Credit: Hallie Luo

WSPN’s Bowen Morrison and Hallie Luo review Drake’s new album, “For All The Dogs.”

Drake has been reigning over hip-hop music for the last 14 years. One of his first EPs ever was called “So Far Gone” and was released in 2009. Since then, he has released 12 albums that have secured the No. 1 spot in the Billboard Top 200 charts. His most recent album “For All The Dogs” is projected to do the same. The album was originally scheduled to be released Sept. 22, but was pushed back to Oct. 6, so he could focus on his tour, “It’s All A Blur.”

Drake kicked off “For All the Dogs” with “Virginia Beach.” This first track has a hidden sample of Frank Ocean’s unreleased song, “Wiseman.” This song references a relationship between Drake and someone who is ungrateful for his love and affection. The song creates an exciting start to the album as the tune’s energy rises to a crescendo with each line.

Next up off the album is the song “Amen,” featuring Teezo Touchdown. This song starts off with an interlude of Teezo Touchdown thanking God for what he has. Drake does the same but also acknowledges his sins. The song is capped off with a phone call to a Mercedes Benz dealership. This song was another hit on the album that we both enjoyed.

“IDGAF,” featuring rapper and singer-songwriter Yeat, has become a top hit since the album’s release, especially on social media platforms like TikTok. Although there are great lines, we think this song starts off too slow, taking over a minute before Yeat and Drake even begin singing. However, if you’re willing to skip ahead, the song is super catchy. The duo sounds great together, and we’d love to hear more from the both of them.

Featuring hit artist SZA on “Slime You Out,” the song begins with a similar theme of an interlude. Following the interlude, which included a few lyrics of him questioning women’s motives in relationships, Drake sings about a relationship which went wrong. Starting midway through the song, SZA’s verse establishes her presence in the album, her vocals instantly capturing the attention of the listener. The mix between Drake’s monotone raps and SZA’s transfixing voice is a great contrast. This song is an innovative mashup for the two.

Track 13 on the album, “Drew a Picasso,” is a fast-paced listen. Throughout the four-minute song, Drake raps about a relationship that ended, but that he still has feelings for the girl. He is jealous of the girl’s current boyfriend and wishes she would break things off with him. This song relates back to other themes on the album like jealousy, lust and heartbreak.

“Gently,” featuring Bad Bunny, is one of our favorites off the album. Hearing Drake sing in Spanish was surprisingly fun. I see “Gently” gaining a ton of popularity in the future, connecting the fan bases of two charting artists together.

This album is very versatile, with songs all across our ratings. “8am in Charlotte” is a total vibe. It’s the perfect song to listen to on a nighttime drive with the windows down. However, we can’t stand “Rich Baby Daddy,” and skip it every time. There’s certainly a song for everyone as there’s not a huge focus on one specific music style in comparison to his other studio albums like “Views” or “Certified Lover Boy.”

Compared to the “old Drake,” a line in his 2009 song “Headlines,” “For All The Dogs” is a more seasoned and intricately-crafted album, reflecting the 36-year-old father he has now become. Watching Drake’s music elevate each album after another is inspiring, and he continues to dominate the hip-hop scene by releasing hit after hit. “For All The Dogs” is no exception.

Here are our final ratings: