From blowing out speakers nationwide, shattering records at the Grammys, and being performed at the Super Bowl, Kendrick Lamar’s fiery diss track Not Like Us should have cemented the end of Drake’s career. Still, the aftermath of the beef prompted one big question from everyone: “What is Drake’s next move?”
After an irrelevant lawsuit against UMG based on artificially boosting Kendrick’s music only worsened his already deteriorating public image, Drake’s career showed little promise by the end of 2024. But with the dawn of a new year, one must imagine Drake shouting, “New year, new me!” as he announced the rollout of his upcoming album.
Released on February 14, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U is what Drake’s response should have been—a collection of fun, catchy music to win back favor with the public. With 287 million first-week streams, it’s a relatively small debut for such a big artist, but noteworthy nonetheless.
His collaboration with fellow Toronto RnB artist PARTYNEXTDOOR serves as the perfect complement to Drake’s signature melodic flow, persistent throughout each of the 21 tracks. Vocal melodies effortlessly sail across ambient chords as faded drums carry the rhythm, the perfect combination of elements for a laid-back, euphoric vibe.
It’s a recipe for success, but Drake leans on it so much during the album that it quickly turns into a recipe for disaster. David Chung ‘26 agrees, stating, “Most of the album was just the same thing over and over; it was pretty boring.”
Other tracks opt for a unique approach, though, like NOKIA, which cleverly samples the antique phone’s iconic ringtone. Drake’s creativity on NOKIA transforms it into a unique club hit, with a catchy dance rhythm.
Still, even when Drake chooses to explore his sound, he ends up with some ideas that should’ve just stayed on the hard drive. On Meet Your Padre, Drake awkwardly raps in Spanish, with lyrics seemingly pulled from a free trial on Duolingo. It stands out as one of the worst songs Drake has ever released.
Even with melodic highs and staggering lows, Some $exy $ongs 4 U hasn’t really changed much in terms of Drake’s sound, a clear reflection of his stagnating career.
However, outspoken Drake fans like Austin Lee ‘26 view the glass half full: “I think that people are totally sleeping on the new album, it’s one of his best projects in a while.”
Either way, the message is clear. The hip-hop community at large doesn’t bat an eye at such a subpar project because it’s indistinguishable from the state of Drake’s career for the past few years: some good, some bad, and mostly mediocre.
