In a 2015 interview with The FADER, Drake described how his relationship with longtime producer and OVO Sound co-founder Noah "40" Shebib has evolved over the years, saying, "He used to be the guy that would track me in hotel rooms at 4 AM. And now he is not that guy—I have another guy that does that. If I want to make the album I want to make, I have to go find him. I have to go sit with him, and we have to really put in effort."
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The terms of their partnership may have changed since the hitmaker began working with Aubrey Graham in 2005, but there's nobody who understands the Toronto rapper's needs better. For his highly anticipated fourth album, Views—released last week following an extensive Zane Lowe interview on Beats 1—Drake kept the production largely in-house, with contributions from PartyNextDoor, Majid Jordan, Nineteen85 (of R&B duo dvsn), and more.Still, 40's presence looms the largest, with credits on the majority of the record's 19 songs. While the album feels emotionally and musically cold and sparse in places, there's also moments of real warmth, especially on tracks like "Controlla" and "One Dance," which draw on an array of international influences, including reggae dancehall and UK funky. From Beenie Man to The Winans, here's our guide to all the songs sampled on Views.Sampled On: "Controlla"Following Rihanna's "Work" music video, which was shot at Toronto restaurant The Real Jerk, the album's catchiest tune—and Caribana anthem-in-the-making—emphasizes the city's rich Jamaican heritage with words from the dancehall veteran.Sampled On: "Fire & Desire"Sampled On: "One Dance"
Beenie Man, "Tear Off Mi Garment"
Brandy, "I Dedicate, Pt. 2"
Remember when Drake put out that half-baked posthumous Aaliyah song? This is a much better homage to the 90s.
DJ Paleface feat. Kyla, "Do You Mind (Crazy Cousinz Remix)"
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Drake's Anglophilia is well-documented, from his Jamie xx collaboration to his friendship with Skepta and allegiance to grime crew BBK. The best British influence, however, is Crazy Cousinz's UK funky remix of Kyla's 2008 piano house hit "Do You Mind," which provides the foundation for Views highlight "One Dance." As for the singer's reaction? "I thought it was an April Fools [joke]. It's not every day Drake calls," she told Noisey in a recent interview.Sampled On: "U With Me?"Despite their past differences—including a 2012 Breakfast Club interview where DMX declared, "I don't like anything about Drake"—things seemed to be a bit more copacetic between X and the Toronto rapper of late. Interpolating a pair of classics by the Ruff Ryders star might seem like an odd call for an artist not typically regarded for his, err, toughness, it fits the track's braggadocio rhymes.Sampled On: "U With Me?"Incidentally, DMX is allegedly releasing a new album this year, his first since 2012's Disputed.Sampled On: "Child's Play"Like Beyonce's "Formation," "Child's Play" draws on New Orleans bounce culture, this time sampling one of Ha-Sizzle's best-known tunes. Unlike the Lemonade highlight, which was politically charged and urgent, it's used as a springboard for Drake to air out his dirty laundry.
DMX feat. Faith Evans, "How's It Goin' Down"
DMX feat. Sisqo, "What They Really Want"
Ha-Sizzle, "She Rode That Dick Like A Soulja"
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Ideal, "Get Gone"
Malcolm McLaren, "World's Famous"
Mary J. Blige, "Mary's Joint"
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Mavado feat. Serani, "Dying"
Popcaan, "Love Yuh Bad"
Ray J, "One Wish"
Timmy Thomas, "Why Can't We Live Together"
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