Third times a charm. Not to diminish his previous two albums — Thank Me Later and Take Care — but in Drake‘s third project, Nothing Was The Same, the artist illustrates exactly that — his artistry.

The irony of this album derives from its title, as one can clearly differentiate the tone of this project from its two predecessors. Captivated by Drake’s music — however — society has often made a lighthearted mockery of it. You’ve heard the lines. “Drake’s music makes you want to text your ex, and apologize that they cheated on you.” But be those stereotypes as they may, Drake was quoted in the July issue of GQ as saying, “I’ve made a lot of music about love being the only thing I’m missing. I think this is the first album I’ve made saying, I’m okay.”

Setting the tone of Nothing Was The Same, is the intro, Tuscan Leather. On this track, Drake displays that humble bragging that he has nearly perfected, now, over the years. It’s an art form. That method — the bravado — of dropping a line such as, “Rich enough that I don’t have to tell ’em that I’m rich,” rivals only that of a Shawn Carter lyric.

In admitting that he’s still been drinking on the low — among other semi-deviant activities — Drake proclaims he’s “the Furthest Thing from perfect.” Simply reading between the lines, this may be the album’s most revealing track. The artist reveals what may, or may not, be [considered] his faults; though he does not ask for forgiveness, rather acceptance.

If there is one track on the album that fits the stereotypical mold of a Drake song, it’s From Time. Jhené Aiko lends her vocals for a flawless feature. This is the classic, reminiscent Drake track in which he elaborates on old flames, rehabilitating the relationship with his father, and ‘getting back to basics’ in general.

The Language is, in my opinion, the sacred track of the album. This, in the sense that it could very well be the album’s best, though one just doesn’t get the sense it will hit radio airwaves. Which is fine. Every Drake album has one — Up All Night (Thank Me Later) and Lord Knows (Take Care). These are tracks of their album in which the humble element of Drake’s bragging is nonexistent. The track encompasses a grunge-like tone — in a hip-hop mode — in which Cash Money CEO Birdman delivers the album’s hardest 42 seconds, concluding the track.

Knocking out two birds, with one stone — so to speak — is Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2. Pound Cake features rap sovereign Jay Z, on a track in which the two artists jockey for pole position. Transitioning into Paris Morton Music 2, it is Drake, alone, who floats all over the sequel track — closing out the standard version of Nothing Was The Same.

The album was released September 24th.