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	{{Infobox album		{{Infobox album
	\| Name = What a Time to Be Alive		\| Name = What a Time to Be Alive
	\| Type = ~~Album~~		\| Type = Mixtape
	\| Artist = ] and ]		\| Artist = ] and ]
	\| Cover = File:WATTBA.jpeg		\| Cover = File:WATTBA.jpeg
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	\| Misc = {{Extra chronology		\| Misc = {{Extra chronology
	\| Artist = ]		\| Artist = ]
	\| Type = ~~album~~		\| Type = mixtape
	\| Last album = '']''<br />(2015)		\| Last album = '']''<br />(2015)
	\| This album = '''''What a Time to Be Alive'''''<br />(2015)		\| This album = '''''What a Time to Be Alive'''''<br />(2015)
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	{{Extra chronology		{{Extra chronology
	\| Artist = ]		\| Artist = ]
	\| Type = ~~album~~		\| Type = mixtape
	\| Last album = '']''<br />(2015)		\| Last album = '']''<br />(2015)
	\| This album = '''''What a Time to Be Alive'''''<br />(2015)		\| This album = '''''What a Time to Be Alive'''''<br />(2015)
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	{{Singles		{{Singles
	\| Name = What a Time to Be Alive		\| Name = What a Time to Be Alive
	\| Type = ~~album~~		\| Type = mixtape
	\| Single 1 = ]		\| Single 1 = ]
	\| Single 1 date = November 10, 2015		\| Single 1 date = November 10, 2015
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	}}		}}

	'''''What a Time to Be Alive''''' is a collaborative ]<ref name="MC"/> by Toronto-based rapper ] and Atlanta-based rapper ]. It was released on September 20, 2015 via the ] and ]. The ~~album~~ was released under the labels of A1, ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name="Billboard 200 debut"/>		'''''What a Time to Be Alive''''' is a collaborative ]<ref name="MC"/> by Toronto-based rapper ] and Atlanta-based rapper ]. It was released on September 20, 2015 via the ] and ]. The mixtape was released under the labels of A1, ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name="Billboard 200 debut"/>

	The ~~album~~ debuted at number one on the US ]. The artwork is a stock image that was purchased from ].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://uk.complex.com/style/2015/09/drake-future-what-a-time-to-be-alive-mixtape-cover-details\|title=Drake And Future Used A Stock Image For Their 'It Never Happened' Album Cover\|author=Karizza Sanchez\|work=Complex UK}}</ref>		The mixtape debuted at number one on the US ]. The artwork is a stock image that was purchased from ].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://uk.complex.com/style/2015/09/drake-future-what-a-time-to-be-alive-mixtape-cover-details\|title=Drake And Future Used A Stock Image For Their 'It Never Happened' Album Cover\|author=Karizza Sanchez\|work=Complex UK}}</ref>

	==Release and promotion==		==Release and promotion==
	The ~~album~~ was first teased by a range of sources including DJ SKEE, ] and Ernest Baker, and was officially announced on Drake's ] on September 19, 2015, when he revealed the mixtape's release date and cover art.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.35552/title.drake-confirms-what-a-time-to-be-alive-project-with-future-sets-release-date\|title=Drake Confirms "What A Time To Be Alive" Project With Future & Sets Release Date\|author=HipHopDX\|date=September 19, 2015\|work=HipHopDX}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://twitter.com/djskee/status/642807020584722432\|title=DJ Skee on Twitter\|work=Twitter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://twitter.com/ernestbaker/status/642205301257699328\|title=ernest baker on Twitter\|work=Twitter}}</ref> Drake and Future premiered the album on Beats 1 on ]'s "OVO Sound Radio" show on September 20, 2015, after which it was released on the ] and ].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.spin.com/2015/09/drake-future-what-a-time-to-be-alive-mixtape-surprise-download/\|title=Download Drake and Future’s ‘What a Time to Be Alive’ Right Now\|last=Brodsky\|first=Rachel\|work=Spin\|date=September 20, 2015\|accessdate=September 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/what-a-time-to-be-alive/id1041818504\|title=What a Time To Be Alive\|work=iTunes\|date=September 20, 2015\|accessdate=September 20, 2015}}</ref>		The mixtape was first teased by a range of sources including DJ SKEE, ] and Ernest Baker, and was officially announced on Drake's ] on September 19, 2015, when he revealed the mixtape's release date and cover art.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.35552/title.drake-confirms-what-a-time-to-be-alive-project-with-future-sets-release-date\|title=Drake Confirms "What A Time To Be Alive" Project With Future & Sets Release Date\|author=HipHopDX\|date=September 19, 2015\|work=HipHopDX}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://twitter.com/djskee/status/642807020584722432\|title=DJ Skee on Twitter\|work=Twitter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://twitter.com/ernestbaker/status/642205301257699328\|title=ernest baker on Twitter\|work=Twitter}}</ref> Drake and Future premiered the album on Beats 1 on ]'s "OVO Sound Radio" show on September 20, 2015, after which it was released on the ] and ].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.spin.com/2015/09/drake-future-what-a-time-to-be-alive-mixtape-surprise-download/\|title=Download Drake and Future’s ‘What a Time to Be Alive’ Right Now\|last=Brodsky\|first=Rachel\|work=Spin\|date=September 20, 2015\|accessdate=September 20, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/what-a-time-to-be-alive/id1041818504\|title=What a Time To Be Alive\|work=iTunes\|date=September 20, 2015\|accessdate=September 20, 2015}}</ref>

	==Critical reception==		==Critical reception==
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	\| rev7Score = 7/10<ref name="spin1">{{cite web\|last=Ramirez\|first=Matthew\|url=http://www.spin.com/2015/09/review-drake-future-what-a-time-to-be-alive/\|title=Review: Drake and Future Define 2015 Rap for Better and Worse on 'What a Time to Be Alive'\|work=]\|date=September 22, 2015\|accessdate=September 24, 2015}}</ref>		\| rev7Score = 7/10<ref name="spin1">{{cite web\|last=Ramirez\|first=Matthew\|url=http://www.spin.com/2015/09/review-drake-future-what-a-time-to-be-alive/\|title=Review: Drake and Future Define 2015 Rap for Better and Worse on 'What a Time to Be Alive'\|work=]\|date=September 22, 2015\|accessdate=September 24, 2015}}</ref>
	}}		}}
	''What a Time to Be Alive'' received generally positive reviews from critics, receiving a ] metascore of 70 out of 100 on the review aggregate website ] based on 24 critics.<ref name="MC"/> '']'' 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".<ref name="billboard1"/> '']'' 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 playing off their louder-than-life personalities without overthinking the details."<ref name="rollingstone1"/> However, Sheldon Pearce in a '']'' review suggests that this limited time-frame for making the album is the sonic downfall of the ~~album~~ arguing that the album "wasn't created with the care or the dutiful curation we've come to expect from both artists when solo."<ref name="pitchfork1"/>		''What a Time to Be Alive'' received generally positive reviews from critics, receiving a ] metascore of 70 out of 100 on the review aggregate website ] based on 24 critics.<ref name="MC"/> '']'' 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".<ref name="billboard1"/> '']'' 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 playing off their louder-than-life personalities without overthinking the details."<ref name="rollingstone1"/> However, Sheldon Pearce in a '']'' 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."<ref name="pitchfork1"/>

	In a mixed review, Sheldon Pearce of '']'' criticizes the "decided lack of chemistry between these two,” because “they have difficulty sharing the same space” when on the same song.<ref name="pitchfork1"/> 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.”<ref name="pitchfork1"/> 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.”<ref name="pitchfork1"/> 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".<ref name="pitchfork1"/>		In a mixed review, Sheldon Pearce of '']'' criticizes the "decided lack of chemistry between these two,” because “they have difficulty sharing the same space” when on the same song.<ref name="pitchfork1"/> 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.”<ref name="pitchfork1"/> 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.”<ref name="pitchfork1"/> 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".<ref name="pitchfork1"/>
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	{{Future (rapper)}}		{{Future (rapper)}}

	]		]
	]		]
	]		]

Revision as of 03:41, 26 January 2016

Untitled

What a Time to Be Alive is a collaborative mixtape 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.

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

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. 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.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	70/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Billboard
Entertainment Weekly	C–
Noisey
Pitchfork Media	7/10
Rolling Stone
Spin	7/10

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. 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". 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 playing off their louder-than-life personalities without overthinking the details." 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."

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. 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.” 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.” 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".

Complex said about Drake verses; "despite a corny bar here or there, Drake sounds way more energized with much better flows." 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."

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. 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). In its second week it sold 65,000 copies. As of January 3, 2016, What a Time to Be Alive has sold 508,000 copies in the United States.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Digital Dash"	Aubrey Graham Nayvadius Wilburn Leland Wayne Joshua Howard Luellen	Metro Boomin Southside	3:51
2.	"Big Rings"	Graham Wilburn Wayne	Metro Boomin	3:37
3.	"Live from the Gutter"	Graham Wilburn Wayne Matthew Samuels	Boi-1da Metro Boomin	3:31
4.	"Diamonds Dancing"	Graham Wilburn Wayne Allen Ritter Adam Feeney	Metro Boomin Allen Ritter Frank Dukes	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)	Graham Noah Shebib	Noah "40" Shebib	4:13
Total length:				40:30

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2015)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)	4
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)	23
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)	46
Canadian Albums (Billboard)	1
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)	21
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)	9
French Albums (SNEP)	34
Irish Albums (IRMA)	30
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)	8
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)	26
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)	99
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)	36
UK Albums (OCC)	6
UK R&B Albums (OCC)	1
US Billboard 200	1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	1

Year-end charts

Chart (2015)	Peak position
Canadian Albums (Billboard)	38
US Billboard 200	26
US Digital Albums (Billboard)	6
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	7
US Rap Albums (Billboard)	6

References

^ "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)
^ "Drake and Future's Surprise Album Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard.
Karizza Sanchez. "Drake And Future Used A Stock Image For Their 'It Never Happened' Album Cover". Complex UK.
HipHopDX (September 19, 2015). "Drake Confirms "What A Time To Be Alive" Project With Future & Sets Release Date". HipHopDX.
"DJ Skee on Twitter". Twitter.
"ernest baker on Twitter". Twitter.
Brodsky, Rachel (September 20, 2015). "Download Drake and Future's 'What a Time to Be Alive' Right Now". Spin. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
"What a Time To Be Alive". iTunes. September 20, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
^ 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.
^ "What a Time To Be Alive by Drake & Future: EW review". ew.com.
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.
^ Pearce, Sheldon (September 23, 2015). "Drake / Future: What a Time to Be Alive". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
^ Sheffield, Rob (September 24, 2015). "What a Time to Be Alive". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
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.
Frazier Tharpe. "Drake and Future 'What a Time to Be Alive' Review - Complex". Complex.
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.
Smith, Trevor (January 6, 2016). "Charts Don't Lie: January 6th". hotnewhiphop. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
"Australiancharts.com – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
"Ultratop.be – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
"Ultratop.be – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
"Drake Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
"Danishcharts.dk – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 8, 2015.
"Dutchcharts.nl – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
"Lescharts.com – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
"GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 39, 2015". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
"Charts.nz – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
http://lista.vg.no/artist/drake/album/what-a-time-to-be-alive/13647
"Spanishcharts.com – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
"Swedishcharts.com – Drake & Future – What a Time to Be Alive". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
"Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
"Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
"Drake Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
"Drake Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
"Billboard Top Canadian Albums - Year-end Chart". Retrieved December 9, 2015.
"Billboard 200 - Year-end Chart". Retrieved December 9, 2015.
"Billboard Digital Albums- Year-end Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
"Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums- Year-end Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
"Billboard Rap Albums- Year-end Chart". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2015.

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

v t e Future
Albums Singles Videography Awards and nominations
Studio albums	Pluto (2012) Honest (2014) DS2 (2015) Evol (2016) Future (2017) Hndrxx (2017) The Wizrd (2019) High Off Life (2020) I Never Liked You (2022)
Reissued albums	Pluto 3D (2012)
Collaborative albums	Pluto × Baby Pluto (with Lil Uzi Vert) (2020) We Don't Trust You (with Metro Boomin) (2024) We Still Don't Trust You (with Metro Boomin) (2024)
Mixtapes	Astronaut Status (2012) Monster (2014) Purple Reign (2016) Mixtape Pluto (2024)
Collaborative mixtapes	Beast Mode (with Zaytoven) (2015) 56 Nights (with DJ Esco) (2015) What a Time to Be Alive (with Drake) (2015) Super Slimey (with Young Thug) (2017) Beast Mode 2 (with Zaytoven) (2018) Wrld on Drugs (with Juice Wrld) (2018)
Extended plays	Free Bricks 2K16 (Zone 6 Edition) (with Gucci Mane) (2016) Save Me (2019)
Concert tours	Summer Sixteen Tour Nobody Safe Tour Future Hndrxx Tour We Trust You Tour
Related articles	Freebandz Ciara Project E.T. Esco Terrestrial Kolorblind
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