The power to convince everyone around you that your worldview is the right one is a rare talent, but Drake’s universe has its own physics, and not everyone can survive there. On this album, besides 40, he’s most simpatico with the Weeknd. Their main collaboration is “Crew Love,” on which the Weeknd coos, the synths soothe like a hug, and Drake talks about giving up on the dream of college life: “Seeing my family have it all/Took the place of that desire for diplomas on the wall.” Then the song gasps a little, and the martial drums that have been building in the background explode into a full attack as the synths blossom, a shift that’s one of the most exuberant moments in pop this year, driven home by Drake’s conclusion: “Really, I think I like who I’m becoming.” Finally. All it took was winning.

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