Views (album)

Views
Studio album by Drake
Recorded	2014–16[1]
Genre	Hip hop dancehall R&B[2][3]
Length	81:05
Label	OVO Sound Young Money Cash Money BBK Republic
Producer	Aubrey "Drake" Graham (exec.) 40 (also exec.) AxlFolie Boi-1da Brian Alexander Morgan Cardiak Cardo Nicholas Cobey Daxz Di Genius Stwo Frank Dukes Hagler Jordan Ullman Kanye West Sherwani Logan Sama Maneesh Murda Beatz Nineteen85 OZ Ricci Riera Sevn Thomas Southside Supa Dups The Beat Bully Vinylz Wizkid Yung Exclusive Metro Boomin
Drake chronology
What a Time to Be Alive (2015) Views (2016)
Singles from Views
"Hotline Bling" Released: July 31, 2015 "One Dance" Released: April 5, 2016 "Pop Style" Released: April 5, 2016

Views is the fourth studio album by Canadian rapper Drake. It was released on April 29, 2016,^[4][5][6][7] by OVO Sound, Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, Boy Better Know and Republic Records.

Background

The album's title was first announced as Views from the 6, as it first appeared from a report in a July 2014 article from Billboard.^[8] According to Drake on Twitter, "the 6" is a reference to his hometown of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. On April 28, 2016, it was revealed that the title has been shortened to Views.^[9] The cover artwork for Views was released via Drake's Twitter account on April 24, 2016, which features Drake sitting atop the CN Tower in Toronto. The CN Tower's Twitter account later confirmed it to be photoshopped.^[10]

Release and promotion

Drake released the promotional single, "Summer Sixteen" (with production handled by 40, Boi-1da and Cubeatz) on January 30, 2016. On April 4, 2016, Drake released the official trailer for Views on his Twitter.^[11] Drake promoted the album by opening "pop-up" stores around the United States; in places such as New York, Miami, L.A. and Palm Springs. The stores also gave away free black and white T-shirts to fans with "Views" written on the front. On April 21, OVO's record producer 40 posted on his Instagram, stating that the mixes for the clean versions were finished, as well as having all sample clearances and credits.^[12] On April 26, Drake stated that Views would feature over 20 songs.^[13] Following his last pop-up store stop in Toronto, where he made an appearance, Drake released his album cover on social media. On April 28, the album premiered on Apple Music's OVO Sound Radio show, after his interview with Beats 1 radio host Zane Lowe, and also it was officially released on the same night on Apple Music and iTunes exclusively.^[14]

Singles

On July 31, 2015, Drake released the track, "Hotline Bling" as a standalone single. However, it was later included as a bonus track on Views (despite being present on all editions of the album). The song was produced by Nineteen85 and Frank Dukes.

On April 5, 2016, Drake released two tracks, "One Dance" and "Pop Style", consecutively as the album's official singles.^[15] "One Dance" features guest vocals from Nigerian musician Wizkid and recording artist Kyla, with production handled by Nineteen85. "Pop Style" features guest vocals from American hip hop duo The Throne (composed of two rappers Kanye West and Jay Z), with production handled by Sevn Thomas and Frank Dukes. Prior to the album's release, West and Jay Z's verse were removed, in which Drake replaced it with an additional verse of his own on "Pop Style".

Other songs

Prior to the album's release, these two tracks were leaked online; with one track, called "Faithful" featuring Pimp C, and the second track, called "Controlla" featuring Popcaan. Both of these tracks were included on the album with additional changes being made to both songs: an additional verse by dvsn was added to "Faithful" and Popcaan's verse was removed on "Controlla".

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	69/100[16]
Review scores
Source	Rating
The 405	[17]
The A.V. Club	B–[18]
Chicago Tribune	[19]
Consequence of Sound	B[20]
The Guardian	[21]
The Independent	[22]
Pitchfork	6.8/10[23]
PopMatters	[24]
Rolling Stone	[25]
Tiny Mix Tapes	[26]

Views received generally positive reviews from critics, receiving a normalized metascore of 69 out of 100 on the review aggregate website Metacritic based on 28 critics.^[16] Alex Petridis of The Guardian gave the album 4 out of 5 stars saying, "The rapper’s latest album offers a lengthy inventory of miseries, cleverly offset by a sly sense of humour and eclectic sound. It is compelling evidence that this is the defining pop artist of the moment". He concludes with, "Views isn’t a perfect album – some judicious pruning of the less impactful tracks would make it more easily digestible, and there are certainly moments when you start to wish Drake would cast his gaze a little further afield than his own navel."^[21] Kitty Empire from the same gave the album a 4/5, saying, "As ever, though, the detail – both lyrical and producerly – is pin-sharp" ^[27] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times said the album "finds Drake a conqueror between territories: fending off attacks from below, maintaining his grip on turf he controls and wondering what might be next," thought noting that "his emotional excavations aren’t as striking as they were a few years ago, when they had the sting of the new to them."^[28]

In a mixed review, The A.V. Club wrote that "Views can't escape the sense that Drake's done this before and done it better," describing the album as "too long and stubbornly low energy, nowhere near the knockout Drake's been building it up to be since practically before he began recording it."^[18] In another mixed review of the album, Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph said, "Views genuinely makes for mesmerising listening, even if much of the album seems to consists of lazy meanders through Drake's psyche. Is it futile to wish someone so smart and talented would take his nose out of his own navel for long enough to say something about the exterior world?"^[29] Tiny Mix Tapes wrote that "for an artist so eager to entertain, so set on proving his superstar status in a fickle industry, he surprisingly doesn’t take any risks in order to do something truly different," characterizing the album as featuring a "glaring lack of consistency in lyrics, song ideas, and good humor."^[26] In a negative review for The Independent, Andy Gill wrote described the album as "utterly wearying, and unpersuasive," adding that "rarely has one man moaned quite so much about so little."^[22]

Commercial performance

In the United States, Views debuted with 851,000 copies sold in its first week of release.^[30]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Keep the Family Close"	Aubrey Graham Nicholas Cobey Maneesh Bidaye	Maneesh	5:29
2.	"9"	Graham Noah "40" Shebib Matthew Samuels Brian Alexander Morgan David Brooks Craig Marsh Josh "Black Kenny" Ramey Craig Harrisingh David Harrisingh	40 Boi-1da^[a] Morgan^[a]	4:16
3.	"U with Me?"	Graham Shebib Kanye West Dacoury Natche Ricci Riera Axel Morgan Jahron Brathwaite Anderson Hernandez Ozan "OZ" Yildirim Dave Goode Mark Andrews Earl Simmons Phillip Weatherspoon Anthony Fields	40 West DJ Dahi^[a] Riera^[a] AxlFolie^[a] Vinylz^[b] OZ^[b]	4:57
4.	"Feel No Ways"	Graham Shebib West Jordan Ullman Anne Dudley Malcolm McLaren	Ullman 40^[b] West^[b]	4:01
5.	"Hype"	Graham Samuels Shebib Paul Jefferies Cobey Anthony Tucker Kevin "Cubeatz" Gomringer Tim "Cubeatz" Gomringer	Boi-1da Nineteen85 The Beat Bully^[a] Cubeatz^[b]	3:29
6.	"Weston Road Flows"	Graham Shebib Steven Vidal Mary Jane Blige Sean Combs Chucky Thompson Jon Levine	40 Stwo^[b]	4:14
7.	"Redemption"	Graham Shebib William Norwood Cobey Michael Peter Olsen LaShawn Daniels Fred Jerkins III Rodney Jerkins	40	5:34
8.	"With You" (featuring PartyNextDoor)	Graham Jefferies Brathwaite Shane "Murda Beatz" Lindstrom Carl "Cardiak" McCormick	Murda Beatz Nineteen85^[b]	3:15
9.	"Faithful" (featuring Pimp C and dvsn)	Graham Shebib Samuels Jefferies Daniel Daley Chad Butler Bryan-Michael Cox Johnta Austin	40 Boi-1da^[a] Nineteen85^[a]	4:50
10.	"Still Here"	Graham Jahmar "Daxz" Carter Shebib Bidaye	Daxz 40^[a] Maneesh^[b]	3:10
11.	"Controlla"	Graham Samuels Allen Ritter Dwayne Chin-Quee Stephen McGregor Moses Davis Donald Dennis Gary Jackson Patrick Roberts Andrew Thomas	Boi-1da Supa Dups^[a] Ritter^[a] Di Genius^[b]	4:05
12.	"One Dance" (featuring Wizkid and Kyla)	Graham Jefferies Aman Tekleab Shebib Logan Sama Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun Kyla Reid Errol "Paleface" Reid	Nineteen85 40^[a] Wizkid^[a]	2:54
13.	"Grammys" (featuring Future)	Graham Shebib Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn Joshua Howard Luellen Ronald LaTour Daveon "Yung Exclusive" Jackson	40 Southside Cardo^[a] Yung Exclusive^[a]	3:40
14.	"Childs Play"	Graham Shebib Leland Tyler Wayne Mark Morales Darren Robinson Malcolm Nichols Damon Wimbley	40 Metro Boomin^[b] Ullman^[b] Nineteen85^[b]	4:01
15.	"Pop Style"	Graham Rupert "Sevn" Thomas Adam Feeney Samuels Shebib	Sevn Thomas Frank Dukes Boi-1da^[b] 40^[b]	3:33
16.	"Too Good" (featuring Rihanna)	Graham Robyn Fenty Jefferies Bidaye Chin-Quee A. Hershey Andre Sutherland A. Martin	Nineteen85 Supa Dups^[b]	4:23
17.	"Summers Over Interlude"	Bidaye Majid Al Maskati	Maneesh	1:46
18.	"Fire & Desire"	Graham Shebib Marvin "Hagler" Thomas Brandy Norwood Rochad Holiday Curtis "Sauce" Wilson Jeffrey Young	40 Hagler^[b] Jordan Lewis^[b]	3:58
19.	"Views"	Graham Bidaye Shebib Samuels Aion "Voyce" Clarke	Maneesh 40^[b] Boi-1da^[b]	5:12
20.	"Hotline Bling"	Graham Jefferies Timmy Thomas	Nineteen85	4:27
Total length:				81:05

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies a co-producer.
• ^{^[b]} signifies an additional producer.
• "Keep the Family Close" features uncredited vocals by Sabrina Galmo and Aion "Voyce" Clarke.
• "U with Me?" features background vocals by Divine Brown.
• "With You" features uncredited vocals by Jeremih.
• "Summers Over Interlude" features uncredited vocals by Majid Al Maskati.

Sample credits

• "9" contains samples of "Dying" performed by Mavado with vocals by Serani.
• "U with Me" contains samples of "What These Bitches Want", and contains a interpolations of "How's It Goin' Down" performed by DMX.
• "Weston Road Flows" contains samples of "Mary's Joint" performed by Mary J. Blige.
• "One Dance" contains samples of "Do You Mind (Crazy Cousins Remix)" performed by Paleface with vocals by Kyla.
• "Feel No Ways" contains samples of "World’s Famous" performed by Malcom McLaren.
• "Redemption" contains samples of "One Wish" performed by Ray J.
• "Faithful" contains samples of "Get Gone" performed by Ideal.
• "Controlla" contains samples of "Tear Off Mi Garment" performed by Beenie Man.
• "Childs Play" contains samples of "Rode That Dick Like a Soldier" performed by Ha-Sizzle.
• "Too Good" contains samples of "Love Yuh Bad" performed by Popcaan.
• "Fire & Desire" contains samples of "I Dedicate (Part III)" performed by Brandy.
• "Views" contains samples of "The Question Is" by The Winans.
• "Hotline Bling" contains samples of "Why Can't We Live Together" performed by Timmy Thomas.

Personnel

Musicians PartyNextDoor — featured artist (track 8) Pimp C — featured artist (track 9) dvsn — featured artist (track 9) Wizkid — featured artist (track 12) Kyla — featured artist (track 12) Future — featured artist (track 13) Rihanna — featured artist (track 16) Personnel Greg Moffett — recording engineer Noel Cadastre — recording engineer Noah Shebib — recording engineer Harley Arsenault — assistant recording engineer Michael Brooks — assistant mixer Dalton Tennant — additional keyboards (track 3) Greg Moffett — additional bass (track 3) Chantelle Dube — harp (track 1) Sabrina Galmo — intro vocals (track 1) Aion "Voyce" Clarke — background vocals (track 1) Brian Alexander Morgan — drum programmer (track 2) Matthew Samuels — drum programmer (tracks 2, 5, 9 & 15) Maneesh Bidaye — instruments (track 1, 17, 19) Michael Peter Olsen - Cello (track 3,4,5,6,7,9,11 &14)

Producers 40 — production (track 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19) Nineteen85 — production (track 5, 9, 12, 16, 20) Boi-1da — production (track 2, 5, 9, 11, 19) Maneesh — production (track 1, 10, 17, 19) Supa Dups — production (track 11, 16) Kanye West — production (track 3, 4) Southside — production (track 13) Vinylz — production (track 3) Stwo - production (track 6) Frank Dukes — production (track 15) DJ Dahi — production (track 3) Cardo — production (track 13) The Beat Bully — production (track 5) Jordan Ullman — production (track 4, 14) Cubeatz — production (track 5) Brian Alexander Morgan — production (track 2) Wizkid — production (track 12) AxlFolie — production (track 3) Di Genius — production (track 11) Hagler — production (track 18) Ricci Riera — production (track 3) Yung Exclusive — production (track 13) Murda Beatz — production (track 8) OZ — production (track 3) Metro Boomin - production (track 14)

Charts

Chart (2016)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[31]	1
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[32]	3
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[33]	13
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[34]	3
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[35]	31
Irish Albums (IRMA)[36]	2
Italian Albums (FIMI)[37]	10
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[38]	1
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[39]	6
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[40]	2
UK Albums (OCC)[41]	1

References

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2. Walker, Angus (April 29, 2016). "Here Are The Samples Drake Used On "VIEWS"". Hot New Hip Hop. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
3. Benjamin, Jeff (April 28, 2016). "11 Songs Drake Sampled on 'Views': Listen Here". Fuse. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
4. Singleton, Micah. "Drake's next album Views From The 6 will be released on April 29th". The Verge. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
5. Walker, Angus (2016-01-30). "Drake's "Views From The 6" Is Dropping In April". Hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
6. Singleton, Micah (2016-04-09). "Drake will release his next album, Views From The 6, on April 29th". theverge.com. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
7. "Views". iTunes.
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10. "CN Tower/La Tour CN on Twitter". Twitter.
11. "Drizzy on Twitter: "4/29/16 #VIEWS Also VFT6 Will Be An Apple Music Exclusive & Physical Copy Will Come Out 2 Weeks After". Twitter. 2016-04-09. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
12. "Instagram". Instagram.
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37. "FIMI - Classifiche - Classifica settimanale WK 18 (dal 2016-04-29 al 2016-05-05)". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
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