Inspiration is key. If you're not feeling unflinchingly compelled to create, then the work undoubtedly suffers. Thankfully, 2018 has provided no shortage of remarkable music from remarkable artists both old and new, many of whom inadvertently kept Drake in the art zone during sessions for his just-dropped double album Scorpion.
In a series of Instagram Story updates early Friday, the 6 god named off an assortment of artists he says "inspired me on the studio drives."
Among the artists Drake shouts out are 2Pac, Biggie, Sheck Wes, Booggz, 03 Greedo, Gunna, Lil Baby, City Girls, Flipp Dinero, Nai Palm, Ama Lou, and more. Not that anyone does or should care what I think about anything ever, but my personal favorite here among Drake's inspiration shout-outs is Gunna's Drip Season 3. Over production from Metro Boomin, Richie Souf, and more, the YSL Records signee links with fellow should-be-inspiring-you-at-all-times artists like Lil Uzi Vert and Young Thug across 17 tracks of fire.
Despite its 25-track length, Scorpion keeps it lean with the features. In addition to appearances by Static Major, Ty Dolla Sign, and the late Michael Jackson, the album also reunites Drake and JAY-Z on the DJ Paul-produced "Talk Up." Chatting with Vibe ahead of the album's drop, Paul revealed that the song was actually meant to be his new single. "Everybody's been waiting on me to bring out my new single, but I was like 'Shit, he can have this motherfucker. Fuck that,'" he said. "Because I've got tons of beats, I can do that with my eyes closed. I sent it to him, and he loved it."
