New sensations and older ones.
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[4.75]
Rebecca A. Gowns: This aims low, and falls flat: an astounding non-achievement. The Rae Sremmurd guys are still young, of course, so there’s still room for improvement. My first thought is, “This has the sound of kids making their own mixtapes” — but, no, that’s insulting to the talented teens and energized, fully committed mixtapes I’ve heard. Nicki is at her most perfunctory; she sounds as if she was cornered in an elevator and asked to repeat the chorus into a pocket recorder. Young Thug at least has a bit of energy, but he has nothing new to say.
[2]
Crystal Leww: I like Rae Sremmurd a lot, but “Throw Sum Mo” highlights what’s great about them in the worst of ways. Giving the hook to Nicki Minaj — the part that they are best at — and rapping verses next to Young Thug — the part that they are worst at — makes me realize that Rae Sremmurd are phenomenally fun, full of energy, and great at creating catchphrases, but less so at actual rapping.
[5]
Micha Cavaseno: Thing One and Thing Two get outshone by Jeffrey The Giraffe on a springy beat while The Nickster giggles and grins in the background. One can’t help but wish a remix happens where we swap out one of the unidentifiable Otto Rocket twins for some Minaj Madness.
[6]
Anthony Easton: This sounds like swamp bubbles, but clearer; like soap bubbles, but dirtier; like bubble letters, but less adolescent or less ’70s; but still, like bubbles as central metaphor.
[5]
Michelle Ofiwe: A fun little ditty by rap’s newest wunderkids. The demo of this song bops harder because it’s not weighed down by the third verse (sorry, Young Thug). I would have preferred a Nicki verse instead.
[7]
Edward Okulicz: Mike WILL treats Rae Sremmurd like he treats Young Thug, and Jimmy in particular doesn’t come off well in proximity. If you want a poor man’s Young Thug, you just have to wait a minute for a poor verse by the actual Young Thug. It’s tacky, but that “Franklins raining on your body” part would have made a better hook than Nicki sounding completely bored each time she appears. A lot of star power has been expended here to no particular pleasure.
[3]
Alfred Soto: This is…OK? Typical Mike WILL sonar beat over which the foursome rap with surprising and disappointing understatement.
[5]
Brad Shoup: I get that if you give Minaj her fair share of a track you end up as the feature. But while everyone else is fine — clever enough, anyway — how many times do you need to rehash this theme? The Mike WiLL/Soundz melody shivers in the background like a coy ghost. It’s an empty mystery, like Swae pondering the feeling of hundreds hitting skin.
[5]