Drake basically changed the trajectory of my late-night drives back in 2011. It's wild. One minute you're fine, and the next, the opening piano notes of "Over My Dead Body" hit, and you're suddenly reconsidering every life choice you've made since middle school. That’s the power of the take care drake album song list. It isn't just a collection of tracks; it’s a mood that has somehow stayed relevant for nearly fifteen years.
Honestly, looking back at the tracklist now is like looking at a "Who’s Who" of music royalty before they were the giants they are today. You have a pre-legendary Kendrick Lamar showing up for a two-minute interlude that arguably changed his career. You have The Weeknd basically co-authoring the sonic DNA of the project. It’s a lot to process.
The Official Take Care Drake Album Song List (Standard & Deluxe)
If you're looking for the actual sequence of the 17 standard tracks (plus the bonus ones that everyone counts as part of the "real" experience anyway), here is how the journey goes.
- Over My Dead Body – The intro that set the tone. Chantal Kreviazuk’s vocals are haunting.
- Shot For Me – Drake’s "I’m doing better than you" anthem.
- Headlines – The big, catchy single. Hard to believe this was the "commercial" song when it’s still so moody.
- Crew Love (feat. The Weeknd) – This is where the OVOXO era really took flight.
- Take Care (feat. Rihanna) – That Jamie xx-produced Gil Scott-Heron sample is timeless.
- Marvins Room / Buried Alive Interlude – The drunk-dialing anthem followed by a lyrical masterclass from Kendrick Lamar.
- Under Ground Kings – A tribute to Pimp C and the southern influence Drake has always loved.
- We’ll Be Fine (feat. Birdman) – One of the more "uptempo" moments on an otherwise chilly album.
- Make Me Proud (feat. Nicki Minaj) – Pure 2011 energy.
- Lord Knows (feat. Rick Ross) – Just Blaze went crazy on this production. The gospel choir? Perfection.
- Cameras / Good Ones Go Interlude – Maybe the best transition on the whole project.
- Doing It Wrong – Stevie Wonder on the harmonica. Enough said.
- The Real Her (feat. Lil Wayne & André 3000) – André’s verse here is a frequent contender for his best guest appearance ever.
- Look What You’ve Done – A literal thank-you note to his mom, uncle, and grandmother.
- HYFR (Hell Ya Fucking Right) (feat. Lil Wayne) – The Bar Mitzvah video song.
- Practice – A flip of Cash Money’s "Back That Azz Up."
- The Ride – The closing reflection on fame and what it actually costs.
The Extras That Matter
Most people don't just listen to the standard version. The Deluxe edition added "The Motto," which gave us "YOLO" (for better or worse) and "Hate Sleeping Alone." In October 2025, Take Care was officially certified Diamond (10x Platinum) by the RIAA. That means 10 million units moved in the US alone. It’s rare air.
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Why the Tracklist Feels Like a Movie
The sequencing of the take care drake album song list is actually pretty genius. It starts with this cold, Toronto-winter feeling. "Over My Dead Body" feels like a exhale. Then you get into the mid-album slump—the "Marvins Room" phase—where everything feels heavy and blurred.
People forget that "Marvins Room" wasn't just a hit; it was a cultural shift. Rapping about being vulnerable and lonely wasn't exactly the "cool" thing to do in hip-hop before this. Drake made it okay to be a little pathetic. He leaned into the "soft" allegations and turned them into a multi-platinum empire.
The Ghost of The Weeknd
You can't talk about this song list without mentioning Abel Tesfaye. He has writing or production credits on several of the best tracks, including "Crew Love," "Shot For Me," and "The Ride." There’s an old industry rumor that half of Take Care was originally supposed to be The Weeknd’s debut. While Drake has acknowledged Abel's massive contribution, the way their styles blended here created a "Toronto Sound" that artists are still trying to copy in 2026.
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Beyond the Big Hits: The Deep Cuts
Everyone knows "Headlines." Everyone knows "Take Care." But the soul of the album lives in the stuff that didn't get played on the radio every hour.
Take "Look What You’ve Done." It’s basically a diary entry. Drake plays a voicemail from his grandmother at the end that is genuinely heartbreaking now that she's passed. It’s that level of specificity that makes the song list feel human. He isn't just rapping about "bitches and money" (though there is plenty of that); he’s rapping about his Auntie Steph and the 151 bus in Memphis.
Then there’s "Lord Knows." Produced by Just Blaze, it’s the loudest song on the record. It feels like a stadium anthem dropped into the middle of a private conversation. Rick Ross shows up and does exactly what Rick Ross does best—sounds incredibly wealthy over expensive-sounding drums.
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How Take Care Ranks Today
It’s funny. When this album dropped, some critics called it "bloated" or "too long." At 80 minutes for the deluxe version, it’s definitely a commitment. But in the era of TikTok-length songs and two-minute tracks designed for streaming loops, Take Care feels like a sprawling epic.
Most fans still put this as Drake’s #1 or #2 album, usually battling it out with Nothing Was the Same. It’s the "vibe" blueprint. If you’re feeling nostalgic or just went through a breakup, you don't go to For All The Dogs. You go back to 2011.
Next Steps for the Ultimate Listen
- Listen to the "Buried Alive" era leaks: If you love this tracklist, go find "Trust Issues" and "Club Paradise" on YouTube or SoundCloud. They were recorded during the same sessions and fit the mood perfectly.
- Watch the "HYFR" video: It’s a time capsule of OVO in its infancy.
- Check out the samples: Dig into the original Gil Scott-Heron or Jon B tracks that were flipped for this album; it’ll make you appreciate 40’s production even more.