Take Care
Studio album by Drake
Released November 15, 2011
Recorded 2010–11
Genre Hip hop, R&B, pop, downtempo
Length 80:13
Label Young Money, Cash Money
Producer Drake (also exec.), Lil Wayne (exec.), Cortez Bryant (exec.), Gee Roberson (exec.), Noah "40" Shebib, Boi-1da, T-Minus, Just Blaze, Kromatik, Jamie xx, Chase N. Cashe, Doc McKinney, Illangelo, The Weeknd
Drake chronology
Thank Me Later
(2010) Take Care
(2011)
Singles from Take Care
"Headlines"
Released: August 9, 2011
"Make Me Proud"
Released: October 16, 2011
Take Care is the second studio album by Canadian recording artist Drake, released November 15, 2011, on Young Money Entertainment and Cash Money Records.[1][2] Production for the album took place during 2010 to 2011 and was handled by Noah "40" Shebib, Boi-1da, T-Minus, Just Blaze, The Weeknd, and Jamie xx, among others.
Expanding on the sonic aesthetic of his debut album, Thank Me Later (2010), Take Care features an atmospheric sound that is characterized by low-key musical elements and incorporates R&B, pop, and downtempo styles. Drake's lyrics mostly eschew boastful raps for introspective lyrics that deal with subject matter such as failed romances, relationship with friends and family, growing wealth and fame, concerns about leading a hollow life, and despondency.
The album has produced two singles, "Headlines" and "Make Me Proud", both of which attained chart success in the United States and Canada. Upon its release, Take Care received general acclaim from music critics, who praised its expansive production, emotional themes, and Drake's songwriting.
Contents
[hide]
1 Background and recording
2 Composition
2.1 Music and style
2.2 Lyrical themes
3 Release and promotion
4 Singles
5 Reception
5.1 Critical response
6 Track listing
7 Personnel
8 See also
9 References
10 External links
Background and recording
On November 2010, Drake revealed the title of his next studio album would be Take Care.[3] In comparison to his debut album Drake revealed to Y.C Radio 1 that Thank Me Later was a rushed album, stating, "I didn’t get to take the time that I wanted to on that record. I rushed a lot of the songs and sonically I didn’t get to sit with the record and say, 'I should change this verse.' "Once it was done, it was done. That’s why my new album is called Take Care because I get to take my time this go-round." [4] Drake mentioned after OVO Fest 2011 that Take Care could have up to 18 songs on it, and added that Stevie Wonder contributed to the creative direction of the album and will be featured on the album as well. Drake also revealed that the album was recorded mainly in Toronto.[5] Debating whether to submit his final cut or not, Drake's preferred release date motivated him to create a Birthday Edition, much like a deluxe edition to be released on the iTunes Store.[2]
Some producers that were revealed to be working with Drake on Take Care other than Noah "40" Shebib (who is the main producer of the album) include T-Minus,[6] Jamie Smith from The xx,[7] and Boi-1da (who is a long-time Drake collaborator).[8] He had initially recruited 9th Wonder for the album.[9] He even appeared on 9th's documentary The Wonder Year and expressed his desire to make a number one hit with him.[10] However, in an interview about a month prior to the slated release date, 9th said that he was not on the album.[11] 9th states that part of the reason was because he was going through an A&R and playing beats for them as opposed to the artist himself, which he is opposed to.[12] Drake had also planned on having Q-Tip,[13] DJ Premier,[14] and The Neptunes[15] produce on the album, but those projects fell through as well. Some artists that were confirmed to be collaborators with Drake on Take Care consist of Stevie Wonder, Kendrick Lamar, Chantal Kreviazuk,[16] André 3000, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Rihanna.[17] He had initially reached out to Phonte of the former group Little Brother, who is a major influence on his career. A track was made for Take Care but it did not make the album due to an issue with the producer. Drake admits in an interview to "dropping the ball" on the project and is optimistic about a future collaboration with Phonte.[18]
Composition
Music and style
Take Care expands on the low-tempo, sensuous, and dark sonic aesthetic of Thank Me Later.[19] The album's languid, grandiose production incorporates hip hop, R&B, pop,[20] and downtempo styles.[21][22] The music is typified by an atmospheric sound,[23] muted textures, slow tempos,[24] subtle chords,[25] melodic synth tracks, and ominous, low-end grooves.[26][27] Record producer Noah "40" Shebib contributed to most of the album's production with murky beats, dark synth layers, atmospheric keyboards,[28] moody guitar sounds,[24] smooth piano, muffled drums,[19] and low-pass filters.[29] Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork Media comments that the music "breathes heavy somewhere between UGK's deep funk, quiet-storm 90s R&B, and James Blake-inspired minimalism", and interprets its subtle style to be "a direct rebuke" to the prevalance of European dance influences in mainstream music.[19] Los Angeles Times writer Todd Martens views that the album's mood and style are modelled after Kanye West's 2008 album 808s & Heartbreak.[29] Evan Rytleski of The A.V. Club comments that the album is "crafted primarily around the oblique production of Drake's native Toronto—all rippling synths, distant pulses, and purposeful empty space".[22]
Other producers' tracks are more up-tempo and shift from the melancholic mood of Shebib's production.[24] Songs on the album are lengthy, sonically expansive,[23] and accompanied by playful interludes.[30] Lauren Carter of the Boston Herald writes of the song structure on Take Care, "Musical themes vanish and re-appear, layers build upon layers and then strip down to bare bones as tightly wound tracks give way to gauzy, lush interludes. Most songs sound intentionally distorted and warped".[23] Drake's vocals on the album feature emotional crooning, alto vocals,[29] a guttural cadence,[31] and less rapping than on his previous album, Thank Me Later.[24]
Lyrical themes
Drake's songwriting is characterized by wistful introspection,[26] existential contemplation,[29] and minimal boasting,[28] with lyrics that convey frankness,[19] vulnerability, melancholia, and narcissism.[27][32] Music writer Greg Kot comments that Drake does not "indulge in the macho poses that have dominated mainstream hip-hop for decades, and blur the line between singing and rhyming", adding that he "makes his rhymes sound conversational, matter of fact, like he’s talking to the listener one-one-one".[28] Tim Sendra of Allmusic comments that the album's "introspective tone [...] is only rarely punctured by aggressive tracks, boasts, and/or come-ons."[24] Expanding on his debut album's theme of ambivalence and conflicted feelings toward fame,[33] Drake's lyrics on Take Care detail failed romances, missed connections,[19] relationship with friends and family,[29] maintaining balance with growing wealth and fame, concerns about leading a hollow life, the passage of young adulthood,[33] and despondency.[24][28] The album's slow jam-styled tracks explore themes of loneliness, heartbreak, and mistrust.[27] The topic of women is prevalant on the album, with songs concerning past and potential lovers ("Marvins Room", "The Real Her"), and about revering ("Make Me Proud") and lavishing them ("We’ll Be Fine").[25] Juan Edgardo Rodriguez of No Ripcord interprets women to be "the main force in his songs - he’s consciously aware about what it takes to love them, but simply decides to thrust aside the guidelines because he’s on an entirely different stratosphere from any female average joe."[31]
Drake's persona on the songs shows traits of sincerity, self-doubt, regret, and self-absorption.[27][28] Kazeem Famuyide of The Source explains his conflicted persona on the album as being "arrogant enough to know his place as one of the most successful artist in hip-hop, and comfortable enough to realize his own faults in his personal life."[34] Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone writes that Drake "collaps[es] many moods – arrogance, sadness, tenderness and self-pity – into one vast, squish-souled emotion."[21] Kevin Ritchie of NOW notes "an overwhelming sense of alienation, and sadness" on Take Care, calling it "an idiosyncratic, aggressively self-conscious and occasionally sentimental album, one that falls somewhere between languid, finger-snapping R&B and hip-hop braggadocio."[26] Newsday's Glenn Gamboa views that Drake's "emotional self-doubt and realizations about [...] success", along with the album's melancholy mood, "captur[es] today's zeitgeist of uncertainty and diminishing expectations."[35] Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork Media compares his "unrepentant navel-gazing and obsession with lost love" to Marvin Gaye's 1978 album Here, My Dear, adding that Drake's "penchant for poetic oversharing" makes him "an apt avatar" for the Information Age.[19]
Release and promotion
The first track Drake released was "Dreams Money Can Buy" on May 20, 2011 through his October's Very Own blog. Drake mentioned this song was "A Story of Dreams, mixed with reality," and that this was not his first single off the album but that it would be included on Take Care.[36] On June 9, 2011, a second track titled "Marvins Room" was released via his blog. Drake initially stated that the song would not be featured on Take Care, but because of the song's unexpected success, prompting it was released as a digital and radio single on July 22, 2011 and will be on Take Care. "Trust Issues" was then released shortly after on his blog, but is confirmed not to be on the album via Drake's Twitter. He explained that the song was an idea he had from I'm On One and made it "just for fun."[37][38] However, in an interview, Drake stated that Trust Issues, along with Dreams Money Can Buy, will be included in the Birthday Edition of the album.[39]
On September 10, 2011, Drake released a new song titled "Club Paradise" on his October's Very Own blog.[40] "Dropping this for our boy Avery...this was his favorite sh*t during the recording process. 2 more songs coming tonight as well. ovoxo," he wrote on his blog. On September 11, 2011, Drake released another track entitled "Free Spirit" featuring Rick Ross and blogged that another was to be released that night, as well. [41] Later that night he released a remix of Waka Flocka Flame's "Round of Applause". On September 23, 2011, Drake released the official album cover to Take Care.[42] On October 20, 2011, an unfinished version of "The Real Her" featuring only Lil Wayne was leaked online.[43] The Club Paradise Tour was revealed to start in November on Twitter. However, It was revealed that the tour is delayed until after Christmas/New Year break so Drake could perform at more schools.[44][1] On October 8, 2011, Drake announced on his OVO blog that Take Care will be pushed back until November 15th because of three sample clearances (Take Care, Cameras, & Practice). It was originally to be released on his 25th birthday, October 24, 2011.[44][1]
Singles
"Headlines" was released via his blog on July 31, 2011 as the official lead single from Take Care. The song is produced by Boi-1da, and 40, and was released to radio and iTunes on August 9, 2011.[45] The song debuted at number thriteen on the US Billboard Hot 100, and at number ninety-eight on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[46] "Make Me Proud" features rapper Nicki Minaj, and was released via Drake's blog on October 13, 2011, as the official second single. The song was produced by T-Minus, and Kromatik, and was released to iTunes on October 16, 2011.[47] The song has peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100.[48]
The promotional single "Marvins Room" peaked at number twenty-one on the Billboard Hot 100.[49]
Reception
Critical response
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4/5 stars[24]
The A.V. Club (A–)[22]
Entertainment Weekly (C+)[50]
Los Angeles Times 3/4 stars[29]
Pitchfork Media (8.6/10)[19]
PopMatters (9/10)[20]
Rolling Stone 4/5 stars[21]
Slant Magazine 4.5/5 stars[27]
Spin (8/10)[32]
The Village Voice (favorable)[51]
Take Care received general acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 84, based on 16 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim".[52] Rolling Stone writer Jon Dolan complimented its "luxe, expansive production" and stated, "Drake stretches out over languid, austerely plush tracks that blur hip-hop, R&B and downtempo dance music."[21] Jesal Padania of RapReviews called it "accomplished" and commended Drake's musical direction, stating "he's attempt to captain a unified sound, culminating in a consistent album."[30] Kevin Ritchie of NOW complimented the album's "beautifully realized mix of rumbling, low-end grooves and wistful introspective songwriting", and stated, "Drake succeeds at giving the disc a sound all its own".[26] Slant Magazine's Matthew Cole called it "remarkably consistent" and noted an "immeasurably improved flow" by Drake.[27] Brandon Soderberg of Spin called the album "an insular, indulgent, sad-sack hip-hop epic" and commended Drake for "mixing nice-guy vulnerability with wounded narcissism", commenting that he "finds ways turn the douche chills he elicits into a large part of his appeal."[32] Pitchfork Media's Ryan Dombal found Drake's "technical abilities" to be improved and stated, "Just as his thematic concerns have become richer, so has the music backing them up."[19]
However, Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly panned its subject matter as "one overlong woozy monologue" and called the album a "total downer", adding that "Drake half-bakes his woozy rap-croon and glazes it with sluggish keyboard hums, *stalling the album’s momentum".[50] The Globe and Mail's Robert Everett-Green criticized Drake's lyrics as "drawling patter" and found the songs to "noodle around [...] aimlessly".[53] Allmusic editor Tim Sendra viewed Drake as "a middle-of-the-pack rapper at best", but found Noah "40" Shebib's production work to "fit Drake’s voice perfectly" and denoted Drake's strength to be "his willingness to delve deeply into his emotions and the ability to transmit them in [...] a simple and real fashion".[24] Chicago Tribune writer Greg Kot complimented the depth of Drake's "moral psychodramas" and stated, "the best of it affirms that Drake is shaping a pop persona with staying power."[28] Leon Neyfakh of The Boston Globe called the album "a mighty thing, every bit as turbulent and achingly defensive as Kanye West's 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'", and elaborated on Drake's subject matter and songwriting progression, stating:
nstead of just stressing out about fame, Drake is now writing songs about accepting the consequences of time passing and friendships changing. [...] Some will insist it’s boring, listening to a young star complain about being a star. But 'Take Care' is not about that; it’s about a person growing into himself, and smarting at the sacrifices required of all of us - famous or not - as we leave adolescence behind and grow distant from people we used to love. It may be mopey, but Drake is finding new words for ancient kinds of pain, and it is captivating.[33]
—Leon Neyfakh
Evan Rytlewski of The A.V. Club described the album as "plenty downbeat, but it’s also gorgeous, an immersive headphone masterwork that's tender and intimate like little else in contemporary rap and R&B."[22] Adam Fleischer of XXL commended its music for "creating a captivating and enveloping listening experience", and wrote that Drake "expertly juggles his singing and rapping, confirming his growing songwriting abilities."[25] David Amidon of PopMatters complimented the album's "wholly consistent audio template" and wrote of Drake, "Sure he’s corny, but he’s also an excellent songwriter, and he owns his quirks".[20] Andy Hutchins of The Village Voice commended Drake's pop sensibilities and "understanding of melody [...] his willingness to sound a little more sing-songy than most rappers to make a bar more indelible", calling the album "a carefully crafted bundle of contradictory sentiments from a conflicted rapper who explores his own neuroses in as compelling a manner as anyone not named Kanye West."[51][/hide][hide][/hide]
Studio album by Drake
Released November 15, 2011
Recorded 2010–11
Genre Hip hop, R&B, pop, downtempo
Length 80:13
Label Young Money, Cash Money
Producer Drake (also exec.), Lil Wayne (exec.), Cortez Bryant (exec.), Gee Roberson (exec.), Noah "40" Shebib, Boi-1da, T-Minus, Just Blaze, Kromatik, Jamie xx, Chase N. Cashe, Doc McKinney, Illangelo, The Weeknd
Drake chronology
Thank Me Later
(2010) Take Care
(2011)
Singles from Take Care
"Headlines"
Released: August 9, 2011
"Make Me Proud"
Released: October 16, 2011
Take Care is the second studio album by Canadian recording artist Drake, released November 15, 2011, on Young Money Entertainment and Cash Money Records.[1][2] Production for the album took place during 2010 to 2011 and was handled by Noah "40" Shebib, Boi-1da, T-Minus, Just Blaze, The Weeknd, and Jamie xx, among others.
Expanding on the sonic aesthetic of his debut album, Thank Me Later (2010), Take Care features an atmospheric sound that is characterized by low-key musical elements and incorporates R&B, pop, and downtempo styles. Drake's lyrics mostly eschew boastful raps for introspective lyrics that deal with subject matter such as failed romances, relationship with friends and family, growing wealth and fame, concerns about leading a hollow life, and despondency.
The album has produced two singles, "Headlines" and "Make Me Proud", both of which attained chart success in the United States and Canada. Upon its release, Take Care received general acclaim from music critics, who praised its expansive production, emotional themes, and Drake's songwriting.
Contents
[hide]
1 Background and recording
2 Composition
2.1 Music and style
2.2 Lyrical themes
3 Release and promotion
4 Singles
5 Reception
5.1 Critical response
6 Track listing
7 Personnel
8 See also
9 References
10 External links
Background and recording
On November 2010, Drake revealed the title of his next studio album would be Take Care.[3] In comparison to his debut album Drake revealed to Y.C Radio 1 that Thank Me Later was a rushed album, stating, "I didn’t get to take the time that I wanted to on that record. I rushed a lot of the songs and sonically I didn’t get to sit with the record and say, 'I should change this verse.' "Once it was done, it was done. That’s why my new album is called Take Care because I get to take my time this go-round." [4] Drake mentioned after OVO Fest 2011 that Take Care could have up to 18 songs on it, and added that Stevie Wonder contributed to the creative direction of the album and will be featured on the album as well. Drake also revealed that the album was recorded mainly in Toronto.[5] Debating whether to submit his final cut or not, Drake's preferred release date motivated him to create a Birthday Edition, much like a deluxe edition to be released on the iTunes Store.[2]
Some producers that were revealed to be working with Drake on Take Care other than Noah "40" Shebib (who is the main producer of the album) include T-Minus,[6] Jamie Smith from The xx,[7] and Boi-1da (who is a long-time Drake collaborator).[8] He had initially recruited 9th Wonder for the album.[9] He even appeared on 9th's documentary The Wonder Year and expressed his desire to make a number one hit with him.[10] However, in an interview about a month prior to the slated release date, 9th said that he was not on the album.[11] 9th states that part of the reason was because he was going through an A&R and playing beats for them as opposed to the artist himself, which he is opposed to.[12] Drake had also planned on having Q-Tip,[13] DJ Premier,[14] and The Neptunes[15] produce on the album, but those projects fell through as well. Some artists that were confirmed to be collaborators with Drake on Take Care consist of Stevie Wonder, Kendrick Lamar, Chantal Kreviazuk,[16] André 3000, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Rihanna.[17] He had initially reached out to Phonte of the former group Little Brother, who is a major influence on his career. A track was made for Take Care but it did not make the album due to an issue with the producer. Drake admits in an interview to "dropping the ball" on the project and is optimistic about a future collaboration with Phonte.[18]
Composition
Music and style
Take Care expands on the low-tempo, sensuous, and dark sonic aesthetic of Thank Me Later.[19] The album's languid, grandiose production incorporates hip hop, R&B, pop,[20] and downtempo styles.[21][22] The music is typified by an atmospheric sound,[23] muted textures, slow tempos,[24] subtle chords,[25] melodic synth tracks, and ominous, low-end grooves.[26][27] Record producer Noah "40" Shebib contributed to most of the album's production with murky beats, dark synth layers, atmospheric keyboards,[28] moody guitar sounds,[24] smooth piano, muffled drums,[19] and low-pass filters.[29] Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork Media comments that the music "breathes heavy somewhere between UGK's deep funk, quiet-storm 90s R&B, and James Blake-inspired minimalism", and interprets its subtle style to be "a direct rebuke" to the prevalance of European dance influences in mainstream music.[19] Los Angeles Times writer Todd Martens views that the album's mood and style are modelled after Kanye West's 2008 album 808s & Heartbreak.[29] Evan Rytleski of The A.V. Club comments that the album is "crafted primarily around the oblique production of Drake's native Toronto—all rippling synths, distant pulses, and purposeful empty space".[22]
Other producers' tracks are more up-tempo and shift from the melancholic mood of Shebib's production.[24] Songs on the album are lengthy, sonically expansive,[23] and accompanied by playful interludes.[30] Lauren Carter of the Boston Herald writes of the song structure on Take Care, "Musical themes vanish and re-appear, layers build upon layers and then strip down to bare bones as tightly wound tracks give way to gauzy, lush interludes. Most songs sound intentionally distorted and warped".[23] Drake's vocals on the album feature emotional crooning, alto vocals,[29] a guttural cadence,[31] and less rapping than on his previous album, Thank Me Later.[24]
Lyrical themes
Drake's songwriting is characterized by wistful introspection,[26] existential contemplation,[29] and minimal boasting,[28] with lyrics that convey frankness,[19] vulnerability, melancholia, and narcissism.[27][32] Music writer Greg Kot comments that Drake does not "indulge in the macho poses that have dominated mainstream hip-hop for decades, and blur
Drake's persona on the songs shows traits of sincerity, self-doubt, regret, and self-absorption.[27][28] Kazeem Famuyide of The Source explains his conflicted persona on the album as being "arrogant enough to know his place as one of the most successful artist in hip-hop, and comfortable enough to realize his own faults in his personal life."[34] Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone writes that Drake "collaps[es] many moods – arrogance, sadness, tenderness and self-pity – into one vast, squish-souled emotion."[21] Kevin Ritchie of NOW notes "an overwhelming sense of alienation, and sadness" on Take Care, calling it "an idiosyncratic, aggressively self-conscious and occasionally sentimental album, one that falls somewhere between languid, finger-snapping R&B and hip-hop braggadocio."[26] Newsday's Glenn Gamboa views that Drake's "emotional self-doubt and realizations about [...] success", along with the album's melancholy mood, "captur[es] today's zeitgeist of uncertainty and diminishing expectations."[35] Ryan Dombal of Pitchfork Media compares his "unrepentant navel-gazing and obsession with lost love" to Marvin Gaye's 1978 album Here, My Dear, adding that Drake's "penchant for poetic oversharing" makes him "an apt avatar" for the Information Age.[19]
Release and promotion
The first track Drake released was "Dreams Money Can Buy" on May 20, 2011 through his October's Very Own blog. Drake mentioned this song was "A Story of Dreams, mixed with reality," and that this was not his first single off the album but that it would be included on Take Care.[36] On June 9, 2011, a second track titled "Marvins Room" was released via his blog. Drake initially stated that the song would not be featured on Take Care, but because of the song's unexpected success, prompting it was released as a digital and radio single on July 22, 2011 and will be on Take Care. "Trust Issues" was then released shortly after on his blog, but is confirmed not to be on the album via Drake's Twitter. He explained that the song was an idea he had from I'm On One and made it "just for fun."[37][38] However, in an interview, Drake stated that Trust Issues, along with Dreams Money Can Buy, will be included in the Birthday Edition of the album.[39]
On September 10, 2011, Drake released a new song titled "Club Paradise" on his October's Very Own blog.[40] "Dropping this for our boy Avery...this was his favorite sh*t during the recording process. 2 more songs coming tonight as well. ovoxo," he wrote on his blog. On September 11, 2011, Drake released another track entitled "Free Spirit" featuring Rick Ross and blogged that another was to be released that night, as well. [41] Later that night he released a remix of Waka Flocka Flame's "Round of Applause". On September 23, 2011, Drake released the official album cover to Take Care.[42] On October 20, 2011, an unfinished version of "The Real Her" featuring only Lil Wayne was leaked online.[43] The Club Paradise Tour was revealed to start in November on Twitter. However, It was revealed that the tour is delayed until after Christmas/New Year break so Drake could perform at more schools.[44][1] On October 8, 2011, Drake announced on his OVO blog that Take Care will be pushed back until November 15th because of three sample clearances (Take Care, Cameras, & Practice). It was originally to be released on his 25th birthday, October 24, 2011.[44][1]
Singles
"Headlines" was released via his blog on July 31, 2011 as the official lead single from Take Care. The song is produced by Boi-1da, and 40, and was released to radio and iTunes on August 9, 2011.[45] The song debuted at number thriteen on the US Billboard Hot 100, and at number ninety-eight on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[46] "Make Me Proud" features rapper Nicki Minaj, and was released via Drake's blog on October 13, 2011, as the official second single. The song was produced by T-Minus, and Kromatik, and was released to iTunes on October 16, 2011.[47] The song has peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100.[48]
The promotional single "Marvins Room" peaked at number twenty-one on the Billboard Hot 100.[49]
Reception
Critical response
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4/5 stars[24]
The A.V. Club (A–)[22]
Entertainment Weekly (C+)[50]
Los Angeles Times 3/4 stars[29]
Pitchfork Media (8.6/10)[19]
PopMatters (9/10)[20]
Rolling Stone 4/5 stars[21]
Slant Magazine 4.5/5 stars[27]
Spin (8/10)[32]
The Village Voice (favorable)[51]
Take Care received general acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 84, based on 16 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim".[52] Rolling Stone writer Jon Dolan complimented its "luxe, expansive production" and stated, "Drake stretches out over languid, austerely plush tracks that blur hip-hop, R&B and downtempo dance music."[21] Jesal Padania of RapReviews called it "accomplished" and commended Drake's musical direction, stating "he's attempt to captain a unified sound, culminating in a consistent album."[30] Kevin Ritchie of NOW complimented the album's "beautifully realized mix of rumbling, low-end grooves and wistful introspective songwriting", and stated, "Drake succeeds at giving the disc a sound all its own".[26] Slant Magazine's Matthew Cole called it "remarkably consistent" and noted an "immeasurably improved flow" by Drake.[27] Brandon Soderberg of Spin called the album "an insular, indulgent, sad-sack hip-hop epic" and commended Drake for "mixing nice-guy vulnerability with wounded narcissism", commenting that he "finds ways turn the douche chills he elicits into a large part of his appeal."[32] Pitchfork Media's Ryan Dombal found Drake's "technical abilities" to be improved and stated, "Just as his thematic concerns have become richer, so has the music backing them up."[19]
However, Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly panned its subject matter as "one overlong woozy monologue" and called the album a "total downer", adding that "Drake half-bakes his woozy rap-croon and glazes it with sluggish keyboard hums, *stalling the album’s momentum".[50] The Globe and Mail's Robert Everett-Green criticized Drake's lyrics as "drawling patter" and found the songs to "noodle around [...] aimlessly".[53] Allmusic editor Tim Sendra viewed Drake as "a middle-of-the-pack rapper at best", but found Noah "40" Shebib's production work to "fit Drake’s voice perfectly" and denoted Drake's strength to be "his willingness to delve deeply into his emotions and the ability to transmit them in [...] a simple and real fashion".[24] Chicago Tribune writer Greg Kot complimented the depth of Drake's "moral psychodramas" and stated, "the best of it affirms that Drake is shaping a pop persona with staying power."[28] Leon Neyfakh of The Boston Globe called the album "a mighty thing, every bit as turbulent and achingly defensive as Kanye West's 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'", and elaborated on Drake's subject matter and songwriting progression, stating:
nstead of just stressing out about fame, Drake is now writing songs about accepting the consequences of time passing and friendships changing. [...] Some will insist it’s boring, listening to a young star complain about being a star. But 'Take Care' is not about that; it’s about a person growing into himself, and smarting at the sacrifices required of all of us - famous or not - as we leave adolescence behind and grow distant from people we used to love. It may be mopey, but Drake is finding new words for ancient kinds of pain, and it is captivating.[33]
—Leon Neyfakh
Evan Rytlewski of The A.V. Club described the album as "plenty downbeat, but it’s also gorgeous, an immersive headphone masterwork that's tender and intimate like little else in contemporary rap and R&B."[22] Adam Fleischer of XXL commended its music for "creating a captivating and enveloping listening experience", and wrote that Drake "expertly juggles his singing and rapping, confirming his growing songwriting abilities."[25] David Amidon of PopMatters complimented the album's "wholly consistent audio template" and wrote of Drake, "Sure he’s corny, but he’s also an excellent songwriter, and he owns his quirks".[20] Andy Hutchins of The Village Voice commended Drake's pop sensibilities and "understanding of melody [...] his willingness to sound a little more sing-songy than most rappers to make a bar more indelible", calling the album "a carefully crafted bundle of contradictory sentiments from a conflicted rapper who explores his own neuroses in as compelling a manner as anyone not named Kanye West."[51]