Drake made headlines last week when his third studio album, “Nothing Was The Same,” was leaked 9 days early. Now, it is officially here and like the name suggests, none of the music on the highly anticipated record is similar to what we have heard from the rapper before.

Aubrey Graham has returned with a different vibe, choosing to stray away from the sound that fans have grown accustomed to on his previous albums, “Thank Me Later” (2010) and “Take Care” (2011). 

In the opening track, “Tuscan Leather,” Drake raps, “This is nothin’ for the radio/ But they’ll still play it though/ Cause it’s that new Drizzy Drake/ That’s just the way it go.” This line is a foreshadowing of what is to come on the rest of the album.

Sadly, “Nothing Was The Same” does not have the mainstream radio hits that this writer was hoping for. The hooks and choruses that made songs like “Take Care” and “Headlines” popular are virtually nonexistent here. If you're waiting to hear another Drake anthem like “The Motto," don't hold your breath. 

Instead, Drizzy mellows out and takes an introspective look into his relationships with family, past lovers, and fake friends in the incredibly honest way that only he can. He is nothing if not completely relatable. As usual, the album features Drake’s signature mix of singing and rapping, as he reflects on the current state of his life. 

On “All Me” he raps, “Came up, that’s all me/ Stay true, that’s all me/ No help, that’s all me/ All me for real”, expressing how he struggled to the top without any help.

The struggle to fame is a theme addressed on the album frequently, most notably on the first single “Started From the Bottom.” He raps, “F*** a fake friend/ Where your real friends at/ We don’t like to do too much explaining/ Story stay the same through the money and the fame.”

These lyrics are especially poignant given the absence of Lil’ Wayne and Nicki Minaj, who were included on all of Drake’s previous projects. It has caused many to speculate whether there is tension with his Young Money crew. We may have gotten a clue on "Tuscan Leather" when he rapped, "Not even talkin' to Nicki/ Communication is breakin'/ I dropped the ball on some personal s***/ I need to embrace it."

Drake is no stranger to airing his dirty laundry when it comes to past romantic relationships and this album is no different. He has a unique, lyrical talent to make you yearn for a former flame one minute and then hate them the next.

On the song, “Own It," he croons, “Next time we talk, I don’t just want to talk I want to trust/ Next time I stand tall, I want to be standing for you/ And next time I spend, I want it all to be for you.” Sincere, heartfelt lyrics like this will have you reaching for your phone at 11 p.m. to dial your ex’s number.

However, Drizzy was a little too sincere on the song “From Time,” rapping, “The one that I needed was Courtney from Hooter’s on Peachtree/ I’ve always been feeling like she was the one to complete me.” Drake unapologetically exposed real-life ex, Courtney Janell’s name, job, and hometown for the world and left her to face the consequences of public scrutiny.

READ MORE: 7 Times Someone Was Dissed In Song

But, this just proves why we love Drake – he is so real.

The best song on “Nothing Was The Same” is the sexy, R&B slow jam, “Hold On, We’re Going Home.” It sounds different from anything else Drake has done previously and it is his shining moment on the album. Recently, Katy Perry recommended the sensitive tune, saying, “I listen to it with my boyfriend, so I suggest listening to it with whoever you want to make out with."

Although “Nothing Was The Same” slightly deviates away from the classic Drake that we are all used to, he still manages to come out on top. He takes risks, both lyrically and rhythmically, to fully immerse us in his surreal world... and they pay off big time. Once more, he solidifies himself on the throne of the rap game.

Read more of NT's album reviews here.

Reach Staff Reporter Gabi Duncan here. Follow her on Twitter.