My Honest Thoughts On 'Her Loss'

Do ya thing, 21, do ya thing

After jumping on each others tracks over the years, and a historically stellar "promo tour," Drake and 21 Savage's joint album, Her Loss, has arrived.

WireImage

Her Loss is the first collab album for the '6ix God' (What A Time To Be Alive was a mixtape!), and fourth for the London born rapper.

The collection of new music has taken over the world of pop culture by storm by inspiring 'Zesty Drake' TikToks, controversial lyrics, and even an *inevitable* lawsuit.

Headlines, speculation and Michael B. Jordan aside, an album is ALWAYS about the music. It goes without saying, this album could be contender for 'Collab of the Year', dare I say 'Album of the Year'.

After listening to this album everyday since its release and having the time to digest and take in the art, here's what I think about Her Loss.

Rich Flex

Drake / Via YouTube / youtube.com

Producers: Tay Keith, Vinylz, FNZ, BoogzDaBest

Favourite Bar: We revvin' up and going for a run like we DMC

Undisputedly the most viral track on this album. Drake's opening lyrics hyping up 21 Savage comes across as a bit (A LOT) flirtatious and sparked inspiration for what TikTokers are calling "Zesty Drake." The melody drop at 1:46 leads to a beat switch at 2:12, which in turn switches the mood Drake gives on the song. But if even if you made it that far, it's too late.

Major Distribution

Complex / Via Instagram

Producer: SkipOnDaBeat

Favourite Bar: Major distribution, labels callin', Harry Styles numbers, it's a robbery/My ****** go in-Zayn to catch a body

Although this track doesn't come up often when discussing favourites off the album, this was straight heat. 21 did especially well with his lyricism (as noted above) playing off of Drakes 'Bad Bunny' bar, and delivering the "in-Zayn" to sound like "insane" (we love a UK shoutout!) is just a testament to his natural flow. Also, WHERE DID LIL YACHTY COME FROM???

On BS

Drake / Via YouTube / youtube.com

Producers: OZ, Elyas

Favourite Bar: Savage said you a ***** and he hit it on the nose/But the board is open, why you acting' like it's closed?

"21 and The Boy" (as referred to in the outro by Arthur Kar) are rapping about their expensive lifestyles, high-class ladies, and how great they are at music - but somehow this track seems relatable? So far on the album, this has been the most consistent beat as it doesn't switch up at all, and the upbeat snare and "sci-fi-esque" effect reminds me of the second part "Sicko Mode" - another song where Drake fired shots at the late XXXTENTACION both via lyrics and the music video.

BackOutsideBoyz

Complex / Via @complexmusic

Producers: Rio Levya, Dez Wright, Taz Taylor

Favourite Bar: Tropicana, that shit there the juice, yeah (juice)

21 Savage definitely sounds a lot like Lil Yachty in this one (seriously, where tf he come from?! XD). According to Rio Levya, the beat only took four minutes to make! To me that's impressive because I have never made a beat in my life, and this proves that there is always effectiveness in simplicity. Upon the first listen, I would've assumed this would've been a viral song due to its "TikTok dance-able" lyrics in the chorus and beat, as well as its ability to be cleaned easily for radio play.

Privileged Rappers

Drake / Via YouTube / youtube.com

Producers: Earl on the Beat, Gentuar Memishi, 40

Favourite Bar: The diamonds, they hit like a rainbow, that's 'cause the necklace a frank (purr)

Yall seen and heard that, right? Drake adlibbed purr!!! LFG ZESTY 6IXGOD!!!

Spin Bout U

@drakerelated / Via Instagram

Producers: BanBwoi, 40, FortyOneSix

Favourite Bar: Damn, just turned on the news and seen that men who never got ***** in school/Are makin' laws about what women can do

Ain't nothing wrong with a good ol' R&B sample (in this case it was B.G.O.T.I.'s "Give Me Your Love-N") under some mellow lyrics. It did feel a bit weird given the nature of the preceding tracks; I would've expected a song like this to be on 2021's Certified Lover Boy, and in turn "Knife Talk" would be more fitting for this album. I guess Drake and 21 Savage needs to show their tender, loving, caring side one time to let them know why it's, "her loss."

Hours In Silence

Complex / Via @complexmusic / Instagram

Producers: Nyan, Mcevoy, 40, Noel Cadastre, Daniel East

Favourite Bar: There's three sides to this story, girl/The one you subtweet/The one your group chat gets to read/The one you come and tell to me

He's here! The old Drizzy is HERE! As if he never left. This one was for the fans that just can't embrace change. Everything about this track screams the So Far Gone era of Drake; the production (40 and Noel), the filter on 21 Savage's chorus (reminiscent of the adlibs from "Find Your Love"), the sample off of "Come Thru" from Nothing Was The Same and Drake rapping as if he's heartbroken.

Treacherous Twins

Complex / Via Instagram / @complexmusic

Producers: OZ, Noel Cadastre, Boi-1da

Favourite Bar: I don't show ID at clubs, 'cause they know I'm 21

It's the tracks like these that has me thinking what if Drake and Rihanna did a collab album back in 2016, or Nicki and Drake back in the heyday of YMCMB. For a man that has dedicated his life to a bachelor lifestyle and hasn't been one to hold back from a lyrical exchange (which there are plenty of on this album), he has kind words to his true and loyal friends! I can't explain why, but I feel like if there was a Golden Girls reboot in 50-60 years where Gen Z are the old gals, this would be the theme song!

Circo Loco

Instagram / Via Instagram

Producers: Boi-1da, Tay Keith, 40

Favourite Bar: Every night late night like I'm Jimmy Fallon

Although TikTok is raving about "Rich Flex," this is probably the most talked about track due mainly to the apparent shots fired (pun intended) at Megan Thee Stallion, and a little lick at Ye, to which the latter feels no ways. It is unfortunate, because this is definitely one of the most hottest flows off of the entire album, over Daft Punk's "One More Time" (s/o the 1:10 outro) and the attention it deserves is totally overshadowed. But hey, bad publicity is good publicity!

***** & Millions

NR.Music / Via vk.com

Producers: Cheeze Beatz, Go Grizzly, Squat Beats, B100

Favourite Bar: The say more, money problems (Will)/Bring on the problems (Will)

Going through the track list I just realized this is the only song with a feature (#JusticeForYachty). I really like the chorus of this song, it's reminiscent of, "Money over everything, money on my mind," from "Headlines." Travis Scott killed it, he came in and did his thing with trumpets. I loved his spin on Drake's initial sentiments by saying, "You know I got a sex symbol, that eat my kids, uh."

Broke Boys

Jag Gundu / Via Getty Images

Producers: Wheezy, Tay Keith, Jack Uriah, Audio Anthem, KrishnaMusic

Favourite Bar: I'm on a Jet like my last name Li/Two sticks in my hind like I'm playin' the Wii

First off, one of the producers on this album is Krishna Bissessar aka KrishnaMusic, check him and support him on socials @KrishnaMusicc, he is doing AMAZING music and is my West Indian brother.

In regards to the track, I liked the lyricism on Part I better than Part II, but the beat made up for it!

Middle Of The Ocean

Tobey Maguire / Via Instagram / @champagnepapi

Producers: OZ, Nik D, Noel Cadastre, Sucuki, LOOF

Favourite Bar(s):

Feel like an AMBER alert the way I take her to the mall and she find Tiffany
Eight karats like vegetarian, *****, the earrings are droopy
No chance the kid'll make it here like vasectomy/They underestimated my trajectory

Wow. Listening to this is like being in the middle of the ocean because the bars, remarks, and one-liners just come at you nonstop like vigorous waves. This is definitely a Views-styled track with a 2016 Drake type flow, and I am here for it! What took me by surprise was the diss towards Serena's husband because I thought Drake would've moved on completely after being with Rihanna (again), JLO, and having a son. But s/o to 21 for stirring the waves and making Drake release what he has pent up.

Jumbotron Shit Poppin

Instagram / Via Instagram

Producers: F1LTHY, CuBeatz, Oogie Mane, Sad Pony, 40, Klimperboy, DannoProductionz, Dilara

Favourite Bar: Up, 8AM, geekin' hard, I'm a real vamp

That's it? After a song that was nearly six minutes, this definitely felt like a tease! And there's eight producers on this joint 😂 Did they each get 15 seconds? Honestly though, I vibed with the beat. I felt like I could be up at 8AM geekin' hard to the instrumental because it felt like a low-fi hip-hop beat to study to.

More M's

Jeff Vinnick / Via Getty

Producers: Metro Boomin, DAVID x ELI, Kyson

Favourite Bar: Used to be in 'Sauga out in Sega City Playdium/Skatin' through this album like a Montreal Canadien/Way I ran shit, you'd think I was Iranian

To reiterate aforementioned sentiments, 21 GOT DRAKE OUT HERE RAPPING LIKE RENT IS DUE! This is a track I wish had more radio plays and was appreciated by a larger audience. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if people's social media posts for the New Year or even their birthdays are captioned, "Taking less Ls, making more Ms."

3AM on Glenwood

Grammys

Producers: OZ, Peter Iskander, 40

Favourite Bar: Shorty got the real jelly, yeah, petroleum

One day I'm going to listen to Drake's "Time and Place" song series and try to piece together a story. Though the album is called Her Loss, this track isn't a "boasty" as it preceding tracks, in fact is more like a promise and threat to 21 Savage's ops. But the beat was immaculate and 21's lyricism and flow is icing on the cake.

I Guess It's **** Me

Marie Claire / Via Giphy / media.giphy.com

Producers: TheLoudPack

Favourite Bar: The pain that I seen in my mother's eyes in 2009/Have me workin' 'til it's 2049

If "Hours In Silence" didn't convince you, then this one did! CRYIN' ON EVERY SONG DRIZZY IS BACK!! Although the vibes and nostalgia of pre-If You're Reading This It's Too Late Drake is welcoming and a longed for sound, I can't help but always feel like this is a curveball way to end the album. First we had 21 speaking on his personal demons, then Drake going back to his niche. It definitely felt like Dom and Brian at the end of Furious 7, the artists just parting ways and going back to their respective creative endeavours. Was it really even her loss, after all?