Highly Anticipated Rap Albums

The summer of 2010 sees the release of two highly anticipated rap albums, Thank Me Later by new rap superstar Drake, and Recovery by veteran rapper Eminem. Both albums contain emotionally-charged and confessional music created by two artists at different stages of their careers.
Drake: The Superstar Rookie

Drake, born Aubrey Drake Graham, may be releasing his first full-length studio album, but he is no stranger to rap stardom. The Canadian-born rapper has been making mixtapes since 2006, one of which produced the hit "Replacement Girl" featuring R&B singer Trey Songz. According to AllMusic.com, the song was featured on BET's 106 and Park as "Joint of the Day."

The rapper's popularity truly began to rise when he signed with fellow rapper Lil' Wayne's Young Money record label and released his 2009 mixtape So Far Gone. The album's first single "Best I Ever Had," shot to number two on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart, and produced other hits such as "Successful," another collaboration with Trey Songz, and "Forever." So Far Gone peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 Chart.

Thank Me Later, Drake's debut album, has been described by critics as a meditation on the joys and pitfalls of stardom, and they conflict with everyday life. Although the disc's first single "Over," is an uptempo track, it finds the rapper giving a suspicious eye to new friends with the lyrics " "I know way too many people here right now that I didn't know last year."

AllMusic.com describes the star as "conflicted about his growing stardom and fame. Whether it’s a relationship splitting up as on the melancholy “Karaoke,” worries about the fame changing him ... fears that so-called real hip-hop fans will find him manufactured ... or the difficult nature of romance when you’re a star (“Miss Me”), Drake isn’t afraid to examine what the past year has done to his life."

The Washington Post's review said "what should truly endear Drake to the masses is his supreme self-awareness," and said the album finds the rapper " simultaneously projecting himself as a braggart and a pawn trapped at the crossroads of celebrity and reality."

Eminem: Rapper In Recovery

While Drake seeks to live up to hype with his debut release, Eminem seeks to revive his reputation with his new album Recovery. Although the superstar dominated the late 90s and early 2000s rap scene with a string of critical and commercially successful albums--The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show--his last album, 2009's Relapse, was met with an indifferent and less favorable response by critics.

According to CultureBully.com, "Relapse receded into a record that failed to express Eminem’s talent, combed over with tired attempts at being provocative and shocking." Eminem apparently agreed with this assessment, as he apologizes to fans with the lyrics "And to the fans, I’ll never let you down again, I’m back/I promise to never go back on that promise, in fact/Let’s be honest, that last Relapse CD was eh/Perhaps I ran them accents into the ground/Relax, I ain’t going back to that now)."

Instead he reveals his envy of fellow rappers Kanye West and Lil' Wayne on tracks such as "Talkin' 2 Myself," examines his recent troubles on "Going Through Changes," and talks about the loss of friend and former group member Proof in "You're Never Over," rapping "Lord I’m so thankful, please don’t think I don’t feel grateful, I do/Just grant me the strength that I need, for one more day to get through/So homie this is your song, I dedicate this to you.”

Unlike Drake's release, which has garnered generally good reviews overall, Recovery has gotten mixed reactions. While CultureBully.com says the rapper "sounds more confident and clearheaded than he has in years," and calls the disc "one of his most complete records to date," SlantMagazine.com's review said the album " will adjourn the idea that Eminem has any greatness left in him," and that the rapper "can record as many bare-bones confessionals as he'd like ... but there's nothing altogether endearing about his facade."

Reviews and critics aside, the fact that new releases by two of rap's biggest stars focus on the subjects of fame, family, redemption, relationships and loss instead of the usual gritty portrayals of street life may signal a change in the genre.