A lot of people are talking about Drake’s new-released album Take Care. I have to admit when Drake’s first-album Thank Me Later released in 2010 I wasn’t convinced a teen actor from Degrassi could rap. But honestly, there’s a reason why Drake has gotten recognition in the rap scene.

Now, the Toronto actor-singer-rapper has just released his sophomore album with cameos by Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, and Stevie Wonder. The long-awaited album, which leaked online before it was released, is finally here and Drake has come a long way from being “that kid from Degrassi.”

In the song Marvin’s Room, a drunken plea to an ex-girlfriend, Drake even mentions he’s “…having a hard time adjusting to fame.” But Marvin’s Room isn’t the only song on the album that’s honest and candid. The album, which is hip-hop and R&B influenced, is a lot more melancholic than what we would hear from other rappers.

Overall, the album is a story about Drake’s rise to fame and he isn’t afraid to express his feelings about it. Now, I wouldn’t claim Take Care is in the running for Album of the Year but Drake is definitely worth a listen. You’ll be surprised with what you might find.

Here are my top five favorite songs from the album (in no particular order):

1. Make Me Proud ft. Nicki Minaj

2. Marvin’s Room

3. Take Care ft. Rihanna

4. Over My Dead Body

5. Doing It Wrong ft. Stevie Wonder

By Alexis Medina