So Far Gone
Encyclopedia
So Far Gone is the third official mixtape from Canadian rapper/singer Drake
. Released in February 2009, the mixtape proved to be a major catalyst in the launching of Drake's career on an international scale. Tracks "Best I Ever Had
" and "Successful
" were released as singles from the mixtape, and attained unexpected unprecedented success on the Billboard Hot 100. The Mixtape was promoted with a release party in Toronto
with Drake and LeBron James
. Artists including Omarion
, Lil Wayne
and Bun B
provided guest vocals on the release. So Far Gone has since been hailed as one of the best mixtape releases of modern music, and was universally well received by professional critics and hip-hop fans alike.
Sample credits:
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
. Released in February 2009, the mixtape proved to be a major catalyst in the launching of Drake's career on an international scale. Tracks "Best I Ever Had
Best I Ever Had
Best I Ever Had may refer to:*"Best I Ever Had ", originally recorded by Vertical Horizon and covered by Gary Allan under the title "Best I Ever Had"*"Best I Ever Had" *"Best I Ever Had"...
" and "Successful
Successful (Drake song)
"Successful" is a song by Canadian recording artist Drake. American R&B singer Trey Songz is featured as well as Drake's mentor and labelmate Lil Wayne. The song was written by the trio and its producer, Noah "40" Shebib...
" were released as singles from the mixtape, and attained unexpected unprecedented success on the Billboard Hot 100. The Mixtape was promoted with a release party in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
with Drake and LeBron James
LeBron James
LeBron Raymone James is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association . Nicknamed "King James", he was a three-time "Mr. Basketball" of Ohio in high school, and was highly promoted in the national media as a future NBA superstar while a...
. Artists including Omarion
Omarion
Omari Ishmael Grandberry better known as Omarion, is an American R&B singer, actor, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and former lead singer of the R&B group, B2K. Omarion was spotted at a young age by a manager, Christopher B. Stokes, who took a liking to his vocal abilities...
, Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
and Bun B
Bun B
Bernard Freeman better known by his stage name Bun B, is an American rapper and was one half of the southern hip hop duo UGK . He is also a guest lecturer at Rice University located in Houston, Texas...
provided guest vocals on the release. So Far Gone has since been hailed as one of the best mixtape releases of modern music, and was universally well received by professional critics and hip-hop fans alike.
Background
In an interview with Complex blog, Drake explains: "The whole tape extends from one of my closest friends Oliver. One night we were having a discussion about women and the way we were talking about them, it was so brazen and so disrespectful. He texted me right after we got off the phone and he was like, 'Are we becoming the men that our mothers divorced?' That's really where the cover comes from, too. It's just this kid in pursuit of love and money. We're good guys, I'm friends with some real good people and for him to even text me after we got off the phone it just showed we have a conscience. But sometimes you just get so far gone, you get wrapped up in this shit. The title has a lot of meanings—as the way we carry ourselves, the way we dress, the way people view us, not to sound cocky, it's just that feeling that we're just distanced in a good way. You’re just elevating past the bullshit and past all the shit that you used to be a part of and you're not that proud of, you're just so far gone."Track listing
Sample credits:
- "Lust for Life" samples "Ideas as Opiates" by Tears for FearsTears for FearsTears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
- "Lets Call It Off" samples "Let's Call It OffLet's Call It Off"Let's Call It Off" is the second single from Peter Bjorn and John's Writer's Block LP. A new mix of the song from the album was used for the single, featuring what has been called more of a "calypso" sound. The song has also been used in a popular remix by mash-up DJ Girl Talk...
" by Peter Bjorn and JohnPeter Bjorn and JohnPeter Bjorn and John are a Swedish indie rock band, formed in Stockholm in 1999 and named after the first names of the band's members: Peter Morén , Björn Yttling and John Eriksson .They are best known for the 2006 single "Young Folks", which... - "November 18th" samples "June 27" by DJ ScrewDJ ScrewRobert Earl "DJ Screw" Davis, Jr. was a Houston, Texas-based DJ. He was known as a central figure in the Houston hip-hop community and was the creator of the now-famous Chopped and Screwed DJ technique...
& WarningWarningWarning may refer to:- Signal :* Precautionary statement* Warning sign* Warning system* Warning , issued by a police officer in lieu of a citation following a traffic stop- Music :* Warning...
by The Notorious B.I.G.The Notorious B.I.G.Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough... - "Ignant Shit" samples "Ignorant Shit" by Jay-ZJay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
- "A Night Off" samples "Between the SheetsBetween the Sheets (song)"Between the Sheets" is a quiet storm funk song released by American R&B/soul/funk band The Isley Brothers in 1983 off their album of the same name on the T-Neck imprint.-History:...
" by The Isley BrothersThe Isley BrothersThe Isley Brothers are a highly influential, successful and long-running American music group consisting of different line-ups of six brothers, and a brother-in-law, Chris Jasper... - "Say What's Real" samples "Say You Will808s & Heartbreak808s & Heartbreak is the fourth studio album by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released November 24, 2008 on Roc-A-Fella Records in the United States. Recording sessions for the album took place at Glenwood Studios in Burbank, California and Avex Recording Studio in Honolulu, Hawaii during...
" by Kanye WestKanye WestKanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and... - "Little Bit" samples "Little BitLittle Bit"Little Bit" is a song by Swedish recording artist Lykke Li from her debut album, Youth Novels. Produced by Björn Yttling of Peter Bjorn and John and co-produced by Lasse Mårtén, the track was released in Sweden on 24 September 2007 as the album's lead single...
" by Lykke LiLykke LiLi Lykke Timotej Zachrisson , better known by her stage name Lykke Li , is a Swedish singer-songwriter. Her music often blends elements of pop, indie rock and electronic; various instruments can also be found in her songs, including violins, synthesizers, tambourines, trumpets, saxophones and cellos... - "Best I Ever Had" samples "Fallin' in Love" by Hamilton, Joe Frank & ReynoldsHamilton, Joe Frank & ReynoldsHamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds was a 1970s AM soft rock trio from Los Angeles. The original members were Dan Hamilton , Joe Frank Carollo , and Tommy Reynolds , all of whom had previously played in The T-Bones, a 1960s band noted for the instrumental hit "No Matter What Shape ".The group first hit...
- "Unstoppable" samples "Unstoppable" by Santigold
- "Uptown" samples "Uptown GirlUptown Girl"Uptown Girl" is a song written and performed by musician Billy Joel, first released in 1983 on his album An Innocent Man. The lyrics describe a working-class "downtown man" attempting to woo a wealthy "uptown girl." The single peaked at #3 on the Billboard charts in the US, and #1 in the UK,...
" by Billy JoelBilly JoelWilliam Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to... - "Bria's Interlude" samples "Friendly Skies" by Missy ElliottMissy ElliottMelissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
- "Outro" samples "The Tourist" by GonzalesGonzales (musician)Gonzales, , is a Grammy-nominated Canadian musician currently residing in Paris, France. Though best known for his first MC and electro albums, he is also a pianist, producer, and songwriter....
- "Congratulations" samples "Viva la Vida" by ColdplayColdplayColdplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
Awards
- MTV's Hottest Mixtape of The Year
- Complex's #3 Best Albums of 2009
- Complex's #5 Best Mixtape Album of The Decade