I think it’s safe to say that Drake’s OVO label is one of the worst in the industry for promoting its artists. If your name isn’t Drake or PARTYNEXTDOOR good luck with marketing yourself. I think they need to realize that what worked with The Weeknd will not work with everyone else. But I digress, OVO’s step child, Roy Woods, has officially dropped his long anticipated(?) debut album, Say Less (I initially thought it was another ‘mixtape’). Despite not getting much love from his label, it is actually a fairly strong debut. The production is really good (as long as you like that Toronto/OVO sound), there’s some solid vibes here, and while he’s not the best singer out there, he has more than serviceable vocals. So then what’s missing? That’s what I kept asking myself throughout my entire listen. I liked what I was hearing but it also felt like I’ve heard it all before. Either from him or some other artist that he’s an approximation of. It’s the same problem I’ve had with him since he first came onto the scene. There’s nothing wholly original about him or his music, and when there’s other acts out there who do this sound better or have been out longer, being good just isn’t enough. Still, it is yet another solid release from OVO that will undoubtedly get overlooked.
“Heard you got a lot to say
Maybe you should say less
You ain’t gotta tell no lie
Maybe you can confess”
Have you heard Say Less? What’d you think about it? Do you think Roy Woods’ music is original enough to actually make it big? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to leave your own ratings and reactions to the album.
