NEW N.E.R.D. AND RIHANNA!!! …oh.
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[4.71]
Thomas Inskeep: Apparently the reason there’s been no new music from N.E.R.D. in quite some time is because, collectively, they’ve had no new ideas. This is an incredibly dated mid-’00s track (Pharrell, you can do better!) which is only even a thing because it features Rihanna spitting bars. Which are fine, not exceptional, but okay. The track itself and everything surrounding her drags it down, though. This should be great, but it’s merely adequate, if that.
[4]
Micha Cavaseno: Pharrell is most certainly out of ideas and has been such for a long time but I’m horrified to realize that’s the same case for Chad Hugo as well. Anyway, I understand that Rihanna mirroring Pharrell’s cadence is like, supposed to be cool or a powerful statement or something, but in a world of so many female rappers coming up, do we really want to hear Rihanna rap lifelessly just because some people think when she glowers it’s awesome? Not me.
[0]
Will Adams: It’s not as if N.E.R.D.’s last go-round with “Hot-n-Fun” or “Hypnotize U” was anything special, but at least it netted us some great remixes. “Lemon,” unfortunately, is unsalvageable, a pinball machine gone awry. Meanwhile, Rihanna sounds less like she’s rapping and more like she’s just mocking Pharrell, which admittedly earns this a few points.
[3]
Anthony Easton: Two things: a) When he says “bounce,” is he making an argument in favour of a specific style — is it both an aural and a cultural quotation? b) Rihanna seems tired here — the song would seem perfect for her, but she just kind of lazily swans through it.
[3]
Alfred Soto: The rhythm is oft-kilter enough to evoke K-pop, but it’s good ol’ Pharrell and Chad reminding people that they’ve been recording these amiable timid subversive little tracks for more than fifteen years. But these days they can afford Rihanna, and she shows them what attitude sounds like.
[6]
Nortey Dowuona: Bouncy bass and scattered synth pops seem to bubble up around Pharrell until Rihanna slides into the low-key synth bass popping over the 808s, and a new lone synth line swerves side to side under her and Pharrell’s smooth, goofy flow. It feels both chilling, crazy and smooth all at once.
[8]
Stephen Eisermann: Pharrell and Chad Hugo have always had an ear for weird, unique beats, but they almost always deliver — “”Lemon”” is no different. The song is littered with the sound of, for lack of a better description, stars that ride the tight percussion throughout. The combination begs to be danced to, even if the verses brush against some political topics (however lightly). Pharrell’s rapping is on point throughout, as to be expected, but Rihanna really shines here, once again showing her versatility as an artist. Rihanna’s rap doesn’t feel contrived or gimmicky, but instead just feels like an additional thing she does well – this may not be Lemonade, but I’ll enjoy it just as much.
[9]