The symbol of protection in Wicca represents a significant aspect of this pagan belief system. Wicca is a modern witchcraft practice that often emphasizes nature worship and influences from various esoteric traditions. In this context, protection is vital for practitioners as it helps to create a safe and energetically balanced environment for magical rituals and everyday life. The symbol most commonly associated with protection in Wicca is the pentacle. The pentacle consists of a pentagram enclosed within a circle. The pentagram is a five-pointed star, with each point representing one of the five elements: earth, air, fire, water, and spirit.

Every Song on Drake’s ‘Certified Lover Boy’ Album, Ranked: Critic’s Picks

Released on Friday (Sept. 3), check out our track rankings for Drake's long-awaited sixth album, Certified Lover Boy.

Carl Lamarre

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After a three-year layoff from his double-album Scorpion, on the wee hours of Friday morning (Sept. 3), Drake released his long-awaited project Certified Lover Boy.

Clocking in at an hour and 26 minutes, Drake assembles a star-studded cast of features, including Jay-Z, Future, Travis Scott, Young Thug, Kid Cudi, 21 Savage, and more. Unlike his predecessor, which boasted a bevy of singles before its release date, Drizzy didn’t release any records ahead of his sixth album. Instead, he kept fans enthralled by teasing the project’s features on billboards placed across various cities.

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Oozing with a handful of ’90s samples, including a controversial interpolation of R. Kelly’s “Half on a Baby” on “TSU,” Drake channels his days of Take Care and Nothing Was the Same on the production front. And while Drizzy’s penchant for throwback samples takes precedent, Drake’s CLB doesn’t shy away from his favorite topics: women, success, and family.

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Fans Think Drake Trampled Kanye in '7am on Bridle Path' Lyrics From 'CLB'

On the 21-track project, he also continues his lyrical skirmish with current adversary Kanye West. On “7am on Bridle Path,” he sacks the DONDA MC after West posted his home address on Instagram last week. Despite his war-ready swagger, Drizzy inevitably finds a happy medium and gives fans everything they’ve been waiting for on CLB .

Check out our track rankings for his new album below.

21. “F–king Fans”

With PARTYNEXTDOOR on back-up vocals, Drake acknowledges his faults and realizes that his casual flings are causing his relationship to spiral. In hopes of breaking free from the doghouse, he apologizes to his previous partners for his constant slip-ups. Though bragging about fan love has always been a famous pastime for artists, here Drake shuns that notion and vows to do better.

20. “No Friends In The Industry”

On “No Friends in the Industry,” Drake’s onslaught against his contemporaries continues. While he doesn’t take direct shots at anyone specifically, he feels that his gripes are warranted, considering he remains a top target in hip-hop feuds. Still, this record won’t likely move the needle against his foes and better serves as one for venting.

19. In The Bible (with Lil Durk & Giveon)

Last year, Drake and Durkio tag-teamed on the triumphant Hot 100 collab “Laugh Now Cry Later.” “In the Bible” pales in comparison to the former due to its draggy tempo. However, Giveon’s performance later on provides much-needed steam to what was originally a lackluster effort.

18. “Fair Trade” (with Travis Scott)

After coming off their epic 2018 collaboration “Sicko Mode,” “Fair Trade” is a significant letdown, if only because Drizzy and La Flame took fans to an unmeasurable level the first go-round. While Drizzy’s smooth sonics are the highlight of CLB, here’s the one moment you wished he and Travis went nuclear on the production front.

17. “N 2 Deep” (with Future)

Drizzy’s love for Houston remains solid and alive on “TSU” and “N 2 Deep.” His affection for the city’s club scene — mainly the women — once again gets him in trouble. Luckily, Future is there to lasso him back into reality with his second appearance on the album, though it isn’t enough to save the love-drunk MC.

16. “Yebba’s Heartbreak”

Memphis upstart Yebba is quickly asserting herself as a volcanic force in alternative R&B with her soulful vocals. With a Grammy win to her name, Drake takes the backseat and gives her room to shine on the album’s interlude.

15. “Papi’s Home”

Drizzy’s “sons” might feel threatened by his hubris and casual s–t-talking on “Papi’s Home.” Along with boasting a smooth Montell Jordan sample, Drizzy enlists Nicki Minaj to ramp up his competitive spirit with her cocky commentary.

14. “Get Along Better”

At this juncture of his career, Ty Dolla $ign remains undefeated in the features department. After providing back-up vocals on Drake’s 2018 “Jaded” and “After Dark,” Ty returns and plays the perfect teammate for Drizzy’s moody “Get Along Better.” Drake and Ty string together another heartache, where they sing about preferring their mate’s bestie over their actual partner.

13. “Fountains” (with Tems)

Drake nabs another stellar rookie for his sixth album in Tems, who is conquering the summer with her show-stealing appearance on Wizkid’s “Essence.” Together, Drake and Tems are formidable, as they allow each other to shine on the slow-burning tune.

12. “Race My Mind”

What was previously a leak earlier this year, “Race My Mind” feels complete compared to its original version. After flashing moments of insecurities at the opening tip, Drake regains his composure and closes things out with an impressive verse about his fizzled relationship.

11. “TSU”

Drake rings the bell and delivers another anthem for ambitious college girls eying an exit from the nightlife. His words of encouragement inject a palpable sense of strength for up-and-coming dream chasers. (“Baby, just relax, I’m on your side.”) Sadly, the song now has a black eye due to fans learning of R. Kelly’s song credit.

10. “Way 2 Sexy” (with Future & Young Thug)

In 2020’s Dark Lane Demo Tapes , Drake, Future, and Thug joined forces on “D4L.” Here, they attempt to strike gold once again on the club-ready standout “Too Sexy.” Future’s clever interpolation of British group Right Said Fred’s 1991 hit “I’m Too Sexy” is the cherry on top and will undoubtedly find various homes on any upcoming TikTok videos.

9. “Love All” (with Jay-Z)

The seventh collaboration between Drake and Hov is a contemplative moment for two of rap’s elite. Instead of delivering glitzy verses about their storied careers, Drizzy and Jay exude the gravitas of war heroes anchored by their discipline and loyalty.

8. Girls Want Girls (with Lil Baby)

After supplying fans with a torrid collaboration on this year’s “Wants and Needs,” Drake and Lil Baby up the ante with their catchy earworm “Girls Want Girls.” Drizzy staples together an instant classic fueled by his sticky hook (“Girls want girls, where I’m from”), while Baby’s frenzied delivery helps him maintain his crown as a hip-hop’s go-to feature.

7. “Pipe Down”

If you’re looking for the ultimate sadboy record on CLB , “Pipe Down” takes the cake. Heartbreak Drake grapples with dishonesty and miscommunication on what’s left of his mangled relationship. Instead of trading shots with his partner, he seeks ways to minimize the tension, but to no avail.

6. “You Only Live Twice” (with Rick Ross & Lil Wayne)

Earlier this year, Ross teased his verse on Instagram, though many believed the record was for his forthcoming album Richer Than I Ever Been . The soulful production is reminiscent of Ross’ Telfon Don and finds the rap trio engaging in a lyrical assault. Playing off their YOLO mantra, it’s Wayne who wins the battle of the bars with his outstanding showing.

5. “The Remorse”

The six-minute outro is an excellent performance for those who enjoy the rap-heavy, pensive side of Drake. Besides paying homage to his OVO family, Drake comes to grips with his potential as a husband (“Can’t picture bein’ a hubby, finger too stubby to fit a ring on”) and dishes out advice to upcoming rappers eyeing the throne.

4. “7am On Bridle Path”

On “7am” Drake returns to his sacred “AM/PM” series and uses this particular record to square off against his nemesis Kanye West. With no chorus, Drake seemingly aims at West and calls him out for his jealousy, previously posting his address on Instagram and more. Again, Drake has no qualms about prolonging his feud with West, rapping: “I could give a f–k about who designing your sneakers and tees/ Have somebody put you on a Gildan, you play with my seed.”

3. “Champagne Poetry”

Drake’s opening salvo begins with a jazzy introduction where he waxes poetics about his untouchable reign. While the intro mirrors his 2014 classic “Tuscan Leather” because of the song’s seamless beat-switch, Drake’s steady flow and thoughtful bars about the gift and the curse of success seals him another great intro. Brownie points for sampling Masego’s “Navajo.”

2. “IMY2” (with Kid Cudi)

Despite their quarrels stemming back from Drake’s “Two Birds, One Stone,” Cudder and Drizzy buried the hatchet and finally threaded together their first record. Saluting Juice WRLD at the start of the song, Drake and Cudi look past their indiscretions and are “focused on getting more.” The song also serves as a vehicle for Drake to relish his accomplishments, and how he’s finding himself as a man.

1. “Knife Talk” (with 21 Savage ft. Project Pat)

Once again, Drake and 21’s contrasting styles are match-made in heaven. “Knife Talk” easily bests their previous collaboration, 2020 Savage Mode 2’s “Mr. Right Now,” and gives the album a much-needed boost with its ominous flair and villainous tone.

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Young Thug’s New Album Feels Like a Loosies Compilation

Business Is Business is a star-studded affair but don’t expect many bars addressing Gunna or Thug’s current situation.

Young Thug speaks onstage at the 2021 REVOLT Summit at 787 Windsor on November 13, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. Courtesy of Paras Griffin via Getty Images

Last May, Young Thug, Gunna, and many others associated with Atlanta’s hugely influential YSL collective were arrested as part of a sprawling RICO indictment. With several of the most prominent rappers in the genre suddenly behind bars, the landscape of hip-hop changed, as other A-listers rallied to the defense of the incarcerated stars, and conversations around the criminalization of rap music taking place globally. A secondary effect was that Thug, an inimitable and ubiquitous voice in the last decade-plus of popular music, was suddenly silent.

Though he’s in the midst of a slow-moving trial that seems to constantly generate bizarre headlines, Thug’s creative hiatus is over with the June 23 release of Business is Business. Initially teased last week via mysterious QR codes on social media, the 31-year-old iconoclast’s third studio album comes at an inflection point for him professionally and, more crucially, personally. Given Thug’s current predicament, the intrigue around his relationship with Gunna, and, you know, his status as one of rap’s most dynamic entertainers right now, all ears are tuned into this album. Let’s break down the insights that arise after a few initial spins.

Business is Business arrives just a week after Gunna released A Gift & A Curse, his first album since being freed from custody, and a body of work that responds to the widespread backlash he’s faced both within the hip-hop community and from fans at large. On tracks like “I Was Just Thinking,” Gunna seems to be talking to Thug directly, rapping, “You know my mind, you done watched that n-gga grow / Know you hearin’ the lies that your lil’ brother might fold / Yeah, I had popped out, but don’t let ‘em say I told.”

Fans expecting Thug to air out Gunna on this new album will be disappointed–and don’t seem to understand how music works–as his vocals were recorded prior to Thug being arrested. While Young Thug records prolifically, some of these songs were likely leftovers from Thug’s last two projects: the YSL compilation Slime Language 2, and his solo album Punk. However, the album’s title, while a common phrase in hip-hop, is also conspicuously the title of a 2018 collaborative track between Lil Baby and Gunna from their album Drip Harder.)

There are lyrics on songs like “Jonesboro,” where Thug raps, “N-gaa told and he was my homiе, I can't miss him / Ain't nobody feel him,” that some are connecting to Gunna, but betrayal is a common theme in Thug songs , and the connection here seems circumstantial.

Though Gunna isn’t mentioned explicitly by Thug, his presence is felt throughout Business is Business and the surrounding social media chatter. While it hasn’t been verified, purported audio leaks from Thug on social media see him talking to Lil Durk and Lil Baby, encouraging them to respond to Gunna directly in verses on the album. (Neither MC ultimately wound up with a feature on Business is Business, though they both showed support for Thug’s new release on Instagram.)

Uzi Vert, a close collaborator of Thug’s who has worked frequently with Gunna, references unnamed snitches during his appearance on “Hellcat Kenny.” “Most of my niggas, they loyal / I ain't even gotta look, turnin' my back /Some of these n-ggas, I heard they be rats, “ he raps.

While Gunna’s A Gift & A Curse had no features across its 15 tracks, Business is Business is positively star-studded. Drake, 21 Savage, and Travis Scott all appear twice, while Lil Uzi Vert, and FUN. singer Nate Reuss are featured as well. (It’s as good a time as any to revisit the video of Thug passionately singing along to “Some Nights.”) Gunna’s album included a handful of marquee producers like CuBeatz, Pooh Beatz, and his longtime collaborator Turbo, but Thug’s latest was helmed primarily by Atlanta rap mastermind Metro Boomin, who serves as an executive producer, as well as Thug’s frequent foil Wheezy. In the ad-libs for songs like “Mad Dog,” Thug namedrops MetroThuggin—the collaborative tape between himself and Metro Boomin the pair have long teased—implying some of these songs were from those sessions. (Only YSL producer Aviator Keyyz contributed to both A Gfit & A Curse and Business is Business.)

As mentioned, Business is Business was recorded before Thug’s incarceration, which is hardly surprising given the Atlanta MC’s legendarily prolific approach to making music. But the LP acknowledges that Thug is currently in prison, beginning from the very first track.

Drake kicks the album off with bars from Thug’s POV, singing “Don't tell me bout loyalty, show me this time… Parade on Blevland soon as I get home.” After Drake’s chorus, Thug’s verse is preceded by the collect-call notification from the Cobb County Adult Detention Center. Thug also alludes to the concept of “Pushin P,” the ubiquitous slang phrase he helped popularize on Gunna’s 2022 track of the same name.

Notably, one of the guest vocalists who speaks most emphatically about Thug’s situation is Ruess. Singing the opening of closer “Global Access,” he opines about Thug’s situation, viewing it as a classic case of a public figure being built up only to be torn down by the same forces. “They will try and lock you up / Drag your name down through the mud / Afraid of all that you'll become /'Cause that's life here in America,” Ruess says, later adding, “So they will try and keep your mouth shut / Take your words and twist them up.” The latter lines are particularly notable since lyrics from Thug and other YSL members were cited prominently in the RICO indictment, kick-starting another spirited debate about the use of rap lyrics in criminal trials, and the way that rappers are not given the same artistic license as other creatives.

Elsewhere on the album, another YSL tragedy is referenced: the death of Lil Keed, the talented 24-year-old MC who died in May 2022. Keed’s younger brother, Lil Gotit, appears on several songs, referencing his late family member on “Hoodie.” “Long live my fuckin’ brother, that’s my Rolex / That’s my twin,” he raps.” The title of opening cut ‘Parade on Cleveland” references Cleveland Avenue, the street where Keed grew up and the namesake of his acclaimed Trapped on Cleveland mixtape series.

Ultimately, Business is Business won’t go down as a genre-defining body of work like Thug’s Jeffery or Barter 6, but its brightest moments are a reminder of what Young Thug can be at his freewheeling best.

Drake the gift without a curse songs

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The pentagram is a five-pointed star, with each point representing one of the five elements: earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. The circle, in turn, symbolizes unity and wholeness. The pentacle is often used as a protective symbol in various Wiccan practices.

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It is commonly worn as jewelry or used as an amulet to create a barrier against negative energies and entities. The circle surrounding the pentagram acts as a container, reinforcing the symbol's protective qualities and sealing in positive energies. Additionally, the pentacle symbolizes the balance between the elements and the individual's connection to the divine. By invoking the pentacle's protective energies, practitioners seek to retain a harmonious relationship with the natural world and spiritual realms while warding off any harmful influences. In Wicca, protection is not limited to physical or external threats but encompasses spiritual and energetic aspects as well. Wiccans often perform rituals, spells, or create talismans using the pentacle to establish spiritual protection and energetic boundaries. These practices may involve visualization, meditation, or the recitation of specific incantations. Furthermore, the pentacle's association with protection extends beyond individual practitioners or households. It can also be used to protect a particular space, such as a sacred altar or ritual area. Placing a pentacle on or around these spaces is believed to create a protective barrier that ensures the integrity and safety of Wiccan ceremonies and rituals. Overall, the symbol of protection in Wicca, particularly the pentacle, holds great significance. It serves as a powerful tool for safeguarding against negative energies, establishing energetic boundaries, and facilitating a deeper connection to the elements and the divine. By utilizing this symbol in various practices, Wiccans seek to create a protective and spiritually nourishing environment within their lives and magical workings..

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The Sigils of Protection in Wicca: Exploring Their Meanings and Uses