A new Drake album is more than an album, it’s an arrow pointing towards hip-hop’s future. Whatever other titles we may or may not bestow on Aubrey Graham, he’s indisputably hip-hop’s most influential emcee. Whatever sound Drake lays down, that’s the sound the rest of the music industry rushes to follow. So now that Drizzy’s pulled a Beyonce and dropped his new album, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late, out of nowhere, pressing play means previewing the sound of rap for the next few months, at least.

But that’s all in the future. Right here, right now, we’ve got the actual album and a “1 Listen Review” ahead of us. I assume that most of you are already familiar with the “1 Listen” format, but for any newcomers lured here by Drake’s gravitational power, here’s the deal: I’m going to listen to the album straight through – no pausing, no hitting repeat – and write my immediate, gut reactions. There are no revisions, no going back, just a literal running diary of the first time I heard If You’re Reading This, It’s Too Late. (For a deeper look at the philosophy behind these reviews, click here.)

Enough talk, let’s go…

“Legend”

I heard that first little flip and let out an audible “yup.” Drake’s voice is kinda weird, but this beat is insane. Like, I’m in love. Fitting that the first song would remind me of that feeling when you were a kid and opened up a toy for the first time, this beat is that fresh. Okay, I need to chill a little bit. Wait? Was that Autotune? I don’t think Drake needs Autotune. I’m not feeling Drake on this record, but what’s crazy is that I’m still into it. I think more than being the best rapper ever, Drake’s basement is pretty damn high. He never sounds terrible – I can always deal with him – but he’s only great in spurts. That beat, though! I can’t wait to see the production credits.

[Update: I found out later this is a PND beat. Mind blown.]

Also, if he did die, would he really be a legend? (*Note to self: Write that article*)

“Energy”

Woah. Drake is angry. I want to know who these guys he’s “acting” around. Name some names, dammit! (Pleas,e god, let it be Tyga.) Again this beat is fucking bananas. Whoever mastered this “album” should get some love because it sounds so damn clean. We’re only two songs in, but so far, the production is carrying this project. Does anyone believe Drake has real “enemies”? I don’t really enjoy this side of Drake because it feels so hollow. At least when he’s rapping about girls and falling in love with strippers, you believe him. I don’t believe he wants anyone to run up on him; he’s a send half-naked DMer, not a fighter.

Shout out to Wi-Fi codes and calling an Uber for your one-night stand though.

“10 Bands”

Not feeling this record. I’m trying hard to get into it because I’m excited about this mix-album possibly being great, but something’s wrong. Then again, I thought “0-100” sounded off at first, but now I love it. Sometimes, Drake has to grow on you. Ew. I hate the way he says November. Stop that. Stop it now. This is all about my first reaction, but I’m not ready to have a second first reaction yet. I want some more time to digest this. I guess that’s my first reaction.

“Know Yourself”

Boi-1da is winning producer of the year by default on this album alone. Truthfully, I’d like a 40-produced cut right now to change up the vibe a little, but this is kind of…interesting. It feels like Drake is trying to be everyone else instead of just being Drake. His best stuff always had so much color; this is a little too dark and feels off. Woah. That little change-up is nice. I like the last half. That second slight change-up with about 1:30ish left was nice. For a relatively shallow song, this one had some kick. Hey look at that, Drake won me over by the end. It’s not my favorite, and I won’t spin it much, but I didn’t end up hating it like I thought I would at first.

Please, God, don’t let “my whois/my woes” become a thing people say.

“No Tellin”

I could use a change of pace here. So far, it’s been all bangers, and it’s getting stale. They’re all decent songs, but there doesn’t seem to be any cohesion or theme. I know it’s the first listen, but I’m not even picking up a scent or a hint about a more prominent topic. It feels like five separate songs plugged into an album. Sure, they’re all bangers, but where is the extra layer? Even after he said he would switch the flow up, he didn’t change anything. It’s still early, but you’re losing me, Drake. Plus, your little Rick Ross borderline pause line didn’t sit well with me; we make the Rick Ross jokes around here. Nice ending, though.

“Madonna”

Madonna is invading hip-hop; don’t say I didn’t warn you. Welcome to the party 40! What the fuck is Drake saying? You know I don’t speak Spanish. Yeah, this is the Drake I wanted. Nice and corny, I’m being serious. Drake’s corniness is one of his best attributes. I don’t listen to him to hear how tough he is; I listen to get a chuckle from “I saw potential in you from the go.” It’s the same way I don’t listen to Wayne for astute social commentary; I listen for vagina metaphors. Drake mumbling, then calling a girl Madonna, then coming over to her house unexpectedly – it’s creepy, right? I want to like it but am also a little weirded out. That Ginuwine sample is back, which I guess is a good thing. And…moving on.

“6 God”

Still knocks harder than the big bad wolf, but been there, done that. I guess it’s nice to see how this banger fits in with the rest of these non-descript bangers. Shout out to Donkey Kong Country 2.

“Star67”

Is that Weezy on the sample? Ooohhhhhhhhh, I like this. An interesting beat. I feel like I’m walking through the courtyard of some 16th-century Gothic cathedral; it has a cool echo. Shit, I missed that whole first verse because I’m so into this beat. No lie, I’d kind of like to hear Makonnen on that. Ew. Did I just say that? I wond——Woahhhhh…..Johan Santana-esque changeup!

Drake is so good at changing up flow and pacing. He’s able to transition so fluidly. Oh shit, where do I know that sample from? This sounds so familiar. This is by far the best song of the album. All the samples, all the change-ups, Drake’s deeper steady flow, and it all works well. This one feels like a keeper. Is this the first time he’s really sung? I’d like to hear a little more of that.

“Preach” (feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR)

Ow! Man! What the fuck?! If you are going to yell at me, give me some warning. I turned the volume up a little because I liked the beat, and then some kind of giant bird started yelling at me. This might be the first time I’m listening to PARTYNEXTDOOR. Now I know what I wasn’t missing. He sounds like one of those toys you would turn over, and it made a slurring noise. One of these. Drake better kill this…and he does. I like his part and dig the beat, but PND ruined it for me. Dig that ending, though; shit would be nuts live. I wasn’t sure if it was the same song or a different one, I had to check. I like it when albums make me check.

“Wednesday Night Interlude” (feat. PARTYNEXTDOOR)

Oh great. More from the Canadian bird. I like the space feel (it may or may not be that joint I may or may not have smoked), but I’m still not a big PND guy. Drake always takes over cuts from other artists, so why is he letting PND pull a Drake on him? Is he pushing his own man that hard? Is this song seriously all PND? Shit. We went from Kendrick interludes to PARTYNEXTDOOR—kind of kick in the balls.

“Used To” (feat. Lil Wayne)

Wait? Didn’t…? Um? Didn’t we get this for free on Sorry For The Wait 2? A Lil Wayne rehash on an album is just not a good look. Also, question – how does this song work in regards to the whole label situation? If I were Wayne, I’d be pissed my about-to-be-old-label cleared my song and put it on an album with me… as the guest. Or maybe he’s cool with it because he’s cool with Drake? I’m guessing I’m reading way too much into this. This one does go hard, though.

“6 Man”

See. When you space out the bangers, the bangers’ bang is that much more bangy. I’m much more into this record than “6God” or “Know Yourself” because there was a different vibe there for a minute. Yeah. I feel this one. I feel like I should hate this flow, but it works. I have no goosebumps yet, but Drake got me doing the white guy turnt-up dance. OH SHIT!!!!! SHOUT OUT THE ROOTS!!!!!!!!! It’s crazy how he can go from a bizarre yet compelling cadence to singing about The Roots in two seconds flat, and it works. I love how “40” interpolated “You Got Me” there; charming touch. Drake is at his best with “40” behind him. His beats knock as hard as anything by Boi-1da, but they always have more depth. I want to run this one back. No. No. I must go on, but soon. “6 Man” again, soon…

“Now & Forever”

Yup. This is a hit. If I had to pick a single, it would be this record. Though the gunshot in the beginning was a little tacky I’m willing to let it slide because this beat is awesome; so epic. I love how it sounds like a slow rolling train with the clanking. If I close my eyes, I can picture Drake on the train, looking back at some girl waving his handkerchief and letting out one single tear as he disappears into the horizon. All kidding aside, this is a well-done song. It doesn’t knock like those early bangers but has much more weight. It’s good to hear him finally singing, too. Also, tell me A$AP Rocky wouldn’t sound dope on a remix of this cut? Best song yet. Drake almost lost me eight songs ago, but I’m on board (that train) now. The back half of this album would make Amber Rose jealous.

“Company” (feat. Travi$ Scott)

This is signature Drake. Some super corny, goofy lines and some crooning. As hokey as it is – “I NEEED SOME COMPANEEEEEEE” – he can can really sing. This is totally the song you’ll skip when you are in the car with friends, but if you are alone and it comes on, you know you’ll be singing. Woah. “0-100” real quick. And here comes Travi$. Don’t really mind the rap, but the Autotune is terrible. This song would have been much better if it was just Drake, the features have been questionable at best.

“You & The 6”

This is what I wish he would do more often. It has a great beat, some personal (bordering on corny) bars, and his stellar voice. This is his bread and butter, and all that other trap stuff should be supplemental. Not the other way around. HA! I love this! That shit about the trainer?! Vintage Drake! That’s going to be so weird for that poor girl. She will stroll into that gym tomorrow, and her spot will be blown. We will have another Courtney from Hooters on Peachtree situation on our hands. Usually, I hate when rappers repeatedly rap the same word, but I don’t mind it here. I feel like he’s writing a letter to his Mom; it adds a nice personal touch. This is the “From Time” of this album. Sure, it’s not exactly “From Time,” but it’s the most emotional track yet. Drake gets personal and some of y’all will knock him for it, but that personal touch’ll give this song some mileage. Bangers come and go, but this is the kind of shit that lasts. Give me this over “6 God” any day.

“Jungle”

I must tell you, after “Company,” Drake was losing me – it’s like 2 AM, and this is a long album – but “You & The 6” was quality, and this record is even better. I love that beat; it feels sticky. Man, the production on this album has been stellar, especially 40’s input. He made his placements count. At this point, I’m done with the bangers. It’s time for the cool down, and this is perfect. I’m sure we’ll get one more banger, but I like that he slowed it down again towards the end.

“6 PM In New York”

Wooooooo! It’s a nice balance between a banger and a slow track. The sweet spot. Yeah. This is going on the iPhone. I’m trying to type, but I want to nod my head. I love that this is the last song on the mix album, and it’s arguably his best performance. This is when rapping Drake is at his best. No trappy flows, no gimmicks, just a crisp, clean flow and passion behind what he says. The man just dropped the mic. (Shots fired at Tyga?)

Whew! I made it! Maybe it was how the project was released, but this felt more like a mixtape. It didn’t feel like an album, and it was not the quality of albums we expect from Drake. There’s no narrative or anything. The “album” feels like a bunch of random songs, some quality songs, but still just a bunch of songs that don’t add up to anything larger. I’m sure I’ll end up listening to these songs everywhere, by choice, and because Drake is unavoidable, I’ll probably enjoy them on their own, but as an album, I feel like it failed.

This is only the first listen, though. If Drake has proven anything, it’s that, like it or not, I’ll have no choice but to hear it again. I’m glad my next listen doesn’t have to be at 2:30 AM. Now, excuse me, it really is 2:30 AM.