Welcome back, Wayne!
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[6.33]
Natasha Genet Avery: Jeremih does more with less–his voice and swagger have carried his best songs (the sensual and light-on-percussion “Fuck U All The Time,” “Planez,” “773 Love,” and his breakout “Birthday Sex” to name a few). On “Like Dat,” an effort to go hard leads to a frantic mess, and neither PND nor Jeremih seem at home at this BPM. Luckily, Lil Wayne lifts “Like Dat” in its final minute, eschewing his standard slurred puns and delivering a skillful, energetic verse.
[5]
Iain Mew: The cavernous beat and its shiny synth stalagtites are the most distinctive and enjoyable part of “Like Dat” and neither vocalist quite takes full advantage. Jeremih gets a bit lost in it, while Lil Wayne turns up in such a whirlwind of energy that he nearly obscures it. The parts work, but not as well together as they might separately.
[6]
Alfred Soto: The keyboard and thunderous beat should have inspired the stars, but only the man above the title matches the music’s intensity. When the three eschew language altogether in the last half hour, a stranger and denser dance music emerges. Wayne is up it.
[6]
Will Rivitz: You know how sex, romance, video games, and social media networks affect the brain in much the same way a physical drug might? There’s a certain class of R&B and R&B-tangential songs which rebalances dopamine and serotonin levels as well: the remix to “Ignition,” Jeremih’s “Planez,” Tinashe’s “2 On.” “Like Dat” belongs. PARTYNEXTDOOR sounds best over hyperactive instrumentals, and “Carol of the Bells” gone haywire is no exception. The little Auto-Tune flourishes and strangled yelps accentuate this beat so, so nicely, and PND’s ability to fashion his voice as an instrument that weaves in and out of the music instead of standing in front of it is nearly unparalleled. Extra points to Lil Wayne for coming through with his strongest verse in at least half a decade.
[9]
Katherine St Asaph: Listening to this in mid-August is bizarre; to my brain this track so clearly suits early November, a snow flurry to stumble through. There are a hundred party tracks like this and there will be a hundred more, and none of them will quite untangle themselves outside the bleary moment.
[6]
Will Adams: The icy synthbell loop had me thinking they’d sampled Imogen Heap; in any case, it adds a fine atmosphere to the track, in which PartyNextDoor (and everyone else involved) alternates between relaxed flow and rapid-fire triplets.
[6]