Drake 'Nothing Was The Same' Album Review: Leaked Album Shows Best of Soft, Hard Side from 'Started From The Bottom' Rapper [STREAM]

Drake's latest album, "Nothing Was The Same," leaked earlier this week. Surrounded by the hype and high expectations from its two singles, "Started From The Bottom" and "Hold On, We're Going Home," the album seems to be a transition LP for the OVO rapper, who blends together his newfound toughness with heartbreak. The result is a blend of the best of Drake.

To start off, the beats on "Nothing Was The Same" are markedly subdued. Many tracks, like "Furthest Thing," "From Time" and second single "Hold On, We're Going Home" feature stripped-down instrumentation, with light drumbeats, pianos and quiet, atmospheric computerized blips.

Although those elements reflect Drake of yore, he continues to find his own flow and voice as a rapper and singer, and "Nothing Was The Same" shows great vocal growth. Drake's confidence overflows and overpowers the backbeats, such as during "Tuscan Leather." Over a simplified beat, Drake boasts and blasts about his rap game. "I could go for a hour on this beat, n*gga / I'm just as famous as my mentor," he says.

Drake excels on "Nothing Was The Same" and has created some of the best songs of his career.

"From Time" covers failed relationships and has Drake lamenting old love from his younger days. The song also seems to address his strained relationship with his father. It's a special moment on the record. Although Drake is opening up about his love life and family life, it's hard not to feel for the guy.

Second single "Hold On, We're Going Home" is another love song and features him singing voice. Although he's certainly no Frank Ocean or Miguel, he can hold his own and the top 10 hit is a true modern R&B banger with a soft side.

Meanwhile, Drake's harder side comes out on "Worst Behavior," and the song is a true gem in the 26-year-old's discography. He sounds notably angry on the track, as he addresses his haters and his family life growing up. It's not the touching Drake fans have come to know and love, though there are plenty of tender moments on the album.

The sense of confidence Drake exudes on "Nothing Was The Same," mixed with his emotional lyrics and subdued beats creates for an interesting dichotomy. The album feels relatable and revealing without treading into the dreaded "soft" territory.

This doesn't mean that he doesn't have room for improvement, as Drizzy's bragging doesn't always work. In lead single "Started From The Bottom," Drake slurs the words and sounds incredibly bored. Perhaps the point is he doesn't even have to try to have a bona fide hit ("Started From The Bottom" peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Charts), but that doesn't mean he's made a good song.

"Wu-Tang Forever" is also a weak track, and features the rapper flailing around, grasping to find the beat, creating a dragging, forgettable tune.

Despite its small shortcomings, "Nothing Was The Same" is everything a Drake fan could come to expect from his follow-up to "Take Care." He's revealing, heartbreaking, hard and confident all at the same time, showing that like a fine wine, Drizzy gets better with age.

Listen to a stream of "Nothing Was The Same" below.