After months and months of Drake teasing and pushing it back, the Canadian rapper finally brought fans his long-awaited album, Certified Lover Boy. Did it live up to expectations?
Certified Lover Boy arrived on streaming services earlier this month, serving as Drake’s sixth studio album. He’s come a long way since So Far Gone, calling on a host of features to assist him on this 21-track album. There is no doubt that Drake definitely comes correct on CLB. But, to be completely honest, the album takes on a familiar direction and sound, which is disappointing considering the hype that was behind this album.
I came into this album expecting to hear new sounds, flows, and ideas from Drake. While we do get that on “Champagne Poetry” and “Way 2 Sexy” feat. Future & Young Thug, the album does not completely steer away from the vibe of Views or Scorpion. We do get to hear Drake touch on the struggles that come with fame, such as fake friends on “Fair Trade” feat. Travis Scott. He also makes sure to remind the world of his son on “Champagne Poetry” and “The Remorse” (it’s nice to hear Drake express his thoughts on being a father). You would think that he’d continue to speak on the impact fame has had on his family life, but he just continues to talk about fake friends and sexual escapades.
Drake does get a bit more melancholic on some tracks, taking listeners back to the Take Care days. Unfortunately, his topics are a bit all over the place and, when paired with a lengthy tracklist, Certified Lover Boy is a bit sporadic. Don’t get me wrong, I think Drake is definitely a great artist, and I am not trying hate on CLB. The album just isn’t really anything special. I could shuffle his entire catalog and would not be able to tell you if “N 2 Deep” and “Pipe Down” were on CLB, Dark Lane Demo Tapes, or Views. Hopefully Drake switches things up soon. Even though the music isn’t objectively bad, it gets old pretty quick. With replay value dwindling during each listen, I hope he’s able to continue to showcase a host of new and different styles, letting listeners know that he is not done.
That’s just what I think though. I know some people absolutely adore the album, and others are just as disappointed in the drop. Where do you stand on your opinion of Certified Lover Boy? Do you think Drake brought his “A” game, or do you think he needs to hang it up? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comment section.
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