By Ben Musial
On this day, 13 years ago, Canadian rapper Drake released his highly influential third studio album, “Nothing Was the Same.” According to Billboard, the record debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart after moving 658,000 copies in its first week. This marked the second-largest sales week of that year. 13 years later, the album remains a landmark moment in 2010s hip-hop and a must-listen autumn soundtrack for college students.
Led by head producer Noah “40” Shebib, “Nothing Was the Same” refined the warm, emotional, and atmospheric sound Drake had introduced on 2011’s “Take Care.” As pointed out by Pitchfork, the opening track “Tuscan Leather” set a bold tone by looping pitched-up samples from Whitney Houston across three notable beat switches. Meanwhile, the hit single “Hold On, We’re Going Home” displayed his ability to transition seamlessly into 1980s synth-pop. This eventually helped his record receive a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.
The album featured guest appearances from major artists including Jay-Z, Jhené Aiko, Majid Jordan, and Sampha. In a review for The Guardian, music critic Caroline Sullivan praised the album’s balance of “braggadocio and melancholy,” pointing out that Shebib’s production captured “the same blend of glamour and gloom as Drake does in his lyrics.”
While the hip-hop scene has shifted toward faster-paced streaming trends in recent years, “Nothing Was the Same” continues to hold a special place in modern music culture. As reported by Rolling Stones, the album established Drake’s dominant formula of mixing rap with ambient R&B. This ensured that the album remained a timeless staple for fall campus playlists 13 years after its initial release.
