Drake: Scary Hours 2 EP Review
When Drake released the first Scary Hours entry in January 2018, it spawned an eleven-time platinum megahit, “God’s Plan,” and served as the lead-up to his fifth studio album, Scorpion. The Canadian rapper has long been teasing his newest project, Certified Lover Boy, which was recently hit with a delay due to Drake’s recovery from ACL surgery. On Friday, Drake dropped Scary Hours 2, a three-track EP that is sure to satisfy eager fans until the 6 God delivers his sixth album.
Even if you despise the fact that Drake is a 34-year-old father with an album titled Certified Lover Boy, it’s hard to dispute his spot as the biggest mainstream rapper. Scary Hours 2’s introductory track, “What’s Next,” is already projected to enter the Billboard Hot 100 in the top spot. This comes as no surprise, as two of Drake’s strongest skills are replay-ability and longevity. When Drake formulates a hit such as “God’s Plan” or 2016’s “Hotline Bling,” his signature flow becomes ubiquitous, whether it’s the radio or a “darty” packed with Juul-ripping frat boys.
“What’s Next” makes sense as a number-one hit — it combines everything that makes Drake great. At this point in his 15-year music career, Drake has mastered his flow, which remains tight and poised throughout the track. Rapping over a trap beat from Supah Mario, Drake spends three minutes reminding listeners how wealthy and successful he is: “I sit in a box where the owners do / A boss is a role that I’ve grown into.”
The original Scary Hours was a two-song solo effort. However, the sequel sees Drake recruit two artists for the EP’s final two tracks. On “Wants and Needs,” Drake reunites with Atlanta trap star Lil Baby, who’s coming off a massive 2020. The bass-heavy beat is the EP’s most electrifying, with Drake showcasing his talents as both a singer and bar-spitter. The production suits Lil Baby’s distinct flow as he raps about balancing life and the grind to the top.
Rick Ross takes the crown for Scary Hours 2’s best feature on “Lemon Pepper Freestyle.” The Miami-based rapper has always delivered on features — his appearance on Kanye West’s “Devil in a New Dress” is arguably one of the greatest hip-hop features of all-time. Ross takes the opening minute-and-twenty-seconds for a mesmerizing flow, with his introductory bars serving as the most memorable: “Godfather with a garden full of snakes / Call Porsche, time to give away a Wraith / Bricks boy, tryna turn ‘em into bass / Big boy, I been tryin’ buy the Braves.” Across the song’s remaining five minutes, we hear Drake become his most introspective self on the EP, as he raps about his relationship with his son’s mother and his life as a single father: “Yeah, dropped him off at school, big day for my lil’ man / Recess hits, daddy prolly made another M / School bell rings and I’m out there to get him again / Yeah, teacher-parent meetings, wives get googly-eyed / Regardless of what they husbands do to provide.”
Scary Hours 2 only comprises 12-minutes of Drake’s extensive discography, but if it’s any indication of what Certified Lover Boy is going to be, then fans are in for an incredible treat. The EP proves that no matter how much time passes, Drake will always find a way to deliver to his extensive fanbase and exceed sky-high expectations.
