#367 of 500
· Rolling Stone
If You're Reading This It's Too Late
Drake
Year
2015
Genre
Hip-Hop/RapLabel
Format
Vinyl LP
“If You're Reading This It's Too Late by Drake (2015) sits at #367 and earns every bit of it. Past 300, every pick is an argument worth having. The original pressing is built for vinyl playback — the kind of album that sounds better on wax.”
Aubrey Drake Graham (born 1986) emerged from Toronto's hip-hop scene in the late 2000s, initially gaining recognition as an actor on Degrassi before pivoting to music. His 2009 debut mixtape So Far Gone introduced his signature blend of introspective rap and singing, establishing the Toronto sound that would influence mainstream hip-hop throughout the 2010s. Drake's major-label debut Thank Me Later (2010) and subsequent albums Take Care (2011), Nothing Was the Same (2013), Views (2016), and Scorpion (2018) consistently topped charts and dominated streaming platforms. His meticulous production choices and collaborations with producers like Noah "40" Shebib have defined his sonic evolution from moody, introspective rap to more pop-influenced trap and R&B hybrid sounds.
Style
Drake pioneered a melodic rap style blending introspective lyricism, sung hooks, and atmospheric production. His music incorporates elements of trap, R&B, and pop with an emphasis on emotional vulnerability and accessible hooks.
Significance
As one of the best-selling artists of the 2010s, Drake's cultural dominance shaped contemporary hip-hop and streaming-era record consumption. For vinyl collectors, his albums represent the modern era of hip-hop production, with Take Care and Views particularly valued for their cohesive sonic vision and cultural impact on the format's resurgence.
Released in February 2015, 'If You're Reading This It's Too Late' was a surprise mixtape/album that Drake dropped without prior announcement, building momentum during a creative period marked by his rivalry with Meek Mill. Recorded primarily in late 2014, the project featured Drake working with producers including Boi-1da, PartyNextDoor, and others to craft a collection of 13 tracks that blended introspective storytelling with trap-influenced production. The album showcased Drake's vulnerability alongside boastful moments, with notable collaborations including Future on 'Where U From' and West Indies on 'Madonna.' Despite its mixtape origins, the project was commercially released on all major platforms and marked a significant moment in Drake's career, demonstrating his ability to control his own narrative and release schedule outside traditional label constraints.
Historical Context
In early 2015, Drake was at a creative peak following the success of 'Nothing Was the Same' (2013) and amid growing tensions with Meek Mill over authenticity and ghostwriting credits. The surprise release strategy aligned with growing trends in hip-hop where artists bypassed traditional rollouts—similar to Kanye West and Tyler, the Creator's approaches. The album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200, moved over 500,000 copies in its first week, and became a streaming phenomenon, reinforcing Drake's dominance in the mid-2010s rap landscape. It arrived during trap's commercial ascendancy and demonstrated the format's flexibility for introspective, narrative-driven hip-hop.
Pressing Notes
While primarily a digital/streaming release, 'If You're Reading This It's Too Late' received limited vinyl pressings from OVO Sound and Republic Records. Most original pressings were issued on standard black vinyl in 2015, though some collectors report colored vinyl variants released in select markets. As with many Drake projects, original pressings have become collectible. The album's gatefold artwork and tracklist remained consistent across formats. Collectors should verify authenticity of any vinyl copies claiming to be original pressings, as bootleg versions circulated in the collecting community due to the project's initial mixtape status and high demand.
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