Certified Lover Boy

Certified Lover Boy is the sixth studio album by Canadian rapper Drake, released on September 3, 2021, through OVO Sound and Republic Records.

Certified Lover Boy is the sixth studio album by Canadian rapper Drake, released on September 3, 2021, through OVO Sound and Republic Records. It is a hip hop album with trap and crunk influences, and Drake described it as a blend of “toxic masculinity and acceptance of truth.” It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and later won Top Rap Album at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.

Background

Certified Lover Boy was announced after Drake had already begun teasing a new project following Scorpion. It was long anticipated before its final release in 2021, and it was presented as part of a broader trio of albums that also includes Honestly, Nevermind and Her Loss.

Music and themes

The album is primarily a hip hop record with elements of trap and crunk, and critics described it as having a hazy or somber mood. Drake’s own description framed the record around emotional conflict, masculinity, and heartbreak.

Release and reception

Certified Lover Boy was released as a 21-track album with a runtime of about 86 minutes. It was commercially successful, debuting at number one in the United States, and it received mixed-to-positive critical attention.

Accolades

The album was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 2022 Grammy Awards, though Drake withdrew it from Grammy consideration before the ceremony. It later won Top Rap Album at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards.