‘Certified Lover Boy’ Producer Leon Thomas III Talks About Working With Drake On [Watch]
We are one day away from Drake releasing his highly anticipated album ‘Certified Lover Boy’ on Friday, September 3. Last week, Drake seemingly announced the release date for Certified Lover Boy on the morning of August 27th on SportsCenter broadcast.
On ESPN, a hooded character—the so-called Toronto rapper—interrupted the show and brandished a cardboard poster that said, “CLB. September 3.”’
SportsCenter addresses rumors that Drake hacked the morning of Friday, August. 27, aired concerning the release date of his next album. Within hours of the minor disturbance, the sports program’s Twitter account shared a message, attributing the disturbance to “technical difficulties.”
We want to apologize for any interruptions viewers might have experienced during SportsCenter this morning. Unfortunately, we had some technical difficulties that have since been resolved.
“Album’s cooked,” he said on a July episode of Sound 42’s “Fri Yiy” show. “Looking forward to delivering it to you. I hope everybody in the world is blessed. I hope everybody has their drinks, everyone’s locked in. Good vibes and good energy for this weekend.”
“And for the rest of you heathens, I wanna tell you, ‘cause I know you’re listening, ‘cause you’re always free. Don’t trouble people’s kids, don’t bother people’s souls,” he added. “Know what I’m sayin’? OVO, we aim for that head. We don’t aim to please. You see it. Certified Lover Boy on the way. And that’s for anyone in the way.”
On Thursday morning, a Twitter user named @localslovesBri tweeted a video of producer Leon Thomas III on Instagram Live talking about working with Drake.
“I’m not going to lie to you, I was super nervous because I met homie before, but I am sitting there playing beats. It is definitely a vibe and I am really excited to see where everything goes,” said Thomas.
“I am taking everything one step at a time. The crew is very cool and meeting the whole OVO crew.”
Make sure you check out the album on all streaming platforms when it drops at 12:00 am EST.
Landon Buford is an accomplished sports and entertainment journalist based in Richardson, Texas, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA, WNBA, NFL, WWE, MLB, and the entertainment industry. Known for delivering high-impact stories and headline-making interviews, Buford has earned a global audience through content that blends insider access with compelling storytelling.
He previously served as director of editorial and brand communications at PlayersTV, where he helped shape the platform’s editorial voice and brand identity. He is also the founder and editor-in-chief of LandonBuford.com—an independent outlet with more than 1.6 million views and syndication from major platforms including Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated and Yahoo Sports. Buford’s interviews with stars like Gary Payton, Kevin Durant, Mark Cuban and Chris Paul showcase his talent for meaningful, in-depth conversations.
His bylines have appeared in Sports Illustrated, Forbes, Heavy.com, Meta’s Bulletin and One37pm, where he has contributed exclusive interviews, breaking news and cultural insights. At Heavy.com, his work drew more than a million views in just eight months, and at One37pm, it contributed to record-breaking traffic numbers.
His work highlights the intersection of sports, fashion, music, and entrepreneurship—showcasing how athletes and entertainers use their platforms to inspire change, influence trends, and shape culture beyond the game. Landon has interviewed a wide range of figures from the NBA, NFL, and entertainment industries, consistently bringing authentic voices and untold stories to the forefront.
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