The Resistance is the 3rd Track on Drake’s Thank Me Later album. It is produced by Noah “40” Shebib and the song’s theme is essentially Drake not thinking he should have to apologize for success. Here are some
Drake was only 23 years old at the time of Thank Me Later. He is using a play on “money doesn't grow on trees”, saying that he already has a money tree and is planting hundreds more with his music. @RapGenius has the “ironic” line alluding to the fellow Canadian artist, Alanis Morissette’s song, but I think that is a bit of a reach. Drake’s mother was a former florist and teacher. There is also the connection with “pops” with poppy seeds, more wordplay.
While Penny Lane became a famous song by the Beatles in 1967, the Penny Lane that Drake is referencing here is the character that Kate Hudson plays in the movie “Almost Famous”, who I’m sure took the name from the Beatles song. Throughout the movie, Penny Lane tells the main character he’ll become famous. One of Drake’s co-stars on Degrassi, Stacey Farber, is also likely who he is alluding to. The internet says that Drake had an Instagram picture with Stacey Farber in ‘13 where he called her Penny Lane. (Source: The Google) Drake when working on Degrassi was notorious for writing and rapping on set, so Farber could have been someone who saw the potential in Drake when they were kids.
One thing about Drake compared to most rappers is that he has never really rapped about hard drugs. He avoided cocaine use and signed with Sprite, please ignore the fact that Sprite is owned by Coca-Cola - more wordplay. Nice throwback commercial.
The last line in the song sets up the next track on the album. @YouTheReader you’ll hear it next Mock Draft Monday.
Last week I mentioned that Justin Edwards, Anthony Black, Brandon Miller, and Brock Bowers have seen the Week to Week Notes logo. This is who viewed the Week to Week Notes logo in last week’s Mock Draft…
Jordan Hawkins’ freshman year at UConn was thrown off by injuries, but he was able to flash enough in 27 games played that he made the Big East All-Freshman Team. Coming into the ‘22-’23 season, Hawkins was expected to take on a bigger role as a scorer and he did just that - raising his averages from 5.8 to 16.2 points per game. In the NCAA Tournament, National Champion hit an astonishing 50% from beyond the arc going 21 for 42 when the stage was brightest. Hawkins is a gifted shooter whose form has drawn comparisons with another UConn alum, Ray Allen. Like Allen, Hawkins will do most of his work in the NBA coming off screens but don’t underestimate his athletic ability too. People forget that Ray Allen when he first entered the NBA had some hops.
Gregory “GG” Jackson was actually the consensus top player in the ‘23 recruitment class before he reclassified in late July and became a part of the ‘22 class. He was originally going to North Carolina before he decided to become a Gamecock. GG Jackson got off to a very hot start in his collegiate, averaging 17.1 points per game in his first 13 games played out of the SEC. The young freshman struggled a bit more once the SEC regular season began but throughout the season, Jackson flashed elite NBA traits. As a power forward Jackson has great natural shooting form and guard skills as a dribbler who can create his own shot. He already possesses an awesome mid-range fadeaway that at 6’9” and still growing will be a problem for NBA defenders to stop. Jackson also has the athleticism to become a plus defender and rebounder.
Trayce Jackson-Davis (not half related if you’re wondering) in ‘23 was a consensus 1st Team All-American. During his time at Indiana, he posted career averages of 17.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game. In Indiana’s storied history, Jackson-Davis ranks 3rd in career points (2,258) and holds the school record in rebounds (1,143) & blocks (270). He is also third in school history in career double-doubles with 50 which makes sense since he averaged 20.9 points and 10.8 rebounds as a senior this past season. Jackson-Davis is just one of five players in Big Ten Basketball history to record 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. Jackson-Davis is not much of a shooter. He scored the majority of his points off of offensive rebounds and making hustle plays like running the floor. The GIF above of him blocking a shot from behind on one end of the floor and then racing down the other end for an alley-oop is what you can expect in the NBA.
Cam Whitmore is a gifted forward with size, strength, and quickness who was recognized as the Most Outstanding Player at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship while helping lead USA Basketball to a gold medal. At Villanova this past season, Whitmore was named the Big East Freshman of the Year and was a unanimous selection to the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team. Pretty cool considering he missed the beginning of the season with right thumb surgery. Whitmore is a high flyer who will have defenders on posters in the NBA. Some fun facts about Whitmore are that he is ambidextrous and plays the baritone saxophone. ‘Nova’s head coach, Kyle Neptune said of Whitmore, “Cam is one of the most gifted and heralded guys that have come through this program. He has a chance to make an immediate impact thanks to his skill and athleticism. His parents have helped instill in Cam an outstanding attitude that is already helping him transition quickly to Villanova.” (Source: Villanova)
Nick Smith only played in 17 games at Arkansas, he had a knee, but was effective as a freshman. Entering the season Nick Smith was named the preseason National Newcomer of the Year (Blue Ribbon Magazine) and National Freshman of the Year (CBSsports.com). Nick Smith shared a backcourt with Anthony Black at Arkansas, which was one of the scariest backcourts in college basketball in ‘23. The combo guard from North Little Rock High School in Arkansas has the potential to be a double-digit scorer off the bench in the NBA immediately. By all accounts his knee has checked out well and the Arkansas training staff did a good job managing the injury.
In ‘22 as a sophomore, Joe Alt started all 13 games and has currently been in the starting lineup at Left Tackle for the Fighting Irish for the past 21 consecutive. The Irish averaged 4.6 yards per carry in ‘22 and Alt was the blind side of an offense that ranked 16th nationally in the least amount of tackles for loss allowed per game. Alt was named First Team All-American by the AP, Pro Football Focus, CBS, and ESPN. At 6’8” and 315 lbs. Alt has the combination of size and quickness off the line that you can’t teach.
#0 for the LSU Tigers, Maason Smith, suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first quarter of the season-opener in ‘22. As a freshman in ‘21, Smith was named to the Freshman All-SEC for his 4 sacks and 5 tackles for a loss. According to LSU, Smith used his time off the field to serve as a mentor to the defensive linemen and despite injury, was still involved in every aspect of the team. Smith is the most imposing player on the LSU roster. He is an extremely hard worker in all areas of the game – practice field, weight room, and film room. LSU coaches have said he brings a great attitude to work each day and has the desire to be a great player. From the time he first stepped on campus, the 6’6” and 310 lbs. defensive tackle immediately looked like an NFL veteran. Smith was rated as the nation’s top prep defensive lineman for the Class of ‘21. (Source: LSU)
Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton will enter the ‘23 college football season as a redshirt junior. He is the # 1 returning defensive tackle in the nation, according to PFF. In ‘22, his 5.5 sacks and 14 TFLs led the nation’s #1 scoring defense. He also tied the national lead in QB hits (19) and pressures (59). As a result, Johnny Netwon was named All-Big Ten's first team by the coaches and media, as well as Academic All-Big Ten. Johnny is the song to Jervon and Jovita Rich. He also has 4 brothers named Jervon, Jerquan, Jerjuan, and Jershaun. Jervon & Jerquan played football at West Florida, while Jerjuan is currently playing for Toledo. Once his football playing days are over, Newton would like to design and build cars following his playing career. (Source: Illinois)
Olumuyiwa Fashanu is 6’6”, 308 lbs, and plays Left Tackle for the Nittany Lions. The coaches and AP honored Fashanu with the 2nd team All-Big Ten last year. In ‘22, Fashanu started eight games at left tackle and allowed zero sacks in 281 pass-blocking snaps. He only played 85 snaps before his breakout redshirt sophomore season, so you can expect this upcoming season to have more developmental growth. Despite the lack of career snaps, NFL scouts and agents were all over Oul Fashanu last fall as he was projected to be a first-round talent. Fashanu decided to go back to Penn State for one more year so that he can graduate this summer and start his master’s this fall. (Source: Penn State)
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is a talented All-America linebacker and NFL legacy who enters 2023 credited with 114 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, seven pass breakups, a forced fumble, and an interception (which he returned 35 yards for a touchdown) in his 2-year career at Clemson. As a freshman, Trotter only played in 59 snaps before being named 2nd Team All-America in ‘22. It is the fewest amount of snaps for a Clemson player the year before making an All-America team. (Source: @TimBourret) The do-it-all linebacker led the team in tackles (92) and tackles for loss (13.5), while tying for the team lead in sacks (6.5). Jeremiah Trotter Jr. wears #54, the same number as his father Jeremiah Trotter, Sr., who you may remember as a four-time Pro Bowler who played 12 NFL seasons for the Eagles, Redskins, and Buccaneers from 1998-’09.