#freejamiefoxx
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[4.89]
Will Adams: Ariana needs to focus on her upper register. I suppose those yelps right before the last chorus are meant to be “impressive,” but they’re strained and determined to annihilate any and all lingering Mariah comparisons. The song’s fine — it’s “Problem” escaped from the Igloo and into a warmer climate — but as Jamie Foxx’s hook quickly demonstrates, it’s another reminder of the star’s facelessness.
[5]
Alfred Soto: I tried to focus, but Mystikal kept mugging. Grande’s gonna have to better than hiring guests whose charisma she can’t match.
[4]
Thomas Inskeep: Why is (an uncredited) Jamie Foxx doing his best Mystikal impression on the chorus? And why is it necessary? On first listen, my boyfriend said, “She doesn’t need that chorus,” and he’s absolutely right. That said, I especially like the pre-chorus here, for which I give producers Ilya and Max Martin the credit, because while the melody Grande’s singing is sweet, what I really love are the trancey chords backing her. This is fine, and sounds great coming out of car speakers loud, but it’s no “Problem” or “Bang Bang” or even “Love Me Harder.”
[6]
Scott Mildenhall: For all the gusto in their delivery, Jamie Foxx’s endless exhortations are far less compelling than, let’s say, for example, an actual chorus might be in their place. The song is lacking all around. It sounds like a misguided attempt to meld “Problem” with “Break Free”, losing the power of their pivotal parts in the process. There’s not enough brass, nor enough harsh Zedd Noises — it just plods along, and for something so rhythmic that’s almost impressive.
[5]
Katherine St Asaph: If you’re going to make your chorus Jamie Foxx barking “focus on me!”, the least you can do is credit his motherfucking vocal. You’re angering the irony gods. This is also the second time you’ve done this, the first being on the single this rips off. I suppose I should be happier about something that improves “Problem” in almost every way.
[5]
Mo Kim: “Problem” has one less problem without Iggy Azalea.
[8]
Crystal Leww: What is happening?! Even Justin Bieber got a vocal coach and a producer that works for his voice. Can someone help Ariana out?
[3]
Micha Cavaseno: *Nia vox* I WANT YOU TO FOCUS ALRIGHT, FOCUS ON THE WAY JAMIE FOXX IS FUCKING UP THE TRACK, AND I DON’T MEAN IN A GOOD WAY. We start off with a more junkyard-clutter rhythmic groove that has a lot more ‘ooomph’ than the grating drive towards the ‘super-turnt’ that “Problem” kept building, which keeps the unfortunate need for Ariana to enter scream range in check. The lyrics aren’t that sharp, and the verse sections aren’t that quite hooky, but the build in the pre-chorus is great until… That. Thing. What. Man, no.
[4]
Lauren Gilbert: Competent but boring. It’s your third album, Ariana; are you really phoning it in already?
[4]