Review Summary: Another excellent mixtape from Drake with diverse sounds.
Comeback Season is Drake's second mixtape, which came out in 2007, about a year after Room For Improvement released. After Room For Improvement came out, Drake gained a lot of buzz in the mixtape circuit, and had high expectations placed on him after that. Nonetheless, Drake met his expectations with Comeback Season, and continued to keep a hype bubble around him. Released on Drake's own independent label (October's Very Own), Comeback Season had Drake using the same formula as he did on Room For Improvement. Comeback Season has some freestyles over well-known tracks, with original tracks as well, just like on his debut mixtape.
Although unsigned, Drake was starting to receive some mainstream attention, even getting a guest spot by Trey Songz. After Comeback Season came out, Lil' Wayne signed Drake to his Young Money record label, and was easily the most talented on the label. People wondered whether Drake would keep his artistic integrity, or would the quality of his music drop. Drake showed signs on Comeback Season of being a commercially viable artist, but at the same time being original, unique, and versatile musically, just like on his debut mixtape.
On Comeback Season, you have the standard mixtape freestyle tracks ("Barry Bonds Freestyle"), then you have the original tracks. For the most part, the beats are new, but some of the beats he chooses to rap over are pretty familiar grabbing beats from people like Kanye West and J Dilla. The best song on the mixtape, "Think Good Thoughts", which features Phonte and Elzhi, has an original beat, produced by 9th Wonder. This song has Drake and his guests rhyming about relationships, and how rappers are perceived to only care about sex when dating, but that they themselves aren't shallow like that. The beat has a very up-tempo, soulful feel to it (as usual for a 9th Wonder instrumental). Another standout track is "Going In For Life", which has an immaculate, mellow beat from Kanye West, and a laid-back flow from Drake. Drake turns in one of his best lyrical performances on this song.
As usual for Drake, the subjects on Comeback Season are relationships ("Replacement Girl", "Don't U Have a Man"), with braggadocio tracks as well ("Barry Bonds Freestyle", "Must Hate Money"). Although the subject matter is repetitive, it doesn't affect the mixtape too much, as Drake keeps it interesting and enjoyable to listen to. The guest spots on here all help the tracks, as they add flavor and variety. The guest spots range from Elzhi ("Think Good Thoughts"), to Little Brother and Dwele ("Don't U Have a Man"), to Trey Songz ("Give Ya", "Replacement Girl"). None of the guest spots really affect the enjoyability negatively, they mostly add to it, as they give good performances.
Although not as consistent as Room For Improvement, Comeback Season is still an excellent mixtape, with plenty of great tracks. There's enough variety on here to keep the listener interested, and enough excellent tracks to make you listen to the album again. If you're a fan of soulful, chilled-out hip hop, you'll definitely appreciate Comeback Season. Comeback Season is Drake's second best project, and you could tell he was putting a lot of effort into it. If you're looking for the Drake you hear in 2015, you may be disappointed, as Comeback Season showcases a younger, hungrier Drake, still discovering his sound. Comeback Season is interesting to listen to, as you can clearly hear Drake's stylistic and musical differences from then, to now. Nonetheless, if you're a fan of mellow hip hop, with a lot of substance, you owe it to yourself to listen Comeback Season.
Ratings:
1. Intro
2. The Presentation: 4/5
3. Comeback Season: 4/5
4. Closer: 4/5
5. Replacement Girl (feat. Trey Songz): 3.5/5
6. Barry Bonds (Freestyle): 4/5
7. Going In For Life: 4/5
8. Where to Now: 4.5/5
9. Share: 4/5
10. Give Ya (feat. Trey Songz): 3.5/5
11. Don't U Have a Man (feat. Dwele and Little Brother): 4.5/5
12. Bitch Is Crazy: 3.5/5
13. The Last Hope (feat. Kardinal Offishall and Andreena Mill): 4.5/5
14. Must Hate Money (feat. Rich Boy): 3.5/5
15. Asthma Team: 4/5
16. Do What U Do (Remix) (feat. Malice and Nickelus F.): 3.5/5
17. Easy to Please: 4.5/5
18. Faded (feat. Nickelus. F): 3.5/5
19. Underdog: 3/5
20. Think Good Thoughts (feat. Phonte and Elzhi): 5/5
21. Teach U a Lesson (Freestyle): 3/5
22. Missin' You (Freestyle): 3/5
23. Man of the Year (Freestyle) (feat. Lil' Wayne): 3.5/5
Best songs:
Think Good Thoughts
Don't U Have a Man
Easy to Please
The Last Hope
Where to Now
Weakest song: Teach U a Lesson (Freestyle)
Production: 8/10
Lyrics: 7.8/10
Overall rating: 79/100
Grade: C+
