There’s no secret to why Drake’s Certified LoverBoy is still circulating atop of the charts months later. It’s just simply another great project by Toronto’s own and he doesn’t drift off from his usual album formats. Ever since Drizzy got into the game, he’s displayed his love for singing and his love for rapping. He can do both so well so he has to give us both flows. He usually raps on half the songs and then sings on the other half (not in order though). CLB is one of the best albums of the year and he may just win a Grammy for it.
Drake Being Drake
Drake starts off by just straight spitting on ‘Champagne Poetry’, which is the Drake I love. In this intro, reminiscent of ‘Tuscan Leather’, he just talks to us. He didn’t really take any time off with dropping Dark Lane Demo Tapes just last year, but he still updates his fans of what’s going on in his life. He still has trust issues as we already know, but he can’t even trust the cleaning ladies that clean his estate. No matter how famous he gets, great songs he makes, or how big his check gets, Drizzy somehow still thinks about his parents relationship and their divorce. At age 36, you would think he would be over that since they got divorced when he was five, but no you can tell Drizzy often reflects on his childhood days.
A Loverboy
Remember when Drake said, “thoughts too big to work em out with a therapist” , but now looks like someone changed his mind. With therapy being a huge thing in today’s society, why can’t Drake go too? He’s a regular guy just like all of us who needs to take care of his mental health. Ever since he came in the game, Drake has always touted the good with the bad in his life. His career is going well, but his personal life, whether it be personal health or relationships, isn’t thriving in the same way. Love seems to always be a obstacle for Drizzy, but is it him or the women in today’s society? It’s apparent that he wants love, there’s no secret.
I can say that Drake is good at painting a picture with his raps. After the intro, he switches up the tempo with ‘Papi’s Home’. From hanging out with LeBron watching Bronny’s game at Sierra Canyon to riding down Benedict in one of his custom whips, you can see these bars in your head while your listening. He has knack for name drops and giving people a taste of Toronto who have never been and are itching to go. Next, Drake gives us the hits on CLB!
CLB Hits
He starts with ‘Girls Want Girls with Lil Baby for their second track of the year together. When these two link up, you know it’s going to be a slapper! A fan favorite, both rappers show their love for women who love women because they do too! The album continues with ‘In the Bible’ with Lil Durk and Giveon, one of my top songs on the album. Drake and Durkio have collaborated throughout the years, most recently on the smash single, ‘Laugh Now, Cry Later’. Drake and Durk sound good together and Giveon ends the song out in style. The next feature on the album is one that we always look forward to.
Is he going to be on there this time? Are they speaking? Were there any shots taken recently? ‘Love All’ features Hov! We all know this up and down relationship and I think we all love it. The greatest rapper of all time and the young legend going toe to toe on the track is always great to hear. Another one for the books for these two! Drake grabs Travis Scott for ‘Fair Trade’ as they continue their barrage of great songs. ‘Way 2 Sexy’, one of the biggest songs of the year, features a pair of his buddies, Future and Young Thug follows. This three headed monster follows up their hit ‘D4L’ with an even better song and an even more entertaining video. You can tell Drizzy and Future are really great friends and Thug fits in as the third musketeer.
Album Cuts
Now, this next song even Ye couldn’t deny it. He even said it in his Drink Champs interview that ‘TSU’ was the best song on CLB and loved the beat. I agree! Drake always mentions to show love to certain places. Places that have shaped him to be who he is today. Toronto, Memphis, Louisiana, and Houston are some of those locations that he name drops. Up until the end, this gives you the same type of feel as ‘Papi’s Home’. Drizzy also does this on the next song, ‘N 2 Deep’, but the opposite way. He sings first and then the beat changes and he starts to rap with Future accompanying him. He continues with “Pipe Down”, one of my favorites, as he continues to do these things for the women in his life, but the outcome is never favorable.
After Yebbas Heartbreak, Drizzy starts to go in his rapping bag again. “No Friends in the Industry”, “Knife Talk”, and “7AM on Bridle Path” he gives us the bars we love him for. He is known for tracks like 7AM on Bridle Path, where it seems like he is just venting to us. He closes out the album with more of an R&B feel with songs like “Race My Mind”, “Get Along Better”, “IMY2”, and “Fucking Fans”. In the midst of these songs, “You Only Live Twice” featuring his mentor and friend, is a highlight. The YMCMBMMG connection never fails!
Overall, Certified Lover Boy is a great album. I’m not sure where this ranks yet amongst Drizzy’s best album, but another quality piece of work. CLB will be circulating at the top into 2022.
