Drake - Certified Lover Boy
Genre: Hip Hop
Score: 4/10
This is the highly awaited 6th album from the 6 God, @champagnepapi, Mr. Aubrey Graham, aka the Lightskinned Keith Sweat, Drake. What to Expect: :
I expect high sales and at least 3 hits that I cannot avoid in public for the next year. He’s the biggest rapper ever. A beacon and patron saint of toxic masculinity. He got publicly castrated by Pusha T back in 2018. He’s been in artistic cruise mode since Views in 2016. He’s now back with his 6th album with a lowkey promotional rollout. It’s another 90 min monster with the occasional musical shots of novacane that it keeps in its back pocket. I have been a professional Drake hater for over 10 years now. It is what it is. He still moves units. He’s earned my respect just from that. However, I like what I like, and he’s made some of the worst music I’ve ever heard in my life. But I’m still open to him making better music, and I do enjoy IYRTITL. It’s still my favorite project of his to date. So maybe this is worth the wait.
Overall: : Suspicions are confirmed. The hits hit, and the misses are immense. Take the tracks you want out of it and put it into a playlist. Otherwise, there’s no reason to return to this again.
Play by Play:
Champagne Poetry - Good intro. I like the beat. Diary Drake returns with a new entry. Given what I know at this point, I see no reason to believe that he’s actually unfazed and focused. He’s spitting well though.
Papi’s House - Piano and sample sound great. The beat sounds like classic Drake. It’s cool to hear Nicki on this. Drake’s performance is alright.
Girls Want Girls - Drake’s hook is a garbage hook, but a catchy tune. Lil Baby carries. I can vibe to it mindlessly but listening I hate it. Straight guys, don’t actually say you’re a lesbian to a girl. They’ll hate you and never want to talk to you again. Thank you.
In The Bible - Beat is boring. Drake’s boring, Lil Durk & Giveon carry the entire song.
Love All - There are a lot of Biggie references on this album for some reason. Drake is okay on this. Jay’s verse isn’t his best. I can vibe to this. I don’t really get anything else out of it though.
Fair Trade - Sounds like an Astroworld leftover. I dig it. Sicko Mode was better though.
Way 2 Sexy - Lol.
TSU - Texas Ladies, Is this really your King listening to this song?
N 2 Deep - First part is boring, second part is great. Future has a good feature.
Pipe Down - The beat can’t save this track. I don’t care for what Drake writes. He’s just gaslighting a girl like an angry frat boy, even though he’s 34 years old at this point. I wouldn’t return to this track in a million years.
Yebba’s Heartbreak - This sounds amazing and far too emotionally compelling to be wasted on this album.
No Friends In the Industry - He has not exuded this energy since IYRTITL, but again, You literally have ALL of the friends in the Industry at this point. Everyone and their mother is on this album. Your argument is invalid, Aubrey.
Knife Talk - Project Pat is perfect. Protect him and his flow at all costs. Savage does a great job, and Drake knows better than to bite Pat’s flow on this track, so it ends up a banger.
7am on Bridle Path - Beat is boring. Diary Drake returns with another shady entry, full of tea I know longer want to drink up. He’s spitting, though.
Race My Mind - The beat is pretty, but Drake’s performance is pretty weak. What is with the Biggie samples? You are not from New York. Stop this.
Fountains - Drake colonizes Afrobeats. Tems sounds like she’s being held against her will on the track. Nobody involved in the making of this appears to be a hero.
Get Along Better - Dying a little inside at this point due to the length. Drake’s singing is completely deflated. Ty is barely on the track. This wasted my time.
You Only Live Twice - Cool Reprise on Yolo. Ross and Wayne completely kill it. The beat is great. Drake’s performance is inspiring, but familiar. Reminds me of Take Care. Unironically my favorite track on the album.
IMY2 - Kid Cudi can’t save it. They don’t have really great chemistry. Skip.
F****** Fans - No.
The Remorse - Diary Drake comes back to conclude this album. I don’t care, dude. You gave me no reason on this record to be emotionally invested in your story at this point.
Score: 4/10
Favorite Track in Bold
Just my opinion