So Far Gone [Mixtape]
by Drake
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 161 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 127 out of 161
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 161
  3. Negative: 23 out of 161

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  1. djdenzel777
    Apr 17, 2017
    9
    A fantastically cohesive project that helped usher in a new stype of rap along with Kanye's 808s. Definitely the best best mixtape of 2009, and a must listen
  2. RonaldOVOXO
    Mar 8, 2012
    9
    Brilliant Mixtape. Drake shows that he is ready for the real world and to show everybody his potential. Its great that he's blown up and still proving critics and haters wrong Probably best mixtape with rap & R&B
  3. CLK
    Dec 12, 2013
    10
    Amazing song structure, personal lyrics and overall great album. Will help solidify him as a hip hop legend. Negatives though are present though.....
  4. mado2times
    Nov 14, 2017
    10
    In 2009, Mr Aubrey Drake Graham dropped one of the most impactful and influential hip hop mixtapes of all time. He knocked the door down with force as he showed his signature versatility with singing and rapping, the drake that we all love.
  5. swzish
    Nov 13, 2011
    10
    Excellent mixtape. One of the best to come out in the last decade. The samples are great, and the production is just overall amazing (thanks to Noah "40" Shebib). A great mixture of R&B and rap here. "Lust for Life" is a standout track. Others include: "Uptown," "Let's Call It Off," "Brand New."
  6. Kaztaj
    Nov 20, 2010
    10
    A mixtape that shows potential in drake. He shows a good flow, and lyrical verses. So far gone is just the beginning of a promising career and future, for the old Degrassi star.
  7. therealmohamed_
    Nov 19, 2013
    9
    Chances of Drake topping this mixtape in his career are very slim. Might be the greatest mixtape ever behind Nostalgia, Ultra by Frank Ocean and Thursday by the weeknd.
  8. NicoDaFlagburna
    Jan 27, 2011
    10
    Probably the best Rap/R'n'B crossover debut ever. His lyrical skill matches his vocal talent and there is a real sense of the old and new school styles being blended with great technical ability, like a scientist making drugs to be consumed by the mainstream. There is enough here to appeal to real hip-hop fans and to the kids who will provide his main stream of revenue. If you don't enjoyProbably the best Rap/R'n'B crossover debut ever. His lyrical skill matches his vocal talent and there is a real sense of the old and new school styles being blended with great technical ability, like a scientist making drugs to be consumed by the mainstream. There is enough here to appeal to real hip-hop fans and to the kids who will provide his main stream of revenue. If you don't enjoy this record then you are probably missing the point. He has unwittingly exposed the thousands of throwaway R'n'B artists around the world as frauds and his signing to Young Money (a hip-hop imprint) is proof of his versatility.
    10/10 95/100    … Expand
  9. Jumpman
    Jan 9, 2016
    3
    The mixture of rap and rnb might have been revolutionary at the time but to me this feels way off. I am a big fan of drake's work but so far gone is a failure
  10. spenceryang8
    Feb 22, 2019
    5
    10 years on from its initial release, Drake's breakthrough mixtape remains a mixed bag, albeit a somewhat groundbreaking one.

    FAV TRACKS: SUCCESSFUL, BEST I EVER HAD, IGNANT **** THE CALM, SAY WHAT'S REAL, LUST FOR LIFE

    LEAST FAV TRACK: HOUSTATLANTAVEGAS
  11. Fortune_OVOXO
    Apr 1, 2012
    9
    So Far Gone stands out than any other mixtape, Drake's not like those other rappers, he's different and original (which is good). On the other hand, listen to So Far Gone 'cause if you're not, you're missing out.
  12. ZacharyGault
    Nov 14, 2013
    10
    This will probably be remembered as one of the greatest mix tapes of all time. As it jump started the careers of various producers, and gave us one of the most popular artists of our generation.
  13. cpoll
    Dec 10, 2013
    10
    This mixtape changed the Hip-hop & rap game as we know it. From the release of this record, the boundaries between different genres were seamlessly broken and music has evolved tremendously because of it.
  14. comebackkid12
    Dec 8, 2014
    9
    One of the best mixtapes from this decade, and a standout for the year, "So Far Gone" is one of Drake's greatest works (if not his greatest). The lush, woozy sound that his producer/friend Noah "40" Shebib is able to bring to the table fits perfectly for Drake's mood and storytelling, which is also incredible. You will be hard-pressed to find a more atmospheric mixtape that plays as if itOne of the best mixtapes from this decade, and a standout for the year, "So Far Gone" is one of Drake's greatest works (if not his greatest). The lush, woozy sound that his producer/friend Noah "40" Shebib is able to bring to the table fits perfectly for Drake's mood and storytelling, which is also incredible. You will be hard-pressed to find a more atmospheric mixtape that plays as if it were a debut album.… Expand
  15. Bobtinin
    Feb 2, 2020
    10
    'So Far Gone' is the breakthrough mixtape project which put Drake on the map within the music industry. I believe this project to be a classic among mixtapes, as it is clearly one of the highest caliber. There's a reason why critics have reviewed this as his highest-rated project, to this day. Put simply, Drake was able to finally carve out a niche for himself, by being able to prove'So Far Gone' is the breakthrough mixtape project which put Drake on the map within the music industry. I believe this project to be a classic among mixtapes, as it is clearly one of the highest caliber. There's a reason why critics have reviewed this as his highest-rated project, to this day. Put simply, Drake was able to finally carve out a niche for himself, by being able to prove himself as a rapper, while simultaneously singing his heart out to the audience. In the songs, "Successful", "Say What's Real", and "The Calm" he shows his ability to be deep and introspective. Meanwhile on the songs, "Houstalantavegas", "Let's Call It Off", "A Night Off", "Little Bit", "Sooner Than Later", "Bria's Interlude", and "Brand New", he shows his soft-side by channeling his singing talents over atmospheric Pop/R&B beats. Finally, he shows his ability to have fun and be braggadocios on the songs, "Ignant ****", "Best I Ever Had", "Unstoppable", "Uptown", and "Congratulations". Throughout the album, producer Noah "40" Shebib was able to create sonically pleasing beats almost indistinguishable in quality from any best-selling album, while Drake made the decision to use classic beats from artists such as Kanye West and Jay-Z to prove his ability, and he certainly did justice to them. It goes without saying that Drake would go on to hone his skills and become a better artist, but for the period in his career that he was at, he was able to achieve the highest level of quality he could in this project. It is also worth pointing out that because this mixtape was so cohesive and high-quality, it raised the bar for what makes a good mixtape, meaning many artists (including Drake himself in "If You're Reading This It's Too Late" and "More Life") would go on to make mixtapes which could easily be confused as albums because they were so well made. For these reasons, I must give this mixtape a 10/10, and still consider this to be one of Drake's best projects.… Expand
  16. swagkonyjohnson
    Apr 3, 2015
    8
    One of the best mixtapes I've ever heard, cohesive throughout and an amazing blend of rap and r&b. Probably among Drake's best, if not his best, works to date.
  17. ZachKendall
    Sep 8, 2015
    10
    The best mixtape to come out in 2009! This amazing introspective body of work put Drake on the map. Shooting straight to the top of the charts with a mixtape forced people to realize that it doesn’t matter whether you come from the streets. All that matters is if you have good music. This mixtape introduced a generation to their go to hit maker. While also cementing Drake’s name in theThe best mixtape to come out in 2009! This amazing introspective body of work put Drake on the map. Shooting straight to the top of the charts with a mixtape forced people to realize that it doesn’t matter whether you come from the streets. All that matters is if you have good music. This mixtape introduced a generation to their go to hit maker. While also cementing Drake’s name in the game of hip hop.… Expand
  18. fifi3
    Jul 28, 2019
    8
    A mixtape that largely has to take credit for mixtapes being technically albums. It's cohesive and innovative. Drake brings a whole new aspect to pop rap from 808s and features some great, honest and thoughtful tracks.
  19. FruitJuice
    Jul 18, 2017
    7
    good album........................................................................................................................................................................
  20. bryanbranly
    Apr 21, 2022
    10
    So Far Gone took inspiration from a sound first heard from 808’s and Heartbreak and truly made it its own. Drake shines continuously on this mixtape while blending Hip-Hop, R&B & Pop genres perfectly and showing the world that he is in the game and here to stay. A true classic
  21. themusicexpert0
    Sep 4, 2021
    8
    Great mixtape.Drake really shows that he can do r&b and rap both.This is classic for me

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Boston Globe
    80
    His materialism threads throughout So Far Gone (champagne flutes, girls, BlackBerrys, more girls), but he chases that with soft touches of humor and honesty.
    Read full review
  2. cokemachineglow
    85
    I am aware that I am giving the following guy an 85% on Cokemachineglow. The thing is, he deserves it.
    Read full review
  3. Pitchfork
    74
    So Far Gone still scans as one of the most compulsively listenable mixtapes of a great year for mixtapes.
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