Did Drake Reveal ‘CLB’ Release Date During ‘SportsCenter’?

Drake has been teasing the release date for his highly anticipated sixth studio album Certified Lover Boy for weeks, but it looks like it’s coming sooner rather than later. 

Early morning Friday (August 27), ESPN’s Sportscenter broadcast was interrupted by someone wearing a black hoodie and bandana. As the choppy video feed cut into the Sportscenter opening introduction, the masked figured held up a cardboard sign that read “CLB September 3.” It didn’t take long for fans to point fingers at Drake for hijacking the feed, but it’s unclear as of press time who’s responsible. 

This nigga Drake used ESPN to announce his release date pic.twitter.com/UjH1rxtesH

— Psycho Mantis (@MarkSparks718_) August 27, 2021

According to Apple Music, Kanye West’s Donda will now release on September 3, the exact date in the grainy video feed Friday morning. If Drake is behind all this, he’s handling his reignited beef with Kanye West really well. Last week, the Chicago rap star posted a group chat conversation where he posted a picture of Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker character from the 2019 film. 

Alongside the picture was a text that read, “I live for this. I’ve been fucked with by nerd ass jock n-ggas like you my whole life. You will never recover. I promise you.” 

Kanye West to Drake pic.twitter.com/wlvXxP213B

— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) August 21, 2021

Fans on social media were quick to point out the timing and style of the video feed. People claimed Drake pulled a page out of Heath Ledger’s iconic Joker character from 2008’s The Dark Knight when he hijacked the news broadcast. 

Fans also pointed out Drake playing a perfect chess move hijacking Sportcenter after Kanye called him a “nerd ass jock.”

Check out some of the reactions below.

After Kanye west sends a picture of the Joker to Drake through text message, look what Drake just did this morning!! Remember in the movie Batman when the Joker Hacked the news channel? Drake Hacks into ESPN Broadcast?This is chess now pic.twitter.com/pRXa4ROjyE

— Landon Neal (@LandonKN) August 27, 2021

Drake is back and is on his joker sht LET’S GOOOOO pic.twitter.com/2J31jspaZS

— Joey (@gothamcityrap) August 27, 2021

Drake flipping that Joker energy right at Kanye west … love to see it #clb
September 3rd pic.twitter.com/KdkBoxOg7S

— Tingz N Wingz (@_RoboCop_8) August 27, 2021

Kanye called Drake a ‘jock’ and in return this nigga announced his album release date on Sportscenter ???? gotta love it

— illy Lynx (@ThatsiLLYES) August 27, 2021

Wait so Kanye called Drake a a jock and then he released his album date via sportscenter? Lmfaoooo

— محمد (@AppleciderPapi) August 27, 2021

Drake unveiled his release date on Sports Center. Kanye really nailed it with that nerd ass jock line.

— Reezy ? (@RickEMears) August 27, 2021