Drake, Scary Hours 2 | EP Review 💿

After delaying his new album, Certified Lover Boy, Drake brings some fire to his three-track EP (or single), Scary Hours 2.

Is it just me, or has the quality of some 🎙 Drake projects slipped in recent times?  My guess is, the answer is, yes, his quality has slipped to some degree.  That said, the 🏆 Grammy-winning rapper/singer remains incredibly popular, and many of us who were wowed by Drizzy from the start knows what he’s capable of.  Well, if we needed the Canadian superstar to “kick things up a notch,” he certainly does so on his three-song EP (or single or whatever it is), 💿 Scary Hours 2.  No, the wheel isn’t reinvented by any means, but it feels like the beloved rapper has regained some of his punch.

“What’s Next” 

✅ 🎵 “What’s Next” kicks off Scary Hours 2 kicking ass and taking names.  The record features banging production work courtesy of 🎛 Maneesh and 🎛 Supah Mario.  This definitely fuels the fire for Drake, who spits with incredible agility and confidence.  Honestly, his flow is on-point and he goes the hardest I’ve heard from him in years. Two sections in particular stand out on “What’s Next.” The refrain first appears at the top of the record, in all of it’s glory (“I sit in a box where the owners do / A boss is a role that I’ve grown into”).  As awesome as the refrain is, the chorus is absolutely electrifying:

“Well, summer, all I did was rest, okay?
And New Year’s, all I did was stretch, okay?
And Valentine’s Day, I had sex, okay?
We’ll see what’s ‘bout to happen next
Okay? Okay? Okay?”

“Wants and Needs”

Da-yum, how do you follow up “What’s Next?” With another banger, of course! ✅ 🎵 “Wants and Needs” finds Drake enlisting the services of one of the hottest rappers of recent times, 🎙 Lil Baby. Expectedly, there’s definitely F-I-R-E. Even before Lil Baby blesses us with his distinct tone and intriguing flow on the second verse (“I’m not a GOAT, but I fit the description / I like to pour, so I get prescription”), Drizzy continues to impress, bringing more toughness to the table. He’s not as mellow as he’s been in the past, which is a welcome contrast.  He closes out his verse with the bullet, “Yeah, I should probably go link with Yeezy, I need some Jesus / But soon as I started confessin’ my sins, he wouldn’t believe us.” Woo! Once again, the production provides a nice lift (🎛 Cardo, 🎛 Dez Wright, and 🎛 Noah “40” Shebib).

“Lemon Pepper Freestyle” 

Perhaps the most talked about song from Scary Hours 2 is the longest (six-and-a-half-minutes) and final track, ✅ 🎵 “Lemon Pepper Freestyle.” Like the other two records, the work behind the boards is a big-time selling point.  Worth noting, “Lemon Pepper Freestyle” is fueled prominently by sample – 🎵 “Pressure (Live)” courtesy of 🎙 Quadron. Also, worth noting, “Lemon Pepper Freestyle” marks Drake’s umpteenth collaboration with ‘The Bawse’ himself, 🎙 Rick Ross.

As usual, Ross drops his usual brand of bars, referencing his wealth, his weight, and his status. Been there done that, but hey, it feels right, particularly on this type of record.  Drake is the star on his lengthy, colorful verse.  Here, he raps about a little of everything, though it’s probably the bars about his son that draw the most attention including referencing dropping him off to school, parent-teacher conferences, and child support.  It’s definitely worth listening to.

Final Thoughts 💭 

All in all, Scary Hours 2 is a compelling ‘single’ (or EP) by Drake.  Many times, in recent times, he’s delivered so-so music in my opinion.  While I’m not ready to call Scary Hours 2 his resurrection (he was never dead) or a returned to Drizzy of old, this small sample size is definitely better than some of the lengthier tapes and compilations he’s released.  Honestly, I like all three songs. 

✅ Gems 💎: “What’s Next,” “Wants and Needs” & “Lemon Pepper Freestyle” 

🎙 Drake • 💿 Scary Hours 2 [Single / EP] • 🏷 OVO / Republic • 🗓 3.5.21

[📷: OVO / Republic]