I was thinking about this at the gym a few weeks ago, but it just re-occurred to me reading Jonathan Bogart’s latest singles tumblr post.¹ Drake created one of the catchiest hooks of the year, to me, in “Marvin’s Room”. Except, statistically speaking, most Americans really can’t sing along to it. He even sort of talks obliquely about it toward the end of the song:

Her white friend said “you n—as crazy”.
I hope no-one heard that.
I hope no-one heard that.
Cause if they did, we’re gonna be in some trouble.

I don’t know if this all was an unintentional melange of mood and surliness or what, but the overall effect is simultaneously inviting and alienating, which is not unlike the effect of Drake himself.