So Far Gone (mixtape)

In an interview with Complex, Drake explains: "The whole tape extends from one of my closest friends Oliver. One night we were having a discussion about women and the way we were talking about them, it was so brazen and so disrespectful. He texted me right after we got off the phone and he was like, 'Are we becoming the men that our mothers divorced?' That's really where the cover comes from, too. It's just this kid in pursuit of love and money. We're good guys, I'm friends with some real good people and for him to even text me after we got off the phone it just showed we have a conscience. But sometimes you just get so far gone, you get wrapped up in this shit. The title has a lot of meanings—as the way we carry ourselves, the way we dress, the way people view us, not to sound cocky, it's just that feeling that we're just distanced in a good way. You're just elevating past the bullshit and past all the shit that you used to be a part of and you're not that proud of, you're just so far gone."{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2009/05/drake-talks-young-money-kanye-comparisons-ghostwriting|title=Drake Talks Young Money, Kanye Comparisons & Ghostwriting | Complex Blog|publisher=Complex|date=February 19, 2009|access-date=May 8, 2010}}

{{Listen|pos = right

|filename=Lets Call It Off.ogg

|title="Let's Call It Off"

|description="Let's Call It Off" is an ethereal breakup song that contains samples taken from Swedish indie-rock band Peter Bjorn and John. Drake reflects on the unraveling of an intimate relationship with melancholic Auto-Tune singing.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13238-so-far-gone/|title=Album Reviews: Drake: So Far Gone|publisher=Pitchfork|date=June 29, 2009|access-date=May 8, 2010}}

|format=Ogg

|filename2=Say Whats Real.ogg

|title2="Say What's Real"

|description2=An atmospheric track that balances witty levity with traditional braggadocios rapping. Drake recites brazen lyrics that primarily engage in self-promotion over minimalist beats, heavy organ sustain and electronic bleeps sampled from the opening track of 808s & Heartbreak.{{cite web|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=1805|title=Drake, So Far Gone|publisher=Slant Magazine|access-date=June 4, 2012}}

|format2=Ogg

|filename3=Little Bit.ogg

|title3="Little Bit"

|description3="Little Bit" is an adolescent love song built on crooning and a Lykke Li sample. The track is arranged to act as a duet, with Drake and Lykke Li's meek voices slowly encircling one anothers and confessing their romantic feelings atop spare heartbeat drum and percussion.

|format3=Ogg

}}

The mixtape's music was characterized by atmospheric keyboards, minor keys, snare drum, synth lead, smooth piano, live instruments, down tempo and mid tempo tracks, sparse and minimalist beats, and atmospheric chords. In a Complex interview, Drake's primary producer, Noah "40" Shebib, said that 808s & Heartbreak was an influence on the mixtape's atmospheric sounds.

Typically, lyrics in So Far Gone address his relationships with women, gaining fame, past struggles, and creates metaphors for the struggles of others ("Houstatlantavegas", a stripper, "November 18th", the city of Houston etc.) Many of the more upbeat songs also include themes of braggadociosness, ego, wealth, the music industry, confidence around women and sexual experiences.

"Best I Ever Had" was released as the first single, in 7 months prior to the release of the EP as a digital download from the So Far Gone mixtape. The song was eventually released as an official single on June 16, 2009. The single charted for 24 weeks while eventually peaking at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The single also managed to peak at number one on both the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart and the Billboard Rap Songs Chart, thus becoming Drake's first number one hit on both of these charts. The song was certified 2× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) indicating sales of over 2,000,000 copies in the United States.

"Successful" was released as the second single from So Far Gone. The single managed to peak at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and spent a total of 18 weeks on the chart. The song also reached the Top 5 on both the R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap charts peaking at number 3 and number 2 respectively. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) indicating sales of over 500,000 copies in the United States.

{{Music ratings

| MC = 81/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/so-far-gone-mixtape/drake|title=So Far Gone [Mixtape] Reviews|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=January 12, 2014}}

|rev1 = The Boston Globe

|rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2009/03/02/drake_so_far_gone|title=Drake, 'So Far Gone' - The Boston Globe|publisher=Boston.com|date=March 2, 2009|access-date=May 8, 2010}}

|rev2 = Exclaim!

|rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid1=131&csid2=865&fid1=36783|title=Exclaim! Canada's Music Authority|publisher=Exclaim.ca|date=February 22, 2009|access-date=May 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319071530/http://www.exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid1=131|archive-date=March 19, 2009|url-status=dead}}

|rev3 = Pitchfork

|rev3score = 7.4/10

|rev4 = Slant Magazine

|rev4score = 3/5

|rev5 = Sputnikmusic

|rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review_31814|title=Drake - So Far Gone Review|publisher=sputnikmusic|date=August 10, 2009|access-date=May 8, 2010}}}}

The mixtape was well received. It currently holds a score of 81 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim". RapReviews.com gave a positive review of the mixtape and commented on it by saying "So Far Gone is unquestionably one of the most cohesive, atmospheric hip hop records in recent memory--which is almost the antithesis of what one expects from a mixtape." The Boston Globe gave the mixtape a positive score and commented by saying "His materialism threads throughout So Far Gone (champagne flutes, girls, BlackBerrys, more girls), but he chases that with soft touches of humor and honesty." Pitchfork reviewed the mixtape positively and said "So Far Gone still scans as one of the most compulsively listenable mixtapes of a great year for mixtapes." Slant Magazine gave the mixtape a mixed review, but commended Drake's effort, "For a beginner, even one whose big-time endorsements seem to have cemented a promising start, So Far Gone is a pretty brave effort, and Drake's ability to juggle standard bling-and-bluster narratives with intelligent narratives bodes well for his future".{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/so-far-gone-mixtape/drake/critic-reviews|title=So Far Gone Mixtape|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=July 22, 2012}}

• MTV's Hottest Mixtape of The Year
• Complex{{'}}s No. 3 Best Albums of 2009
• Complex{{'}}s No. 5 Best Mixtape Album of The Decade

So Far Gone debuted at number five on the Billboard 200, with 45,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending February 21, 2019, ten years after its release.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8499727/drake-scores-10th-top-10-album-on-billboard-200-chart-with-so-far-gone-mixtape|title=Drake Scores 10th Top 10 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'So Far Gone' Mixtape|magazine=Billboard}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Standard edition{{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/104096979|title=So Far Gone / Drake – TIDAL|publisher=Tidal|access-date=February 15, 2019}}

| total_length = 68:17

| title_width = 35%

| writing_width = 65%

| title1 = Lust for Life

| writer1 = {{hlist|Aubrey Graham|Noah Shebib|Roland Orzabal}}

| length1 = 2:56

| title2 = Houstatlantavegas

| writer2 = {{hlist|Graham|Shebib}}

| length2 = 4:51

| title3 = Successful

| note3 = featuring Trey Songz and Lil Wayne

| writer3 = {{hlist|Graham|Shebib|Tremaine Neverson|Dwayne Carter}}

| length3 = 6:14

| title4 = Let's Call It Off

| note4 = featuring Peter Bjorn and John

| writer4 = {{hlist|Björn Yttling|Peter Morén|John Eriksson}}

| length4 = 3:54

| title5 = November 18th

| writer5 = {{hlist|Graham|Christopher Wallace|Osten Harvey|Burt Bacharach|Hal David|Robert Davis|Jermaine Dupri{{ref|a|[a]}}|Marcus Edwards{{ref|a|[a]}}|George Canler{{ref|a|[a]}}|Wally Palamarchuk{{ref|a|[a]}}|Mike Skill{{ref|a|[a]}}|Jimmy Marinos{{ref|a|[a]}}|Peter Solley{{ref|a|[a]}}|Bernard Freeman{{ref|a|[a]}}|Chad Butler{{ref|a|[a]}}|Donald Hepburn{{ref|a|[a]}}|Bruce Smith{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length5 = 3:07

| title6 = Ignant Shit

| note6 = featuring Lil Wayne

| writer6 = {{hlist|Graham|D. Carter|Justin Smith|Shawn Carter|Dwight Grant|Ernie Isley|Marvin Isley|O'Kelly Isley|Ronald Isley|Rudolph Isley|Chris Jasper}}

| length6 = 5:04

| title7 = A Night Off

| note7 = featuring Lloyd

| writer7 = {{hlist|Graham|Lloyd Polite|Shebib|S. Carter|Grant|Isley|Isley|Isley|Isley|Isley|Jasper}}

| length7 = 3:14

| title8 = Say What's Real

| writer8 = {{hlist|Graham|Kanye West|Jeff Bhasker|Dexter Mills{{ref|a|[a]}}|Jay Jenkins{{ref|a|[a]}}|Malik Jones{{ref|a|[a]}}|Benjamin McIldowie{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length8 = 3:51

| title9 = Little Bit

| note9 = featuring Lykke Li

| writer9 = {{hlist|Lykke Zachrisson|Yttling}}

| length9 = 3:50

| title10 = Best I Ever Had

| writer10 = {{hlist|Graham|Matthew Samuels|D. Carter{{ref|a|[a]}}|Nakia Coleman{{ref|a|[a]}}|Dan Hamilton{{ref|a|[a]}}|Ann Hamilton{{ref|a|[a]}}}}

| length10 = 4:18

| title11 = Unstoppable

| note11 = featuring Santigold and Lil Wayne

| writer11 = {{hlist|Santi White|John Hill|Thomas Pentz}}

| length11 = 3:30

| title12 = Uptown

| note12 = featuring Bun B and Lil Wayne

| writer12 = {{hlist|Graham|Freeman|D. Carter|Samuels|Jeremy McArthur|William Joel}}

| length12 = 6:22

| title13 = Sooner Than Later

| writer13 = {{hlist|Graham|Shebib|Dalton Tennant}}

| length13 = 4:22

| title14 = Bria's Interlude

| note14 = featuring Omarion

| writer14 = {{hlist|Graham|Shebib|Omari Grandberry|Melissa Elliott|Timothy Mosley|Maurice White|Verdine White}}

| length14 = 2:19

| title15 = The Calm

| writer15 = {{hlist|Graham|Shebib}}

| length15 = 4:04

| title16 = Outro

| writer16 = Jason Beck

| length16 = 2:55

| title17 = Brand New

| writer17 = {{hlist|Graham|Shebib|Tennant}}

| length17 = 3:37

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Physical and 2019 streaming version bonus track

| total_length = 73:49

| title_width = 35%

| writing_width = 65%

| title18 = Congratulations

| writer18 = {{hlist|Graham|Shebib|Orville McWhinney|Chris Martin|Guy Berryman|Jonny Buckland|Will Champion}}

| length18 = 5:33

}}

• ^{{{note|a|[a]}}} signifies a songwriter that is not listed on music streaming services.{{cite web |url=https://repertoire.bmi.com/Search/Search?SearchForm.View_Count=100&SearchForm.Main_Search=Title&SearchForm.Main_Search_Text=NOVEMBER+18TH&SearchForm.Sub_Search=Writer%2FComposer&SearchForm.Sub_Search_Text=GRAHAM+AUBREY&SearchForm.Search_Type=all |title=BMI Songview |publisher=Broadcast Music, Inc. |access-date=July 8, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://repertoire.bmi.com/Search/Search?SearchForm.View_Count=100&SearchForm.Main_Search=Title&SearchForm.Main_Search_Text=SAY+WHAT%27S+REAL&SearchForm.Sub_Search=Writer%2FComposer&SearchForm.Sub_Search_Text=GRAHAM+AUBREY&SearchForm.Search_Type=all |title=BMI Songview |publisher=Broadcast Music, Inc. |access-date=July 8, 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://repertoire.bmi.com/Search/Search?SearchForm.View_Count=100&SearchForm.Main_Search=Title&SearchForm.Main_Search_Text=BEST+I+EVER+HAD&SearchForm.Sub_Search=Writer%2FComposer&SearchForm.Sub_Search_Text=GRAHAM+AUBREY&SearchForm.Search_Type=all |title=BMI Songview |publisher=Broadcast Music, Inc. |access-date=July 8, 2022}}

Sample Credits

• "Lust for Life" contains a sample of "Ideas as Opiates", written by Roland Orzabal, as performed by Tears for Fears.{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/a/drake-s-love-for-kanye-west-s-coldest-winter-led-to-the-tears-for-fears-sample-on-lust-for-life|title=Knowledge Drop: Drake's Love For Kanye West Led To The Tears For Fears Sample On "Lust For Life"|work=Genius|last=Fu|first=Eddie|date=February 13, 2019|access-date=February 15, 2019}}
• "Let's Call It Off" contains a sample of "Let's Call It Off", written by Peter Morén, Björn Yttling and John Eriksson, as performed by Peter Bjorn and John.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8498283/drake-so-far-gone-tracks-ranked-anniversary|title=Every Track From Drake's 'So Far Gone,' Ranked: Critic's Picks|work=Complex|last=Glaysher|first=Scott|date=February 13, 2019|access-date=February 15, 2019}}
• "November 18th" contains a sample of a chopped-and-screwed version of "Da Streets Ain't Right", written by Jermaine Dupri, as performed by Kris Kross, and remixed by Robert Davis; and "Pimp tha Pen", written by Marcus Edwards, as performed by Lil' Keke.
• "Pimp tha Pen" contains a sample of "Pocket Full of Stones", written by Bernard Freeman and Chad Butler, as performed by UGK.
• "Da Streets Ain't Right" contains a portion of "Warning", written by Christopher Wallace and Osten Harvey, as performed by the Notorious B.I.G.; and embodies a portion of "Talking in Your Sleep", written by George Canler, Wally Palamarchuk, Mike Skill, Jimmy Marinos and Peter Solley, as performed by the Romantics.{{Cite AV media notes |title=Young, Rich & Dangerous |others=Kris Kross |date=1996 |type=CD |id=C 67441}}
• "Warning" contains a sample from "Walk On By", written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, as performed by Isaac Hayes.{{Cite AV media notes |title=Ready to Die |others=The Notorious B.I.G. |date=1994 |type=CD |id=78612 73000 2}}
• "Ignant Shit" and "A Night Off" contain samples of "Ignorant Shit", written by Shawn Carter, Justin Smith and Dwight Grant, as performed by Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel.
• "Ignorant Shit" contains a sample of Between the Sheets, written by Marvin Isley, O'Kelly Isley, Ernie Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley and Chris Jasper, as performed by The Isley Brothers.{{Cite AV media notes |title=American Gangster |others=Jay-Z |date=2007 |type=CD |id=B0010229-02}}
• "Say What's Real" contains a sample of "Say You Will", written by Kanye West, Jeff Bhasker, Dexter Mills, Jay Jenkins, Malik Jones and Benjamin McIldowie, as performed by Kanye West.
• "Little Bit" contains a sample of "Little Bit", written by Lykke Zachrisson and Björn Yttling, as performed by Lykke Li.
• "Best I Ever Had" contains a sample from "Fallin' in Love (again)", written by Dan Hamilton, as performed by Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds; and portions of "Do It for the Boy", written in part by Nakia Coleman.{{cite AV media notes|title=So Far Gone|others=Drake|year=2009|type=EP booklet|publisher=Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, Universal Motown|id=0602527194288}}
• "Unstoppable" contains a sample of "Unstoppable", written by John Hill, Thomas Pentz and Santi White, as performed by Santigold.
• "Uptown" contains elements and excerpts of "Uptown Girl", written by Billy Joel.
• "Bria's Interlude" contains a sample of "Friendly Skies", written by Missy Elliott and Timothy Mosley, as performed by Missy Elliott.
• "Friendly Skies" contains a sample of "New World Symphony" written by Maurice White and Verdine White, as performed by Earth, Wind & Fire.
• "Outro" contains a sample of "The Tourist", written by Jason Beck, and performed by Chilly Gonzales.
• "Congratulations" contains a sample of "Viva La Vida", written by Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland and Will Champion, as performed by Coldplay.

Credits adapted from Tidal.

{{div col}}

• 40 – mixing, recording engineering (1–15, 17); production (1–3, 7, 14, 15), remixing (4, 9, 11), vocal engineering (13, 17); additional production (18)
• Boi-1da – production (10, 12)
• D10 – production (13, 17)
• Björn Yttling – production (4)
• DJ Screw – production (5)
• Just Blaze – production (6)
• Kanye West – production (8)
• Björn Yttling – production (9)
• Diplo – production (11)
• John Hill – production (11)
• Arthur McArthur – production (12)
• Sebastian Nadal – production (16)
• Megaman – production (18)
• The Peresian Gangster – remixing (11)
• Finis "KY" White – additional vocal engineering (3, 6, 12)
• Cory Mo – additional vocal engineering (12)

{{div col end}}

{{Reflist}}

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Category:Albums produced by Boi-1da

Category:Albums produced by Diplo

Category:Albums produced by Just Blaze

Category:Albums produced by Kanye West

Category:Albums produced by Noah "40" Shebib

Category:Drake (musician) mixtape albums

Category:2009 mixtape albums

Category:OVO Sound mixtape albums