The wait was over for Drake fans on Friday, September 3. The long anticipated album, Certified Lover Boy, was here. This was a big moment for Drake, considering his last album was released in 2018. After listening to the album, students are saying it is quite different from anything he’s created before, from the cover to the music itself. 

Some students are disappointed. Nick Makar ’24 stated, “I think compared to his past albums this one is not that good. Personally, I think his music and lyrics in this album aren’t as good as they have been.” 

Similarly, Alissa Fox ’23 shared, “I’m a fan of Drake. I like his rap, but I think as an artist he missed some spots in this album. I didn’t find myself needing to hear a song again.” 

Jacob Tom ’24 was also expecting more. “It was okay. Overrated in my opinion,” he said.  

Preston Galanis ’25 has some strong opinions, also. “It was the most inconsistent album I’ve ever heard,” he said.

Despite the numerous negative opinions, some fans approve of Certified Lover Boy. Nilyah Williams ’24 said this album is an “improvement.” She continued, “I think that the Certified Lover Boy album isn’t exactly better than the rest of his albums, but it is an improvement. He added many different artists to each song on the album, making each song sound and feel different. That’s one of the reasons why I feel that this album is an improvement from the rest.”

In this album, Drake collaborates with well-known artists including Jay-Z, Travis Scott, and 21 Savage. The album is introduced with the song “Champagne Poetry,” where the artist opens up and talks about the pressure he is under. The album concludes with the poetic song “The Remorse.” 

Another aspect of this album that is different is the choice of an album cover. Before the album was even released, fans were intrigued by its cover, featuring emojis of 12 pregnant women. The cover was created by British artist Damien Hirst. Drake hasn’t spoken about the reasoning behind the cover, although it is a different style compared to anything he’s done before. His usual album cover depicts a picture of himself or someone else, or depicts words. 

Angie Siaca Sánchez ’24 wasn’t sure how to react to the album cover art. “I thought it was a joke at first — not going to lie — but it has grown on me,” she said. 

Regardless of all the numerous negative opinions from MFS students, Certified Lover Boy appears to be doing well. Drake’s album claimed the number one spot on Billboard’s charts within a week. This was big, considering it blew away Donda, which is the newest album produced by Drake’s rival, Kanye West, and which dropped days before Drake’s album.