Certified Lover Boy is complete.
This is considered a nonstop run for hip-hop this week, from having the release of Kanye’s “Donda” and today Drake’s album.
After nine long-awaited months, Drake’s anticipated sixth studio album is finally here. Filled with 21 songs and features from artists that vary from 21 Savage, Jay-Z, Lil Durk, Lil Baby, Young Thug, Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Tems, Project Pat, and Giveon.
The Promotion
Not only that, his management took promoting the album to a whole new level. Announcing the release in the most unusual way by interrupting ESPN’s regularly scheduled SportsCenter program. The news of the drop created in the style of a ransom video. With a clearly handwritten cardboard message “CLB September 3”.
Did Drake hack Sports Center and just randomly drop the CLB date? https://t.co/BOcN51J0wK
— Glock Topickz (@Glock_Topickz) August 27, 2021
The official Twitter account for SportsCenter wrote about the incident during the program.
We want to apologize for any interruptions viewers might have experienced during SportsCenter this morning.
We had some technical difficulties that have since been resolved.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 27, 2021
The reveal of the album received mixed reviews. According to Vulture, Drake teased the drop on Thursday. He commissioned billboards in New York, Chicago, L.A., Atlanta, Memphis, Houston, Toronto, Miami, Cleveland, and Lagos.
The Cover Collaboration
In fact, Certified Lover Boy’s cover art serves as a collaboration with contemporary artist Damien Hirst. The artwork is presented by a dozen pregnant women emojis in a white background. Drake’s representation confirmed that Hirst did indeed created the cover art.
Fans of the contemporary artist did not need affirmation about the creation of it. According to Artnet News, if you squint your eyes you could see a pattern of dots which signifies the similarities in the artist’s signature dots. It’s not the first time Hirst uses pregnant women as a symbol. The example is his public sculpture, Virgin Mother (2005).
The Drake cover is a combination of two Damien Hirst artworks. The Virgin Mother (2005) and Spot Paintings (2012). pic.twitter.com/LSW5tts0KO
— Did the Old Kanye return today? (@didjesusdrop) August 30, 2021
Certified Lover Boy is available in all streaming platforms.