Drake & PARTYNEXTDOOR deliver $ome $exy $ongs 4 U
When you put PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake together on a joint album for a Valentine's release, and with the title $ome $exy $ongs 4 U; I believe everybody was expecting pretty unlistenable songs. But surprisingly enough we get as described by the album’s description “74 personal minutes... for the world”. For Valentine's Day this year, Drake & PARTYNEXTDOOR drop a collab album expressing their feelings in a surprisingly non-freakish manner.
“CN TOWER” opens the album up as a love letter to Toronto, Drake’s hometown, as featured on the Views album cover as he sits on the tower overlooking Toronto. In the first half of the album, we get predictable PARTY and Drake flows, but they seem to make it work as usual on songs such as “Something About You”, one of my favorites from the album, which I believe should have been the title track to the album. Then Drake delivers a solo performance on “CRYING IN CHANEL” really going back to the vibes of Views and More Life. On “SPIDER-MAN SUPERMAN” both artists sing about how they are viewed as superheroes to women, ironically the world's most famous superheroes, a classic Drake move.
“DEEPER” is a solo PARTYNEXTDOOR song where he reflects on how love from a certain girl has him thinking deeply about the current situation he’s in. “SMALL TOWN FAME” is the second solo performance where he speaks his mind and reflects on his position as a rapper right now. “PIMMIE’S DILEMMA” features Pim, having a solo song on the album delivering what I believe to be the best feature of the project.“BRIAN STEEL” references the attorney Brian Steel who represented Young Thug during his RICO case, as Drake raps about being free by stepping out to parties and helping others out of cuffs.
On “GIMME A HUG” Drake responds to the allegations of him being washed after the beef with Kendrick Lamar by starting the song off with a classic corny line “Drake elimination, fake intimidation” then getting everything off his chest as he raps to himself and the world “You Neo in the Matrix, these **** just Nemo in the ocean, Small fish, making kids feel emotion, Using you for promotion, truer words had never been spoken” clearly taking a shot back at Kendrick and his use of promoting the famous “Not Like Us” track. Also, giving 21 Savage his respect for taking a shot at Kendrick on Lil Baby’s song that dropped earlier this year “Outfit”, “Savage, you the only **** checkin’ on me when we really in some ****, brother”. Then finally addressing the beef by saying “**** a rap beef, I’m trynna get the party lit”.
In the second half of the album, we get a more whimsical side from both artists. “LASERS” is a catchy love song where both artists on the chorus interpolate Beyonce’s “Say My Name” as they sing “Say my name like Beyonce”. Having a different meaning than the one in her song as Beyonce sings to a man cheating, while both artists on “LASERS” sing it as reassurance to a woman. “MEET YOUR PADRE” is Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR attempting to gain a new audience by featuring Chino Pacas. It doesn’t seem to work out for me as I think they are trying too hard, but I can’t lie and say it isn’t a catchy song. “NOKIA” is probably the most fun song of the album where Drake brings vibes from the 2000s and interpolates songs like “Titi Me Pregunto” by Bad Bunny and “What These **** Want” by DMX, where the artists try to figure out which of the many girlfriends they have are trying to get their attention. “DIE TRYING” is by far my favorite song off the album as Drake and PARTY perfectly execute the vibes from “Hey There Delilah’” by Plain White T’s, as they turn it into a new love anthem featuring Yebba.
Towards the end of the album, we get more deep and personal with both artists on songs like “SOMEBODY LOVES ME”, “CELIBACY”, “OMW”, and “WHEN HE’S GONE”. Finally, they end the album off with what I believe to be their best new song since “Since Way Back”, with amazing performances.
Overall, this album is far from perfect, but it was a well-crafted one, and if people say otherwise, they are letting the beef get to their heads. There are so many good songs and a few bad standouts for sure, but we can’t deny that this isn’t an album with high replay value.
Happy Valentine’s Day from Drake, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and KRCX.