On 14 February, while many people worldwide were celebrating Valentine’s Day, those with elite music taste were busy streaming $ome $exy $ongs 4 U ($$$4U)–a collaboration album by Drake and PartyNextDoor.
The 21-track R&B album had an explosive debut, with every song immediately landing on the Billboard Hot 100–and it’s not hard to understand why. Considering the rap battle between Drake and Kendrick Lamar that dominated the music world in May 2024–in which Drake seemingly “lost” in the court of public opinion–this album was highly anticipated.
Despite the expectation that his first musical release since the beef would address what went down, Drake makes no mention of Lamar. Instead, he focuses on the people who switched up on him. In “Raining in Houston” (arguably a top ten Drake track), he ends the song with the lyrics, “The hate from this year alone is confusing my love, I can’t see things getting much smoother my love”. This shows that it’s not just about the fallout with Lamar but the broader disappointment he feels toward so-called friends, both in and outside the industry. He expands on this in “Gimme a Hug”, name-dropping 21 Savage as the only one who’s reached out amidst the “fake elimination”. Unlike his usual subliminal-laced responses, Drake takes a more introspective route, turning his focus inward rather than lashing out. Still, in typical Drake fashion, he’ll likely have more to say on his solo album, which is expected to drop this summer.
A Carefully Constructed Descent
At the heart of $$$4U lies a carefully constructed emotional descent, unfolding across four tracks: “Pimmie’s Dilemma”, “Brian Steele”, “Gimme a Hug”, and “Raining in Houston”.
The album opens with “Pimmie’s Dilemma”, a soft-spoken interlude where a woman pleads, “please don’t go out with your friends”. It’s the type of third-party interlude not out of place in a Drake project–quiet, intimate, and ominous (Much like Yebba’s Heartbreak from CLB). Then comes “Brian Steele”, where Drake leans into temptation, openly admitting he should stay home but would rather “pop out with the guys tonight.”
“Gimme a Hug” is the scene of the crime–Drake is lost in the nightlife. He’s unapologetically living it up, rapping with the kind of bravado that’s both magnetic and hollow. He confesses that no matter how hard he tries, “he’s stuck in his ways.” There’s no remorse here, just resignation.
Then comes “Raining in Houston”, the emotional peak of the album. The tempo slows, and the mood shifts. Drake is doing damage control–booking restaurants, “pulling strings,” showing up soft-spoken and vulnerable. Not necessarily because he regrets his actions, but because he’s decided, “we’re not arguing again”. It’s performative but painfully real.
In telling this story–one that countless guys like Drake have lived out in their own messy ways–there’s a quiet commentary on performative remorse, flawed love, and the cyclical nature of modern relationships that similarly sees partners messing up, then reentering with grand gestures, at the very least to avoid the headache of hearing how their careless actions have affected their partner. Drake seals this message in a perfect genre blend: moody R&B in “Raining in Houston”, hype rap in “Gimme a Hug” and “Brian Steele”, and the emotional pull of “Pimmie’s Dilemma” anchoring it all.
PartyNextDoor (PND) x Drake
PartyNextDoor’s contributions aren’t just supportive–they’re essential. His deep, textured vocals balance Drake’s melodic tone. Their chemistry is undeniable, and on tracks like “When He’s Gone”, “Somebody Loves Me”, and “CN Towers”, the interplay is seamless; it becomes difficult to tell where one artist ends and the other begins.
Despite being branded an R&B album, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U avoids falling into genre clichés. It hits every mark of a Drake project: beat switches, ambient production, and layered storytelling. It’s made to be replayed. “I Want to Meet Your Padre” sees Drake experiment with Spanish lyrics. “Nokia” (my pick for Song of the Summer 2025) blends a soulful ‘90s beat with modern upbeat lyrics. “Deeper” gives us classic PND, while “Moth Balls” and “CN Towers” are already emerging as fan favourites. This isn’t just a playlist of moody love songs–it’s a cohesive body of work by two artists who know how to push boundaries without losing their defining marks in the process.
Old Drake: Reinvented
For years, listeners have accused Drake of losing his touch, claiming they miss “old Drake”. But after this album, that argument doesn’t hold much weight. Glimpses of the past are everywhere, from the emotional honesty in “Raining in Houston” to the self-sampling of Drake’s song “The Real Her” on “Spiderman Superman”. But instead of copying old formulas, Drake reworks them. He reminds us why we cared in the first place without sounding stuck in the past.
One could certainly make the argument–like Drake has literally done on this project–that the old is very much submerged in the new. For instance, even the opening melody of “Moth Balls” sounds remarkably close to “Sticky”, a track from Drake’s 2022 album Honestly, Nevermind. He’s not returning to form, he’s redefining it.
Conclusion
The album was sensational. It’s not just a collection of songs but a full experience. It’s one of those rare projects where you can hit shuffle and land on something great every time (well, maybe skip “Meet Your Padre”). Whether you’re into R&B, rap or hip-hop, there’s something here for you. It’s smooth, experimental, emotionally sharp, and sonically rich and has surpassed expectations of what a Drake and PartyNextDoor project would sound like.
“Drake July 2016” by The Come Up Show is licensed under CC BY 2.0.