Certified Lover Boy

Certified Lover Boy, released on September 3, 2021, is the sixth studio album from Canadian rapper Drake, issued via OVO Sound and Republic Records. Drake described the project as a blend of "toxic masculinity and acceptance of truth which is inevitably heartbreaking." The album's cover art, a design by Damien Hirst, features a row of pregnant emojis.

The album features a substantial list of collaborators, including Travis Scott, Future, Young Thug, 21 Savage, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Kid Cudi, Tems, Ty Dolla $ign, Cardi B, and JAY-Z. Production was handled by Drake's frequent collaborators like 40, alongside others such as Nineteen85. Musically, Certified Lover Boy primarily operates within the hip-hop genre, incorporating elements of crunk and trap, often enveloped in a characteristic hazy atmosphere.

Upon release, Certified Lover Boy achieved considerable commercial success, debuting at the top of the Billboard 200 chart. It also set new streaming records for both Apple Music and Spotify. The album yielded nine singles that reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, with "Way 2 Sexy" peaking at number one.

Critical reception for the album was varied. While some reviewers noted the strong production and Drake's consistent lyrical themes concerning fame, relationships, and loyalty, others found the album to be sonically repetitive and lyrically underdeveloped. Some commentary suggested it was more of a refinement of Drake's established sound rather than a significant evolution. Despite the mixed reviews, the album received a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 2022 Grammy Awards; however, Drake later withdrew the project from consideration. [edit]