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Dark Lane Demo Tapes [Mixtape]
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Dark Lane Demo Tapes [Mixtape] Image
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
4.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 159 Ratings

  • Summary: The collection of demos, singles and unreleased tracks from the Canadian rapper features guest appearance from Chris Brown, Fivio Foreign, Future, Giveon, Playboi Carti, Sosa Geek, and Young Thug.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. RapReviews.com
    May 28, 2020
    75
    It’s a complete package (pun intended). I’ll take the Jay-Z style “Song Cry” feel of “When to Say When” as an album song any day. The MexikoDro and Shebib “From Florida With Love” is the example of why I can handle Drake being Tuned up more than most of his contemporaries. He uses it without abusing it to ridiculous absurdity.
  2. HipHopDX
    May 4, 2020
    72
    Once again Drizzy has found a way to craft songs that will deeply resonate with some and less with others, continuing to get listeners to press play — quality be damned. Even with its faults, Dark Lane Demo Tapes has already built anticipation for his next album scheduled for this summer.
  3. The New York Times
    May 6, 2020
    70
    A largely effective album-length odds-and-ends collection but not, you know, an album — may be more valuable as data than as songs.
  4. Rolling Stone
    May 4, 2020
    60
    The project, a grab bag of new songs, leaks, and material previously teased on Instagram Live, is often bittersweet and deeply contemplative, even by Drake’s standards.
  5. AllMusic
    May 7, 2020
    60
    This collection is a nice gift for fans who wanted all these stray tracks gathered up in one easily accessible place and shows that Drake's cast-offs aren't far from his keepers and his minor moves are still worth following just in case he comes up with something genius. Nothing here quite rises to that level, but overall, it's a solid entry in his ever-growing catalog.
  6. The Guardian
    May 4, 2020
    40
    Sometimes it sounds atmospheric – on From Florida With Love, producer MexikoDro constructs a spectral, impressively abstract backing track out of tape hiss and distortion – but a lot of the time it just sounds like a noncommittal shrug: tracks come and go without leaving much of a sonic impression.
  7. Beats Per Minute
    May 5, 2020
    32
    The vast majority of Dark Lane could play in a suburban Baskin Robbins without offending a single soccer mom. Honestly, they’d be unlikely to even notice it was playing. The few songs that would have moms asking to speak to the manager – which are by and large the project’s better offerings – feel more cribbed from younger artists’ playbooks than ever for the Toronto king’s rapidly aging brand.

See all 10 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 39
  3. Negative: 13 out of 39
  1. kid247
    May 5, 2020
    10
    It’s a solid collection of loosies that other artists could only wish they could compile - the reason it’s scoring so low is because peopleIt’s a solid collection of loosies that other artists could only wish they could compile - the reason it’s scoring so low is because people love to hate… Expand
  2. mueybuey69
    May 4, 2020
    10
    drake returns again with a barrage of hits- classified as loosies and leaks. drake was made to fill times like this with content and the bestdrake returns again with a barrage of hits- classified as loosies and leaks. drake was made to fill times like this with content and the best of it at that.… Expand
  4. Leonando_souza
    May 4, 2020
    10
    The Dark Lane Demo Tapes it's his most solid work since More Life, the sounds give a great taste from what comes next in his very anticipated album
  5. VestingBoot
    May 8, 2020
    5
    So this mix-tape is just songs and tracks that weren't gonna make his summer album. It's hard to judge this because its on release is meant toSo this mix-tape is just songs and tracks that weren't gonna make his summer album. It's hard to judge this because its on release is meant to just be that, low quality songs. About 3 of the songs are quality in my eyes, those being Deep Pockets, Chicago Freestyle and Landed. The rest sound fine to average at best. I think this was smart on Drake's part release a mix-tape with a few good songs and a few bad ones (We all know what songs I mean) just so when he releases his summer album it just looks better than this. Overall this tape was meant to be lackluster and not the best, so Its just that average at best.… Expand
  6. GeorgeParris
    Nov 10, 2020
    4
    Overall a really uninspired sound and tone just really normal, but still ok.
  7. camman5150
    Dec 20, 2020
    2
    Once again another album where drake puts zero effort into song writing. All the stans will say it’s low rating is because of people who loveOnce again another album where drake puts zero effort into song writing. All the stans will say it’s low rating is because of people who love to hate but that is far from the truth… Expand
  8. fernandochvs89
    May 7, 2020
    0
    what a piece of trash,like everything he does, I dont know how he made so much success, he is not an artist at all

See all 39 User Reviews

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