Drake says new album Certified Lover Boy will be released in January 2021

Artist’s last album, ‘Scorpion’, was released in 2018

Drake in a teaser clip promoting his new album (Instagram/Drake)

Drake has announced that his next album, Certified Lover Boy, is scheduled for release sometime in January 2021.

The announcement coincided with Drake’s 34th birthday (24 October), and was accompanied by a short teaser video.

Drake first alluded to a new album in August, upon the release of his single “Laugh Now Cry Later” with Lil Durk.

His Dark Lane Demo Tapes was released in May, following the 2018 album Scorpion.

Scorpion received mixed reviews from critics.

The Independent gave the album three stars, criticising it for being “over-stuffed with material that varies dramatically in quality”.

“His last studio album, 2016’s Views, felt too long at 20 tracks, so Scorpion feels ridiculous with 25... and oddly erratic,” the review said.

“We all know Drake as a virtuoso and something of a hip hop chameleon, but the way he darts between different sounds is exhausting and, ultimately, messy. On certain tracks he raps like he has something to prove, on others it's like he has nothing.”

This year, Drake has appeared on tracks by DJ Khaled and Popcaan, while also featuring on the “Only You” freestyle on Headie One’s debut album, EDNA.