Entertainment

Stars align for Drake’s sake

On his sophomore album, “Take Care,” R&B star Drake blends soul and hip-hop, with help from a diverse group, including Stevie Wonder, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne. (
)

Suit up for Gym Class Heroes’ second album out today, “The Papercut Chronicles II.” (
)

Album of the week

DRAKE

“Take Care”

3 STARS

The walks-like-a-duck-and-talks-like-a-duck rules don’t apply to smooth-groove rapper Drake. This Canadian has a Kanye-size ego and a swagger that says he knows his way around a babe and a bottle of Cristal — yet his soft, sensitive ballads make you want to take his lunch money.

On “Take Care,” officially released today, Drake raps and sings about the hard-knock life of being a hip-hop star. There’s also a nod to his mom, and on the title track, he duets with Rihanna, trading raunchy war stories of failed affairs.

The record is musically diverse, too. Opening tune “Over My Dead Body” sticks to a simple voice-and-piano arrangement where Drake makes the wise-beyond-his-years discovery that “jealousy is just love and hate at the same time.” There are also complex compositions such as “Lord Knows,” a piece where Drake gets a rhyming assist by Rick Ross as the music trips into operatic bombast.

To boost the appeal of his sophomore album, Drake enlists a Maybach full of big-name vocalists. Along with Rihanna, he’s got Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne. A welcome surprise among Drake’s guests is Stevie Wonder, who doesn’t sing, but breaks new ground in hip-hop with a harmonica solo in “Doing It Wrong,” a likable ballad.

Other ballads aren’t as welcome. Near the close of the CD, where slow melodies dominate, it seems as if Drake is running on empty, and that fame has made him weary. When the beats lose tempo, the lyrics often are about regret, where there’s too much sex and not enough love. On these poor-pitiful-me confessional tracks, he’s Mr. Sensitive. While the switch-up may seem admirable in theory, it comes off as a yawn best left to acts like Kid Cudi.

Download of the week

GYM CLASS HEROES FEAT. ADAMLEVINE

“Stereo Hearts”

3 1/2 STARS

New York rap ’n’ roll band Gym Class Heroes strike gold with their single “Stereo Hearts” from today’s CD release “The Papercut Chronicles II.” On this bright, poppy love song, the Heroes deliver a rap filled with high-fidelity references. Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine lends his tenor to the tune, singing: “My heart’s a stereo, it beats for you, so listen close . . . Make me your radio.” Gym Class vocalist Travie McCoy extends the metaphor, rapping the question: “If I was an old-school, 50-pound boombox/would you hold me on your shoulder, wherever you walk?” This isn’t a deep tune, but its lyric hooks are clever, with a melody that’s hip-pop catchy. Keeping with the tune’s theme, the grooves aren’t worn or out-of-date like an eight-track tape.