I’ve been listening to Drake’s Thank Me Later almost every single day now for the last 3 weeks or so.

I love it.

It’s funny; when Drake initially came on the scene as Young Money’s latest artiste, I really wasn’t all that interested in anything he was spitting. Looking back at it, I realise it’s because I really didn’t give him a chance as a new artiste.

What ended up changing my mind about Drizzy as an artiste, as a writer was the mini-documentary “Better Than Good Enough” which aired on MTV in June.

“Better Than Good Enough” offered insight into Drake’s mind and, as expected, showed where he’s coming from as a half-Jewish Canadian actor-cum-rapper, and where he’s going. I’m thoroughly impressed with his rhymes, his writing – and was amused to see we share a quirk; writing rhymes (poetry in my case, bars in his) on a BlackBerry.

His debut album – personal and introspective – has been a breath of fresh air for me. Drizzy shows he’s not afraid to mix things up and, by using several layers – or transitions, for want of a better word – mid-track he enhances the listening experience. Great examples include the transition in “Fancy” featuring Swizz Beats at the 2:44 mark, and his collaboration with The-Dream “Shut It Down” at the 3:10 mark and then again at the 3:43 mark. There are, of course, other examples on “Thank Me Later” but these two are by far my favourites.

Listening to “Thank Me Later” has been a lot like what I’d imagine reading Drake’s journal must be like. It’s a personal album – without nauseating over-sharing or pretentiousness – and the lyrical content is both clear and easily related to.

Drake’s chemistry with Young Money stablemate Nicki Minaj is just as good as with rap heavyweight/mogul Jay-Z on “Up All Night” and “Light Up” respectively. As a relative newcomer to the rap game, he holds his own and keeps his bars free of ‘filler lyrics’ – nonsensical/non-content.

I’m really looking forward to more from Drake and happily give this album 2 thumbs up!