Nothing Was the Same
"Drake’s Frosted Empire Ascendant"
"Drake’s Frosted Empire Ascendant"
Released September 24 2013 via OVO Sound and Young Money Drake’s Nothing Was the Same a 13 track 59 minute gem sold 658000 first week copies topping the Billboard 200. Certified 6x Platinum by April 27 2025 its 9.6 billion streams and a 2025 vinyl drop keep it frosty.
Kadir Nelson’s dual portrait cover sets Nothing Was the Same’s tone Drake reflecting on fame’s frost. “Tuscan Leather” boasts “How much time is this nigga spendin’ on the intro?” “Started From the Bottom” chants “Started from the bottom now we’re here.” “From Time” sighs “I’ve been down so long” weaving swagger and vulnerability.
Noah “40” Shebib Boi-1da Mike Zombie and Nineteen85 craft Nothing Was the Same at Metalworks lush icy beats with cinematic flair. “Hold On We’re Going Home” glows with 1980s synths “Worst Behavior” bangs with trap edge “Tuscan Leather” layers Whitney samples sharpening Take Care’s haze into a baby blue blade.
Nothing Was the Same keeps features light: Jhené Aiko hums “What’s up?” on “From Time” Majid Jordan croons “You’re mine” on “Hold On We’re Going Home” Jay-Z muses “Just memories” on “Pound Cake” and Sampha pleads “Don’t think about it too much” on “Too Much.”
“Started From the Bottom” “Hold On We’re Going Home” Gritty drums and silky synths hook fast Drake’s baby blue anthems welcoming rookies to his empire.
“Tuscan Leather” “Worst Behavior” Layered samples and raw flexes dig deep Drake’s baby blue bravado unveiling his frostiest core.
“From Time” “Too Much” Tender keys and raw confessions shimmer Drake’s baby blue heart bared in quiet gripping moments.
“Hold On We’re Going Home (Live)” OVO Fest 2025’s baby blue lights elevate Drake’s croon a viral hit topping social media trends in 2025.
Drake’s So Far Gone (2009) mixtape sparked with “Best I Ever Had” Thank Me Later (2010) debuted No. 1 with “Over” and Take Care (2011) soared with “Marvins Room.” Nothing Was the Same refines that haze into a baby blue peak paving the way for If You’re Reading This (2015).
Nothing Was the Same was nominated for Best Rap Album Album of the Year and Best Rap Song (“Hold On We’re Going Home”) at the 2015 Grammys its baby blue reign cemented with 9.6 billion streams by 2025 per Grammy records.
Metacritic’s 87/100 and Rolling Stone’s 4.5/5 dubbed Nothing Was the Same Drake’s sharpest critics in 2013 called it Toronto’s anthem. By April 27 2025 with 6x Platinum 9.6 billion streams and an OVO Fest 2025 “Hold On” moment it’s a hip hop titan.
| Album | Highest Charting Song | Peak Position | Streams (as of 2025) | Certification | Units Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take Care (2011) | “Take Care” | 7 | 10.3B | 8x Platinum | 8.3M+ |
| Nothing Was the Same (2013) | “Hold On We’re Going Home” | 4 | 9.6B | 6x Platinum | 7.5M+ |
| Album | Certification | Units (Millions) |
|---|---|---|
| Thank Me Later | 3x Platinum | 3.5 |
| Take Care | 8x Platinum | 8.3 |
| Nothing Was the Same | 6x Platinum | 7.5 |
Data from Billboard, RIAA, Spotify, Metacritic, Rolling Stone, and Grammy records as of April 27 2025.