PartyNextDoor has been on an album hiatus for the absolute longest with it being nearly 4 years since PND3 and no concrete reasons as to why coming into this. You know what though, I’ve seen artist after artist far too often churn out track after track to please fans whilst mentally or physically not being in a good space. For that exact reason, I am happy he took his time to get right whilst still giving us Colours (1 and 2), Seven Days and more recently featuring on the Scorpion and Ye albums.
Outside of the leaks which I always come across now and again on Soundcloud the true hype for PND work came back in August 2019 when Drake announced that new PartyNextDoor music was on the way at OVO Fest. What followed in January was PartyNextDoor killing off the idea of a PND 4 or Club Atlantis with PARTYMOBILE which came with 3 singles “Loyal”, “The News” and “Split Decision” out the gate. In this project, I would like to hear some insights into what’s been going on over the last few years and that summer vibe Party which I felt was missing on the Darker heartbreak of PND3. You can hear some of the highlights up to this point below!
1.Nothing Less
Hearing that P-P-P-ARTY sample just brings me right back to the nostalgia of Make A Mil when people had no idea how he looked, a nice ambiance to bring us in slowly.
2. Turn Up
Not quite the vibe I was expecting based on the title but the grumbly hook on this mid-tempo production is again a mellow chill. Still waiting for something a bit more open.
3.The News
I’ve played this tune a fair few times and it still hits like the first time I heard it. The dark Toronto drop and the baseline makes it such an easy vibe to cool out too. Few lines of wanting out, there is a possibility he not talking about a relationship but the industry? #ThrowawayThought.
4.Split Decision*
This is PartyNextDoor to the core, stories of crossroads in a relationship and apologising for the mistakes made. That stuttering effect on his vocals is absolutely nasty.
5. Loyal ft Drake
This follows the same formula of some of his dancehall-inspired classics like “Work”, “Not Nice” and “Only You” and with the boy, on the feature, this couldn’t really miss. This will stick around and get some summer play for sure but “Only You” is still the top dog in this lane from him for me.
6. Touch Me
This is kind of strange you know its’s got an Egyptian hypnotic feel to it I can see it growing on me after a few plays. This sound is still refreshing though it just sits in another lane to most things out there.
7. Trauma*
Now he’s finally bringing in the Party it’s got the flavors of Dance, House, and Afrobeats. This is the clear standout of the project so far biggest radio potential right alongside the already bubbling “Loyal”.
8. Showing You
I’m actually enjoying the gradual journey of this album so far, the song short of felt like it was building up for a big drop which never came but I liked the calming strings either way.
9. Eye on It
OK ah suh yuh ah gwan Party, the yard flavors are back in full swing with that “One Dance” Soca/Reggaeton feel to it. In my opinion, he’s the one and only artist alongside Tory who can execute this style perfectly in the hip-hop /r&b lane.
10. Believe It ft Rihanna*
Before even seeing the tracklist I knew that there would be a Rih Rih feature pon the ting, I also think he’s going to be the executive producer in her new album (as I said in 2018) but let’s see. Now in terms of this track, this is the MEGA crossover hit he’s deserved for putting the years in the OVO workshop for Drake’s albums, I can see it played in the mix of a Khalid tune.
All that is needed now is a video like Come and See Me
11. Never Again
This country rodeo twang isn’t for me though.
12. PGT
I actually don’t get what PGT stands for? This is that old-school “Don’t Worry” Party.
13. Another Day
There’s a melody he samples in this at the 1.07 mark which caught my ear but apart from that I’m not blown away by this one.
14. Savage Anthem
This is that alpha male tone which I haven’t heard Party come out with much on this album. He went all the way in on this though opening up fully for the first time on the album, I feel this one.
I put the dirt into dirt-bag
Still got your jacket in my bag
15. Loyal Remix ft Drake & Bad Bunny
Just the same as before, nothing more to add.
PND eased himself back onto our radars nicely with this project which sits as number 2 to PND2. It’s not something original fans will be confused by as it’s got a song for all his key lanes in the Dark R&B/ Dancehall infused space. Party really sounds like he took the time out to come back much more polished with something which doesn’t sound as dark as PND3 or as warped out in autotune as PND2(still my favorite) but a balance of both worlds.
The only drawback I have on this project is that he could’ve really used this as an opportunity to address questions on where he been instead of scratching the surface of relationships, trust issues and “Split Decisions” like he always does (exception of “Savage Anthem”).
Top 3 Tracks: Trauma, Split Decision and Believe It
Rating: 7.8/10
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