This past Valentine’s Day, artists Drake and PartyNextDoor released their new album Some Sexy Songs 4 U, abbreviated as $$$4U. It consists of 21 songs, all of which debuted in the Billboard Hot 100, with two, “NOKIA” and “GIMME A HUG,” reaching the top ten. According to Billboard, the album broke the record for the biggest success by first-day streams of a R&B/Soul album on Apple Music.
The album opens with the song “CN Tower.” Capturing feelings of heartbreak, this song is a great opener for the album, combining clever lyricism and intense emotion while maintaining an enjoyable beat. The verses begin by repeating the question “What color’s the CN Tower?” and answers in each verse with a different color suggesting a different response: red (as in “left on read”), blue for sadness and green for envy.
Track No. 10, “GIMME A HUG,” is one of the most popular hits from Some Sexy Songs 4 U. The beginning vocals rise with a gospel feel, which continue until Drake’s lyrics cue a beat switch, bringing the background track to a fast-paced beat. The background vocals, however, return when the lyrics change to describe longing. Drake says, “Give me a hug,” as the vocals sing a different and less intense repetition of “I miss you.”
“NOKIA,” track No. 14, is another popular track on the new album. This song combines melodic vocals with synth backing to create the catchy rhythm that appears around the chorus and pre-chorus. About halfway through the track, the vibe shifts into a sound reminiscent of Kanye West’s 2017 album, Graduation. Shifting the tone from this upbeat vibe, it transforms into a crunchier and deeper groove. The infectious pop sounds combined with the 80s rap style create an innovative and entertaining track that is refreshing to listen to.
Though not as popular as “GIMME A HUG” or “NOKIA,” another song worth mentioning is “DIE TRYING.” This upbeat song with guitar instrumentalism in the background differs from the rest of the album’s traditional rap vibe, as it resembles more of a pop song. The lyrics and musicality of the song do clash, but that contributes to the song’s intricacy. Contrary to the happy guitar acoustics, the lyrics detail confusion in the singer’s relationship, questioning “if I should stay and say I tried / Or I should leave and say goodbye.” The mix of happiness and confusion provides a complexity while making the verses catchy.
In addition to Drake and PartyNextDoor’s catchy melodies and innovative lyrics, the collaborative project experimented with several genres, including acoustic pop and regional Mexican. Hishaam Habib (III) stated, “I think the genres of the album mix well from R&B to rap and even pop, [and] at the end of the day Drake is a rapper.” The clash of genres blends the album into a cohesive work of art. The album combines elements from R&B, hip-hop and pop, creating a mix of both slow and high-energy tracks. Some Sexy Songs 4 U highlights a seamless transition between melodic vocals, catchy synth notes and rushing heavy bass.
Conversely, others thought the album didn’t blend well and may have dragged. Henry McDonald (III) remarks, “Some of the songs could have been left off; they just didn’t really add anything to the project as a whole.” With a whopping 21 tracks on the album, it’s understandable that not all of them serve the same purpose. Some receive more praise than others. Despite this, Drake and PartyNextDoor’s blend of lyricism, interpolations and features definitely make this album an overall success.
