Rap is my most listened to genre by far, and there is always one artist on my Spotify Wrapped: Drake. His newest release, HABIBTI (FOMO), released on Oct. 2, adds four new songs to the album HABIBTI. The new additions came with two features from Don Toliver, one from Yebba, and Drake’s own version of “Choosin’ Texas” by Ella Langley.
The first song, “Solar Eclipse,” is like “Choosin’ Texas” but with its own Rhythm and Blues (R&B) twist. I don’t listen to a lot of country music, so enjoying a song like “Solar Eclipse” is rare for me. There is a warm twist on the remix that makes me keep coming back. It’s a slow, genre-bending song that expands when Don Toliver’s verse comes in, picking up the pace and carrying the song. Drake’s slow singing comes together nicely with Don Toliver’s auto-tuned vocals. “Solar Eclipse” sets a high standard for the next three songs.
The next song, “Quebec,” has nothing much to differentiate itself from the songs on the initial album and I can find very little to praise other than a small stretch where the song has an upbeat flow to it. This song seems like a filler and I would certainly call this the weakest of the four songs.
“Cold Shoulder” is my favorite of the three. It holds two strong features: another Don Toliver appearance and a surprise appearance from Yebba.
The song revolves around attachment and the pain of being ignored. Drake leads the track, and his verse is incredibly well written and catchy. Don Toliver continues Drake’s quick tempo, and although his part was not as strong as “Solar Eclipse,” I still enjoyed it.
My favorite part of the song is the end, where Yebba’s verse brings a soulful outro that completes the song. Out of every Yebba feature for Drake, this one is my favorite.
The final song “Classic PT2,” carries the same chorus and verse as “Classic” from the original release but has a new bridge and a different ending. I’m glad Drake made a second version. I can confidently say it is better than the first, and a hidden gem that deserves more recognition.
Overall the HABIBTI (FOMO) release has improved the quality of the original HABIBTI album and I come back to these songs often.
