Roy Woods – X (Album Review)

Roy Woods’ “X” makes you want to dim the lights, roll the windows down, and text somebody you probably shouldn’t.

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TOP 5 SONGS

5. Brunch

“Brunch” is definitely one of the more sensual tracks here. Roy talks about everything he wants to do with this girl, from flying her out and loving on her to taking her to brunch and showing her off. He’s playing hype man once again, but this time with a lot more bedroom energy. The beat leans more hip-hop than R&B, giving the song a little extra bounce while still keeping that smooth Roy Woods feel.

4. Set Fire

“Set Fire” really stands out because it gives island vibes, like something you’d hear at a beach club in Miami. For sure, the track will make you want to move your hips and throw it back a lil bit… you know the mood.

3. How You Say My Name

“How You Say My Name” is the opening track to X, and Roy is low-key showing off with this one. We get a lil spoken rap intro, and then he goes straight into those passionate vocals. You can tell he put his chest into this one.

The track is about the girl who drives him wild but is also a bit of trouble. She’s playing with him, giving him chemistry in the bedroom and living rent-free in his head while making him wonder how long it’ll be before she drops him like any other dude. There’s an intensity in his voice throughout the track; a mix of yearning and frustration that works really well and makes for a strong opener.

2. Break Ties

“Break Ties” is one of the slower, more emotional tracks on the album. It’s about caring deeply for someone and constantly going out of your way for them, only for them to use that against you. Since the relationship has become toxic, they’re always fighting, she’s always messing with his mental, and Roy has finally reached his breaking point.

The whole song feels bittersweet, like he genuinely wanted things to work but has accepted that they never will. Sometimes breaking ties is the only option.

1. Beautiful

“Beautiful” is honestly really sweet, and I wasn’t expecting that. Roy talks about the things a woman does to cover up her insecurities or the parts of herself she doesn’t love, and how she doesn’t really need any of it. She is beautiful exactly how she is, and he’s gonna make sure she knows that.

He’s basically her personal hype man through the whole song, wishing she could see herself the way he sees her. It’s simple, genuine, and one of the softer moments on the album.

SONG BY SONG RATING

How You Say My Name (4/5)

Beautiful (4/5)

Trust and Believe (4/5)

For Me (4/5)

I Wanna Know (3.5/5)

Brunch (4/5)

Set Fire (4/5)

Down In Your Ways (3.5/5)

Break Ties (4/5)

Do You Get Angry (3.5/5)

RGM RATING

(C+)

Roy Woods is back with X, and honestly? It passes the vibe check. I mean, this whole album is hunchin’, dancin’, and romancin’, with a little sprinkle of toxicity here and a dash of positive affirmations there. This is the kind of album that has the girls drunk-belting lyrics in the passenger seat of their situationship’s car and the guys quietly adding songs to their “after dark” playlist like nobody’s gonna notice.

X gives yearning, passion, and intensity, but it also gives playfulness, flirtation, and feel-good moments. The tracklist leans heavily into R&B and hip-hop, and Roy belts, runs, and smooth-talks his way through the album’s 30-minute runtime.

Roy is charismatic and buttery. The production is beat-heavy and silky, and together? It makes me want to unwind and roll something up. Overall, this album is chill, easy on the ears, and packed with replay value. While a few tracks felt a little too closed off or familiar for me, the highlights on this project are really strong, and they’re definitely songs I’ll be coming back to.

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