Though some were initially on the fence about Drake's official studio debut Thank Me Later, with others going so far as to be thoroughly disappointed, time has admittedly been kind to the project. Now, ten years removed from its initial release (on the same day J. Cole dropped off The Warm Up, albeit one year earlier), nostalgia has settled in quite nicely. Songs that were once underwhelming have gained a certain sense of charm, fueled by Drizzy's long-forgotten innocence. And while Scorpion revealed the thoughts of a man who had everything, on Thank Me Later, the world was Drake's oyster.
Insofar as musical odysseys, "Shut It Down" is the closest Thank Me Later has to offer. Sprawling in length, the slow-burning ballad finds Drake laying down wistful vocals over synthesizers, navigating the waters between love and lust. As the song reaches its climax, Drizzy's melodies transition into bars that build alongside the crescendoing instrumental. And while the explosive vocals from The-Dream are certainly a highlight, one of the most interesting moments arrives in the final few minutes, when the dust settles and established lyrical themes are revisited. Quite simply, "Shut It Down" is an emotional journey from start to finish, one that remains among Drake's most ambitiously arranged and emotive songs to date.
Happy anniversary to Thank Me Later, an album that appears to be living up to its namesake with every passing year.
QUOTABLE LYRICS
You tell me you’re just not the type, you wanna do this right
And I’m not trying to say I don’t believe you
But I refuse to feel ashamed and if you feel the same
Does waiting really make us better people?
Take those fucking heels off, it’s worth it girl
Nothing is what I can picture you in
So take that fucking dress off, I swear you won’t forget me
You’ll be happy that you let me