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What a Time to Be Alive

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What a Time to Be Alive is a collaborative mixtape[1] by Toronto-based rapper Drake and Atlanta-based rapper Future. It was released on September 20, 2015 via the iTunes Store and Apple Music. The mixtape was released under the labels of A1, Cash Money, Epic, OVO Sound, Freebandz, Republic and Young Money.[2]

The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200. The artwork is a stock image that was purchased from Shutterstock.[3]

Release and promotion

The mixtape was first teased by a range of sources including DJ SKEE, Angela Yee and Ernest Baker, and was officially announced on Drake's Instagram on September 19, 2015, when he revealed the mixtape's release date and cover art.[4][5][6] Drake and Future premiered the album on Beats 1 on OVO Sound's "OVO Sound Radio" show on September 20, 2015, after which it was released on the iTunes Store and Apple Music.[7][8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic70/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
Billboard[9]
Entertainment WeeklyC–[10]
Noisey(2-star Honorable Mention)(2-star Honorable Mention)[11]
Pitchfork Media7/10[12]
Rolling Stone[13]
Spin7/10[14]

What a Time to Be Alive received generally positive reviews from critics, receiving a normalized metascore of 70 out of 100 on the review aggregate website Metacritic based on 24 critics.[1] Billboard described Drake and Future's chemistry as expected and said "Future deals with personal demons that he tries, and fails, to drown in drugs; Drake is mostly about insecurities and lesser gravity".[9] Rolling Stone gave the album 3.5 out of 5 stars, attributing the "fresh and spontaneous" feel to the quick production of the album, where "both artists [are] playing off their louder-than-life personalities without overthinking the details."[13] However, Sheldon Pearce in a Pitchfork Media review suggests that this limited time-frame for making the album is the sonic downfall of the mixtape arguing that the album "wasn't created with the care or the dutiful curation we've come to expect from both artists when solo."[12]

In a mixed review, Sheldon Pearce of Pitchfork Media criticizes the "decided lack of chemistry between these two,” because “they have difficulty sharing the same space” when on the same song.[12] Pearce goes on to highlight how Future’s presence, both in content and persona, is much more prevalent than Drake’s, where the latter appears to be a “bystander” and “out of his element.”[12] Yet, he highlights moments where the collaboration works most effectively. In "Scholarships", Drake “throws Future the perfect alley-oop,” “Jumpman” is a banger, and “Diamonds Dancing” is the first track between the two artists that “clicks on all cylinders.”[12] Additionally, Pearce lauds the production by Metro Boomin as “glimmering” and hails both rappers when they are able to work on their own and make music in their respective comfort zones in songs like Future's “Jersey” and Drake’s "30 for 30 Freestyle".[12]

Complex said about Drake verses; "despite a corny bar here or there, Drake sounds way more energized with much better flows."[15] Entertainment Weekly was disappointed with Drake on the album, quoting "despite a beat by Drake whisperer Noah “40” Shebib, the album-closing “30 For 30 Freestyle” doesn’t come near clearing the admittedly high bar Drake has set for himself in 2015."[10]

Commercial performance

What a Time to Be Alive debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, with 375,000 equivalent album units; it sold 334,000 copies in its first week, with the remainder of its unit count representing the album's streaming activity and track sales during the tracking week.[2] It became both Drake and Future's second albums to chart at number one on the Billboard 200 in 2015 (If You're Reading This It's Too Late and DS2, respectively).[2] In its second week it sold 65,000 copies.[16] As of January 3, 2016, What a Time to Be Alive has sold 516,000 copies in the United States.[17]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Digital Dash"
3:51
2."Big Rings"
  • Graham
  • Wilburn
  • Wayne
  • Metro Boomin
3:37
3."Live from the Gutter"
3:31
4."Diamonds Dancing"
5:14
5."Scholarships"
  • Graham
  • Wilburn
  • Wayne
  • Metro Boomin
3:29
6."Plastic Bag"
  • Graham
  • Wilburn
  • Neenyo
3:22
7."I'm the Plug"
  • Graham
  • Wilburn
  • Luellen
  • Southside
3:00
8."Change Locations"
  • Graham
  • Wilburn
  • Noel Cadastre
  • Noël
3:40
9."Jumpman"
  • Graham
  • Wilburn
  • Wayne
  • Metro Boomin
3:25
10."Jersey" (performed by Future)
  • Wilburn
  • Wayne
  • Luellen
  • Metro Boomin
  • Southside
3:08
11."30 for 30 Freestyle" (performed by Drake)
Noah "40" Shebib4:13
Total length:40:30

Charts

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Reviews for What a Time to Be Alive [Mixtape] by Drake & Future". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 25 September 2015. {{cite web}}: templatestyles stripmarker in |work= at position 1 (help)
  2. ^ a b c "Drake and Future's Surprise Album Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard.
  3. ^ Karizza Sanchez. "Drake And Future Used A Stock Image For Their 'It Never Happened' Album Cover". Complex UK.
  4. ^ HipHopDX (September 19, 2015). "Drake Confirms "What A Time To Be Alive" Project With Future & Sets Release Date". HipHopDX.
  5. ^ "DJ Skee on Twitter". Twitter.
  6. ^ "ernest baker on Twitter". Twitter.
  7. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (September 20, 2015). "Download Drake and Future's 'What a Time to Be Alive' Right Now". Spin. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  8. ^ "What a Time To Be Alive". iTunes. September 20, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  9. ^ a b Ex, Kris (September 21, 2015). "Drake & Future's 'What a Time to Be Alive' Mixtape is a Perfectly Timed Victory Lap: Album Review". Billboard. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  10. ^ a b "What a Time To Be Alive by Drake & Future: EW review". ew.com.
  11. ^ Christgau, Robert (October 2, 2015). "Future Is the Proof We Need That Money Doesn't Buy Happiness: Expert Witness with Robert Christgau". Noisey. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Pearce, Sheldon (September 23, 2015). "Drake / Future: What a Time to Be Alive". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  13. ^ a b Sheffield, Rob (September 24, 2015). "What a Time to Be Alive". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  14. ^ Ramirez, Matthew (September 22, 2015). "Review: Drake and Future Define 2015 Rap for Better and Worse on 'What a Time to Be Alive'". Spin. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  15. ^ Frazier Tharpe. "Drake and Future 'What a Time to Be Alive' Review - Complex". Complex.
  16. ^ Kyles, Yohance (October 5, 2015). "Drake & Future's 'WATTBA' Suffers One Of The Worst Sales Drops In Hip Hop History". AllHipHop. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  17. ^ Smith, Trevor (January 6, 2016). "Charts Don't Lie: January 6th". hotnewhiphop. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  18. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  19. ^ "Ultratop.be – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  20. ^ "Ultratop.be – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  21. ^ "Drake Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  22. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
  23. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  24. ^ "Lescharts.com – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  25. ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 39, 2015". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  26. ^ "Charts.nz – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  27. ^ http://lista.vg.no/artist/drake/album/what-a-time-to-be-alive/13647
  28. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  29. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
  30. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
  31. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  32. ^ "Drake Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  33. ^ "Drake Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
  34. ^ "Billboard Top Canadian Albums - Year-end Chart". Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  35. ^ "Billboard 200 - Year-end Chart". Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  36. ^ "Billboard Digital Albums- Year-end Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  37. ^ "Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums- Year-end Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  38. ^ "Billboard Rap Albums- Year-end Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
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