Drake & PND’s New Album ‘$$$4U’ is a Major Disappointment

Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR’s latest collaboration, $$$4U, is, in my opinion, a massive letdown. While both artists have proven their talent in the past, this project feels uninspired, monotonous, and ultimately forgettable.

One of the biggest issues with this album is Drake’s over-reliance on singing. While it’s no secret that he has always blended rap and R&B, his strongest moments have come from his rap skills—his lyricism, flows, and storytelling. However, $$$4U leans almost exclusively into R&B, and quite frankly, it’s not what I listen to Drake for. If I wanted a full R&B experience, there are plenty of other artists who do it better. The singing itself isn’t necessarily bad, but the energy and effort feel absent. In the past, Drake has been memed for making “low-effort” and “monotone” songs, and unfortunately, this album gives those jokes new life.

Maybe I’m just not the target audience for this album. It seems to aim for a collection of slow, moody songs, which is suggested by the title itself. However, as a listener, I constantly found myself waiting for a drop, a shift in energy—anything—to elevate the music, but it never came. The entire album feels like one long buildup with no payoff.

That being said, the production is top-tier, as expected from a Drake project. The beats and overall sound quality are polished to perfection. Unfortunately, the production alone isn’t enough to carry an album that lacks dynamic elements and carries an overall monotonous tone.

The one song that stood out to me was 'Something About You' - the third track on the album. Towards the beginning, it had the energy I was looking for with a beat and flow that felt reminiscent of classic Drake. However, even this song loses me by the hook. PND does nothing to help on this song (and entire album in general). His attempts to be sexually provocative come off as creepy and corny rather than smooth or seductive. Instead of enhancing the tracks, his presence makes them worse.

Overall, $$$4U is a major disappointment. It lacks the variety, energy, and effort that make Drake’s best projects shine. If this is the direction he’s headed in for the remainder of his career, I hope he realizes that fans still crave the rap skills that made him a star in the first place. It's hard not to sounds like a hater - what do you think? Check out the album below and let me know what you think!