PARTYNEXTDOOR and Drake attempt to save Valentine’s Day with “$OME $EXY $ONGS 4 U.”
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TOP 5
5. SOMETHING ABOUT YOU
Drake definitely gives off the energy of a guy who would overhear his girl venting about her annoying co-worker and take it way too personally.
So, here’s the deal: the hook on this track is kinda weak. But everything else? GOATED.
We get my favorite Drake flow—the one that glides effortlessly over an intoxicating beat, the type that makes your wine hit just a little harder. Then there’s the perfect beat switch, morphing into a soundscape tailor-made for PARTYNEXTDOOR’s signature brand of disrespectful lyrics. If Future had hopped on this joint? Man, I would’ve crowned this muthasucka.
Saying someone’s “baby daddy is on his face” is playoffs-level nasty.
4. GLORIOUS
You run to the UK to get a check balance?
“GLORIOUS” feels like a page straight out of Central Cee’s playbook, built around a slick drill beat infused with emotional undertones and a flow that Cee has been leaning on heavily. To Drake’s credit, he’s been dabbling in this style for a while now, so it’s far from a random copy-paste job.
Lyrically, the 6 God gets the people going with bars about his woman’s curves, the VIP treatment he gets now that he’s stacked (Pause), and some rather cheeky oaths taken in very particular situations. As for PARTYNEXTDOOR and Ice Spice (Yes, Ice Spice is on this track), PND pops in with a Future-esque commercial break, while Ice’s sultry voice lingers in the background. But make no mistake—this is Drake’s track through and through.
3. GIMME A HUG
6PM in Hugville?
Drake asked PARTYNEXTDOOR for approval to whip ass for a song, and he was granted it. In “GIMME A HUG,” Drake vents his ass off. What does he vent about? All the people who turned their back on him and waiting for his downfall. He also brags about the pretty women he’s taking on vacation and plowing. Though the beat switches between some soulful, hard-hitting, and “let your soul glow” s**t, Drake maintains this hard-hitting rap style with a relentless flow. Yeah, he went off.
Joe Budden is the only dude who took a direct shot on this album. Drake must really hate this dude.
2. SOMEBODY LOVES ME
Finally, PARTYNEXTDOOR gets to play Luka on a track.
PARTYNEXTDOOR brings the ball up the court in “SOMEBODY LOVES ME,” setting the tone over an emotional, atmospheric beat. He also establishes the track’s main melody while weaving in themes of partying, love, and finessing women.
That said, when Drake steps in and takes over, I can’t lie—I loved that s**t. His verse carried a sense of urgency and appeal that hit a little harder. But credit where it’s due—PND still dropped a solid 30 on this one.
1. GREEDY
“GREEDY” is easily the purest R&B track on this album.
Drake’s R&B melodies don’t always hold my attention, but “GREEDY” is a different story. The melodies he plays with on this track—especially the one on the hook—are nothing short of excellent. They pull you in instantly, striking the perfect balance between nostalgic and fresh. Lyrically, he walks a fine line between heartfelt vulnerability and pure player energy, and it just works.
If there’s one song on this album that didn’t need PARTYNEXTDOOR, it’s this one. While his assertive vocals and bold lyrics add a unique dynamic, Drake was already in his bag so deep that I almost wished he had just finished the track solo. That said, their harmonized outro is pure magic—it’s got the essence of a Timbaland, Ginuwine, and Aaliyah studio session.
At this point, I’m confident in saying “GREEDY” is one of Drake’s most impressive R&B records ever.
SONG-BY-SONG RATING
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RGM RATING
(76%)
I’m not sure an R&B album is what the people needed from Drake right now, but hey—we got it, and I’m not mad at it.
Yes, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U is an R&B-heavy project packed with ultra-emotional crooning, deep dives into the tiniest details of luxury relationships, and instrumentals designed for late-night vibes. If you’ve ever spun a PARTYNEXTDOOR or Drake R&B tape before, you won’t feel like you’re treading new ground.
One of the most interesting things about this album is how most of the production leans toward PND’s drowsy, hypnotic R&B aesthetic—yet Drake still manages to dominate a lot of these tracks, opening quite a few. Personally, I vibed the most with songs that stepped outside of this formula, like “BRIAN STEEL” and “GLORIOUS.” I can’t say “NOKIA” or “MEET YOUR PADRE” were my favorites, but I’ll admit they’re solid.
Lyrically, Drake spends most of the album obsessed with a woman’s body, the same way Trump is obsessed with making Canada the 51st state. But he also finds time to address his never-ending list of beefs, dropping subliminals without naming names—just enough to let his rivals (and exes) know he’s unbothered. As for PARTYNEXTDOOR, his focus stays locked on indulging in women, often to borderline unhealthy levels, treating their presence as both a blessing and a transaction. Their perspectives don’t fully align, but it’s not enough to hurt the album’s cohesion.
There are two things I wasn’t crazy about: (1) too many songs took their sweet time to get going, and (2) tracks like “RAINING IN HOUSTON” and “LASERS” felt solid but overly familiar—like I’ve heard them 1000 times by now. I want to see some innovation from these two when it comes to the R&B department.
That said, when it’s all said and done, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U is still an enjoyable and well-executed project.
Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.
