Nothing Was the Same — Drake’s third studio album, released September 24, 2013, a victory lap showcasing Drake’s ascent to rap royalty with Aubrey Graham’s childhood sketch as cover art, debuting with 658,000 copies.
The Album
After Take Care’s Grammy win, Drake balanced introspection with confidence. Production by Noah “40” Shebib, Boi-1da, Jake One, and others. Features Jay-Z, Sampha, Jhené Aiko, PartyNextDoor, and Big Sean.
Key tracks: “Started from the Bottom” (rags-to-riches anthem, 8x Platinum), “Hold On, We’re Going Home” ft. Majid Jordan (pop crossover #4 hit, 7x Platinum), “Worst Behavior” (mother’s pride, Toronto flexes), “Tuscan Leather” (9-minute opener), “Pound Cake / Paris Morton Music 2” ft. Jay-Z, “From Time” ft. Jhené Aiko, “Own It,” “Too Much” ft. Sampha, “All Me” ft. 2 Chainz & Big Sean.
Chart performance: Debuted #1 with 658,000 copies (biggest debut of 2013 until Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP 2). Spent 2 weeks at #1. Certified 4x Platinum.
Cultural Moments
“Started from the Bottom” became Drake’s most meme-able phrase—used for everything from actual struggle to tongue-in-cheek humble-brags. Critics noted Drake started “from the middle” (child actor, middle-class), but the song’s infectious hook won anyway.
The cover art (Kadir Nelson painting of young Aubrey) was iconic—Drake embraced his Degrassi past rather than hiding it. The alternate cover showed adult Drake looking back at his childhood self.
“Hold On, We’re Going Home” proved Drake could dominate pop radio with earnest romance (no rap verse needed). The song’s retro 80s vibe influenced years of R&B-pop.
Critical Reception
Metacritic 79/100, Pitchfork 8.6/10, Rolling Stone 4.5/5. Critics praised Drake’s confidence but noted less emotional depth than Take Care.
2014 Grammy nomination: Best Rap Album (lost to Macklemore’s The Heist, sparking “Grammys are racist” controversy when Macklemore texted Kendrick apologizing for beating good kid, m.A.A.d city).
Legacy
NWTS cemented Drake as rap’s biggest star commercially and solidified his sing-rap formula. The album’s themes (success breeding loneliness, trust issues, Toronto pride) became Drake’s recurring narratives.
#NWTS #StartedFromTheBottom #HoldOnWereGoingHome all trended. The album’s staying power (400+ weeks on Billboard 200) proved its classic status.
Sources:
https://pitchfork.com/
https://www.billboard.com/music/drake/chart-history/