With many of the lyrics just being repeated, it was too drawn out and had no depth. 

The 3rd song on the album was one I wasn’t expecting to like as much as I did, and it was “If The Shoe Fits”. It really surprised me how much I could feel Drakes’ animosity towards those who said he can’t rap like he used to. But this song, I think he shut those claims down especially with the beat being produced by Lil Yachty, it flowed so well. But as soon as it got good, it got bad because the 4th song “Wick Man” was one that really disappointed me because it just felt over pretentious and an outpour of just feeling that don’t translate well to the song, and it felt like he was just trying too hard to be young and hip. 

The last 2 songs of the album, I could not have felt more different about. The first was “Evil Ways” with J.Cole, which after my first listen Although it didn't leave a huge impact on me at first, it later grew to be one of my favorites from Scary Hours The emotional touch and the clever lyrics that were put on this song really made me love it and it’s a song where I wouldn’t say its unskippable but it’s a song that just clicks with the listener.  

As soon as it was good, it got bad with the last track of Scary Hours “You Broke My Heart”. I was left disappointed with the flow and the length of the verses and especially the interludes on the album with how short they were. Those things were just major drawbacks for me on this song leaving me really annoyed that this track was included. 

Unfortunately, the Deluxe version wasn’t really for me. It just felt like a way for Drake to try and revitalize the original release of the album with a J. Cole feature. I would have rather had Drake release “Evil Ways” as a single with J. Cole instead of a Scary Hours edition on an undeserving album.