From Time
"From Time" | |
---|---|
Drake featuring Jhené Aiko | |
from the album Nothing Was the Same | |
Recorded |
|
Genre |
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Length | 5:22 |
Label | |
Songwriter(s) |
|
Noah "40" Shebib |
"From Time" is a song recorded by Canadian recording artist
The resulting production is a slow R&B song, accompanied by a light piano, during which Drake addresses his past relationships with women and his father. "From Time" received critical acclaim from contemporary music critics, who lauded Aiko's guest feature, the song's lyrical content and production. Upon the release of Nothing Was the Same, the song charted in the lower regions of singles charts in France, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Background
On June 1, 2013, Drake confirmed the first guest appearance on the album as singer Jhené Aiko.[2] Aiko and Drake had previously collaborated on Aiko's "July" for her mixtape Sailing Soul(s) (2011). However, their recording sessions took place at different locations. Drake and Aiko went into the studio to record and he played some beats for Aiko. Enthused by one of the beats, Aiko took it home with her to work on the lyrics to it. She said "I actually wrote like a different song to it. I had it for like a month. And then one day, it was super-specific to me, so I was like "I don't know if he's gonna like... you know I don't know what he would be able to do with that. So... I gave it one more shot and I just sorta like free-styled my whole like, my hook and my verse."[3] Despite initial speculation that the song title would be "Momentous Occasions", Drake denied the title on Twitter, adding "That's a terrible title".[4]
"From Time" was written by Drake,
Composition
"From Time" is a slow downtempo R&B song that is composed of finger-snap beats and a piano, the latter provided by Chilly Gonzales.[6] The sound, according to Jesal "Jay Soul" Padania of RapReviews, mirrors the soundscape of Drake's previous album, Take Care (2011).[7] The song's lyrical content has been described as reflective and confessional as it delves into different parts of Drake's life. It begins with Aiko's verse, which towards the end she sings "I love me, I love me enough for the both of us/That's why you trust me, I know you been through more than most of us/So what are you? What are you, what are you so afraid of?/Darling you, you give but you cannot take love", which becomes the hook for the entire track. The song deals with Drake's past relationships with other women. According to Aaron Matthews of Exclaim!, the song "Jhene Aiko deflates Drake's ego while he meditates on selfishness, immaturity and arrogance in past relationships over sumptuous keys."[8] "From Time" also features a reference to a woman named "Courtney from Hooters", who was later discovered to be a waitress at the restaurant and a model.[9] Katie Hasty of HitFix was critical of the mention of his former relationships on the song, calling it petty and accused him "intentionally inflicting his exes and with the same spotlight that so alienates him."[10] It also discusses his fractured relationship with his father, during which he laments about asking for his advice while smoking marijuana and drinking Corona beer.[11]
Critical reception
"From Time" received critical acclaim, with critics lauding it as one of Drake's best tracks. Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune lauded the song's lyrics and production as a "perfect marriage of words and sonics",[12] while Aaron Matthews of Exclaim! commended the song's writing as the strongest on the album.[8] Nick Cartucci of Entertainment Weekly called the song "real talk of the highest order" and further applauded it as "why no one else can touch him — long as he might for the company."[13] Randall Roberts of Los Angeles Times praised the song's lyrical content as "smart and touching" and classified its production as "liquid."[14] Eric Diep of XXL called "From Time" and "Worst Behaviour" "direct", while Nick Henderson of Tiny Mix Tapes and Jim Carroll of Irish Times labelled "From Time" as a standout track on the album.[15][16][17]
Elysa Gardner of
Jesal "Jay Soul" Padania of RapReviews noted its similarities to Drake's previous album Take Care (2011) in terms of sonics and called it "beautifully subdued."[7] Jordan Mainzer of musicOMH said the song "shows not only Drake’s emotional improvement but his lyrical dexterity."[22] Jake Jenkins of Absolute Punk commented that "From Time" and "Worst Behavior" display unforced confidence and vulnerability. Jenkins further wrote that Drake is "painting himself as a complex character with many sides to who he is, which is why the album comes across as such a varied project."[23] American journalist Jody Rosen, writing for New York Magazine's blog Vulture, noted how Drake's lyrics about "money and pussy and vacation" try not to sound boastful by rapping "about his feelings about money and pussy and vacation."[9] Will Lavin of Gigwise dubbed the song the "perfect reminiscent record" while praising the song's setting and chemistry between the artists.[24] Andrew Barker of Variety called the lyrics "incisive" and commented "Drake may tackle more universal themes than many of rap's earlier superstars, but on moments like these he's about as relatable as Kool Keith."[25]
Credits and personnel
- Locations
- Recorded at Metalworks Studios in Mississauga, Ontario and The Yolo Estate in Hidden Hills, California
- Jhené's vocals recorded at Fisticuffs Gym in Culver City, California
- Mixed at Studio 305 in Toronto, Ontario
- Personnel
- Jhené Aiko – vocals, songwriting
- Travis Savoury Baka – background vocals
- Noel Cadastre – recording engineer
- Noel "Gadget" Campbell – mixing
- Drake– vocals, songwriting
- Chilly Gonzales – songwriting, piano
- Christian Plata – recording engineer
- Travis Sewchan – assistant recording engineer
- Noah "40" Shebib– songwriting, production, recording engineer, instruments
- Brian Warfield – recording engineer
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Nothing Was the Same, OVO Sound, Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, Republic Records.[5]
Charts
Upon the release of Nothing Was the Same, "From Time" appeared on several international charts based on the strength of digital downloads. The song debuted on the UK Singles Chart, dated October 5, 2013, at number 56. The song also debuted on the
Chart (2013) | Peak position |
---|---|
France ( SNEP)[29]
|
126 |
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[30] | 56 |
13 | |
US Billboard Hot 100[32] | 67 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[33] | 26 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[34] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[35] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[36] | Platinum | 1,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ "Rapper Drake is Gay".
- Complex. Rich Antoniello, CEO. June 2, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
- ^ Wilson, Elliott (November 5, 2013). "Jhené Aiko Interview- THE TRUTH With Elliott Wilson". JAY Z's Life+Times. YouTube. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
- Drake (August 9, 2013). "The song is not called Momentous Occasions. That's a terrible title". Twitter. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
- ^ Drake(2013). Nothing Was the Same (Compact Disc (Liner Notes)). Drake. Toronto, Ontario: OVO Sound, Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, Republic Records.
- ^ a b Malmuth, Drew (September 24, 2013). "Review: Drake - Nothing Was the Same". Pretty Much Amazing. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^ a b Padania, Jesal "Jay Soul" (September 24, 2013). "Drake :: Nothing Was the Same". RapReviews. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^ a b Matthews, Aaron (September 20, 2013). "Drake Nothing Was the Same". Exclaim!. Ontario Media Development Corporations. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^ a b Rosen, Jody (September 24, 2013). "Rosen on Drake's Nothing Was the Same: Is Drake the Rap-Game Taylor Swift?". Vulture. New York Media, LLC. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
- ^ Hasty, Katie (September 24, 2013). "Review: Drake's new album 'Nothing Was the Same'". HitFix. HitFix, Inc. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
- ^ Spin Media. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
- Tribune Company. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^ Catucci, Nick (October 9, 2013). "Nothing Was the Same (2013)". Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly Inc. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- Tribune Company. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^ Diep, Eric (September 23, 2013). "Drake Makes His Claim For The Throne With 'Nothing Was The Same'". XXL. Harris Publications, Inc. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^ Henderson, Nick (September 26, 2013). "Drake: Nothing Was The Same". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^ Carroll, Jim (October 18, 2013). "Drake: Nothing Was the Same". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^ Gardner, Elysa (September 24, 2013). "Listen Up: Something's brooding in Drake's 'Nothing '". USA Today. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^ Reed, James (September 26, 2013). "Drake, 'Nothing Was the Same'". The Boston Globe. Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^ Cataldo, Jesse (September 22, 2013). "Drake: Nothing Was the Same". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- Clash Music. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^ Mainzer, Jordan (September 23, 2013). "Drake – Nothing Was The Same". musicOMH. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- Buzz Media. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- ^ Lavin, Will (September 24, 2013). "Track by Track Review: Drake - Nothing Was the Same". Gigwise. Giant Digital. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
- Penske Business Media. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
- ^ "UK Top 40 R&B Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
- ^ "Hot 100 - Week of October 12, 2013". Billboard. acharts.us. October 12, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
- ^ "Hot 100 - Week of October 19, 2013". Billboard. acharts.us. October 19, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
- ^ Les classement single. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
- ^ "UK Singles Chart/CLUK Update (5.10.2013 - week 39)". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
- ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
- ^ "Drake Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
- ^ "Drake Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Drake – From Time". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
- ^ "British single certifications – Drake Ft Jhene Aiko – From Time". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
- ^ "American single certifications – Drake – From Time". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 29, 2018.