Dark Lane Demo Tapes
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Dark Lane Demo Tapes
| type = mixtape
| artist = Drake
| cover = Drake - Dark Lane Demo Tapes.png
| alt = A covered figure ressembling Drake against a black background with khaki lights could be seen as a cover for Dark Lane Demo Tapes
| released = {{Start date|2020|5|1}}
| genre = {{hlist|Hip-hop|R&B}}
| recorded = 2017 {{endash}} 2020
| length = 49:55
| label = {{hlist|OVO| Republic}}
| producer = * 40
- AJ Costly
- Axl
- Cardo
- D. Hill
- Salman Balayah
- Elyas
- Foreign Teck
- JB Made It
- June James
- MexikoDro
- Noel Cadastre
- OZ
- Pi'erre Bourne
- Plain Pat
- Roxx
- Sevn Thomas
- Southside
| prev_title = Care Package
| prev_year = 2019
| next_title = Scary Hours 2
| next_year = 2021
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Dark Lane Demo Tapes
| type = mixtape
| single1 = Toosie Slide
| single1date = {{Start date|2020|4|3}}
}}
}}
Dark Lane Demo Tapes is the sixth mixtape by Canadian rapper Drake. The mixtape is a compilation of songs that were released on SoundCloud or leaked on the internet, as well as new songs, and is considered a "warm-up" to Drake's sixth studio album Certified Lover Boy (2021).{{Cite web|title=First Impressions of Drake's New Project Dark Lane Demo Tapes'|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2020/05/drake-dark-lane-demo-tapes-first-impressions|website=Complex|language=en|access-date=May 2, 2020}} It was released on May 1, 2020, by OVO Sound and Republic Records. Production was handled by Drake's longtime collaborator 40, among others. Featured guest appearances include Future, Young Thug, Chris Brown, Playboi Carti, Giveon, Fivio Foreign, and Sosa Geek.
Dark Lane Demo Tapes sees Drake moving away from his "hitmaking formula" to more experimentation, with common producers on his previous records being absent on the mixtape. With its production taking influence from lo-fi, UK drill, trap, SoundCloud rap, R&B and soul, the mixtape is noted for not being as cohesive as Drake's previous records. Rooted in dark, ambient sounds through prominent use of unpolished synths, themes on the mixtape include failed relationships, complicated relationships with friends, and braggadocio surrounding Drake's prominence in the music industry.
The mixtape was supported by the single "Toosie Slide", which debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, making Drake the first male artist to accomplish three number-one debuts on the chart. All 13 of the mixtape's other songs entered the chart, including the highly anticipated "Pain 1993", which debuted at number seven on the chart, making Drake the tied record holder (with American singer Madonna) for the most top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 with 38.
Dark Lane Demo Tapes was met with generally polarized reviews, with critics praising it for having a more diverse, experimental array of genres and hazy production compared to Drake's most recent records, but criticizing some of its lyrical content as being weak. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, with 223,000 album-equivalent units, and became Drake's third record to top the UK Albums Chart. It also topped the charts in Australia, Canada, Estonia, the Netherlands, Ireland, Lithuania and New Zealand.
Background
On April 30, Drake announced the release of the mixtape via social media, also announcing his sixth studio album is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2020.{{cite magazine|title=Drake's 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes': Stream It Now|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9369555/drake-dark-lane-demo-tapes-stream|magazine=Billboard|date=May 2020|access-date=May 1, 2020}} The mixtape is a compilation of songs that were released on SoundCloud or leaked on the internet, as well as new songs.{{cite magazine|title=Drake Releases 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes,' Announces Summer 2020 Album|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/drake-dark-lane-demo-tapes-992569/|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=May 2020|access-date=May 1, 2020}}
Reflecting on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Drake said that "It's an interesting time for us all, as musicians, to figure out how this works and what people need, and I just felt like people would appreciate maybe a body of something to listen to, as opposed to just one isolated song".{{Cite web|title=Drake Responds to the Pandemic in a Predictably Drake Way|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/05/drake-dark-lane-demo-tapes-review-cool-complacency/611107/|last=Kornhaber|first=Spencer|date=May 4, 2020|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US|access-date=May 6, 2020}} Drake also indicated that the type of contemplative songs featured on Dark Lane Demo Tapes will also be on his upcoming studio album, saying, "I've been in a very reflective state, so I'm gonna give you all I have...All the other songs are fun, but this [contemplative songs] is what I love to do the most.
Jessica McKinney of Complex found that the mixtape is not as cohesive as Drake's previous records, but is a "sample platter of what [Drake] has to offer right now". With the mixtape not considered to be cohesive, Erik Skelton of Complex found that it allows Drake to "play around and try things that wouldn't make sense on a proper Drake album". Craig Jenkins of Vulture felt that the gap between Scorpion and Drake's upcoming sixth album resembles the run-up to his 2011 album Take Care: songs considered to be "album material" do make it on the album, but are kept on a non-album record, e.g. his compilation album Care Package (2019) featured songs that did not make it on Take Care, among other projects.{{Cite web|title=What More Is There for Drake to Do?|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/05/drake-dark-lane-demo-tapes-review.html|last=Jenkins|first=Craig|date=May 5, 2020|website=Vulture|language=en-us|access-date=May 6, 2020}}
Promotion
Drake released the single "War" on December 24, 2019, with a music video.{{cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/12/24/drake-new-song-video-war-2019-oliver-el-khatib|title=Drake releases new song and video "War"|website=The Fader|last=D'Souza|first=Shaad|date=December 24, 2019|access-date=May 2, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/drake-shares-video-for-new-song-war-watch/|title=Drake Shares Video for New Song "War": Watch|website=Pitchfork|last=Minsker|first=Evan|date=December 24, 2019|access-date=December 24, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://versus.uk.com/2019/12/drake-uk-drill-new-freestyle-track-war/|title=Drake Is Doing up UK Drill on New Freestyle Track "War"|work=Versus|last=Scrafton|first=Lewis|date=December 24, 2019|access-date=April 30, 2020}} On January 4, the demo of a collaboration with rapper Future was leaked online. On January 31, the song was officially released on SoundCloud titled "Desires".{{Cite web | url=https://www.click2houston.com/entertainment/2020/01/13/drake-shouts-out-katy-texas-in-leaked-song-i-know/ | title=Drake shouts out Katy, Texas in leaked song 'I Know'| date=January 13, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/drake-and-future-share-new-song-desires-listen/|title=Drake and Future Share New Song "Desires": Listen|website=Pitchfork|last=Minsker|first=Evan|date=January 31, 2020|access-date=April 30, 2020}} The released version omitted the intro and one verse from Future, replacing them with a verse and outro from Drake. On February 29, Drake released two more songs: "When to Say When" and "Chicago Freestyle", which had a combined music video.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-drakes-new-tracks-when-to-say-when-and-chicago-freestyle/ |title=Listen to Drake's New Songs "When to Say When" and "Chicago Freestyle"|website=Pitchfork|last1=Ismael Ruiz|first1=Matthew|last2=Hussey|first2=Allison|date=March 1, 2020|access-date=April 30, 2020}} On April 3, 2020, Drake released "Toosie Slide" with a music video. The song and music video feature a dance, which was created with the help of social media influencer Toosie.{{cite web|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2020/04/02/new-music-drake-toosie-slide/|title=Drake Returns with New Single 'Toosie Slide'|work=Rap-Up|date=April 2, 2020|access-date=April 30, 2020}} The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making Drake the first male artist to have three songs debut at number one.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9357012/drake-toosie-slide-number-one-hot-100-debut|title=Drake Makes Historic Debut at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 With 'Toosie Slide'|magazine=Billboard|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=April 13, 2020|access-date=April 30, 2020}}
On April 7, 2020, Drake previewed unreleased songs on Instagram Live with OVO Mark, including "Time Flies", "Deep Pockets", "Landed", "Pain 1993", and "Demons".{{cite web|title=Drake teases collaboration with Playboi Carti on Instagram live session|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/drake-teases-collaboration-with-playboi-carti-on-instagram-live-session-2642463|website=NME|date=April 7, 2020|access-date=May 1, 2020}}{{cite web|title=Drake Previews New Music With Playboi Carti|url=https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/drake-new-album-tracks-ig-live/|website=Hiighsnobiety|date=April 8, 2020|access-date=May 1, 2020}} On April 9, 2020, "Deep Pockets" leaked online, the song was originally recorded for Scorpion (2018).{{Cite web | url=https://hiphop-n-more.com/2020/04/drake-rollin-new-song/ |title = New Drake Song 'Rollin' Surfaces Online|date = April 9, 2020}} A day later, an early, unfinished version of "From Florida With Love" leaked online, featuring only one verse, which was similar in lyrics to the first verse of the officially released version.{{Cite web|url = https://dailynewhiphop.com/music/stream-new-music-drake-plug-dailynewhiphop/|title = Stream New Music: Drake - Plug - DailyNewHipHop|date = April 11, 2020|access-date = May 1, 2020|archive-date = December 11, 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201211235616/https://dailynewhiphop.com/music/stream-new-music-drake-plug-dailynewhiphop/|url-status = dead}}
Recording
File:Boi-1da-620x443.jpg.|alt=]]
The mixtape sees Drake experimenting and deviating from his usual "hitmaking formula", with common producers on his previous records being absent on the mixtape, such as his frequent collaborator Boi-1da, Murda Beatz and PartyNextDoor.{{Cite web|title=Review - Drake cements his legacy in hip-hop with Dark Lane Demo Tapes|url=https://shiftermagazine.com/music/dark-lane-demo-tapes-review|date=May 1, 2020|website=SHIFTER Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=May 3, 2020}} Erik Skelton of Complex noted that Drake takes inspiration from the Soundcloud rap demographic on the mixtape, with prominent producers of the movement featured on the mixtape, including MexikoDro, OZ, and Pi'erre Bourne. American record producer Foreign Teck told Complex in January 2019 that Drake had "about 10 producers" working in a secluded house in Los Angeles for about three weeks. The sessions produced the Drake and Rick Ross duet "Gold Roses", as well as "Losses". According to Foreign Teck, "Gold Roses" set the tone for the sessions:
"In the beginning, [Drake] kind of let us do our thing...And then, I remember the "Gold Roses" beat was made, and [Drake's] like, 'Yo, I need more shit like this'. Once he started hearing the slow beats, very simple, with vocal chops, that caught his ear".{{Cite web|title=Stories From the Making of Drake's 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes'|url=https://www.complex.com/music/drake-dark-lane-demo-tapes-stories-making-of|website=Complex|language=en|access-date=May 2, 2020}}British record producer JB Made It produced "Demons" in January 2020 during recording sessions in New York.{{Cite web|last=Burrell|first=Edward|date=2020-05-01|title=Finesse Foreva producing UK Drill for Drake|url=https://www.finesseforeva.com/post/finesse-foreva-x-drake-yes-we-produced-uk-drill-for-drake |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623125037/https://www.finesseforeva.com/post/finesse-foreva-x-drake-yes-we-produced-uk-drill-for-drake |archive-date=2020-06-23 |access-date=2020-06-22|website=Finesse Foreva|language=en}} Best known for his collaborations with American rapper Playboi Carti, American record producer MexikoDro co-produced "From Florida With Love" in 2017, a plugg music track, with co-production from Drake's longtime collaborator 40. Plain Pat, known for collaborations with American rappers Kanye West and Kid Cudi, co-produced the lo-fi-influenced "Deep Pockets" with 40.{{Cite web|title=Drake Collects Odds and Ends for Surprise Mixtape 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes'|url=http://entertainmentvoice.com/2020/05/01/drake-collects-odds-and-ends-for-surprise-mixtape-dark-lane-demo-tapes/|date=May 1, 2020|website=Entertainment Voice|access-date=May 4, 2020}} Montreal native Roxx co-produced "When to Say When" with June James; the song is Roxx's first production credit. Drake's engineer Noel Cadastre, a member of Drake's OVO crew, produced "Chicago Freestyle" and "Not You Too". With him producing "Toosie Slide", "Time Flies" and co-producing "Losses", Swiss producer OZ is a prominent addition on the mixtape. Atlanta native, record producer D. Hill, who produced American rapper Future's "Life Is Good" — which featured Drake, co-produced "Desires". Southside, one of the originators of the trap wave in Atlanta, produced "D4L" for Future & Young Thug, originally in 2017. Known for Soundcloud rap hits, such as Playboi Carti's "Magnolia" and 6ix9ine's "GUMMO", Pi'erre Bourne produced "Pain 1993". Toronto record producer Sevn Thomas co-produced "Losses"; Thomas previously worked with Drake on the 2016 single "Pop Style". London record producer AXL Beats, who is known for popularizing UK drill beats to Brooklyn, produced "War".{{Cite web|title=Every Producer Who Worked on Drake's 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes'|url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/drake-dark-lane-demo-tapes-producers-1234596493/|last=Ju|first=Shirley|date=May 3, 2020|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2020}}
Themes and production
File:Drake in 2011.jpg (2011).{{Cite magazine|title=Drake's 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes' Might Be His Gloomiest Release Ever|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/drakes-dark-lane-demo-tapes-993763/|last=Schwartz|first=Danny|date=May 4, 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=May 4, 2020}}|alt=]]
Dark Lane Demo Tapes sees Drake rapping and singing about topics that have often featured on his previous releases, including failed relationships, complicated relationships with friends, and braggadocio surrounding his prominence and success in the music industry.{{Cite web|title=The Best Song on Drake's New 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes' Is...|url=https://www.gq.com/story/drake-dark-lane-demo-tapes-best-song-is|last=Cea|first=Max|website=GQ|date=May 2020|language=en|access-date=May 1, 2020}} Writers of Time regarded the lyrics on the mixtape as introspective and not featuring hooks, with them being "surly, withdrawn and clearly indifferent to radio or viral success".{{Cite magazine|title=The 6 Biggest Takeaways From Drake's New Mixtape Dark Lane Demo Tapes|url=https://time.com/5830880/drake-dark-lane-demo-tapes/|magazine=Time|language=en|access-date=May 1, 2020}} The same writers observed that the mixtape has a "wealth of sad boy songs", while Erik Skelton of Complex said that the mixtape features "sleepy, introspective rap songs". Noah Yoo of Pitchfork highlighted the mixtape's lyrics as Drake at "peak paranoia in his relationships, both business and personal".{{Cite web|title=5 Takeaways From Drake's New Mixtape Dark Lane Demo Tapes|url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/5-takeaways-from-drakes-new-mixtape-dark-lane-demo-tapes/|website=Pitchfork|date=May 2020|language=en|access-date=May 1, 2020}} Grant Rindner of Complex found similarities between Dark Lane Demo Tapes and the If You're Reading This It's Too Late (2015) mixtape, as both mixtapes see Drake rapping over "leaner, grittier beats" and focusing more on "traditional bars and delivery than melodies and hooks".
Rapping about his "toxic romantic ways" and love interest, Drake interpolates Eminem's flow from his 2002 single "Superman" on the pre-chorus of "Chicago Freestyle". Drake raps over the beat that borrows the same soul sample as Jay-Z's 2001 single "Song Cry" on "When to Say When".{{Cite magazine|title=Every Song From Drake's Surprise Project, Ranked|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9369478/ranking-drake-dark-lane-demo-tapes|date=May 1, 2020|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 1, 2020}} Featuring American singer Chris Brown, "Not You Too" is an R&B song that is led by Drake, while Brown provides "soothing" ad-libs.{{Cite magazine|title=Drake's 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes': Where Every Song Comes From|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9369863/drake-lane-side-demo-tapes-guide|date=May 1, 2020|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 2, 2020}} The mixtape's hit single, "Toosie Slide", was called "strictly a business decision" by Pitchfork due to its dance craze-inspired lyrics aimed for virality on the video-sharing platform TikTok. "D4L", named after the Atlanta hip hop group D4L, sees Drake collaborate with American rappers Young Thug and Future for a trap song.{{Cite web|title=Drake – 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes' review|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/drake-dark-lane-demo-tapes-review-2657961|date=May 1, 2020|website=NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs {{!}} NME.COM|language=en-GB|access-date=May 2, 2020}} Featuring Playboi Carti, the highly anticipated "Pain 1993" sees Carti and Drake rapping in a high-pitched flow known as the "baby voice".{{Citation|title=Listen to "Pain 1993" [ft. Playboi Carti] by Drake|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/pain-1993-ft-playboi-carti/|language=en|access-date=May 3, 2020}} On "From Florida with Love", Drake raps about the value of friendships and growth.{{Cite magazine|title=Drake's 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes': Where Every Song Comes From|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9369863/drake-lane-side-demo-tapes-guide|date=May 1, 2020|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 3, 2020}} On "Demons", a Brooklyn drill influenced song, Drake raps in an urban London accent and makes use of urban UK lingo, which was labelled as "Top Boy–esque" by Aaron Williams of Uproxx.{{Cite web|title=Drake Should Have Made 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes' An Album, Not A Mixtape|url=https://uproxx.com/music/drake-dark-lane-demo-tapes-review/|date=May 5, 2020|website=UPROXX|language=en-US|access-date=May 6, 2020}} The song features New York drill rappers Fivio Foreign and Sosa Geek. "War" sees Drake use a typical "UK drill flow" over a UK drill beat by AXL Beats. Notably, on the song, Drake narrates the squashing of his feud with Canadian contemporary The Weeknd.
Michael Saponara of Billboard described Dark Lane Demo Tapes as a "doom-and-gloom record", while Max Cea of GQ highlighted the mixtape's "hazy synths" and "dim, ambient beats". Alexis Petridis of The Guardian described the production as a "drizzly electronic haze",{{Cite news|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|date=May 3, 2020|title=Drake: Dark Lane Demo Tapes review – rap's whingeing king hits a dead end|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/03/drake-dark-lane-demo-tapes-review|access-date=May 4, 2020|issn=0261-3077}} and Exclaim!{{'}}s Riley Wallace noted that the mixtape is "rooted in the dark, sombre, solo drive through a sleepy city aesthetic".{{Cite web|title=Drake's 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes' Is Nothing Groundbreaking — But Still a Hit|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/drake_dark_lane_demo_tapes_mixtape_album_review|website=exclaim.ca|language=en-ca|access-date=May 4, 2020}} Yoo also recognized the mixtape as "hazier than Drake's most recent albums". Josh Svetz of HipHopDX described the mixtape's tone as "basking in dour ambiance, projecting a setting of drizzling rain cascading from the clouds in the grey sky as vibrating 808s set the tone", while Drake "sounds like he's crooning from the balcony of a high rise loft at 3 a.m., draped in a Versace Baroque bathrobe as he sips on red wine."{{Cite web|title=Review: Drake's 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes' Signifies These Bleak Times|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3675/title.review-drakes-dark-lane-demo-tapes-signifies-these-bleak-times|date=May 2, 2020|website=HipHopDX|access-date=May 2, 2020}} Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, Svetz noted that Drake captures the "shared sadness" of the pandemic, and that Dark Lane Demo Tapes is a "fitting soundtrack to the grim reality we all currently live in." Writers of Complex found that the mixtape's cover—Drake wearing a balaclava—is a "dark, moody image that accurately reflects the music found inside [Dark Lane Demo Tapes]."
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = 61/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/dark-lane-demo-tapes-mixtape/drake|title=Dark Lane Demo Tapes by Drake Reviews and Tracks|work=Metacritic|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=May 5, 2020}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev2 = The Guardian
| rev3 = NME
| rev4 = Exclaim!
| rev5 = HipHopDX
| rev6 = Rolling Stone
| rev6score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/drakes-dark-lane-demo-tapes-993763/ |title=Drake's 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes' Might Be His Gloomiest Release Ever|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Danny|last=Schwartz|date=May 4, 2020 |access-date=May 5, 2020}}
| rev7 = Pitchfork
| rev7score = 6.8/10{{cite magazine|last=Kameir|first=Rawiya|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/drake-dark-lane-demo-tapes/ |magazine=Pitchfork |title=Drake – Dark Lane Demo Tapes}}
}}
Dark Lane Demo Tapes was met with generally polarized reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 61, based on nine reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 5.0 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.{{Cite web|title=Dark Lane Demo Tapes by Drake reviews {{!}} Any Decent Music|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/11387/Drake-Dark-Lane-Demo-Tapes.aspx|website=www.anydecentmusic.com|access-date=May 5, 2020}}
In a first listen review, Noah Yoo of Pitchfork praised the collaborations on Dark Lane Demo Tapes for being "well-considered and mostly successful", as they complement Drake's emotions, such as "bitter, eccentric, and aggressive". Erik Skelton of Complex highlighted that "Mixtape Drake" is a "very good Drake", and the mixtape is a "very worthwhile listen that satisfies a subset of fans who might be turned off by some of the polish coming from a 2020 Drake studio album". In a review for AllMusic, Tim Sendra stated that while the mixtape is not as "fun or sonically interesting" as Drake's early work, it's a step in a more progressive direction. Sendra concluded that the mixtape is "a solid entry in [Drake's] ever growing catalog."{{cite web|title=Dark Lane Demo Tapes - Drake {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dark-lane-demo-tapes-mw0003381284|work=AllMusic|publisher=RhythmOne|access-date=May 5, 2020}} Writing for Exclaim!, Riley Wallace noted that Dark Lane Demo Tapes delivers a "good collection of cuts" and features "some absolute gems", however, it fails to offer anything different from Drake's previous releases. Though Wallace felt that the mixtape is "nothing groundbreaking", she called it a "hit".
Alexis Petridis of The Guardian praised the mixtape for being "occasionally fantastic", specifically "D4L, "Demons" and "War", but criticized "Pain 1993" for being "occasionally hugely irritating". Though Petridis found the mixtape to be "sometimes sounding atmospheric", he also felt that it sounds like a "noncommittal shrug", due to songs on the mixtape not offering enough sonic impression. Petridis summed up Dark Lane Demo Tapes as having "flashes of skill and rawness, [but] feeling like a clumsy lunge at commercial success". In an official review for Pitchfork, Rawiya Kameir hailed the mixtape for having "moments of precise delivery, sticky flows, and hooks primed to be enjoyed in the context of an arena show", but criticized Drake's "teenage boyhood" lyricism directed at women.{{Cite web|title=Drake: Dark Lane Demo Tapes|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/drake-dark-lane-demo-tapes/|website=Pitchfork|language=en|access-date=May 5, 2020}}
In a generally negative review of Dark Lane Demo Tapes, NME{{'}}s Luke Morgan Britton felt that Drake "failed to learn the lessons" from his previous album, Scorpion, describing the mixtape as a "bloated and unnecessary release, which veers from recycled ideas to outright duds".{{cite web|title=Drake – 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes' review: business as usual on rapper's forgettable stop-gap release|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/drake-dark-lane-demo-tapes-review-2657961|website=NME|date=May 2020|access-date=May 1, 2020}} Though Josh Svetz of HipHopDX called the mixtape a "collection of moody bangers and ballads that show glimpses how Drake can still command the attention of the masses", Svetz criticized the mixtape's "unfocused loosies" as filler tracks that "poison the few good crops [Drake] produces [on the mixtape]". Svetz also criticized "Losses" for being near the tail end of the Dark Lane Demo Tapes, which he described as the most well-written ballad on the mixtape, and an "intro worthy material" song.
Commercial performance
On its first day of release, Dark Lane Demo Tapes occupied the top fourteen positions on the US and Global Apple Music songs chart, and eight of the top 10 positions on the US Spotify songs charts, led by the track "Pain 1993", on all three charts.{{Cite web|title=Drake's "Dark Lane Demo Tapes" Claims Top 14 Spots On US & Global Apple Music Streaming Charts; 8 Of Top 10 Spots On US Spotify|url=https://headlineplanet.com/home/2020/05/02/drakes-dark-lane-demo-tapes-claims-top-14-spots-on-us-8-of-top-10-spots-on-us-spotify/|website=Headline Planet|date=May 2, 2020|access-date=May 3, 2020}}
In Drake's native Canada, Dark Lane Demo Tapes debuted at number one. In the US, the mixtape debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, with 223,000 equivalent album units, including 19,000 pure sales and 269.1 million streams, marking Drake's 12th consecutive top 10 album.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/kenny-chesney-here-and-now-no-1-on-billboard-200-chart|title=Kenny Chesney Lands Ninth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Here and Now'|magazine=Billboard|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=May 10, 2020|access-date=May 11, 2020}} All 14 songs on the mixtape also entered the Billboard Hot 100,{{Cite tweet|url=https://twitter.com/billboardcharts/status/1260003901903966209|title=All 14 songs from @Drake's mixtape 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes' appear on this week's #Hot100.|number=1260003901903966209|user=BillboardCharts|author=Billboard Charts (verified account)|date=May 11, 2020|access-date=May 12, 2020}} the highest-debuting entry being "Pain 1993",{{cite magazine|title=Doja Cat's 'Say So,' Featuring Nicki Minaj, Tops Billboard Hot 100, Becoming Their First No. 1 Each|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9375563/doja-cat-nicki-minaj-say-so-number-one|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=May 11, 2020|magazine=Billboard|access-date=May 12, 2020}} which debuted at number seven, making Drake the tied record holder (with Madonna) for the most top 10 hits on the Hot 100.{{Cite magazine|title=Drake|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/drake/chart-history/hsi/|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-05-14}} As of December 26, 2020, Dark Lane Demo Tapes was the nineteenth best-selling album of the year according to Hits, moved a total of 1,053,000 album-equivalent units by the end of 2020, including 44,000 pure album sales, 142,000 song sales, 1,298 billion audio-on-demand streams, and 112 million video-on-demand streams.{{cite magazine|url=https://m.hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=324598&title=THE-TOP-50-ALBUMS-OF-2020|title=THE BIGGEST ALBUMS OF 2020|magazine=Hits|date=December 26, 2020|access-date=September 1, 2022}}
The mixtape debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, earning 20,000 units in its first week.{{Cite web|title=Drake scores the Official UK Chart double|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/drake-scores-the-official-uk-chart-double-with-dark-lane-demo-tapes-and-toosie-slide__29718/|website=www.officialcharts.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-09}} It also topped the charts in Australia, the Netherlands, Ireland, Lithuania and New Zealand.
Track listing
Credits adapted from Tidal and BMI.{{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/139762989|title=Dark Lane Demo Tapes / Drake|date=May 2020 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=May 1, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/StartPage.aspx|title=BMI {{!}} Repertoire Search|publisher=BMI|access-date=July 15, 2020|at=Select "TITLE", type "Song" in the search engine, and click "Search".|archive-date=April 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406022825/http://repertoire.bmi.com/StartPage.aspx|url-status=dead}}
{{Track listing
| headline =
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 49:55
| title1 = Deep Pockets
| writer1 = {{hlist|Aubrey Graham|Noah Shebib|Patrick Reynolds}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|40|Plain Pat{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length1 = 3:42
| title2 = When to Say When
| writer2 = {{hlist|Graham|June James|Alonzo Thornhill|Anthony Costley, Jr.|Bobby Glenn|Ralph Johnson}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|James|Roxx{{ref|b|[b]}}|AJ Costly{{ref|b|[b]}}}}
| length2 = 3:43
| title3 = Chicago Freestyle
| note3 = with Giveon
| writer3 = {{hlist|Graham|Giveon Evans|Rupert Thomas, Jr.|Noel Cadastre|Marshall Mathers|Jeff Bass|Steve King}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|Cadastre|Sevn Thomas{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length3 = 3:40
| title4 = Not You Too
| note4 = featuring Chris Brown{{efn|Although Brown is given feature credit, he only performs background vocals.}}
| writer4 = {{hlist|Graham|Christopher Brown|Cadastre}}
| extra4 = Cadastre
| length4 = 4:29
| title5 = Toosie Slide
| writer5 = {{hlist|Graham|Ozan Yildirim}}
| extra5 = OZ
| length5 = 4:07
| title6 = Desires
| note6 = featuring Future
| writer6 = {{hlist|Graham|Nayvadius Wilburn|Darius Hill}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|D. Hill|Cadastre{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length6 = 3:57
| title7 = Time Flies
| writer7 = {{hlist|Graham|Yildirim}}
| extra7 = OZ
| length7 = 3:12
| title8 = Landed
| writer8 = {{hlist|Graham|Ronald LaTour Jr.|Dylan Cleary-Krell}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|Cardo|Dez Wright}}
| length8 = 2:32
| title9 = D4L
| note9 = with Future and Young Thug
| writer9 = {{hlist|Graham|Wilburn|Jeffery Williams|Joshua Luellen}}
| extra9 = Southside
| length9 = 3:09
| title10 = Pain 1993
| note10 = featuring Playboi Carti
| writer10 = {{hlist|Graham|Jordan Carter|Jordan Jenks}}
| extra10 = Pi'erre Bourne
| length10 = 2:29
| title11 = Losses
| writer11 = {{hlist|Graham|Yildirim|Thomas, Jr.|Michael Hernandez|Elias Sticken}}
| extra11 = {{hlist|OZ|Sevn Thomas|Foreign Teck{{ref|a|[a]}}|Elyas{{ref|a|[a]}}}}
| length11 = 4:31
| title12 = From Florida with Love
| writer12 = {{hlist|Graham|Cameron Pitts|Shebib}}
| extra12 = {{hlist|MexikoDro|40}}
| length12 = 3:54
| title13 = Demons
| note13 = featuring Fivio Foreign and Sosa Geek
| writer13 = {{hlist|Graham|Maxie Ryles III|Jessie Madison|Jonathan Mensah}}
| extra13 = JB Made It
| length13 = 3:24
| title14 = War
| writer14 = {{hlist|Graham|Manalla Yusuf}}
| extra14 = Axl
| length14 = 3:00
}}
Notes
- {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies a co-producer
- {{sup|{{note|b|[b]}}}} signifies an additional producer
- {{sup|{{note|c|[c]}}}} signifies an uncredited co-producer{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SEVNTHOMAS/status/1256075770163630082/|title=out now! got 2 on here 🙏🏾 im back.|via=Twitter|author=S E V N 🔗|date=April 30, 2020}}
- "Losses" features a recording of Dennis Graham.
Sample credits
- "When to Say When" contains a sample of "Sounds Like a Love Song", written by Bobby Glenn and Ralph Johnson, as performed by Bobby Glenn.{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/a/drake-s-when-to-say-when-chicago-freestyle-sample-jay-z-eminem|title=Drake Surprises Fans With "When To Say When" & "Chicago Freestyle"|work=Genius|last1=Fu|first1=Eddie|last2=Shannon|first2=Delisa|last3=Hill|first3=Tia|last4=Morel Jr.|first4=Jacques|date=February 29, 2020|access-date=May 1, 2020}}
- "Chicago Freestyle" contains an interpolation of "Superman", written by Marshall Mathers, Jeff Bass, and Steve King, as performed by Eminem.
- "From Florida with Love" contains an interpolation of "Lollipop", written by Dwayne Carter, Stephen Garrett, Darius Harrison, Jim Jonsin, Rex Zamor and Marcus Cooper, as performed by Lil Wayne.{{Cite web|url=https://genius.com/Drake-from-florida-with-love-lyrics|title=Drake – From Florida With Love|access-date=December 21, 2021|website=Genius.com}}
Personnel
Musicians
- Sevn Thomas – piano {{small|(track 3)}}
Technical
- Noah Shebib – recording {{small|(tracks 1, 4, 6, 7)}}, mixing {{small|(tracks 1, 2, 5, 6)}}
- Noel Cadastre – mixing {{small|(tracks 2, 4, 7–14)}}, recording {{small|(tracks 3–14)}}, mixing assistant {{small|(track 5)}}
- Chris Athens – mastering {{small|(tracks 1–7, 14)}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+Chart performance for Dark Lane Demo Tapes |
| scope="col"| Chart (2020)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Australia|1|artist=Drake|album=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|rowheader=true|access-date=June 7, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Austria|5|artist=Drake|album=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|rowheader=true|access-date=May 12, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Flanders|3|artist=Drake|album=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|rowheader=true|access-date=May 8, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Wallonia|3|artist=Drake|album=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|rowheader=true|access-date=May 8, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardCanada|1|artist=Drake|rowheader=true|access-date=May 12, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Denmark|3|artist=Drake|album=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|rowheader=true|access-date=June 7, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Netherlands|1|artist=Drake|album=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|rowheader=true|access-date=May 8, 2020}} |
| scope="row"| Estonian Albums (Eesti Ekspress){{cite web|url=https://ekspress.delfi.ee/areen/eesti-tipp-40-muusikas-kui-hasti-drake-i-uus-em-mixtape-em-eestis-vajutab?id=89826795|title=ALBUMID TIPP-40|work=Eesti Ekspress|date=May 12, 2020|access-date=May 13, 2020}}
| 1 |
| {{album chart|Finland|5|artist=Drake|album=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|rowheader=true|access-date=June 7, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|France|2|artist=Drake|album=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|rowheader=true|access-date=June 7, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Germany4|11|id=414557|artist=Drake|album=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|rowheader=true|access-date=May 8, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Ireland3|1|date=20200508|rowheader=true|access-date=May 8, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Italy|4|artist=Drake|album=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|rowheader=true|access-date=June 7, 2020}} |
| scope="row"| Lithuanian Albums (AGATA){{cite web|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/savaites-klausomiausi-2020w19/|title=ALBUMŲ TOP100|language=lt|publisher=AGATA|date=May 8, 2020|access-date=May 9, 2020}}
| 1 |
| {{album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Drake|album=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|rowheader=true|access-date=June 7, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Norway|2|artist=Drake|album=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|rowheader=true|access-date=June 7, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Portugal|7|artist=Drake|album=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|rowheader=true|access-date=June 7, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Scotland|31|date=20200508|rowheader=true|access-date=August 9, 2023}} |
| {{album chart|Sweden|2|artist=Drake|album=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|rowheader=true|access-date=June 7, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Switzerland|2|artist=Drake|album=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|rowheader=true|access-date=May 13, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|UK2|1|date=20200508|rowheader=true|access-date=May 8, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|2|artist=Drake|rowheader=true|access-date=May 12, 2020}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|1|artist=Drake|rowheader=true|access-date=August 27, 2020}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+2021 year-end chart performance for Dark Lane Demo Tapes ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 3, 2021}}
| 117 |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 3, 2021}}
| 74 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Dark Lane Demo Tapes}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|title=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|artist=Drake|award=Gold|relyear=2020|certyear=2024|access-date=April 18, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|award=Platinum|number=2|type=album|relyear=2020|certyear=2024|artist=Drake|title=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|access-date=June 5, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Drake|title=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2020|certyear=2024|id=14215|access-date=August 7, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Drake|title=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2020|certyear=2024|access-date=April 2, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Drake|title=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2020|certyear=2024|id=13331|access-date=October 13, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Drake|title=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2020|certyear=2022|access-date=March 1, 2025|source=radioscope}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Drake|title=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2020|certyear=2023|access-date=December 28, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Drake|title=Dark Lane Demo Tapes|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2020|certyear=2021|id=16686-2363-2|access-date=December 11, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true|nosales=true}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{notelist}}
{{Drake}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Drake (musician) mixtape albums
Category:OVO Sound mixtape albums
Category:Atlantic Records mixtape albums
Category:Albums produced by Cardo (record producer)
Category:Albums produced by Noah "40" Shebib
Category:Albums produced by Pi'erre Bourne