Dark Lane Demo Tapes [Mixtape]
by Drake
  • Record Label: Republic
  • Release Date: May 1, 2020
User Score
4.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 159 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 61 out of 159
  2. Mixed: 43 out of 159
  3. Negative: 55 out of 159
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  1. AlexanderTS
    May 4, 2020
    4
    Un album realmente aburrido. Esta claro el poco compromiso de Drake en este trabajo. Los sonidos reutilizados de sus antiguos trabajos. Esto no muestra nada novedoso.
  2. offthecuff
    May 4, 2020
    4
    Everything Drake does well.... Done badly.

    The brilliant but ever contested Views formula appears to have been brought our again for this 2020 quarantine release. Drake switches out island inspirations for the every flavorful sounds of UK drill. Accompanying is a tiktok friendly song and some rnb deep cuts. Songs that appease the palette of the consistently unsatisfied    Everything Drake does well.... Done badly.

    The brilliant but ever contested Views formula appears to have been brought our again for this 2020 quarantine release. Drake switches out island inspirations for the every flavorful sounds of UK drill. Accompanying is a tiktok friendly song and some rnb deep cuts. Songs that appease the palette of the consistently unsatisfied "olddrakeplscomeback" fanbase.

    Oh and a Carti verse. That all of hip-hop is thirsty for every 5 motnhs.


    You have a recipe for success but it's just not done well, not any of it. So, instead sitting at home we have a half baked Drake to enjoy.

    As someone who's been following since Comeback season, the question is, how much more can we take before we're sick?    … Expand
  3. invertedrisk
    May 15, 2020
    4
    Nothing of substance here, bunch of throwaway tracks that all sound the same. Still Drake finds slight success in what is now heavily treaded territory for him and this sound.
  4. VestingBoot
    May 8, 2020
    5
    So this mix-tape is just songs and tracks that weren't gonna make his summer album. It's hard to judge this because its on release is meant to just be that, low quality songs. About 3 of the songs are quality in my eyes, those being Deep Pockets, Chicago Freestyle and Landed. The rest sound fine to average at best. I think this was smart on Drake's part release a mix-tape with a few goodSo this mix-tape is just songs and tracks that weren't gonna make his summer album. It's hard to judge this because its on release is meant to just be that, low quality songs. About 3 of the songs are quality in my eyes, those being Deep Pockets, Chicago Freestyle and Landed. The rest sound fine to average at best. I think this was smart on Drake's part release a mix-tape with a few good songs and a few bad ones (We all know what songs I mean) just so when he releases his summer album it just looks better than this. Overall this tape was meant to be lackluster and not the best, so Its just that average at best.… Expand
  5. GeorgeParris
    Nov 10, 2020
    4
    Overall a really uninspired sound and tone just really normal, but still ok.
  6. vitortfv
    Dec 3, 2020
    5
    Deep Pockets - 6/10
    When to Say When - 6/10
    Chicago Freestyle (feat. Giveon) - 6/10 Not You Too (feat. Chris Brown) - 5,7/10 Toosie Slide - 6/10 Desires (feat. Future) - 6,4/10 Time Flies - 6,4/10 Landed - 5,5/10 D4L Freestyle (feat. Future & Young Thug) - 5/10 Pain 1993 (feat. Playboi Carti) - 5,7/10 Losses - 6,5/10 From Florida With Love - 5,7/10 Demons (feat. Fivio Foreign &    Deep Pockets - 6/10
    When to Say When - 6/10
    Chicago Freestyle (feat. Giveon) - 6/10
    Not You Too (feat. Chris Brown) - 5,7/10
    Toosie Slide - 6/10
    Desires (feat. Future) - 6,4/10
    Time Flies - 6,4/10
    Landed - 5,5/10
    D4L Freestyle (feat. Future & Young Thug) - 5/10
    Pain 1993 (feat. Playboi Carti) - 5,7/10
    Losses - 6,5/10
    From Florida With Love - 5,7/10
    Demons (feat. Fivio Foreign & Sosa Geek) - 6/10
    War - 5,5/10    … Expand
  7. Joel_Freecheck
    May 29, 2020
    5
    It's a Drake album for sure. Nothing new has been added to his discography but that doesn't mean it's not worth a listen. "War", "Demons", and "D4L" are playlist hits that see Drake flirting with his best hitmaking skills.
  8. MusicGuyMack
    May 7, 2020
    5
    The Toronto rapper's first true turkey even as his recent output has continued to grow weaker and weaker with each subsequent release, the interestingly dour and gloomy atmosphere crafted by Drake on this album isn't quite enough to mask the feeling that he's spinning his wheels artistically here, offering up oddly stuttering flows, laughably simplistic wordplay, and limply unimaginativeThe Toronto rapper's first true turkey even as his recent output has continued to grow weaker and weaker with each subsequent release, the interestingly dour and gloomy atmosphere crafted by Drake on this album isn't quite enough to mask the feeling that he's spinning his wheels artistically here, offering up oddly stuttering flows, laughably simplistic wordplay, and limply unimaginative trend-chasing beats over which he retreads well-worn ground without much new or interesting to say.… Expand
  9. xDyl
    Jun 29, 2020
    4
    Drake is a cultural force, he can put out anything & make numbers. However, this mixtape feels far from Drake's normal output. Most of the songs, save for 'When To Say When' (follows Drake's current day/life, with a somewhat glamorous sample playing in the background), 'Chicago Freestyle' (an eerie synth chord, with a nice lofi hook by Giveon) & 'Landed' (quite a banger that really upliftsDrake is a cultural force, he can put out anything & make numbers. However, this mixtape feels far from Drake's normal output. Most of the songs, save for 'When To Say When' (follows Drake's current day/life, with a somewhat glamorous sample playing in the background), 'Chicago Freestyle' (an eerie synth chord, with a nice lofi hook by Giveon) & 'Landed' (quite a banger that really uplifts the core of the album, the flow is quite catchy) are not up to standard. That said, this would suit fans who hoped some of Drake's 'drifted' tracks were to be gathered in one place for accessible use. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Drake at all, but I feel like his other work is much better as compared to this.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 10
  3. Negative: 1 out of 10
  1. RapReviews.com
    May 28, 2020
    75
    It’s a complete package (pun intended). I’ll take the Jay-Z style “Song Cry” feel of “When to Say When” as an album song any day. The MexikoDro and Shebib “From Florida With Love” is the example of why I can handle Drake being Tuned up more than most of his contemporaries. He uses it without abusing it to ridiculous absurdity.
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  2. AllMusic
    May 7, 2020
    60
    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. Nothing here quite rises to that level, but overall, it's a solid entry in his ever-growing catalog.
    Read full review
  3. The New York Times
    May 6, 2020
    70
    A largely effective album-length odds-and-ends collection but not, you know, an album — may be more valuable as data than as songs.
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