Drake’s new album If Youre Reading This, Its Too Late received mainly positive reviews from critics and fans alike, but the reviews don’t necessarily do the album justice in regards to the lyrical and talent pedestal that Drake has set himself upon.

The title of the album If Youre Reading This, Its Too Late has been debated to be a subliminal shot at his label. Drake surprise released the album to fulfill his contract requirement of releasing four albums with Cash Money. The album is considered to be “throw away” tracks that he intended to release for free, but Drake wanted to be free of his previous record label on his release of his upcoming album, Views From The Six.

But these “throw away” tracks are anything but. Drake hits the hardest in the first three tracks of the album and advertises his down-to-earth nature in a heartfelt ballad of “You and the 6,” which is directed to his mother.

Drake experimented with relatively unknown producers on this album, and it paid dividends. Drake writes rhymes that many rappers are too afraid to speak, which sets him apart from others. Drake realizes he is at the point in stardom where anything he says will be thoroughly criticized by some, but he also knows he will be supported and celebrated by more. This will help Drake tear down boundaries and set the bar even higher. In 2011, Jay-Z and Kanye teamed up to create the album (and masterpiece) Watch the Throne, solely because they were worried about the talent that Canadian rapper Drake had presented. Perhaps now a second Watch the Throne is in the works.

Drake can succeed in any part of the spectrum from melodic hooks in “Now and Forever” and “Jungle” to angry compelling songs such as “Energy” or “10 Bands.” The talent that Drake displays is vast and expansive, and there is a reason that this album of “garbage” songs made it to the number one spot on the billboard with no album promotion whatsoever and a middle of the night release Views From The Six, prepare for what could perhaps be his best album yet.