The Dream That Was Meant To Last: Justin Magnaye’s Third Album “LOVERBOY”
The 26-year-old New Jersey-based singer-songwriter Justin Magnaye just dropped his third album, LOVERBOY, a project filled with 16 tracks that take you through all stages of life, give you a hand, and make you feel you’re not alone. An album that took more than four years to create, between broken hard drives, rewriting, rebuilding from scratch, and finding yourself again in a new way.
This is Justin Magnaye: purely him, unfiltered, his most authentic work.
Never heard of Justin Magnaye? No problem. We got you. Imagine Bruno Mars & Anderson Paak’s pop and R&B grooves, Justin Timberlake’s early 00s energy, and the rap energy of J. Cole, Eminem, and JVCKJ. Singing glides into rap, meeting beautifully crafted lyrics. The vibes, the rhythm, and the instruments make it unique and powerful. Justin knows what he’s doing, and this album proves it. From features to his own tracks, everything is part of the album, and it fits perfectly.
In "Reality", Justin delivers razor-sharp wordplay and emotional honesty: “Now I’m pondering, I’m wondering If you’ve been chasing clout, you’ve been sleeping on the one that you've been dreaming about and I’m not Tame Impala but the less I know the better but I’m taming memories in my head like technicolor yeah the hardest pill to swallow is the fact your exes always wanna be me so go ahead and leave me cause karma ain’t a freebie here’s some advice go get the fuck shit out your system I rip the teeth from out my mouth so you can get my wisdom.”
In the "lineup", he plays with desire and uncertainty: “Can you make your mind up? You’re still in my lineup if you say no. Ain’t no pressure, girl, I’ll stay in. If it’s games, we’re playing. Don’t know what we’re saying, but I want you.”
The album opens with "Loverboy", where he admits, “[…] I’m falling for you so hard,” and ends with "She knows" with the lyrics, “She knows she knows I’m crazy in love. She knows she knows I’m crazy in love,” giving the record a full-circle moment. The album takes you on a journey through life, with its ups and downs, the good and the bad, full of love in all its forms: beautiful, messy, and joyous; vulnerability, breakups, and self-discovery.
For us, the album has two different vibes. The first half is unapologetically real—speaking your mind even when it is hard or not appreciated ("Golden Child": “see the brighter days ahead of me”), doing your own thing because you gotta do you – find your way, be you ("00 Lakers"), but also uncertainty ("Don’t Over Analyse It"), and breakups ("Cinderella’s Castle": “And I’ve been caught on you. What do I do? When I still want you? I fucked it up.”)
From Track 11 onward, the album shifts into a more lovable side – light tunes, devotion, butterflies, and love. “Let’s get lost in the city,” he sings, “Oh, what are you doing to me?” Then we reach "Goddess": “Baby, you’re a goddess, let me praise you.” This track is filled with love and layered vocals that flow into "Brooklyn Bridge", a track that shows his vulnerable side:
[…] but I’m too scared to admit that I like you. Scared to familiarize myself when I lose. Do something that I don’t understand, no. The more I keep calm, the more I panic […],
honest words, but with a desire to overcome fear, which leads into “Everything is better with you”, pop elements and a bass solo in the middle.
Track 15, “One More Time”: “Forgive me lord, I’m a sinner for her.” Pop meets R&B vibes again, with a dreamy pop song that leads into the soft closing track, “She Knows.” It’s sonically dreamy; his voice is the main actor. No upbeat tunes, just purely him and the softest words: “She knows she knows I’m crazy in love. She knows she knows I’m crazy in love.” A beautiful ending for a rollercoaster ride of emotions. But that’s what life is about. It’s not all roses and butterflies; there are going to be good and bad days, and Justin Magnaye beautifully captures this in his third album, LOVERBOY.
Our personal favorites are "‘00 Lakers", "Don’t Over Analyse it", and "Reality". The first is a mix of singing and rapping; it's electric and upbeat. Justin signs, “I have been gone for a minute and that’s not damn bad,” and it gives, ‘yeah, I have been gone, but I’m back and better than ever.” A statement that could not be truer. It’s not bad to take a brea, a breather, to be by yourself, to elevate in silence, and then come back when you’re finally feeling better. And when you’re back, “No one’s gotta stop me, I’m elevating to new levels.”
"Don’t Over Analyse It" gives early 00s Justin Timberlake vibes, vocals that have you dancing, vibing, and singing along instantly. It creates a music video right before your eyes without any effort.
"Reality" is the sixth track on LOVERBOY, the longest one, and it’s a song that delivers razor-sharp wordplay and emotional honesty while maintaining the Justin Timberlake energy during its chorus, “be honest, be honest, be honest, giving me no love.” It begins in an angry manner, concludes with a soft chorus, offers more insight into the other person through an added voice call, and then swiftly shifts to a sad tone, revealing a song with two sides.
As Justin himself says on Instagram, talking about his album,
I never wanted to go with the flow; I wanted to create it. I live to inspire people. I live to protect the peace of dreams. I live to give a voice to you. I live to be a friend to you. That’s who I am. That’s what Loverboy is.
This not only showcases his passion and devotion to music but also his character as a human, one who wants to create music that unites, makes people feel seen, and gives back to those who need it most.
We can’t wait to see what the future holds in store for him, but if this album is any indicator, it’s going to be glorious: packed venues, happy faces, and a place where everyone feels seen.
Listen to Justin Magnaye’s third album, LOVERBOY, here:
REVIEW BY
Sabrina
I love sharing the things that bring me joy and make me feel at home. Whether it’s stumbling upon hidden gems, experiencing unforgettable concerts, or finding inspiration in art, books, and film, I’m always chasing moments that matter. Life keeps me moving, and through writing, I get to share my adventures and my love for the artists who inspire me. There’s so much beauty out there waiting to be seen and appreciated!
