Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 03:40, 26 January 2016

Some of this article's listed sources may not be reliable. Please help improve this article by looking for better, more reliable sources. Unreliable citations may be challenged and removed. (August 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

If You're Reading This It's Too Late is the fourth mixtape by Canadian recording artist Drake. It was released through the iTunes Store without prior announcement on February 13, 2015, by Cash Money Records. The physical edition of the project was released by Cash Money as well as OVO Sound and Republic Records. There was a debate whether this project is a mixtape or a studio album, as it was released commercially through his record label, while Drake himself referred to the project as a mixtape.

The project received positive reviews and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, with three-day sales of 495,000 copies and 40,000 for online streaming credits, making this Drake's fourth time at the top of the chart. The album also broke Spotify's first-week streaming record with over 17.3 million streams in the first three days. The record was previously held by Drake himself, with his album Nothing Was the Same (2013), with 15.146 million streams in the first week.

Background

In July 2014, Drake announced the title of his fourth studio album to be Views from the 6, on which recording had reportedly not begun. In November 2014, in an interview, Toronto Raptors basketball player DeMar DeRozan mentioned Drake intending to release a mixtape in January 2015. On February 12, 2015, Drake released a short film titled Jungle, which featured snippets of new songs such as "Know Yourself" and "Jungle".

In an interview with HipHopDX, DatPiff founder Kyle Reilly revealed that Drake was initially in talks to release If You're Reading This It's Too Late as a free download on DatPiff hosted by DJ Drama, before Cash Money Records intervened. Due to its release via digital download outlets such as iTunes and Amazon Music as well as physically in vinyl and CD formats, contractually it is considered his fourth studio album for Cash Money Records.

Release and promotion

On February 12, 2015, the album was tweeted as an iTunes link from Drake's Twitter. It also was uploaded to OVO Sound's official SoundCloud account, but was quickly removed. It was released onto the iTunes Store on February 13, 2015 by Cash Money Records.

Drake hinted on his instagram account of an alternate version of the project by DJ Candlestick and hosted by OG Ron C, titled If You're Choppin' This It's Too Late. This version was later released on April 14.

The physical version of the album was also released on April 21, with two bonus tracks "How About Now" and "My Side" in stores as "collector's edition".

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	78/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The A.V. Club	B–
Consequence of Sound	B+
Exclaim!	8/10
The Guardian
Los Angeles Times
Pitchfork Media	8.3/10
Rolling Stone
Spin	7/10
The Telegraph

Upon its release, If You're Reading This It's Too Late received mostly positive reviews from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 78 based on 33 reviews . Neil McCormick of The Telegraph said "Drake is amongst the most musically and lyrical progressive proponents of his chosen medium, bringing a level of educated artiness and psychological self-awareness to a genre too often reliant on big beats and braggadocio." Eric Zaworski of Exclaim! praised the release's production, writing that it "revels in the hazy drone of the 'Toronto Sound' that OVO's 40 and Boi-1da helped define, with offerings from up-and-comers like Brampton's Wondagurl and PRIME's Eric Dingus rounding it out." Paul Lester of The Guardian said "the former child TV star comes out fighting, amid machinegun fire, complaining about everyone from his peers to his family – but he convinces more as the original sad rapper." Simon Vozick-Levinson of Rolling Stone said "For the first time in his career, Drake doesn't sound like he wants to be remembered as one of the greats. This time, he just is."

Year-end lists

The album was a shortlisted nominee for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize.

Awards

Commercial performance

If You're Reading This It's Too Late debuted at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart, selling 37,000 copies in its first week. The album also debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 535,000 copies in total, 495,000 of which consisted of traditional whole album sales. The mixtape was also streamed 17.3 million times on Spotify, breaking Drake's own record that was made with Nothing Was the Same's debut week. Because of the album, Drake also became the first rapper to top Billboard's Artist 100 chart. As of December 2015, the album has sold 1.1 million copies in the US.

Track listing

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "If You're Reading This It's Too Late" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Notes

• signifies a co-producer.

Sample credits

• Both tracks "Legend" and "Madonna" contain samples from "So Anxious", written by Timothy Mosley, Stephen Garrett, Benjamin Bush, performed by Ginuwine.
• "Preach" contains samples from "Body Party", written by Ciara Harris, Nayvadius Wilburn, Michael Williams II, performed by Ciara, as well as "Stay" performed by Henry Krinkle.
• Both tracks "Wednesday Night Interlude" and "Preach" contain excerpts of "Unfaith" performed by Ekali.
• "No Tellin'" contains excerpts of "No Talk" performed by River Tiber.
• "6 God" contains samples from "Haunted Chase" (from the Donkey Kong Country 2 soundtrack), written by David Wise.
• "6 Man" contains an interpolation from "You Got Me", written by Tariq Trotter, Ahmir Thompson, Scott Storch and Jill Scott, performed by The Roots.
• "Jungle" contains samples from "6 8", written and performed by Gabriel Garzón-Montano.
• "Energy" contains samples from "Eazy-Duz-It", written by Eric Wright, Lorenzo Patterson, Andre Young, Antoine Carraby, performed by Eazy-E and "Ridin' Spinners" performed by Three 6 Mafia.
• "Know Yourself" contains samples from "Tinted Glass" performed by Network.
• "How About Now" contains samples of "My Heart Belongs To U", written by Donald DeGrate, performed by Jodeci.

Charts

Certifications

See also

• List of number-one albums of 2015 (Canada)
• List of UK R&B Chart number-one albums of 2015
• List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 2015
• List of Billboard number-one R&B/Hip-Hop albums of 2015

References

1. "BBC - Radio 1Xtra - Playlist". Radio 1Xtra. Archived from the original on March 31, 2015.
2. Trevor Smith (July 10, 2015). "Watch Drake's "Energy" Video On Apple Music". HotNewHipHop.
3. Markman, Rob (February 14, 2015). "Is If You're Reading This An Album Or Mixtape? Drake Answers The Question". MTV News. Viacom. Retrieved December 16, 2015. {{cite web}}: templatestyles stripmarker in |work= at position 1 (help)
4. Hampp, Andrew (April 13, 2015). "Drake Announces Physical Release Date for 'If You're Reading This It's Too Late'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
5. Rettig, James (February 12, 2015). "Drake Drops Surprise Mixtape If You're Reading This It's Too Late". Stereogum. SpinMedia. Retrieved December 15, 2015. {{cite web}}: templatestyles stripmarker in |work= at position 1 (help)
6. Frydenlund, Zach (February 12, 2015). "Here's Drake's "If You're Reading This It's Too Late" Mixtape". Complex. Complex Media. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
7. "Drake - If You're Reading This It's Too Late". Discogs. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
8. Young, Alex. "Surprise: Drake releases new 17-track album If You're Reading This It's Too Late". Consequence of Sound.
9. Beauchemin, Molly. "Drake Shares New Collection of Music If You're Reading This It's Too Late". Pitchfork. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
10. Manfred, Tony. "Here's the theory that the new Drake album is actually a brilliant maneuver to get out of his record deal". Business Insider. Business Insider. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
11. "Drake's Surprise Album Sets Spotify Records | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
12. "Drake Announces Fourth Album: "Views From The 6"". Billboard. July 15, 2014.
13. Davis, Justin. "A Toronto Raptors Player Dropped Some Hints About an Upcoming Drake Mixtape". Complex. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
14. Robinson, Will. "Drake releases short film Jungle and teases new songs". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
15. Geslani, Michelle. "Drake's new short film Jungle is quintessential Drake, features new music — watch". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
16. Stein, Spencer. "Drake's "If Youre Reading This Its Too Late" Counts Toward His Cash Money Contractual Obligation, DatPiff's KP Says". HipHopDX. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
17. Ramirez, Erika. "Drake Releases 'If You're Reading This It's Too Late' Album Out of Nowhere". Billboard. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
18. Records, Cash Money. "DRAKE – IF YOU'RE READING THIS IT'S TOO LATE". Cash Money Records. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
19. Markman, Rob. "Drake's New Project Is Finally Here: Listen To If You're Reading This It's Too Late". MTV.
20. "ogronc @candlestickem for the town man. Chopped not slopped". Instagram.
21. Zach Frydenlund (April 14, 2015). "Premiere: Stream and Download OVOGRONC's 'If You're Choppin This It's Too Late' Mixtape". Complex. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
22. "Drake". Billboard.
23. ^ "If You're Reading This It's Too Late Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
24. Tim Sendra. "If You're Reading This It's Too Late". AllMusic.
25. Rytlewski, Evan (February 17, 2015). "Drake leaves a trail of questions on If You're Reading This It's Too Late". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
26. Josephs, Brian (February 16, 2015). "Drake – If You're Reading This It's Too Late". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
27. ^ Zaworski, Eric (February 17, 2015). "Drake - If You're Reading This It's Too Late". Exclaim!. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
28. ^ "Drake: If You're Reading This, It's Too Late review – intimate, intense, wistful". February 13, 2015.
29. "Mortality, fame hang heavy on Drake's 'If You're Reading This'". February 16, 2015.
30. Jenkins, Craig (February 17, 2015). "Drake: If You're Reading This It's Too Late". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
31. ^ Vozick-Levinson, Simon (February 17, 2015). "Drake's New Album: If You're Reading This, It's Too Late". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
32. Unterberger, Andrew (February 17, 2015). "SPIN Album of the Week: All Work and No Play for Drake on 'If You're Reading This It's Too Late'". Spin. SpinMedia. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
33. ^ "Drake: If You're Reading This, It's Too Late review - 'hip hop from the interior'". February 16, 2015.
34. "Polaris Music Prize Announces 2015 Short List". Exclaim!, July 16, 2015.
35. "The Best Albums of 2015". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. December 2, 2015. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
36. Rolling Stone (December 1, 2015). "50 Best Albums of 2015". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
37. Timmhotep Aku; David Drake; Mosi Reeves,; Christina Lee; Julianne Escobedo Shepherd; David Turner; Christopher R. Weingarten (December 23, 2015). "40 Best Rap Albums of 2015". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 4, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
38. "NME'S Albums of the Year 2015". nme.com. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
39. "The 50 Best Albums of 2015". Pitchfork. December 16, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
40. "Readers' Poll Results 2015". Pitchfork. January 5, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
41. "The 50 Best Albums Of 2015". stereogum.com. December 1, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
42. Fleischer, Adam (October 13, 2015). "Here's The Full List Of 2015 BET Hip-Hop Awards Winners". MTV. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
43. Variety (May 17, 2015). "Billboard Music Awards Winners 2015: Full List". Yahoo!. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
44. Los Angeles Times Staff (December 7, 2015). "2016 Grammy Awards: Complete list of nominees". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
45. Cross, Alan (February 18, 2015). "Weekly Music Sales Report and Analysis: 18 February 2015". Retrieved February 20, 2015.
46. Caulfield, Keith. "Drake's Surprise Mixtape Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
47. Press, Associated. "Drake's Surprise Mixtape Sets Spotify Records". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
48. Trust, Gary. "Drake Becomes First Rapper to Top Artist 100". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
49. ^ Caulfield, Keith. "Adele's '25' Rules as Nielsen Music's Top Album of 2015 in U.S." Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
50. "If You're Reading This It's Too Late [Explicit]". Amazon.com. Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
51. Trammell, Matthew (March 9, 2015). "River Tiber's "No Talk" Is The Previously Unheard Sample From Drake's "No Tellin'"". The FADER.
52. "Australiancharts.com – Drake – If You're Reading This It's Too Late". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
53. "Austriancharts.at – Drake – If You're Reading This It's Too Late" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
54. "Ultratop.be – Drake – If You're Reading This It's Too Late" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
55. "Ultratop.be – Drake – If You're Reading This It's Too Late" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
56. "Drake Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
57. "Danishcharts.dk – Drake – If You're Reading This It's Too Late". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
58. "Dutchcharts.nl – Drake – If You're Reading This It's Too Late" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
59. "Drake: If You're Reading This It's Too Late" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
60. "Lescharts.com – Drake – If You're Reading This It's Too Late". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
61. "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
62. "Charts.nz – Drake – If You're Reading This It's Too Late". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
63. "Norwegiancharts.com – Drake – If You're Reading This It's Too Late". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
64. "Swedishcharts.com – Drake – If You're Reading This It's Too Late". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
65. "Swisscharts.com – Drake – If You're Reading This It's Too Late". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
66. 21, 2015/7502/ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
67. 21, 2015/115/ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
68. "Drake Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 24, 2015.
69. "Drake Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
70. "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Albums 2015". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
71. "Billboard Top Canadian Albums - Year-end Chart". Retrieved December 9, 2015.
72. "Billboard 200 - Year-end Chart". Retrieved December 9, 2015.
73. "Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums- Year-end Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
74. "Canadian album certifications – Drake – If You're Reading This It's Too Late". Music Canada.
75. id MUST BE PROVIDED for UK CERTIFICATION.
76. "American album certifications – Drake". Recording Industry Association of America.

v t e Drake
Albums Singles Awards and nominations Videography
Studio albums	Thank Me Later (2010) Take Care (2011) Nothing Was the Same (2013) Views (2016) Scorpion (2018) Certified Lover Boy (2021) Honestly, Nevermind (2022) Her Loss (with 21 Savage) (2022) For All the Dogs (2023) TBA (with PartyNextDoor) (2025)
Compilations	We Are Young Money (2009) Young Money: Rise of an Empire (2014) Care Package (2019)
EPs	So Far Gone (2009) Scary Hours (2018) The Best in the World Pack (2019) Scary Hours 2 (2021) For All the Dogs Scary Hours Edition (2023) For All the Dogs Scary Hours Edition Instrumentals (2023) 100 Gigs (2024)
Mixtapes	Room for Improvement (2006) Comeback Season (2007) So Far Gone (2009) If You're Reading This It's Too Late (2015) What a Time to Be Alive (with Future) (2015) More Life (2017) Dark Lane Demo Tapes (2020)
Tours	America's Most Wanted Tour Away from Home Tour Club Paradise Tour Would You Like a Tour? Drake vs. Lil Wayne Summer Sixteen Tour Boy Meets World Tour Aubrey & the Three Migos Tour Assassination Vacation Tour It's All a Blur Tour Anita Max Win Tour
Related	OVO Sound DreamCrew Young Money Entertainment YOLO Lil Wayne Forest Hill Collegiate Institute Vaughan Road Academy "Drake Would Love Me" "The Story of Adidon" "Heart on My Sleeve" Virginia Black Whiskey Feud with Kanye West Feud with Kendrick Lamar "Champagne Moments"
Category

• Pages with empty short description
• 2015 mixtape albums
• Albums produced by Boi-1da
• Albums produced by Frank Dukes
• Albums produced by Noah "40" Shebib
• Albums produced by Vinylz
• Drake (rapper) albums
• Young Money Entertainment albums
• Albums produced by Illmind