Miraculously only the fourth Drake song we’ve covered this year…
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Alfred Soto: Finally — a stream-consolidating collaboration that draws upon the best of its credited artists. Tekno and Mike WiLL Made-It program a frisky Caribbean house beat over which faint sax squiggles and Swae Lee at his most ethereal suggest 21st-century Sade, of all things. Even Drake is acceptable. Credit them for remembering “Passionfruit.”
[7]
Tobi Tella: If a summer banger is released at the end of the summer, does it even make a party impact? Not that this makes much of an impact in any meaningful way. King of hooks Swae Lee unfortunately couldn’t put out anything memorable, and as much as I would love to rant about Fucking Drake, his verse is perfectly normal, boring and anonymous.
[4]
Jibril Yassin: A middling half-step forward from the mess that was Swae Lee’s solo debut — or perhaps is it a cautious step back? “Won’t Be Late” sounds like a joke taken too far; whoever has convinced Swae Lee (and Drake, to that effect) that he’s making magic out of his limited vocal delivery (and imagination) must be mortified.
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Oliver Maier: Swae Lee can be magnetic when his head’s in the game, but he couldn’t sound less interested here; to his credit, though, just about anyone would struggle to sell melodies this pointless. Stay awake long enough and maybe you’ll register Drake manifesting halfway through with more of his patented listless crooning. A disappointment, given that Tekno’s afrobeat instrumental is a cut above the usual crossover fare, rising to textured climaxes without losing momentum.
[3]
Will Adams: Mike WiLL Made-It turns out a house beat that sounds warm and intimate — like you’re hearing it from across your neighbor’s wall. Unfortunately, Swae Lee’s lazy approach to phrasings (“at this game, two can play”) and Drake’s even lazier approach to melody makes “Won’t Be Late” a chore to get through. The instrumental outro serves as a meager reward.
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Jacob Sujin Kuppermann: The only interesting thing about how bland “Won’t Be Late” is is that it disproves the idea that French Montana was unnecessary on “Unforgettable” and “No Stylist.” Without his stabilizing influence, Swae Lee and Drake reveal themselves to be rudderless and boring, two con artists trying to play Burna Boy without any demonstrable point of view.
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