Review Summary: A young Drake, who reached his full potential very early.
Room For Improvement is Drake's first mixtape, and it's partially what created the hype around him. Hip hop fans who had heard him knew that Drake had talent, and this was 2006 before he became immensely popular. In 2006, before being Grammy-nominated, and being signed to Young Money under Lil' Wayne's signing, Drake was an underground rapper from Toronto. Drake clearly had a lot of talent, and it shows on this mixtape.
On Room For Improvement, Drake is a fantastic lyricist, with deep substance, and great freestyles. Drake was arrogant and flashy, with braggadocio lyricism, but he wasn't annoying about it. Drake really wanted the hip hop community to respect him and take him seriously, and there are really only a few songs here that sound like radio singles. It's somewhat clear where Drake draws his influences from. Although later in his career Drake's influence clearly came from southern artists like UGK, on Room For Improvement, his influences come from North Carolina artists like Little Brother and 9th Wonder.
There are quite a few standout songs on this album, like "Make Things Right". On this song, Drake is rapping to people who think life is all about having flashy cars, and being famous. Drake basically tells these people that their life is worth more than them just being strippers, or mega-popular rappers with record labels, over an incredible, soulful beat from Boi-1da. Another standout is "Come Winter", which has Drake telling a story about a fan who loves his music, and they end up dating. This song, again has an incredible, soulful beat, this time from AmiR.
The production is very soulful, and 9th Wonder-esque throughout the majority of the mixtape, and it compliments Drake's lyrics very well. Drake usually tells a story, or has some interesting wordplay or freestyle verses that sound superb over the production given to him. Room For Improvement is definitely Drake's most consistent, cohesive project to date, with great lyrics and production front to back. If you're one of those people who thinks Drake is too "soft", or that he has no talent, Room For Improvement will change your opinion.
Ratings:
1. Intro
2. Pianist Hands (Interlude)
3. Special (feat. Voyce): 4/5
4. Do What You Do: 3.5/5
5. Money (Remix) (feat. Nickelus F.): 4/5
6. A.M. 2 P.M. (feat. Nickelus F.): 4.5/5
7. City Is Mine: 3/5
8. Drake's Voice Mail Box #1 (Interlude)
9. Bad Meanin' Good (feat. Slakah the Beatchild): 3.5/5
10. Thrill Is Gone: 4.5/5
11. Make Things Right (feat. Slakah the Beatchild): 5/5
12. Video Girl: 4/5
13. Drake's Voice Mail Box #2 (Interlude)
14. Come Winter: 4.5/5
15. Extra Special: 3.5/5
16. About the Game (Freestyle): 3.5/5
17. All This Love (feat. Voyce): 4/5
18. Drake's Voice Mail Box #3 (Interlude)
19. A Scorpio's Mind (feat. Nickelus F.): 4.5/5
20. S.T.R.E.S.S. (feat. Nickelus F.): 4/5
21. Try Harder: 4.5/5
22. Kick, Push (Remix) (feat. Lupe Fiasco): 5/5
23. U.P.A. (Outro)
Best songs:
Kick, Push (Remix)
Make Things Right
Come Winter
Try Harder
Thrill Is Gone
Weakest song: City Is Mine
Production: 8.5/10
Lyrics: 8.5/10
Overall rating: 85/100
Grade: B
