Take Care

A dark, sensuous expansion of Drake's sound that turned heartbreak into a diamond-certified global phenomenon.

"Take Care" is the second studio album by Canadian rapper Drake, released on November 15, 2011, via Young Money, Cash Money, and Republic Records. Following the commercial success but personal disjointedness of his debut "Thank Me Later," Drake sought to reunite with long-time producer Noah "40" Shebib to create a more cohesive work. The album features guest appearances from artists including The Weeknd, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Birdman, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Stevie Wonder, Lil Wayne, and André 3000. Despite leaking nine days prior to release, it debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 631,000 copies sold in its first week.

Quick Facts

Artist

Drake

Released

November 15, 2011

Recorded

2010–2011

Genre

Hip-hop
R&B
pop
alternative R&B

Length

80:18

Label

Aspire
Young Money
Cash Money
Republic

Producer

40, Boi-1da, Chase N. Cashe, Illangelo, Jamie xx, Just Blaze, The Weeknd, T-Minus, Doc McKinney, Supa Dups

Lore & Background

The album expands on the low-tempo, sensuous, and dark sonic aesthetic of "Thank Me Later," incorporating minimalist R&B influences and existential subject matter. Production is primarily handled by Shebib, who contributes murky beats, dark synth layers, atmospheric keyboards, and muffled drums, though T-Minus, Boi-1da, Illangelo, Jamie xx, Just Blaze, and others also contributed. Drake's vocals feature emotional crooning, alto ranges, a guttural cadence, and a melodic flow with a larger emphasis on singing than his debut. The music blends braggadocio with lyrics about fame, romance, wealth, relationships with friends and family, sex, and narcissism. Critics noted the "late-night" vibe and 1990s R&B influence, comparing the mood to Kanye West's "808s & Heartbreak" while interpreting its subtle style as a rebuke to European dance influences.

Reader's Guide

"Take Care" debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 selling 631,000 copies in its first week despite leaking online nine days early. It has been certified diamond by the RIAA. Four singles peaked in the top 20: "Headlines," "Make Me Proud," "The Motto," and "Take Care." The album received critical acclaim for its expansive production and emotional themes, named one of the best albums of 2011 and later one of the best of the 2010s by several publications. It won Drake his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Album at the 2013 ceremony. In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked it 95th on their updated list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1	Over My Dead Body	Aubrey Graham, Noah Shebib, Chantal Kreviazuk, Anthony Palman	4:32
2	Shot for Me	Graham, Shebib, Abel Tesfaye, Brian Morgan, Blanchaer Millar, Ray Smith, Tyrone Armstrong	3:44
3	Headlines	Graham, Matthew Samuels, Shebib, Palman	3:56
4	Crew Love (featuring the Weeknd)	Graham, Tesfaye, Carlo Montagnese, Shebib, Palman	3:28
5	Take Care (featuring Rihanna)	Graham, Jamie Smith, Shebib, Palman, Romy Croft, Brook Benton, Wally Gold, John Gluck, Herbert Wiener, Seymour Gottlieb	4:37
6	Marvins Room	Graham, Shebib, Adrian Eccleston, Jason Beck	5:47
7	Buried Alive Interlude (performed by Kendrick Lamar)	Graham, Kendrick Duckworth, Shebib, Dwayne Chin-Quee	2:31
8	Under Ground Kings	Graham, Tyler Williams, Shebib, Palman, Dwayne Carter, Tauheed Epps, Ronald Williams, Siccaturie Alcock, Duane Stephenson, Earl Conyers, Joshua Banks, Tristan Jones	3:32
9	We'll Be Fine (featuring Birdman)	Graham, Bryan Williams, T. Williams, Shebib, Palman	4:08
10	Make Me Proud (featuring Nicki Minaj)	Graham, Onika Maraj, T. Williams, Palman, Shebib, Nikhil Seetharam, Kenza Samir	3:39
11	Lord Knows (featuring Rick Ross)	Graham, William Roberts, Justin Smith, Palman	5:07
12	Cameras / Good Ones Go Interlude	Graham, Shebib, Palman, Tesfaye, Beck, Jonathan Buck, Ngai Mcgee	7:15
13	Doing It Wrong	Graham, Shebib, Eccleston, Donald Mclean	4:25
14	The Real Her (featuring Lil Wayne and André 3000)	Graham, Carter, André Benjamin, Shebib, Faheem Najm	5:21
15	Look What You've Done	Graham, Jesse Woodard, Shebib, Stephen Garrett, Jawaan Peacock, Benjamin Bush	5:02
16	HYFR (Hell Ya Fucking Right) (featuring Lil Wayne)	Graham, Carter, T. Williams, Shebib, Palman, Samir, Cedric Hill	3:26
17	Practice	Graham, Shebib, Tesfaye, Eccleston, Carter, Byron Thomas, Terius Gray	3:57
18	The Ride	Graham, Martin McKinney, Tesfaye, Palman, Eccleston, Austin Bascom	5:51
Total length			80:18

Did You Know?

The Weeknd claimed half of his "House of Balloons" tracks ended up on "Take Care," a statement disputed by Drake and producer 40.
Drake initially recruited 9th Wonder for the album, but he was not included because he was busy playing beats for A&Rs rather than the artist himself.
Justin Timberlake recorded a song for the album but withdrew due to acting commitments; they later collaborated on "Cabaret" in 2013.