Posted by Emily Exton on 09/11/2011 at 2:32 PM News

The Popdust Files: drake, rick ross, take care, waka flocka flame

Despite Drake’s tendency to gift us with new material in the wee hours of the night—sort of like Santa Claus—he waited until the more appropriate hour on Saturday to drop three tracks, thus providing lingering partygoers with an incredibly new playlist to brag about to all their friends. Drizzy teased the release of new material on Twitter earlier in the day, earning an A in the class of Creating Anticipation For New Albums. While it’s still unclear what will make the cut on Take Care come October 24, when played in conjunction with what we’ve heard so far, the new songs—”Club Paradise,” “Free Spirit,” “Round Of Applause”—work to create some semblance of a narrative. But enough talk of what it all means. We know you’re really wondering which track is yet another installment of Sad Drake’s therapy sessions or which one you’ll be able to dance to come Friday night.

Like “Marvin’s Room” and “Trust Issues,” “Club Paradise” is a conflicted, paranoid rant that questions the intentions of those around him while also demanding that they “show [him] love, show [him] fucking love.” The track is also named after the Toronto strip club, which will likely become a notable Canadian landmark on every Degrassi fan’s traveler’s to-do list. The second of two tracks with beats by Noah “40″ Shebib, “Free Spirit” is more upbeat, thanks to the appearance by busier than ever Rick Ross. Together the duo create a swaggafied excuse to take the town, while also presenting a convincing case for why their respective women should wait for them at home (“I know it hurts, But I aint tryna hear it/‘Cause when I’m not around, I’ll still be there in spirit/You’ll still be mine, yea, you’ll still be mine/Tat my fucking name on you, when I go you’ll still be mine, yea”). And knowing that all good things come in threes, Drake shared his remix to Waka Flocka Flame’s “Round Of Applause,” which manages to recover nicely with the most danceable beat, despite opening with a strong belch born deep down in the former’s digestive system. Usually the recipient of remixes by his peers, Drizzy has finally joined in on the trendy exercise, properly acknowledging his tardiness in a humorous way. ”First Lex Luger beat I ever got to rap on…feel like I got seat B60 on Southwest…everybody has gone in before me…but we made it happen!” Nicely done, Aubrey. If the new album doesn’t pan out for some reason, we think you might have a future in comedy writing. Do you know Donald Glover?

“Club Paradise”

“Free Spirit” featuring Rick Ross

“Round Of Applause,” Waka Flocka Flame featuring Drake

[October's Very Own]