Comeback Season
A 2007 self-released mixtape featuring Drake over preexisting hip hop instrumentals with guests like Trey Songz and Kardinal Offishall.
Comeback Season is the second mixtape by Canadian rapper Drake, self-released on September 1, 2007. Unlike its predecessor, this project features Drake primarily performing over preexisting hip hop instrumentals rather than original production. The mixtape includes guest appearances from a diverse lineup of artists including Trey Songz, Andreena Mill, Dwele, Little Brother, Rich Boy, Kardinal Offishall, No Malice, Phonte, and Elzhi. It stands as an early milestone in his career, showcasing his ability to weave through various beats while establishing the collaborative spirit that would define his later work.
- Artist
- Drake
- Release Type
- Mixtape / EP
- Self-Released Date
- September 1, 2007
- Guest Appearances
- Trey Songz, Andreena Mill, Dwele, Little Brother, Rich Boy, Kardinal Offishall,
Lore & Background
The release of Comeback Season was marked by the success of a specific single, "Replacement Girl," which featured Trey Songz. This track was executive produced by Terral "T. Slack" of BPE and received a dedicated music video in 2007. The song achieved a significant historical milestone for Drake: it made him the first unsigned Canadian rapper to have his music video featured on BET. Specifically, on April 30, 2007, "Replacement Girl" was selected as the "New Joint of the Day," breaking ground for an artist who had not yet signed a major record deal at that time.
In Their Own Story
The production landscape of Comeback Season relied heavily on sampling existing tracks to create its sonic identity. The tracklist reveals a deep connection to hip hop and R&B history, with "The Presentation" sampling Donell Jones's "Comeback" and the title track sampling Lupe Fiasco's "Failure." Other notable samples include Goapele's "Closer," Kanye West's "Barry Bonds" for the freestyle of the same name, and Eddie Kendricks' "Intimate Friends" on "Going in for Life." The mixtape also incorporated elements from J Dilla, Evidence, Glasses Malone, Anita Baker, Robin Thicke, Trey Songz, and Brisco alongside Flo Rida and Lil Wayne, creating a collage of sounds that supported Drake's vocals throughout the project.
Reader's Guide
Listeners exploring Comeback Season will find every song written by Drake himself. The guide to navigating this mixtape involves recognizing the specific samples that form its backbone. For instance, "Must Hate Money" draws from "Supafly" by 334 Mob and Rich Boy, while "Asthma Team" utilizes Evidence's "Mr. Slow Flow." The freestyle tracks are particularly dense with references: "Teach U a Lesson (Freestyle)" samples Robin Thicke, "Missin' You (Freestyle)" uses Trey Songz's own track of the same name, and "Man of the Year (Freestyle)" samples Brisco, Flo Rida, and Lil Wayne. With guests like Phonte from Little Brother and Elzhi contributing to the roster, the mixtape serves as a comprehensive showcase of Drake's early collaborative network.
Did You Know?
- Comeback Season was self-released by Drake on September 1, 2007.
- Drake became the first unsigned Canadian rapper to have a music video featured on BET for his single "Replacement Girl" on April 30, 2007.
- The mixtape features a guest appearance from Future's future collaborator and peer, Elzhi.
- "Barry Bonds (Freestyle)" samples the original track of the same name performed by Kanye West.
- Every song on the mixtape is written solely by Drake.
More in Discography & Timeline
Elsewhere in the Drake universe
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