Five go-to tracks from Drake’s surprise LP ‘If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late’

When I heard last week that Drake had unceremoniously unleashed a new collection of tracks, dubbed If You're Reading This It's Too Late, I didn't pause for speculation.

I didn't ponder the differences between mix-tapes and proper albums, I didn't wonder if this surprise LP was an attempt to fulfill a label contract and I didn't worry that the new release's cover image looked like it took about five seconds to create. I just downloaded the thing and started listening. It was on repeat all weekend.

I went uncharacteristically hard for Drake's style-defining 2013 album Nothing Was the Same, so it's no surprise that his 17 brand new tunes had me furiously clicking last week. I find the 28-year-old rapper's productions to be hypnotic - boastful wordplay and deep personal confessions mixed together and delivered, always smoothly, over subtly layered mood tracks.

If You're Reading This finds Drake in the same creative space he occupied on the last collection - in fact, you could insert it seamlessly right between Nothing Was the Same's "Own It" and "Worst Behavior." That's not a knock. In fact, there are six go-to tracks from the new record that should tide us over just fine until Drake's next move (hear them via Spotify below):

"Energy" - Co-producers Boi-1da and OB O'Brien lend Drake a relatively straightforward beat-and-synth track here, but it's all he needs to spew his strongest venom. And even if Drake's enemies aren't anything like our own, we have no problem adopting it as an anthem for a bad day.

"Know Yourself" - Only Drake could turn a clunky line like "Runnin' through the 6 with my woes" into an ear worm. "The 6," in case you didn't know, is Drake's nickname for Toronto - it could be a reference to the number of historic neighborhoods that make up the city or a number that shows up in its area codes. What matters is that the artist is giving us larger looks into his past and present days spent at home.

"Preach" - The rapper gets a big assist on what will likely be a radio banger from Partynextdoor, one of his proteges. Together, with plenty of AutoTune, they communicate the frustrations and longings that accompany the celebrity bachelor life.

"You & The 6" - Ah, the letter to mom. The approach has been done by countless rap legends, and it always provides insight into its writer's real life, whether tender or tumultuous. In Drake's case, he's basically telling his mother not to worry about him, even though she's got a Google alert set up that won't leave her alone. Anyone who's tried to explain themselves to a parent while simultaneously seeking approval should feel this track.

"Jungle" - Drake and longtime producer Noah "40" Shebib make brilliant use of a sample for this slow-burner. The gorgeous modern-soul tune "6 8" by Gabriel Garzón-Montano is subtly woven into the backing track as Drake half-sings his own lovelorn lyrics. It serves as a reminder of the crooner all the ladies swooned over in "Hold On, We're Going Home."

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