Drake doesn’t just drop music; he stages events. When For All The Dogs finally hit streaming services on October 6, 2023, it felt like the entire internet held its breath for a second before descending into a chaotic mess of memes, lyric breakdowns, and heated arguments. Everyone was looking for "the old Drake." You know the one—the Take Care era crooner who made you feel bad about a breakup you didn't even have.
But what we got was a 23-track sprawling beast of an album that refused to stay in one lane.
It’s messy. It’s long. Honestly, it’s kinda exhausting if you try to marathon it in one sitting. But that’s the thing about modern Drake: he isn’t making "albums" in the traditional, cohesive sense anymore. He’s building playlists for every possible mood his massive fanbase might have. Whether you want the toxic R&B, the "rage" rap for the gym, or the sharp-tongued lyrical exercises that remind everyone he’s still a top-tier MC, it’s all here.
The "Old Drake" Myth and the For All The Dogs Reality
Leading up to the release, Drake basically promised he was going back to his roots. The marketing was genius. He released a poetry book titled Titles Ruin Everything and used a QR code in a New York Post ad to announce the album title. He told fans he wanted to "strike up more emotions."
People took that as a sign that we were getting Nothing Was the Same 2. Instead, we got a project that feels more like a bridge between his legendary past and his experimental future. Take the opener, "Virginia Beach." It samples Frank Ocean’s "Wise Man," and for a minute, you really do feel that old-school nostalgia. It’s moody, it’s atmospheric, and it hits that sweet spot of arrogance and vulnerability.
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But then the album pivots. Hard.
Suddenly, you’re listening to "IDGAF" featuring Yeat, a track that sounds like it was recorded on another planet. It’s a "rage" song through and through. The transition is jarring for some, but for the younger demographic, it was the highlight of the record. This is where the tension lies. Drake is trying to be everything to everyone, and while that makes for incredible streaming numbers—402,000 album-equivalent units in the first week—it leaves some critics feeling like the project lacks a soul.
The Power of the Features
One thing you can't deny? Drake knows how to pick 'em. The feature list on For All The Dogs is a "who's who" of 2023 music.
- J. Cole: On "First Person Shooter," we finally got the heavyweight matchup we’d been waiting for. It’s a competitive, high-energy track where both rappers claim their spot at the top of the mountain. It eventually became Drake's 13th number-one hit, tying him with Michael Jackson at the time.
- SZA: Appearing on "Slime You Out" and "Rich Baby Daddy," she brings a much-needed female perspective to Drake’s usual brand of pettiness. "Slime You Out" was the lead single and leaned heavily into that slow-burn R&B vibe that usually defines a Drake "classic."
- Teezo Touchdown: His contributions on "Amen" and "7969 Santa" give the album a quirky, alternative edge that keeps things from feeling too formulaic.
- Bad Bunny: "Gently" was a curveball. Drake rapping in Spanish (and a bit of "fake" Spanish) alongside the Puerto Rican superstar was clearly aimed at the global charts, even if it felt a little goofy to some long-time fans.
Why the Length Actually Matters
Critics complained about the 90-minute runtime. They called it "bloated."
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They aren't necessarily wrong. A 23-track album is a massive time commitment. However, in the era of TikTok and curated playlists, "bloat" is actually a strategy. If Drake gives you 23 songs, he’s essentially giving you 23 chances to find a new favorite. You might hate the Yeat song but love the "timestamp" track "8AM in Charlotte." You might skip "Gently" but keep "Tried Our Best" on repeat for six months.
"8AM in Charlotte" is actually a great example of what Drake does better than almost anyone. Produced by Conductor Williams, it features a soul-heavy loop and Drake just... rapping. No hooks, no gimmicks. Just bars about "Czechoslovakian" checks and his son Adonis. It’s the kind of song that keeps his core rap fans from jumping ship even when he experiments with Sexyy Red on "Rich Baby Daddy."
The Controversy and the Claps Back
This album cycle was also notably "online." Drake was more combative than usual. When Joe Budden criticized the album for being "immature" and suggested Drake should be making music for people his own age, Drake didn't just ignore it. He went on a long-winded Instagram tirade that became almost as famous as the music itself.
It highlighted a weird reality: Drake is a 37-year-old billionaire who is still deeply affected by what people say about him on the internet. That pettiness is baked into the lyrics of For All The Dogs. Whether he’s taking shots at Rihanna on "Fear of Heights" or venting about Instagram models on "Bahamas Promises," the album is a masterclass in being rich, successful, and still incredibly annoyed by everyone.
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Beyond the Music: The Scary Hours Edition
Just when people thought they had digested the whole thing, Drake did what he does best: he added more. The "Scary Hours 3" edition added six new tracks that many fans actually preferred over the main album. These songs, like "Stories About My Brother" and "Evil Ways," leaned even harder into the lyrical, boom-bap style production.
It felt like a "for the fans" moment. It silenced the critics who said he couldn't rap anymore, even if only for a few weeks.
If you want to truly appreciate For All The Dogs, stop trying to listen to it as a "classic" cohesive album like Take Care or Nothing Was the Same. It’s a buffet. You’re supposed to pick the parts you like and leave the rest.
Next Steps for Your Listening:
- For the lyricists: Put "8AM in Charlotte" and "First Person Shooter" on a separate playlist. These are the tracks where the pen is at its sharpest.
- For the "Old Drake" fans: Focus on "Virginia Beach," "Tried Our Best," and "Polar Opposites." These tracks capture that late-night, melancholic atmosphere that made him a star.
- For the gym/party: "IDGAF" and "Rich Baby Daddy" are your go-to high-energy cuts.
- The "Scary Hours" Deep Dive: If you felt the main album was too "pop," listen to the final six tracks added in the deluxe version. They are almost entirely focused on traditional hip-hop flows.
The album isn't perfect, but it’s a fascinating look at an artist who has nothing left to prove but still feels like he has everything to lose.