Take Care
"Drake’s Melancholic Rise to Emotional Supremacy"
"Drake’s Melancholic Rise to Emotional Supremacy"
Released November 15 2011 via Young Money Cash Money and Republic Drake’s Take Care an 80 minute 19 track odyssey moved 631000 units in its first week hitting No. 1 on the Billboard 200. By April 27 2025 it’s racked up 6.3 billion Spotify streams and 6x Platinum status. This red hued confession vaulted Drake from Toronto hopeful to emotional titan weaving hip hop and R&B into a melancholic masterpiece a timeless brooding epic still echoing loud.
Noah 40 Shebib helms Take Care at Metalworks Studios crafting a red hued blend of hip hop and R&B. “Crew Love” floats on The Weeknd’s ghostly synths “Take Care” pulses with Jamie xx’s glitchy sample of Gil Scott Heron and “Marvins Room” leans on muted drums Drake’s voice cutting through. Just Blaze and Rick Ross ignite “Lord Knows” with gospel heft while Boi 1da and T Minus fuel “Headlines”’s anthemic thump. It’s moodier than Thank Me Later’s polish a sprawling evolution still shaping artists like Bryson Tiller in 2025 though its length tests some.
Take Care’s gold drenched cover Drake alone at a table sets its tone: fame’s hollow thrill. “Marvins Room” drips regret “I’ve had sex four times this week I’ll explain” a raw plea beneath bravado. “Take Care” with Rihanna whispers “I’ll take care of you” fragile hope amid chaos. “Headlines” roars “They know they know” defiance against isolation while “Look What You’ve Done” honors family with tender keys. It’s a red stained diary of love loss and self reflection no clean resolution just real its messy truths still resonating with fans craving authenticity in 2025.
Take Care thrives on guests amplifying Drake’s red hued haze. The Weeknd haunts “Crew Love” “Take your nose off my keyboard” an XO cornerstone. Rihanna heals on “Take Care” “I’ve loved and I’ve lost” their chemistry electric. Lil Wayne purrs “Women love me like I’m Prince” on “The Real Her” paired with André 3000’s poetic flow. Rick Ross booms “Living the life” on “Lord Knows” and Nicki Minaj flexes “I’m so proud of you” on “Make Me Proud.” Drake weaves them into his introspective core a collective confessional.
“Take Care” “Headlines” Rihanna’s soothing hook and Drake’s bold anthems hit hard their red hot accessibility pulling newbies into his emotional world with instant appeal.
“Marvins Room” “Crew Love” Sparse beats and The Weeknd’s eerie glow plunge deep Drake’s red stained soul baring raw vulnerability for fans craving his darkest layers.
“Look What You’ve Done” “The Real Her” Family nods and Wayne’s charm simmer quietly their red undertones unveiling Drake’s roots in overlooked heartfelt cuts.
“Take Care (Live)” 2025 live performances with Rihanna breathe fresh fire into this timeless aching duet captivating audiences with its viral intensity per social media trends.
Drake’s journey began with So Far Gone (2009) a mixtape peaking at No. 6 with “Best I Ever Had” (No. 2 Hot 100) blending rap and R&B into a red hot breakout. Thank Me Later (2010) hit No. 1 selling 447000 units via “Find Your Love” (No. 5) a polished debut. Take Care (2011) soared to No. 1 with 631000 units deepening that sound into a brooding red stained epic. It paved the way for Nothing Was the Same (2013) another No. 1 with “Started From the Bottom.” In 2025 this arc defines Drake’s rise from mixtape dreamer to emotional titan influencing acts like Tory Lanez.
Pitchfork’s 8.6/10 hailed Take Care as a masterpiece of mood Rolling Stone gave it 4/5 praising its emotional sprawl. By April 27 2025 with 6x Platinum status 6.3 billion streams and 2025 live performances of “Take Care” with Rihanna under red lights it outpaces Thank Me Later’s gloss. Its length is both flaw and fuel birthing moody rap and R&B’s blueprint. In 2025 it’s Drake’s red cornerstone shaping acts like The Weeknd.
Take Care won Best Rap Album at the 2013 Grammys with nominations for Album of the Year Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (“Take Care”) and Best Rap Song (“HYFR”). Its 6x Platinum status and 6.3 billion streams by 2025 underscore its genre defining impact.
| Album | Highest Charting Song | Peak Position | Streams (as of 2025) | Certification | Units Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thank Me Later | “Find Your Love” | 5 | 4.0B | 2x Platinum | 3.5M+ |
| Take Care | “Headlines” | 13 | 6.3B | 6x Platinum | 5.8M+ |
| Album | Certification | Units (Millions) |
|---|---|---|
| Thank Me Later | 2x Platinum | 3.5 |
| Take Care | 6x Platinum | 5.8 |
Data from Billboard, RIAA, Spotify, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and Grammy records as of April 27 2025.