Crew Love by Drake featuring The Weeknd is Track #4 on Take Care. I’m a broken record at this point but this was another song that dominated the radio airwaves when it came out. It’s a bit more of an R&B song that Drake raps on and a rare one where Drake isn’t on the hook. That’s because this song was originally meant to be on The Weeknd’s album. Drake and The Weeknd both blew up in Toronto like a C4.
Strong open with the music that the loud music that has been Reeled. The Weeknd’s first line likely has to do with drugs being on his keyboard, but you could also hear it as a play on words of “take your notes off my keyboard, what you bothering me for” meaning let The Weeknd play his music how he wants it to be played? Maybe I’m reaching.
Here The Weeknd is describing what it was like to be a pop star. He was only around 20 years old when this song came out and seems to have been paying for open bars on rooftops at Toronto bars with many foreign Polish girls in attendance.
So we’ll see what Princeton Hoops has to offer!
Drake dropped out of high school for his starring role on Degrassi and by the time he was done with the show, was already in the middle of his music career. Thus, he never went the route of attending Harvard. The moral is that everybody has their own path.
$50k on a vacation? Sheesh. Where do you think they went?
Drake through rap told his story and made music history. This could also be a double entendre in the way he says “his-story.” With his music on in the background for a whole generation, I’m sure my high school & college friends aren’t the only ones who listened to his music and couldn’t help but take some ambition from it.
Clearly, if he’s willing to spend $50k on a vacation, I'm assuming he’d pick up the check on a reservation for 20, no? OVO Sound is October’s Very Own, or Drake’s own independent record label, while XO is The Weeknd’s.
I don’t know if I do this enough but thank you to all those who’ve been reading Week to Week Notes from the start or wherever/however it is you may have first clicked on the link. Honestly, one of the only reasons I don’t say thank you more on every post is I think it might get drowned out or lose its meaning. I wouldn’t be able to do this without your support. Thank you to all the fan insiders of sports, fans of Guinness, bartenders & bars, and of course my friends & family from before Week to Week Notes.
Trey Benson is originally from Greenville, Mississippi, where he helped his high school St. Joseph Catholic win 3 straight state titles. Before joining Florida State last year, Benson started his collegiate career with the Oregon Ducks. After a freshman season in ‘20 that he missed the whole year, Benson was behind Travis Dye (NY Jet) on the depth chart at Oregon and only saw 6 carries in his 2 years as a Duck. He transferred to Florida State last season and was once again not on the top of the RB depth chart until Week 10 last year. From Weeks 10 to 14, Benson saw at least 15+ carries in each of these games for the 1st time and he produced 593 rushing yards in 5 games. For the season in total, Trey Benson finished with 990 rushing yards and 9 TDs, which earned him 2nd Team All-ACC and he was awarded FSU’s Offensive Newcomer of the Year. His 6.46 yards per carry led the ACC in ‘22 and due to his hot stretch, Benson became the first player to earn outright ACC Running Back of the Week in 3 straight weeks. Trey Benson runs compact with good vision and with more opportunities as the RB1 entering the season, should be a workhorse for the #11 Seminoles’ explosive offense in ‘23.
Curtis Jacobs is from Glen Burnie, Maryland. This is technically the junior Nittany Lion linebacker’s 4th year with the program. He got another year of experience due to the COVID-shortened season. After playing sparingly in ‘20, Jacobs made 12 starts at Penn State in ‘21 where he had 61 tackles, 7 for a loss, 3 sacks, and an INT. This earned Curtis Jacobs an honorable mention of the All-Big Ten. Last year in ‘22, Jacobs started another 12 games at LB with 52 tackles, 7.5 for loss, 4 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 pass breakups, and an INT he brought back from a TD. He was once again named All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media. Jacobs also earned the team's Bob Mitinger Memorial Ultimate Teammate Award. Listed at 6’1” and 238 lbs., Curtis Jacobs is not your father’s typical Big Ten Linebacker from yesteryear, but with his speed and ability to cover should help him transition into a more modern linebacker in the pros.
Jack Nelson is from Stoughton, Wisconsin, which is less than a half hour from Madison, Wisconsin, where he plays for the Badgers. Out of high school, Nelson was awarded the Joe Thomas winner for the state’s top senior offensive lineman. He redshirted his freshman year at Wisconsin in ‘20, before earning his first varsity letter with the Badgers in ‘21. He started all 13 games at right guard where he helped paved the way for the #2 rushing offense in the Big Ten. Last season, Jack Nelson made the switch to left tackle. As the Badger’s blindside, he earned an 83.1 PFF pass-blocking grade, allowed 6 QB hurries, 1 QB hit, and 2 sacks in 676 snaps. In the past two seasons, Nelson has earned All-Big Ten honorable mention for his play on the field and Academic All-Big Ten for his work in the classroom.
D.J. James’ hometown is Mobile, Alabama. The 6’1” slim CB transferred closer to home in ‘22 after playing 3 seasons at Oregon. As a Duck, James has 70 career tackles, 2 INTs, and 6 pass breakups. In ‘22, James started 12 games for Auburn where he 37 tackles, 1 INT that he took home for a Pick 6, and 9 pass deflections while QBs had a 61.3 passer rating when throwing his way. This earned him 2nd Team All-SEC. Pro Football Focus, ranks DJ James very highly as their 3rd highest-graded returning CB in the country. James has exceptional ball skills and shifty quickness, he should be able to guard both outside and inside WRs on Sundays.
Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. is originally from Richmond, Virginia. The 6’1” senior WR made burst onto the SEC scene last year after starting his collegiate career at James Madison. At JMU as a freshman in ‘20, Wells played in 8 games where he put up a total of 603 receiving yards on 33 catches, good for 18.3 yards per catch. During his sophomore year as a Duke, Wells got 14 starts where he broke out for 83 catches for 1,250 yards and 15 TDs. This tied the JMU single-season record for receptions and set the record for single-season receiving yards and receiving TDs. In ‘22, Juice decided to transfer to the Gamecocks where he became Spencer Rattler’s #1 target. Wells put up 68 catches for 928 yards and 6 TDs, which earned him 1st Team All-SEC. Currently dealing with a lower-body injury, Antwane Wells should be set for Week 1 against UNC. His body control, yards-after-catch ability, and toughness should make Juice a reliable WR on Sundays.
Matt Allocco’s hometown is Hilliard, Ohio. The majority of his freshman year at Princeton he earned about 20 minutes a game off the bench. That said, his signature play of his season that year came in his 1st career start on his birthday against Cornell when he drilled a game-winning buzzer-beater. As a sophomore in ‘22-’23, Allocco made 32 starts for Princeton where he averaged 10.7 points, 2.1 assists, and 4.8 rebounds a game while shooting .38% from beyond the arc. This earned Allocco 2nd Team All-Ivy League and he’ll return in ‘23-’24 as the most experienced starter. Expect Allocco to take on an even larger role as a scorer and facilitator for the Princeton Tigers this upcoming season.
Caden Pierce will be entering his sophomore season at Princeton and is originally from Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The younger brother of Colts WR Alec Pierce, Caden is making a name for himself at Princeton. As a freshman, Pierce is already in Princeton’s record books for most rebounds in a season for a rookie. He averaged an impressive 7.3 boards per game, not bad for a 6’6” forward. Pierce also averaged 8.2 points per game which earned him Ivy League Rookie of the Year. Caden Pierce as a freshman played a huge part in Princeton’s March Madness run last year, which saw them in the Sweet 16 for the 1st time in 67 years. Expect even better from him as a sophomore.
Deven Austin is originally from Vernon, Connecticut. As a freshman last year, Austin missed 10 games due to injury but was able to make it on the floor for 22. In 15 minutes of action per game, Austin averaged 5.4 points per game. At 6’6” and with a lanky frame, Austin is an Ivy League highflyer who can put opponents on posters. Don’t let the bounce fool you though, Deven Austin isn’t just a dunker. As his head coach Mitch Henderson put it, “Deven can be one of the best defensive players in the league. He’s hard on himself, but we want to see that continue to grow.” (Source: The Trentonian) I would expect Austin’s defense and finishing ability will lead to an even more prominent role on the Princeton Tigers this season.
Blake Peters is a junior guard from Evanston, Illinois. After playing sparingly during his freshman season, Peters' playing time was increased as a sophomore. In 32 games played, he played around 14 minutes a game where he averaged 6 points per game by shooting .41% from 3. The GIF above is from his high school days where his 80-ft buzzer beater made him an overnight sensation. Last year NJ.com did a feature on Blake Peters because he is a college sophomore who actually reads the newspaper every day. Yup, he reads the Wall Street Journal, “It’s a great way to spend two hours being productive.” After basketball, Peters hopes to embark on a career much like that of Princeton hoops alum and former U.S. Senator, Bill Bradley. “This is going to be a consequential century for America and the world in general. My goal is to be one of the next leaders in American foreign policy. We need reasonable people in those positions, and I’m hoping one day I can serve this country.” (Source: NJ.com) Hopefully, the likes of Blake Peters can sort things out, best of luck!
Dalen Davis is a 3 Star recruit from Chicago, Illinois. In high school, he played for Whitney Young in Chicago’s Public League. Whitney Young won the ‘22 Chicago Public League in large part to the leadership of Dalen Davis. His coach, Tyrone Slaughter put it, “He’s a young man who’s started for us for four years, he’s the first player we’ve had to do that in our program on the varsity level.” Davis always dreamed of playing for Kansas, “it was my dream school. I love the colors, blue and red. That always pushed me.” Then Davis realized he could take his own path. “I realized I am who I am and I wanted to pave my own path. To be the first one, it’s grand, a lifetime opportunity, but I’m glad to embark on it. I feel a lot of pressure. It’s Princeton. That itself brings a lot of pressure. Being Black, and going to Princeton, that’s a lot of pressure. Being the first one from the Public League, that gives me motivation though because I’m the one people look to. I get to narrate my own story, I’m my own identity.” (Source: CPS Athletics) Cool story and best of luck on Dalen Davis’ journey, that’s awesome to read about!