It’s pronounced ruh-vussian…???
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[7]
Oliver Maier: It’s not every day that Big Pop produces a clusterfuck this entertaining. Credit where it’s due to the performers — solid contributions from French Montana and Post, an explosive verse from Cardi — but it’s the textured instrumental, attributed primarily to Rvssian, that keeps things running smoothly. The whole thing could have easily stalled and turned monotonous by the one-minute mark, but the particular thud of the bass drum and careful meting out of elements throughout each section go a long way towards maintaining momentum.
[7]
Julian Axelrod: There’s a perverse thrill to French Montana’s recent string of algorithm-minded posse cuts, which seem to be assembled by dragging a fishing net through the Hot 100. Here, that means Jamaican vibe curator Rvssian gets equal billing with two bona fide superstars. But that excitement dissipates as soon as you press play; Rvssian barely figures into the track, leaving you with exactly what you’d expect from a French-Post-Cardi brand meld. No one’s bad, per se, but no one’s coloring outside the template.
[5]
Alfred Soto: The principles show more of an instinctual command of Caribbean rhythms than Shawn ‘n’ Camila a couple months ago — quite a feat when Post Malone appears in the credits. He brings the melodic hook, Montana anchors the track, and Cardi B lights the dynamite.
[6]
Katherine St Asaph: Cardi B, Walking Anachronism, strikes again! “Writing on the Wall” sounds essentially of the late 2000s, the same sort of radio melancholy as “Disturbia” and “Run This Town.” Post Malone, French Montana and Rvssian suit this fine (perhaps since two out of three have been around almost that long.) Cardi, as always, is an instant jolt, punting the track into the now and the energetic, which either ruins the effect or is the most/only exciting part. Correcting for personal preference, that’s a:
[6]
Nortey Dowuona: Vapor synths are being bounced in a pressured hose that is the thudding drums and flat bass as Post whacks away at the side of the pipe, French just slides through. Cardi pointlessly breaks her nails on the rubber as Rvssian chokes on the pieces and blocks up the path, sticking Post and Cardi together as French slides out and starts eating their food.
[2]
Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: The Cardi/French interplays on the last verse (and really, everything Cardi’s doing here) is exciting enough for something so thoroughly disposable. Disposability is, here, not a bad thing really– it’s a French Montana song, designed to sound stylish and unmemorable (I had to listen to this twice for anything to stick.) “Writing on the Wall”‘s greater problem is the unwanted return of rapping Post Malone, a joyless figure who absolutely can’t hang on the reggae-leaning beat and ends up dragging down the rest of a perfectly mediocre pop rap.
[4]
Edward Okulicz: One thing I would not have expected is that Post Malone is capable of not being Post Malone when he so chooses and can instead be a blandly inoffensive/effective hook singer. Honestly, you could replace him with like Chris Martin and you wouldn’t notice at all. The hook’s pretty great too, though I don’t even notice his actual verse. Cardi’s presence shocks some life into French as well — their back-and-forth is a brief joy and a great set-up for her verse. Her wordplay is dextrous, silly, braggadocious and quotable as ever.
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