Earworm: Alicia Keys f. Drake: Un-thinkable

December 9th, 2009

A. Keys & Drizzy

Alicia Keys’ new album drops next week, and from the looks of things so far, it’s gonna be a real R&B barnburner. So far, tracks like “Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart” and “Empire State of Mind (Part II)” have been melodically beautiful, anthemic and impeccably mastered. Far from the raw, hip-hop driven Alicia I fell in love with in 2001, but as her sound morphs and develops, it remains constantly SUPA AWESOME.

And I call it now: her collaboration with Drake is gonna be huge.

Alicia called on Drake to write her a track for the album, and the result is a baby-making BANGER that you can feel deep down in your gut.

(Listen here)

These two phenoms spent time in the studio listening to their favourite songs for inspiration before cracking down to write a track. From there, Drake wrote most of the record while Alicia produced with longtime collaborator Kerry Krucial Brothers. If you’re familiar with Drizzy’s sound, particularly So Far Gone, you’ll see how much of his style is reflected (see: “Sooner Than Later”), even though the actual record is light on his voice. I think it’s pretty exciting to see him getting songwriting props – with all his hype, it would be easy for him to get swept up in 16 bar guest raps, but here he gets to let his other talents shine.

IMO, this is the secks-eh slow jam of the year. Those chord changes!!! That heartbeat kick drum!!!

Basically, I’m saying that grade 9 kids will pledge undying love to each other during slow dances, Alicia/Drake enthusiasts (ME ME ME) will pee their pants, slow jam connoisseurs will praise the gods of makeout music and I will continue to fall into a black hole of bliss. I’ve got a problem, and I don’t want to be helped. Welcome back, A-Keys!!

PS: “I was wondering maybe/could I make you my baby/if we do the unthinkable/will it make us look crazy”: could this be a nod to Alicia’s romance with Swizz Beatz?

Tags: alicia keys, collaborations, drake, earworms, good tunes, r&b