Despite announcing a break from music to focus on his health, Drake continues to prove his unwavering dedication to his craft. Just hours after unveiling the music video for “First Person Shooter” with J. Cole, The Toronto superstar took to Instagram to announce the unexpected release of the third installment of his Scary Hours mixtape series.
In a revealing video announcing the project, Drake addresses his decision to continue working instead of taking an extended hiatus. “I’ll say this to you,” he states, “I feel no need to appease anybody. I feel so confident about the body of work that I just dropped that I know I can disappear for whatever… six months, a year, two years, even though I’m not really like into it [laughs]. I’m not really into the lengthy, super lengthy disappearances for the sake of mystery.”
Drake further elaborates on his creative surge, describing a sense of heightened inspiration that mirrors his early career. “But you know ultimately, it’s coming to me in a way that I haven’t experienced maybe since like [If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late]. I feel like I’m on drugs. I feel like I’m in that mental state without doing anything.”
He goes on to reveal that the entire For All The Dogs project was created within a remarkably short timeframe. “I did does songs in the last five days. I didn’t have one bar written down for those songs on the night that For All The Dogs’ dropped,” he explains. “It’s not like I’m picking up from some unfinished shit you know, it’s happening on its own and who am I to fight it, right? And to fight back against the right thing would be, well, you know…”
The announcement video concludes with a simple yet impactful reveal: a hand holding a flyer displaying the album’s title, Scary Hours 3, and a release date of midnight that same day.
The Scary Hours mixtape series has become a signature release for Drake, showcasing his ability to deliver a collection of cohesive and impactful tracks. The first iteration, released in 2018, featured the chart-topping singles “God’s Plan” and “Diplomatic Immunity.” The second installment, released in 2021, boasted guest appearances from hip-hop heavyweights Rick Ross and Lil Baby.
