DJ Khaled enlists Drake for the umpteenth time on “To the Max,” the third promo single from his latest star-studded album, ‘Grateful.’

The DJ Khaled and Drake collaborations don’t seem to be coming to an end anytime soon.  Once more, the two just can’t “quit each other,” sigh.  Some notable collaborations between the two artists include “I’m On One,” “No New Friends,” and “For Free.” The 2017 edition of the ultimate bromance (for lack of a better word) is entitled “To the Max.” “To the Max” serves as the third single off of Khaled’s album, Grateful (June 23).

If nothing else, “To the Max” is energetic, as its title suggests.  The track commences with an incredibly rhythmic drum groove, and the chanted lyrics, “Get ‘em right, get ‘em right.” Following the intro and obligatory shout out by DJ Khaled, Drake gets to work, singing.  So, what is the modus operandi on the first verse? Being on, being the hit – the cat’s meow.

“Can’t think of a night that we ain’t turn up to the max / To the max, no…/ Man we lit.”

On the second verse, Drake dives into familiar territory – taking down fakes. Ultimately, Drake isn’t inviting new or fake friends, but he’ll forever keep his bond with legitimate ones.

“Now all of a sudden, people say we cousins / I keep hearin’ all this ‘You my brother’ talk, I can’t relate to nothin’ / My broski down to ride / Made a knot in the line / You can never break ties…”

Following each Drake verse, an incredibly quick, tough to decipher hook, bridge, and post-chorus follows. All three sections comprise of the chorus ultimately, with none of the sections packing a notable punch lyrically.  Essentially, all three sections and the supporting production work represent the turn-up.  It’s all about energy and vibe as opposed to legitimate substance.

Final Thoughts

So, how does “To the Max” stack up? It’s a good turn-up track, but ultimately, it’s pretty forgettable.  While the quality of “For Free” (Major Key) was disputable, its lustfulness was a bit more intriguing than the emptiness exhibited here.

DJ Khaled • Grateful • Epic • Release: 6.23.17

Photo Credit: Epic