Room for Improvement (mixtape)

Room for Improvement is the debut mixtape by Canadian rapper Drake.[1] It was self-released on February 14, 2006, by All Things Fresh.[2][3][4] Issued as a retail project, it sold 6,000 copies by the end of that year. It features contributions from Toronto natives Slakah the Beatchild, Frank Dukes, and Boi-1da; as well as American singer Trey Songz and American rapper Nickelus F.[5]

Room for Improvement
Mixtape by
ReleasedFebruary 14, 2006 (February 14, 2006)
Recorded2005–2006
Studio
  • Elsadig Residence
  • Positive Vibes
  • BCP
GenreHip hop
Length65:36
LabelAll Things Fresh
Producer
Drake chronology
Room for Improvement
(2006)
Comeback Season
(2007)

Background

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In February 2006, in an interview with thabiz.com, Drake talked about the mixtape, "It's a mix CD and I did it with DJ Smallz, who does the Southern Smoke Series. He's done mixtapes with everyone. Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, a lot of people and he's hosting it for me. It's called Room for Improvement. It's seventeen original tracks and a couple of remixes and stuff like that. 22 tracks in total. I have the Clipse on there, I got Trey Songz in there, I got Lupe Fiasco on there, I have Nickelus F, who is this amazing artist from Virginia, who I'm very very tight with and we work together a lot, we worked together. I have Voyce on there, he's a singer from Toronto. Production wise I don't really have any major producers on there. I have a song I did with Trey Songz. I have an individual by the name of Nick Rashur from Harlem he's a really cool cat. Amir; Boi-1da did the majority of the singles, who else should I mention DJ Ra from DC, a lot of people on the CD."

The mixtape was re-released in 2009, featuring only 11 selected songs, with no DJs along with a remix of 'Do What You Do'.[6]

Track listing

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Partial credits adapted from Drake's personal notebook.[7][8]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"  0:52
2."Pianist Hands (Interlude)"Mazin Elsadig 1:11
3."Special" (featuring Voyce)Aubrey GrahamDJ Ra4:52
4."Do What You Do" Boi-1da3:48
5."Money (Remix)" (featuring Nickelus F)GrahamFrank Dukes2:25
6."AM 2 PM" (featuring Nickelus F)  3:28
7."City Is Mine" Boi-1da3:53
8."Drake's Voice Mail Box #1"  1:12
9."Bad Meaning Good" (featuring Slakah the Beatchild)Slakah the Beatchild2:32
10."Thrill Is Gone"GrahamSlakah the Beatchild3:02
11."Make Things Right" (featuring Slakah the Beatchild)Graham
  • Boi-1da
  • Amir
2:41
12."Video Girl"GrahamDFS3:46
13."Drake's Voice Mail Box #2"  0:16
14."Come Winter" 
  • Rynn
  • Amir
5:28
15."Extra Special" Tommy Gunz2:58
16."About the Game (Freestyle)" (featuring Trey Songz)  1:45
17."All This Love" (featuring Voyce) Exchange Student3:20
18."Drake's Voice Mail Box #3"  1:12
19."A Scorpio's Mind" (featuring Nickelus F) Amir3:52
20."S.T.R.E.S.S." (featuring Nickelus F) Rynn3:43
21."Try Harder" Amir2:22
22."Kick, Push (Remix)" (performed by Lupe Fiasco featuring Drake) Soundtrakk4:44
23."U.P.A. (Outro)"  2:14
Total length:65:36

Notes

  • "Pianist Hands" features uncredited vocals from Mazin's dad
  • "Make Things Right" features uncredited vocals from Slakah the Beatchild

Personnel

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Partial credits adapted from Drake's personal notebook.[7][8]

Musicians

  • Al-Khaaliq – piano (track 2)

References

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  1. ^ Errett, Joshua (January 14, 2009). "Mixtape massacre", Now 28 (20). Retrieved October 7, 2009.
  2. ^ Patch, Nick (December 10, 2009). "Drake becomes one of Canada's biggest rap exports", Canadian Press. Convenience link.
  3. ^ Lee, Chris (July 21, 2009). "Drake lands top 10 hits", Toronto Star. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  4. ^ "Drake - Room for Improvement (Special Edition) Hosted by DJ Smallz // Free Mixtape at". Datpiff.com. January 16, 2007. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  5. ^ "Re-Up On Drake: "Comeback Season" & "Room For Improvement" (2 Mixtapes) : Get Right Music – The Best In Free Mixtape Downloads". Getrightmusic.com. May 5, 2009. Archived from the original on July 24, 2010. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  6. ^ "Urban Entertainment & Pop Culture 'Zine-Drake interview". Thabiz.com. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  7. ^ a b Garcia Lawler, Opheli (June 24, 2018). "You can now bid on Drake's handwritten lyrics". The Fader. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Lot Detail - Drake's Personal, Signed Notebook for His First Mixtape, Room For Improvement ..." Nate D. Sanders. Retrieved June 24, 2018.