The Subjectivity of Music: The Drake Cycle

The idea of what constitutes “good” music will always be a point of contention within my circle of friends. Sometimes we all agree and sometimes we scream “SHIT SUUUCKS” in the back of Jordan’s car. All forms of art are subjective and music is far from an exception. However, taste in music goes beyond differences in personal preference. How I react to music can be completely dependent on factors ranging from how my job is going to worrying about why a friend is mad at me. Author Mark Doty wrote about how these outside factors influence the way people interact with and appreciate visual art in his book Still Life with Oysters and Lemons. Doty writes, "The I suffuses with what it sees with the eye. Not I in the sense of my personal story...But I as the quickest subtlest thing we are: a moment of attention, an intimate engagement." This “I” is a complete picture of who a person is in a given moment. All of your current fears, joys, anxieties along with anything else that influences who you are at that instant. Although Doty discussed how important the “I” is when interacting with visual art, I would argue it applies even more to music.

I can count several occasions where a friend criticized a particular song that I played, only to have the same friend replay the exact song months or years later and talk about how great it is. Music makes us all hypocrites. What doesn’t suit our ear at one time may sound much better at a different point in our lives. I’m as guilty as anyone and the best way I can illustrate this is though the progression of my Drake fanhood, or “The Drake Cycle.” The cycle has four stages.

Stage 1: Drake is Fucking Awesome

At first listen, Drake’s So Far Gone mixtape is incredible. There is no denying his smooth sound and the lyrics are clever and genuine. The song “Fear” even displays emotion and vulnerability that is hard to find in today’s hip hop. (“And people seem to notice every time I do smile/ I guess that mean they come few and far between even though I’m living out what you would call a dream” = GOLD). What’s not to like? Great beats, a smooth sound, and even a sensitive side. Drake has it all. Fans in this stage drink up every song and Young Money hook they can find. These fans in may also find themselves preaching to friends how unique Drake is. You may even have a rotation of Drake lyric Facebook statuses that can be cycled through on a weekly basis. Stage 1 is a great place to be, and you may never leave.

Stage 2: Early-Onset Drake Over-saturation

The writing is on the wall in this stage. You don’t dislike Drake’s music, but hearing him on the radio every three songs starts to get a little old. You start listening to lyrics with more care and the Facebook statuses start to tail off. This stage is short as it easily transitions into..

Stage 3: Complete Drake Rejection and Slander

It may not be a specific moment when the switch flips and you start hating on Drake. It may just be the result of months of over played songs and lyrics that don’t seem as clever as you initially thought. My breaking point, however, was when I heard Drake’s verse on J. Cole’s song “In the Morning.”(1:47-2:38) This verse is a microcosm of most every Drake song I have heard. It’s smooth and has clever lines like, “I’m tryin to make the goose bumps on your inner thighs show/I’ll let you beat me there as far as finish lines go.” Like most Drake songs though, it doesn’t take long to fall apart. The verse quickly spirals into disjointed lines and bizarre equestrian sexual innuendo. Once you personally begin rejecting Drake you may start being a snob people who outwardly appreciate his music. You start complaining about how every song sounds the same, but not necessarily in front of the same friends you sang his praises to a few months earlier. Stage 3 can turn very spiteful and come back to haunt you.

Stage 4: Drake Relapse and Moment of Clarity

It can happen anywhere. I would wager it happens in a social scenario involving massive speakers, alcohol, and a dance floor. My relapse, however, was much more subtle. I was simply driving to campus on a sunny Florida day with the windows down and I caught myself unconsciously singing “I’m on One” as it played on the radio. After being a snob and publicly dismissing his music, maybe I wasn’t any less of a fan than when I first listened to So Far Gone. Realizing what a sham my criticism of Drake was hurt at first, but it made me understand that all music has its place.

Arguing over good and bad music will continue forever, but in the future I’ll be hesitate to disparage an artist because someday I could be singing their songs to the steering wheel of my car. A few months ago I was stuck driving to work in Florida on the day of grandfather’s funeral in Ohio.I was in sad and confused state of mind as I tried to put in perspective my grandpa’s passing. I played a Kid Cudi song off my iPod and it immediately made me think about what an incredible and supportive family I have. My grandfather was the strong patriarch who was the rock of the family. A Kid Cudi song. The fact that I’m associating Kid Cudi with my hard ass, conservative grandfather is crazy, but that’s the great thing about music. Music is whatever you need it to be. It all depends on what makes up your “I” in a particular moment. Maybe it’s dealing with the loss of a loved one. Maybe if I’m drinking in a car with my friends on the way to Uptown Larry’s I need to hear some “No Hands” by Waka Flocka. Or if I’m in a crowded bar trying to drink enough courage to talk to a pretty girl, some Drake in background might be all right.