He just wants to love you. Possibly. It’s hard to tell, really…
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[5.22]
Kat Stevens: Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to announce an early contender for Worst Pun of 2011: “Her feet are killing her, I call it SHOE-ICIDE.” Bdm-tisch!
[5]
Anthony Easton: Almost narcoleptic in its energy levels, and the lyrics numb beyond the completely unenergetic music. Minus a point for the word “cutify”.
[3]
Chuck Eddy: So, how come every third electro-beat on the radio for the past half-decade sounds like some variation on Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love”? It was cute when Rihanna did it way back in “S.O.S.”, but will it ever end? Anyway, Fabolous doesn’t even convince me he’s impressed with hisownself in this one — he sounds fairly bored by it all, and rightly so. I dunno, I guess “shoeicide” is a fun word, and that orchestrated rip from the Jacksons’ Triumph at the end counts for something. But who cares?
[4]
Alfred Soto: The “classy” production hugs Fabolous like a designer suit, but don’t remind him that his girl outdresses him, or he’ll retract the generosity he shows her. Looking good has its sacrifices, he reminds us.
[7]
Al Shipley: Fabolous continues to be the test patient for the revelation that Ryan Leslie’s productions may be better suited to rap than R&B, with the rare Fab single that doesn’t feature a sung hook. It may not be a blast of aggression like “Breathe,” but in the context of the radio playlists it’s currently in, it’s a breakbeat-driven breath of fresh air. The brooding outro where the drums drop out feels very Drake-inspired, but I’d take that over his influence manifesting itself in Fab’s fondness for grocery bag lines.
[7]
Zach Lyon: If this successfully introduces Philip Glass to Top 40, Ryan Leslie will once again be my hero. The sooner Swizz Beatz samples the soundtrack to Koyaanisqatsi, the better.
[8]
Martin Skidmore: I’m not enjoying a number of different rappers’ attempts to blend something resembling singing into their flow, probably because most of them, very much including Fabolous, can’t actually sing at all. Admittedly he’s hardly an outstanding rapper either, and this ‘you’re hot’ number is of minimal interest on any level.
[3]
John Seroff: Somehow Fab’s clever punchlines and leering mien never added up to a personality for me; some half dozen radio singles later, I’ve still yet to immediately recognize him on a beat. I imagine I’ll be in the minority here, but I don’t think Ryan Leslie’s thin and limited production adds much to “Killin Em”; it’s repetitive and catchy but not in a way that makes me want to listen again. Predictably pedestrian fare.
[4]
Asher Steinberg: An acceptable showcase for Fab’s chilly cynicism and singularly funereal brand of misogyny; goes off the rails slightly at the end, when Fab foolishly indulges in some Drakean transcendental meditation. What’s interesting here is that what’s ostensibly an ode to some girl’s lethally good looks turns into a celebration of Fab’s own lethal potency. I’m not sure if Fab dials the bitterness back too much or whether that’s necessary to the dirge-like vibe; in any event, if you want to hear some truly vicious Fab misogyny, look up “Can’t Let You Go (Remix)”, one of my favorite songs of the last decade (acquaintance with the corny original helps).
[6]