Article Response

"The Case Against Summer Vacation" offers some good information, but I do not agree with all of it. The three months of summer that our school system offers has its pros and cons. Many suffer from "summer learning loss" after not focusing on school for a quarter of the year. The academic slide varies between students but all fail to retain at least a month of what they learned. In my opinion however, these three months of summer is completely needed. Students need a break! The system is not as flawed as  the article is making it out to be. Students can seek extra academic help over the summer months if they feel it is needed. Waking up very early in  the morning and having five days in a row of school per week is not ideal for high school students, but it is working. Until a realistic alternative to our school system schedule is offered, I think nothing should change.

Album Review

Album title: Nothing Was the Same                                                                                                         

Artist: Drake

Release Date: 24 September 2013

Genre: Hip-Hop, Rap

                Nothing Was the Same was Drake’s third studio album. The album did more sales in the first week (658,179), than his previous and also extremely successful Take Care. Drake returns to his “old self” on this album and raps in almost every song unlike his unique choice to sing a majority of the time on his previous album. Fans were pleased to have his old sound back and so was I. Drake also blends in his R&B style on the album. The song order and flow of the album is well chosen and creative. In the opening six-minute “Tuscan Leather” intro, Drake is all verse and no hooks as his bragging lyrics start immediately ("This is nothing for the radio/ But they'll still play it though/ Cuz it's the new Drizzy Drake, that's just the way it go") but his rhymes have a lot more bite to them. Drake knows this is the best rap album of the year (and his career) and is not afraid to express it. NWTS is a perfect blend between the rap of his first album and the singing/R&B of his second album.

 “Hold On, We’re Going Home” featuring Majid Jordan, which serves as the second official single from NWTS, finds Drake doing his best to please is singing radio fans. “Started from the Bottom was also released several months before as a catchy radio rap song to create hype for the album. In “Worst Behavior” and “Wu-Tang Forever” Drake is in top solo form as his intense lyrics and tailored beat have Drake in his best form yet. Drakes has few features on the album and chooses wisely who goes on his tracks. Jay-Z is featured on “Pound Cake” as Drake matches one of the all-time greats of rap bar for bar while still throwing in his own style. He also provides another track with fan favorites 2 Chainz and Big Sean on the song “All Me” as all three toss in credible verses as Drake seals up the song with the hook.

Drake’s audience ranges anywhere from young teens to people in the mid 20’s, but many of his songs off of NWTS are timeless. As an unbiased opinion, anyone can appreciate the talent and passion Drake has for music, shown through his creative lyrics and storytelling.

Rating- 9/10

Overall balance- well balanced between singing and rapping

Criticism- Have some more featured artists