Drake’s highly anticipated sixth studio album, Certified Lover Boy, arrived early Friday morning to much fanfare and excitement from listeners all across social media.
The album marks the rapper’s latest major label album release since 2018’s Scorpion, which spanned record breaking hits such as “God’s Plan” and “In My Feelings”.
In true Drake fashion, the album opened with an introspective introduction titled “Champagne Poetry”. The track, which samples The Beatles 1965 hit “Michelle”, ripped into those who dare call themselves his competitors, provided listeners with vivid descriptions of wealth and excess, lamented over the pressures and expectations of fame, and unsurprisingly professed what seems to be Drake’s never ending search for true love.
Despite an all star list of features, fun but ultimately forgettable tracks soon followed.
“Papi’s Home”, a boastful and braggadocious record in which he raps “to all his sons world wide” and includes a surprise guest appearance that fell short of an actual feature from no other than old labelmate and frequent collaborator Nicki Minaj left many fans – myself included – wanting more.
Similarly, his collaboration track with Lil Baby “Girls Want Girls”, about literally girls who like other girls, fell short of expectations set from past hit songs and failed to provide the exhilarating back and forth rapping many are accustomed to on their work together.
Fortunately, later tracks on the album compensated for its earlier missteps.
Songs “TSU”, which includes a spoken introduction from Houston legend OG Ron C and “N 2 Deep” featuring Future, are clear odes to the aforementioned city. They once again illuminate Drake’s love for the city which he has repped and rapped about in length throughout his career and are reminiscent of earlier songs in his career such as “Houstatlantavegas” and “November 18th”.
“Way 2 Sexy” featuring Future and Young Thug is a definite standout. The energetic song is a defiant male (or female) anthem, equal parts witty and hilarious, and is sure to be a club favorite. Its accompanying video is an absolute must watch as well.
Although set over an ominous beat, “Knife Talk” featuring 21 Savage and Project Pat is almost joyous and doubles as both a warning to the opposition and friendship anthem.
Other R&B influenced tracks such as “Pipe Down”, in which Drake croons “you’re the reason we’ll be going separate ways, you’re the reason we cannot communicate” along with “Race My Mind”,“Get Along Better”, and “F*****g Fans” poetically and soulfully take us through Drake’s relationship woes while reminding us of our own in only the way that he can. The tracks skillfully and relatably describe past failed relationships, situationships, and everything in between and remind us why nearly a decade ago we fell in love with him in the first place.
The album comes to a skillful close with “Remorse”, in which the rapper reminisces on his ups and downs within the cutthroat music industry, expresses his thankfulness for the loyalty of his friends, rails against critics, and admonishes his rap peers whom he admittedly once looked up to but has since surpassed.
While a number of the album’s 21 tracks have replay value, admittedly, the album is a far cry from a magnum opus.
Compared to Drake’s previous works, it stumbles a bit in the beginning, lacks cohesiveness and direction, and falls slightly short of living up to its “lover boy” title. The album also unfortunately fails to show anything new in Drake’s artistry, the Toronto native doesn’t really provide us with anything we haven’t heard from him before.
Will the album be heralded for years to come like previous projects such as Take Care or Nothing Was The Same? Probably not.
Should you still listen to it? Absolutely.
Regardless of the album’s flailings, it’s still Drake and still definitely worth more than one listen.