Drake is a mood. Let’s be real, you don’t put on a Drake project when you’re looking for a lecture on geopolitical stability or a tutorial on how to fix a leaky faucet. You put it on when the sun goes down, the LED lights turn that specific shade of "H-Town Blue," and you’re feeling a mix of incredibly confident and slightly toxic.
Early 2025 gave us exactly what we’ve been begging for since the Recognize days: a full-length collaborative effort between the 6ix God and PARTYNEXTDOOR. It’s called $ome $exy $ongs 4 U (or $$$4U if you’re short on time), and honestly, it’s the most consistent Drake has sounded in years.
While For All The Dogs felt like a sprawling, 23-track chaotic experiment, this new project is a laser-focused dive into R&B. It’s smooth. It’s moody. It's basically an hour-long soundtrack for a drive through Toronto with no destination in mind. If you’ve been looking for that "Old Drake" feeling—the one where he actually sounds like he’s trying to win someone back instead of just complaining about them—this is the peak.
The Standout Tracks on $ome $exy $ongs 4 U
You’ve probably seen the memes about CN TOWER already. It’s the intro track, and it hits like a heavy fog over Lake Ontario. Drake and PND use the changing colors of the tower as a metaphor for their shifting moods. Red for the passion, blue for the regret, green for the envy. It’s classic Drizzy poetry. The production by Noel Cadastre is airy and ethereal, making it the perfect song to kick off a "late night vibes" playlist.
Then there’s MOTH BALLS.
Strange title, right?
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Drake explains it as a metaphor for preserving memories—the way mothballs keep old clothes from falling apart, he’s trying to keep a dying relationship from crumbling. It’s a bit of a reach, sure, but his delivery is so hypnotic you kind of just roll with it.
Why the Chemistry Still Works
What makes this album different from a solo Drake project is the way Party balances him out. On SOMETHING ABOUT YOU, the two trade verses about the blurred lines between lust and actual emotional connection.
Party brings that raw, distorted R&B energy that makes you feel like you’re in a crowded club at 3 AM. Drake, on the other hand, stays conversational. He’s talking about missed calls, blocked contacts on WhatsApp, and the rumors that keep getting back to him.
- CN TOWER: The essential late-night anthem.
- CRYING IN CHANEL: A solo Drake cut that feels like a spiritual successor to Honestly, Nevermind.
- DEEPER: A PND-heavy track that explores the fear of falling for someone too fast.
- CELIBACY: This one is polarizing. Drake basically spends four minutes counting down the exact time since he was last intimate with someone.
The "Petty King" Returns
If you were worried that Drake’s 2024 beef with Kendrick Lamar would turn him into a strictly "angry" rapper, RAINING IN HOUSTON proves otherwise. He’s still Petty King. He’s still taking shots at his exes' new boyfriends.
"You're with a guy who probably thinks a 'bag' is just for groceries," he quips over a Kid Masterpiece beat. It’s sharp, it’s unnecessary, and it’s exactly why we listen to him. He manages to weave in some reflections on the industry "beefing with boys we don't ever see," but he quickly pivots back to the R&B pocket he’s comfortable in.
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The middle of the album gets a bit experimental. SPIDER-MAN SUPERMAN features a woozy sample of The Real Her (a deep cut from Take Care). It’s a nostalgic nod for the long-time fans. It feels like a fever dream where Drake and PND admit they aren’t the heroes their partners need. They aren't saving anyone. In fact, on SMALL TOWN FAME, Drake explicitly tells a girl he can’t be the one to "rescue" her from her own choices.
Is It Better Than For All The Dogs?
Comparing $$$4U to For All The Dogs is like comparing a tailored suit to a giant thrift store bin. For All The Dogs had some massive hits—Slime You Out with SZA was a moment, and Rich Baby Daddy was a TikTok juggernaut. But that album was also exhausting. It was 84 minutes of mood swings.
$ome $exy $ongs 4 U is much tighter.
The 21 tracks flow into one another with a cohesive soundscape. There aren't many "skips" if you’re actually in the mood for R&B. It’s less about chasing a Billboard #1 and more about reclaiming the "Lover Boy" throne. Even the guest spots are curated perfectly. Chino Pacas pops up on MEET YOUR PADRE, adding a surprising regional Mexican twist that somehow works with the OVO bounce. Yebba shows up on DIE TRYING, lending her angelic vocals to a track that honestly sounds like it should be played at a wedding—if that wedding was held in a penthouse.
Critical Reception vs. Fan Reality
Critics have been a bit harsh. Some say Drake is "stuck in a loop of mediocrity," as Sputnikmusic put it recently. They claim he’s just repeating the same formulas.
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Maybe they're right.
But for the fans? This is the comfort food of music. We know the ingredients. We know what it's going to taste like. And when it's raining outside and you're thinking about someone you shouldn't be, there is no better chef than Aubrey Graham.
Actionable Insights for Your Playlist
If you’re looking to curate the ultimate Drake/R&B experience, don’t just hit play on the whole album. You’ve gotta be strategic about it.
- For the Drive Home: Start with CN TOWER, move into NOKIA, and finish with OMW.
- For the "Ex-Factor" Mood: CRYING IN CHANEL followed by TRIED OUR BEST (from the Dogs era).
- For the High Energy: GIMME A HUG—it’s got a three-part beat switch that will keep you awake.
To get the most out of $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, listen to it on a high-quality sound system or a good pair of noise-canceling headphones. The production by Gordo and Jordan Ullman (of Majid Jordan) is incredibly layered with sub-bass frequencies that you’ll miss on a phone speaker. Keep an eye on the official OVO YouTube channel for the upcoming short film that is rumored to accompany the album's one-year anniversary in February 2026.