| So Far Gone |
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| Mixtape by Drake |
| Released |
February 13, 2009 (February 13, 2009) |
| Recorded |
2008 |
| Genre |
Hip hop, R&B, pop, indie pop |
| Length |
70:35 |
| Label |
October's Very Own |
| Producer |
40, Boi-1da, Kanye West, Arthur McArthur, MegaMan, Keshown Cassel, Phillip "D10" Tennant |
| Drake chronology |
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| Singles from So Far Gone |
- "Best I Ever Had"
Released: February 13, 2009
- "Successful"
Released: February 13, 2009
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So Far Gone is the third official mixtape by Canadian rapper/singer Drake. Released in February 2009, the mixtape proved to be a major catalyst in the launching of Drake's career on an international scale; So Far Gone has since been hailed as one of the best mixtape releases of modern music, and was universally well received by professional critics and hip-hop fans alike.[1] Tracks "Best I Ever Had" and "Successful" were released as singles from the mixtape, and attained unexpected unprecedented success on the Billboard Hot 100. The mixtape was promoted with a release party in Toronto with Drake and LeBron James.[2] Artists including Omarion, Lloyd, Lykke Li, Lil Wayne and Bun B provided guest vocals on the release. The mixtape helped launch the careers of producers 40, Boi-1da, and T-Minus, whose contributions to the musical direction of the mixtape were applauded by critics.
Background [edit]
In an interview with Complex blog, Drake explains: "The whole tape extends from one of my closest friends Oliver. One night we were having a discussion about women and the way we were talking about them, it was so brazen and so disrespectful. He texted me right after we got off the phone and he was like, 'Are we becoming the men that our mothers divorced?' That's really where the cover comes from, too. It's just this kid in pursuit of love and money. We're good guys, I'm friends with some real good people and for him to even text me after we got off the phone it just showed we have a conscience. But sometimes you just get so far gone, you get wrapped up in this shit. The title has a lot of meanings—as the way we carry ourselves, the way we dress, the way people view us, not to sound cocky, it's just that feeling that we're just distanced in a good way. You’re just elevating past the bullshit and past all the shit that you used to be a part of and you're not that proud of, you're just so far gone."[3]
Critical reception [edit]
The mixtape has been well received by critics overall and currently holds a score of 81 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim."[10] RapReviews.com gave a positive review of the mixtape and commented on it by saying "So Far Gone is unquestionably one of the most cohesive, atmospheric hip hop records in recent memory--which is almost the antithesis of what one expects from a mixtape." The Boston Globe gave the mixtape a positive score and commented by saying "His materialism threads throughout So Far Gone (champagne flutes, girls, BlackBerrys, more girls), but he chases that with soft touches of humor and honesty." Pitchfork Media reviewed the mixtape positively and said "So Far Gone still scans as one of the most compulsively listenable mixtapes of a great year for mixtapes." Slant Magazine gave the mixtape a mixed review, but commended Drake's effort, "For a beginner, even one whose big-time endorsements seem to have cemented a promising start, So Far Gone is a pretty brave effort, and Drake's ability to juggle standard bling-and-bluster narratives with intelligent narratives bodes well for his future".[11]
Track listing [edit]
Sample credits:
Awards [edit]
- MTV's Hottest Mixtape of The Year
- Complex's #3 Best Albums of 2009
- Complex's #5 Best Mixtape Album of The Decade
References [edit]
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| Studio albums |
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| Compilation albums |
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| Extended plays |
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| Mixtapes |
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| Singles |
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| Featured singles |
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| Promotional singles |
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| Other songs |
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| Related articles |
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