Certified Lover Boy
by Drake
User Score
3.5

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 1158 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 253 out of 1158
  2. Mixed: 218 out of 1158
  3. Negative: 687 out of 1158
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  1. GEECEE
    Sep 3, 2021
    4
    This is what we have been waiting for? This must have been the wrong upload
  2. KidsSeeCudi
    Sep 5, 2021
    5
    “Certified Lover Boy” is an album that Drake's biggest fans will find a lot of replay value in, but as a project as a whole misses the mark. Overflowed with corny lyricism and sub-par production (more notably in the second half), it feels as if Drake has decided to once again go for the numbers angle instead of the high quality which we saw so evidently in his earlier projects. This album“Certified Lover Boy” is an album that Drake's biggest fans will find a lot of replay value in, but as a project as a whole misses the mark. Overflowed with corny lyricism and sub-par production (more notably in the second half), it feels as if Drake has decided to once again go for the numbers angle instead of the high quality which we saw so evidently in his earlier projects. This album lacks direction, a consistent tone, and overall worthwhile performances. This project felt less like an album, and more like a More Life B Side. Many features, most notably Yebba & Lil Wayne, lift up the album, but it’s not enough for me to justify it as an album I will revisit anytime soon.… Expand
  3. Jummel47
    Sep 4, 2021
    5
    Instead of reaching to do something new and adventurous with his obvious talent, Drake clutches to what has worked for him since 2009. It’s not bad, but it’s pretty old. Ultimately this album was boring and horrible to listen to early in the morning at work. Theres some good sex songs and music to play at parties, but really nothing interesting at all. Please Drake, experiment. EverythingInstead of reaching to do something new and adventurous with his obvious talent, Drake clutches to what has worked for him since 2009. It’s not bad, but it’s pretty old. Ultimately this album was boring and horrible to listen to early in the morning at work. Theres some good sex songs and music to play at parties, but really nothing interesting at all. Please Drake, experiment. Everything has its shelf life, and this ended with Views.… Expand
  4. Eliasbarco
    Sep 3, 2021
    5
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  5. CJack8
    Sep 3, 2021
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The features carry the album as always on a Drake album. The album somehow is not cohesive, even though 90% of the songs sound the same. Certified Mid Boy… Expand
  6. Jonoftherow
    Sep 3, 2021
    5
    Overrated af, it's just more of the same from drake it's not trash but it's certified mid
  7. ccirag
    Sep 3, 2021
    4
    The album is good but it lacks good beats and drakes variety that he provides in his albums, few intros are unnecessary, few songs are unnecessary, needed more bangers. Not his best work but not too bad.
  8. eightaeok
    Sep 3, 2021
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. parabéns drake, por possuir um armamento nuclear na sua discografia já que esse álbum está uma bomba… Expand
  9. ThatDudeGerard
    Sep 3, 2021
    4
    A very underwhelming album by Drake. The album feels, like a lot of people have said already, very bland and boring. As an artist Drake seems to have stagnated and i personally feel like he has stopped caring about changing and innovating his sound.
  10. Sbeve124
    Sep 3, 2021
    4
    I've only recently gotten into Drake when I head Gods Plan last month and it hit me with some nostalgia so I was pretty hyped when this came out. I'm pretty disappointed though, there's nothing to crazy in this album, but when it slaps, it slaps HARD. Sadly there are only small snippets when it ls super good. I'll be banging my head to something like Fair Trade or Knife Talk, then theI've only recently gotten into Drake when I head Gods Plan last month and it hit me with some nostalgia so I was pretty hyped when this came out. I'm pretty disappointed though, there's nothing to crazy in this album, but when it slaps, it slaps HARD. Sadly there are only small snippets when it ls super good. I'll be banging my head to something like Fair Trade or Knife Talk, then the chorus will come along, and absolutely ruin it, 21 Savage doesn't rap, he just talks fast with no rythm or rhyme. TSU and Papi's Home just feel disturbing with this weird a** dialog that just seems to be there to be there.

    TL;DR it'll slap with good rhyme and beats only to be ruined with bad chorus and weird dialog.    … Expand
  11. Dubtray
    Sep 3, 2021
    4
    One of the weaker Drake albums. Solid production, Drake staying in his lane. 1 or 2 heavy hitters but the rest was lifeless.
  12. Zmcclaine
    Sep 3, 2021
    4
    Definitely an average album it has some hits but it drags on it’s a chore to listen to all the songs in a row definitely one of drakes worst album. The production on it was lackluster sounds like if you look up drake type beats on YouTube.
    The lyrics are pretty good but with bad beats they don’t get enough light. Overall very disappointed in this drake track thought we was going back to    Definitely an average album it has some hits but it drags on it’s a chore to listen to all the songs in a row definitely one of drakes worst album. The production on it was lackluster sounds like if you look up drake type beats on YouTube.
    The lyrics are pretty good but with bad beats they don’t get enough light. Overall very disappointed in this drake track thought we was going back to 2016 views drake but we are far from that with this project.    … Expand
  13. RoadmanGK3
    Sep 3, 2021
    4
    Below average, Drake has done so much better. Needs more rapping and faster beats.
  14. Marythelistener
    Sep 3, 2021
    4
    What a diss-appointment. The songs are boring and sound the same. Also if you gonna make a diss track, you better make it fire wich did not happen in this case. Giving 4 because its not bad, but also not good.
  15. Sinslayer05
    Sep 3, 2021
    4
    The first half of the album is complete trash, it gets better in the second half but there is alot of filler and unnecessary tracks. Alot of the album sounds the same, bad rapping over generic beats. I expected better
  16. Andrecampos42
    Sep 3, 2021
    5
    Expectations and hype. The two words you should avoid while waiting for a new release. I tried my best not to be hyped for this album, but it was impossible. Felt like it was a decisive moment on Drake's career after his last lacklust projects. Unfortunately he simply refuses to deliver once again. Out of 21 songs, I can remember 4 or 5 that actually have replay value. The rest make up anExpectations and hype. The two words you should avoid while waiting for a new release. I tried my best not to be hyped for this album, but it was impossible. Felt like it was a decisive moment on Drake's career after his last lacklust projects. Unfortunately he simply refuses to deliver once again. Out of 21 songs, I can remember 4 or 5 that actually have replay value. The rest make up an uninspiring and unoriginal body of work that could have been recorded by any generic artist out there. There was a time when Drake felt relevant and important to the music industry. Can't say whether that time is at an end or if it's just a long hiatus, but if you're looking for classic bangers and songs that will stick with you in the long run, you won't find them here. Maybe next time...… Expand
  17. awb5401
    Sep 3, 2021
    5
    More of the same from Drake. Not much here that adds anything new to his catalogue. A few great songs mixed in with a ton of filler. Drake's lyrics and delivery sound downright lazy and uninspired on many of these songs. I have no idea how this album took three years to complete. This album is proof that Drake has remained artistically stagnant since (and including) Scorpion.
  18. ryanhxyes
    Sep 3, 2021
    5
    After a few play throughs it’s safe to say this album continues Drake’s lineage of dropping mediocre albums that are carried by a couple of stand out tracks. Boring overall with a few moments of greatness.
  19. AK1980
    Sep 3, 2021
    6
    I was eagerly anticipating this album as I’m a big fan of drake. I was very disappointed. This album felt like it could have been 7-8 tracks only. It was all so repetitive. There wasn’t any great beats that I was like “oh yeah I’m playing this on repeat.” There was of course a few good songs and some stuff that got you up out of your chair, but on the whole I was disappointed. Album feltI was eagerly anticipating this album as I’m a big fan of drake. I was very disappointed. This album felt like it could have been 7-8 tracks only. It was all so repetitive. There wasn’t any great beats that I was like “oh yeah I’m playing this on repeat.” There was of course a few good songs and some stuff that got you up out of your chair, but on the whole I was disappointed. Album felt dialed in. Very little creative risk and even less time seeming to care about creating different sound among the tracks. Just one long L. Hopefully he puts more effort into his next album.… Expand
  20. Juju7
    Sep 4, 2021
    5
    Nothing too special, very repetitive and some goofy lyrics. The features would make you think it’s a straight rap album, however it’s pretty rnb-ish. It’s not terrible, just nothing crazy. Also the long awaited giannis line was weak, saw people on Instagram comment sections make better lines about him.
  21. antthesymbol
    Sep 4, 2021
    5
    It's formulaic for Drake. Gimme two weeks, and I probably will have forgotten it.
  22. ztrk06
    Nov 28, 2021
    5
    Drake surprised me with this one, I was expecting something a lot better than this, to be honest. There is nothing that sounds original in the album and every other song sounds like the other ones on the album. Disappointed.
  23. Jamzeh
    Sep 3, 2021
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Decent but nothing amazing. Expected better considering the hype. You’d think he’d produce something a lot better than this.… Expand
  24. Clemmsss
    Sep 4, 2021
    5
    Too fire. While people believe that this is the ‘same old drake’ , that’s what he was going for. This wasn’t supposed to be something u can blast and head bang in your car too. He’s bringing back the old drake that you listen to when u get your heart broken. Fire.
  25. Mariosinnit
    Sep 3, 2021
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First listen, not what I was expecting kinda underwhelming a lil bit but there was a good few songs that I really enjoyed, I liked probably 9 outta all of them. I'm sure some will grow on me more though. I just wanted him to switch the flow a little bit more, a bit less one dimensional. Some songs are definitely skips but some songs are genuinely really good. Definitely not trash but maybe I set my expectations too high

    I miss that raw, energised drake. started from the bottom, from time, worst behaviour. I feel like this album is missing a lot of that. And don’t get me wrong I love drake and Ye so I’m not about to compare but CLB as is, is a miss for me.

    i like the album but i’m not ever going to relisten to it in full. the goofy lyrics towards the start of the album just put a bad taste in my mouth lol    … Expand
  26. qwertyuiop12345
    Sep 4, 2021
    5
    When I heard the intro sample and the beat I expected a certified classic. The first 2 minutes of the album were perfect. After that it was the regular album cut drake for the whole 1.4 hours. Boring album with no chances taken. But Drakes bad is better than most so it’s a strong 5.
  27. draediamond
    Sep 4, 2021
    4
    I don't understand how someone at the top of the game can drop the same album 3 times in a row and get away with it. He's had nothing new to talk about since IYRTITL and it shows badly in a 90 minute album. People keep listening though. This simply isn't the album you cut a heart in your hair for.
  28. man_critic
    Sep 3, 2021
    4
    I get tricked every time, Drake for the focus groups not the music enjoyers. He has bad the same album for over and over again. He is one of the most boring guys making music.
  29. bl_nk
    Aug 21, 2022
    4
    Very bland, and forgettable. It feels like Drake exclusively makes albums for his harem of instagram groupies, any adult listener will be put to sleep. "Fair Trade" and "Girls Want Girls" were the only songs I partially liked and even those were whatever compared to his old hits.

    Tldr; if you want to hear someone in their mid-30's trying to seduce 18 year olds over twenty songs that    Very bland, and forgettable. It feels like Drake exclusively makes albums for his harem of instagram groupies, any adult listener will be put to sleep. "Fair Trade" and "Girls Want Girls" were the only songs I partially liked and even those were whatever compared to his old hits.

    Tldr; if you want to hear someone in their mid-30's trying to seduce 18 year olds over twenty songs that sound the same, you'll enjoy this record    … Expand
  30. Ecobomb55
    Sep 3, 2021
    5
    If you like Drake then you'll enjoy this album, but it feels like Drake has hit a creative dead-end with his music. The features were lackluster for most of the songs (21 Savage and Future in particular), and it felt like Drake was half asleep when recording these songs. It's the same themes, same flows, and same beats we've heard for a decade now. There was little to no passion put intoIf you like Drake then you'll enjoy this album, but it feels like Drake has hit a creative dead-end with his music. The features were lackluster for most of the songs (21 Savage and Future in particular), and it felt like Drake was half asleep when recording these songs. It's the same themes, same flows, and same beats we've heard for a decade now. There was little to no passion put into this album and that's clear from just the first listen, making any subsequent listens even less enjoyable. Hopefully Drake can turn this around with his next album as this and Scorpion were both disappointments.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Most Discussed Album of 2021

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. RapReviews.com
    Oct 19, 2021
    45
    It’s beige, hollow music and that’s what ultimately frustrates your dedicated rap listener because it doesn’t make sense why it’s so damn popular. When you throw the poor writing on top of this, and some real hit-and-miss production into the mix, “Certified Lover Boy” may well be Drake’s worst album.
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  2. Slant Magazine
    Sep 13, 2021
    40
    Drake comes across as an artist who’s bought into his mythos and persona a bit too ardently. ... The production on Certified Lover Boy is svelte yet airless, filled with lots of solemn piano lines and muted snares but absent of big flourishes or attempts at pop crossover. It’s an approach that’s likely aiming for tasteful restraint, but the effect is languid and rather directionless.
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  3. The Observer (UK)
    Sep 13, 2021
    40
    Things start promisingly with the undulating Champagne Poetry dextrously reflecting on loneliness (“career is going great, but now the rest of me is fading slowly”), while Papi’s Home recalls early Kanye, of all people, with its sped-up samples and laid-back flow. Later, however, that playfulness calcifies into headline-grabbing stunts. ... This is an album destined to be filleted for various #mood playlists, anchored only by its creator’s untouchable fame.
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