LoVE me NOw? album review
Canadian rapper Tory Lanez’s most recent album, LoVE me NOw? follows early 2018’s Memories Don’t Die. Lanez’s LoVE me NOw? boasts production from the likes of OG Parker, CashMoneyAp, Cassius Jay and many more. Relying on artists such as 2 Chainz, Meek Mill, Chris Brown, and numerous others to add star power and lyricism to the album isn’t enough to save Tory Lanez’s attempts.
The first track of the album, “Why Don’t You Love Me?” delves into Lanez’s feelings towards the women he has been with. He explains that with all the money he has and all that he gave to the girls he has been with, they can’t love him back for it. This theme is expressed throughout much of the album. Although the album does feature many hit songs such as “Talk To Me” and “Flexible,” the album is plagued by repetitive production and lackluster vocals. Many songs have the same repeating hi-hats and feature a similar rhythm using bells and marimbas. Lanez attempts to solidify his place as a R&B legend but falls flat. His previous work relied heavily on singing, and was similar to the Weeknd’s earlier work, but his current focus is on rapping, a style he hasn’t acquired yet, and this is his undoing. Songs that feature other artists are often highlighted by the guest verse alone.
With production that sometimes sounds identical, using the same rhythm and pace for many melodies, LoVE me NOw? sounds basic and fails to set Lanez apart from other artists. Compared to his previous work in I Told You and Memories Don’t Die, this album fails to stand out. While in earlier albums, Lanez was predominantly an R&B artist, with this new release, he distances himself from his roots and attempts a new sound, but it’s a sound he hasn’t quite nailed yet.
Photo courtesy of Tory Lanez