Tuscan Leather

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"Tuscan Leather"
Drake
from the album Nothing Was the Same
Recorded
GenreHip hop
Length6:06
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Aubrey Graham
  • Anthony Palman
  • Noah Shebib
  • David Foster
  • Linda Thompson-Jenner
Producer(s)
  • Noah "40" Shebib
  • Nathan Sessoms

"Tuscan Leather" is a song by Canadian recording artist

Linda Thompson-Jenner, who received writing credits on "Tuscan Leather". Noted for its unique song structure devoid of any choruses, it is a hip hop song which utilizes influences of R&B and ambient
throughout its composition.

"Tuscan Leather" received critical acclaim from music critics, who highlighted the song's production and praised Drake's growing confidence. The song was a source of controversy due to the song's lyrics describing Drake's deteriorating relationship with label mate Nicki Minaj. Despite not being released as a single, "Tuscan Leather" managed to chart due to the release of the album, with its highest peak being at number 23 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Songs.

Background

"Tuscan Leather" was written by Drake, Anthony Palman and

Linda Thompson-Jenner, who receive writing credits, and performed by Whitney Houston. It also contains interpolations of "Serious", written by Warren McGlone and Lawrence Parker, and samples "When Seasons Change" (live) by Curtis Mayfield.[citation needed
]

It was recorded at Noble Street Studios in

Missisauga, Ontario, along with Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta, Georgia and Marvin's Room in Hollywood, California. "Tuscan Leather" was recorded by Shebib and Noel Cadastre, while the pair received assistance from Luke Neveille, Jeff Crake, Miguel Scott, and John Nettlesbey. Lindsey Warner assisted Noel "Gadget" Campbell Toronto's Studio 306 in mixing the song. Background vocals for the song were provided by Cappadonna, while Shebib handled all the instrumentation. However, Adrian "X" Eccleston played the guitar, and additional drum programming was done by Matthew "Boi-1da" Samuels and Nineteen85.[1]

Composition

Musically, "Tuscan Leather" is an atmospheric and free-form

Heatmakerz-produced track circa 2001, the three key beat changes keeps listeners plugged in to the transparent mood Drake finds himself in."[5] "Tuscan Leather" has a unique song structure, with three distinct sections and no choruses. The first section features Drake intensely rapping while Houston's voice, described as "ghostly and beautiful", floats as if on helium through the chaotic production, noted to be "nostalgic, new, exuberant and menacing" all at once. After a brief pause, the section showcases a shift in both the beat and the lyrics, becoming more sinuous and personal, while a gentle keyboard riff rises underneath the music. During the third verse, the music transforms into a "soft, ambient landscape" which includes crowd noise, before the song finishes with the voice of Curtis Mayfield addressing fans at the end of a 1987 concert in Montreux
:

As hell below, I'll see you when you get there
Are you enjoying yourself?
If we may we'd just like to close off with something a bit inspirational
Hopefully something a bit relevant as to us all
Are having the same fears, shedding similar tears
And of course dying in so many years
It don't mean that we can't have a good life
So we'd like to just maybe close out with something, some food for thought
[4]

According to Andrew Unterberger of Popdust, "Tuscan Leather" is a hyper-focused state-of-the-union address about where he is at in his life. During the song he discusses his ever-expanding ambitions in lines such as "On a mission tryna shift the culture", while also dismissing those who try to challenge his supremacy: "Just give it time, we’ll see who's still around a decade from now". During the song Drake makes multiple pop culture references including

YMCMB, while some critics noted a subliminal diss towards J. Cole.[3][5]

Controversy

The song generated tension between Drake and label-mate Nicki Minaj (pictured).

"Tuscan Leather" generated controversy with label mate Nicki Minaj for the line: "Not even talkin' to Nicki, communication is breakin' / I dropped the ball on some personal shit, I need to embrace it / I'm honest, I make mistakes, I'd be the second to admit it / Think that's why I need her in my life, to check me when I'm trippin'". Speaking of the line, Drake said in an interview with MTV News: "That line in 'Tuscan Leather' isn't exactly where I am in my life right now, but like a year ago...eight months, seven months ago, it was how I felt, I'd done something wrong, and I wasn't speaking to her."[6]

Throughout their careers Drake and Minaj maintained a close personal and business relationship, and were frequent collaborators. However, while recording Nothing Was the Same, Drake did not work with Minaj or anyone from Cash Money Records, leading her to say: "I'm Young Money 'til the death of me, Drake can do what Drake do, but Nicki Minaj is a whole different person. I think your team is your team. Who gives a fuck about trying to be different? I'm always going to want my team to be a part of my project, no matter what, in some way."[6]

Speaking of their strained relationship during an interview with Hot 97.5, Minaj said: "It gets a little hard to have a real connection when people are on different sides of the world, working on different things. You just never know who people got in their ear or what they're feeling or maybe they felt wronged in some way. I don't know. I just know that Drake is my baby, and Wayne is my everything." However, Drake said their relationship has improved, and credited the song as opening up a new dialogue, saying: "I think the dialogue actually between us was already opened up, I had already solved that issue. I wrote that a while ago, and I kinda felt guilty changing it. It was a sentiment that I had when I started this album and felt like that's how it should be. The album should start one place and end in another...I haven't talked to her since it's been out. I'm not sure. I haven't spoke to her."[6]

Critical reception

Critics praised the use of the Whitney Houston sample (pictured).

Upon release, "Tuscan Leather" received widespread critical acclaim from music critics, with it being recognized as one of the most powerful intros to a hip-hop album in years. In her review of the album, Erika Ramirez of Billboard said of the song: "Drake is aware of his greatness, and makes sure listeners are just as aware from the jump."[7] Andrew Unterberger of Popdust commended the song for being a strong opener, similar to his other album opener's; "Fireworks" and "Over My Dead Body". Unterberger praised the use of the Whitney Houston sample, and finished his review as saying: "How much time is Drake spending on the intro? As much time as he goddamn pleases, and if he wants to go an hour on the beat, we’ll listen for the whole thing and not check our watch once."[3] Writing for Spin, Brandon Soderberg included "Tuscan Leather" as one of the "Rap Songs of the Week", calling it "expertly conceptualized" and praised it as properly introducing the album.[8] Will Lavin of Gigwise gave the song a positive review, noting Drake's in depth discussions about his label, his friends, and his peers. Lavin went on to say: "For Drake, when it comes to album openers, his track record is thought provokingly flawless."[5]

Thomas Britt of

Idolator, Bianca Gracie said the song showed a more confident Drake, noting that he channels Jay-Z with "bold lyrics" and a "dizzying production" reminiscent of Kanye West circa 2004.[13] Robert Copsy of Digital Spy also noted a significant growth in confidence, and called the song: "a piece of atmospheric self-reflection that sets up his current mindset: an artist with plenty of ambition but with a constant nagging fear about losing his way."[14]

Credits and personnel

Recording
Sample
Personnel
  • Songwriting –
    Linda Thompson-Jenner
  • Production –
    Noah "40" Shebib
  • Recording – Noah Shebib, Noel Cadastre
  • Recording assistant – Luke Leveille, Jeff Crake, Miguel Scott, John Nettlesbey
  • Mixing – Noel "Gadget" Campbell
  • Mixing assistant – Lindsey Warner
  • Vocals – Drake
  • Background vocals – Cappadonna
  • Instruments – Noah Shebib
  • Guitar – Adrian "X" Eccleston
  • Additional drum programming – Matthew "Boi-1da" Samuels, Nineteen85

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Nothing Was the Same, OVO Sound, Young Money, Cash Money, Republic.[1]

Charts

Despite not being released as a single, "Tuscan Leather" managed to enter a handful of charts worldwide. During the week of October 5, 2013, the song debuted and peaked at number 183 the

UK Singles Chart. In the United States, "Tuscan Leather" debuted and peaked at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 33 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
.

Chart (2013) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[15] 183
US Billboard Hot 100[16] 81
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[17] 33

References

  1. ^ a b Nothing Was the Same (PDF digital booklet). Drake. Young Money Entertainment. 2013.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ Malmuth, Drew (September 23, 2014). "Review: Drake – Nothing Was the Same". Pretty Much Amazing. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  3. ^
    Spin Media
    . Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  4. ^ a b Paterniti, Michael (June 2013). "How to Drake It in America". GQ. Condé Nast. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c Lavin, Will (September 24, 2013). "Track by track review: Drake - Nothing Was The Same". Gigwise. Giant Digital Ltd. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  6. ^ a b c Harding, Scharon (November 5, 2013). "Drake 'Nothing Was the Same' Review & Tracklist: Nicki Minaj Calls Out Drake for Forgetting Young Money Family on NWTS". Latin Post. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  7. ^ Ramirez, Erika (September 24, 2013). "Drake, 'Nothing Was The Same': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  8. ^ Soderberg, Brandon (September 27, 2013). "Rap Songs of the Week: Drake's Whitney Houston Whirl 'Tuscan Leather'". Spin. Spin Media. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  9. The McClatchy Company
    . Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  10. ^ Rytlewski, Evan (September 24, 2013). "Drake: Nothing Was The Same". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  11. ^ Wheeler, Brad (September 18, 2013). "Drizzy on top: The Globe's track-by-track review of Drake's Nothing Was the Same". The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail Inc. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  12. ^ Berry, David (September 18, 2013). "Drake's 'Nothing Was the Same' is the most pensive party hip-hop has ever had: Review". National Post. Postmedia Network. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  13. Idolator
    . Spin Media. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  14. Hearst Corporation
    . Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  15. ^ CHART: CLUK Update 5.10.2013 (wk39) (in German). zobbel.de. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  16. ^ "Drake Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  17. ^ "Drake Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
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