The wait is over! 

Canadian rapper Drake and Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage have hopped back in the studio to deliver yet another chart-breaking project. 

Friday, November 4, 2022, the 16-track collaboration album, Her Loss was released on music platforms, Apple Music and Spotify worldwide. The project was released through labels OVO, Republic, Slaughter Gang, and Epic. 

The album captures the friendship and musical connection between the two artists, dating back to 2016. The album also highlights their lives as popular rappers and gives us a look into their chemistry and kinship. 

The song opens with a sample from the group Sugar’s song “I Want You Girl” and then transitions into an upbeat sound by Tay Keith. We hear a couple of bars from Drake along with familiar adlibs from 21 Savage. As 21 Savage began to spit his bars, my ears were filled with satisfaction. It was refreshing to hear 21 tap into his 2017 era. In the middle of the song is a tempo transition from upbeat to soft, back to upbeat. Here is where Drake samples the cadence from Atlanta rapper, T.I’s “24’s”, released in 2003. He uses wordplay to hook the audience and glides on the beat with ease. He references both T.I and the late basketball player, Kobe Bryant by saying, “I’m living every 24 like Kobe did. Shout out to the 6ix, R.I.P the eight.” This song sampled five other songs, including 21 Savage’s “Red Opps” and is currently #1 on Apple Music’s Top 100: United States. 

“Master Distribution” is the second song on the album. The song begins with a soothing melody and wise words from “The boy” Drake which then leads into a high-toned beat by SkipOnDaBeat. From Drake, we hear how his success in music has brought him the reward of a lavish lifestyle. 21’s bars explain that although he’s a celebrity, he doesn’t stray away from the teachings of the streets. Within these lyrics, we get to see how these two Black men are able to live freely, in comparison to their lives before fame, when they had nothing. 

“American Express you can have it all. Code to the safe you can have it all,” 21 Savage said in the sixth song on the album, “Spin Bout U”.  

This song, along with “Hours in Silence” expresses the rappers’ love languages when it comes to women they are fond of. From listening to these songs, it’s evident that their love languages are gift giving and acts of service. From cars, to money, the two emphasize all the things they can and will give to these ladies, as long as they are faithful and true. The songs highlight the way many men show their love, by physically taking care of women. They can be considered love songs and it shows the rappers being vulnerable about their feelings with their audience. 

“Treacherous Twin” is the eighth song on the album. The piece captures the love between the two rappers, and their loyalty to one another. “When I need a friend, you’re my best friend”, is a bar from Drake’s verse. I enjoyed this song because it showed that men can show their emotional connections toward each other in a platonic way. Many times we see men afraid to love one another openly in fears of seeming weak. However, this song showed the strength of brotherhood and allowed the audience to see two strong Black men giving each other recognition for simply being a good friend. 

The ninth song on the album, “Circo Loco” has been gaining lots of popularity for its controversial lyrics. At :28, Drake says “This ***** lie bout getting shots, but she still a stallion.” Many people on Twitter are in an uproar about this line because they believe Drake is referencing Megan thee Stallion’s shooting allegations toward Tory Lanez in 2020. However, rapper Lil Yachty explains that this is meant to be a play on words to call out women who lie about glute injections. Since then, rapper Megan Thee Stallion has tweeted and responded, causing a discussion on how Black women aren’t protected enough in the media. Despite all the controversy, this song is well put together with catchy lyrics, a smooth cadence and a fast beat that makes you want to groove. 

The album closes with a song from Drake, expressing his heartbreak and need for closure after a break up. The mellow beat, mixed with the passion and pain in the lyrics, allow us to hear the deep blue that Drake is feeling. He talks to ‘love’ as if it can listen. He says that it’s been a long time and that love has made a thug cry. Drake is open with the fact that he’s not okay and I believe this was a beautiful way to close this emotion filled album. 

I’ve listened to this album twice now, and the second time allowed me to understand what both the rappers were trying to do with this album. Not only did I hear the rawness of street life and the benefits of having a boatload of money; but I also was able to feel the struggle of rising to the top, along with the cons that come with success. This album has dominated the Top 100: Global charts on Apple Music and is currently trending on Instagram and Twitter.