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.

Full Review

Best of 2020

Worst of 2020

Recent Reviews

Exclaim!

As an appetizer to hold over fans until his album drops this summer, Dark Lane Demo Tapes serves its purpose. There's nothing groundbreaking here, but that doesn't matter. This album is a hit, whether you like it or not.

Demo Tapes contains moments of precise delivery, sticky flows, and hooks primed to be enjoyed in the context of an arena show, but there’s a fair amount of well-tread material, too.

The 14-track surprise mixtape is heavy on reflection, without much fun.

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.

Drizzy fails to learn the lessons from his previous album, 'Scorpion', on this bloated and unnecessary release, which veers from recycled ideas to outright duds.

There are flashes of skill and rawness in this odds-and-ends mixtape but it feels like a clumsy lunge at commercial success.

For how long can this go on? Will our collective consciousness ever move on, or will Drake finally suffocate any and all originality to the point that we all forget what something resembling urgency felt like?

Drake drops another 'care package' that could've used more care.

Drake used to be a pioneer of sound and style, but now I wonder if there’s even a place for him creatively anymore.

Full Review

User Reviews

View All

LarryDavid

100

Yea we know you all hate Drake, he has a God featured on Pain 1993 just enjoy greatness.

1y*

NickBrick

This is absolutely atrocious. This is drakes try at trying to make a Tik Tok soundtrack. How is this good and why is the score 91?

Ok so y’all hate me cuz y’all praising genericness. Drake has never been anything special to me. He has been overhyped to put it bluntly. However, I did rly enjoy If You’re Reading this, although it lacked anything special and just went hard. Drake, besides being an annoying and cringy individual, has made bad music for awhile now. I did not like ... read more

1y*

DoubleZ

Although he sits quietly in total comfort, Dark Lane Demo Tapes is a relaxed and fun new project that proves that he doesn't care about critics anymore. He's just making money and just making music, and I don't think we can finally blame him.

What can we expect from Drake today? Or at least what can we no longer expect from him? For me, nothing special. Drake is comfortably installed at the head of rap, more globally popular music as if no gossip, no critics and no beef could really stop him ... read more

1y*

davyd

At this point people are Just hating my man

Best Tracks: Chicago Freestyle, Desires, Deep Pockets, Pain 1993, From Florida with Love

Worst tracks: Toosie slide, War

1y*

AZIZ

The last few years of paranoia raps, albums filled with throwaways, and a very debilitating beef with Pusha T has definitely put Drake in a position to prove himself and make him hungry again. And today, during a pandemic, Drake drops his best album in 5 years. The confidence is back. The only negative is the song Toosie Slide, I still hate that song for everything it stands for.

EDIT 1: After 3 more listens, I do not think this is as great as initial listen, however, some of the aspects that ... read more

1y*

More user reviews

Purchasing Dark Lane Demo Tapes from Amazon helps support Album of the Year. Or consider a donation?

Related Media

Submit a Link