Album Review: “Donda” vs “Certified Lover Boy”

Kanye West’s album “Donda” and Drake’s album “Certified Lover Boy” were different from the artists’ older albums. Personally, “Donda” has proven its place as number one.

West dropped “Donda” on Aug. 29 after delaying the release of the album three times. The album was written as a tribute to West’s mother and touched on many different topics like God, having faith, sinning over and over again and his marriage status with Kim Kardashian West.

The album is named after West’s mother, Donda West, who passed away in 2007. The album starts with the song “Donda Chant.” Donda was chanted 58 times in honor of West’s mother’s 58 years of life.

Wests and his beliefs have been a source of controversy over the last couple of years and this album put all of those thoughts and beliefs to rest. The album has 27 songs and it features: Kid Cudi, Roddy Rich, Vory, Lil Durk, Ty Dolla $ign, Don Toliver, Baby Keem and more. “Donda” has an overall mixture of West’s last gospel album “Jesus Is King” with a more futuristic tone to it.

Soon after, Drake dropped “CLB” on Sept 3., being the first album Drake has released in the last three years it had many fans excited. Based on the title of the album it is clear that Drake’s album is a compilation of his experience with women, love and his experience while being a “lover boy.”

The album has 21 songs and features the following artists: Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Giveon, Jay Z, Travis Scott, Future, Young Thug, Yebba, 21 Savage, Project Pat, Tems and more. There are some reggae and dancehall vibes within the album and other songs like “Fountains” featuring Tems, that had a more pop/rock feel in it than ‘Champagne Poetry’ and ‘Love All’ featuring Jay-Z.

My personal favorite song on “CLB” was “No Friends in the Industry.” Not only did the song channel a more futuristic and upbeat side of Drake, it speaks on how people in the industry aren’t all that they seem to be. Drake shares in the song that he’s only close to those he calls his brothers and how he’s learned to rid himself of those who weren’t really good people to him.

Comparing both “CLB’’ and ‘‘Donda,” West’s album is a legendary album, artistically and aesthetically. Every song on the album was differentiated and channeled different parts of West, something Drake didn’t really do.