This has been a song that fans have been waiting for! Following months of snippets and speculation, the long-awaited collaboration between Drake and Playboi Carti has finally dropped.
For what felt like forever, the only thing that fans knew about “Pain 1993” was that it featured a smooth, laid back beat from Pi’erre Bourne, accompanied by stunning vocals from Drake. Thankfully, fans don’t have to speculate anymore, as the song saw an official release on Friday, April 30th as a part of Drake’s surprise mixtape, Dark Lane Demo Tapes. One thing that was up in the air when the snippets were in circulation was Carti’s verse. It was kept under wraps for the entirety of the song’s rollout, leading fans to speculate that it was due to its quality. Unfortunately, they turned out to be right.
As a whole, “Pain 1993” is a great track. Drake and Pi’erre Bourne both do an excellent job on the song. Pi’erre’s psychedelic, entrancing production keeps the listener locked into the track for its entire 2:29 runtime, primarily through the use of spaced-out kicks and smooth, low synths. If the production wasn’t good enough, Drake brings a smooth, catchy flow that helps further plunge the listener into the track (I was singing along as soon as I had the chorus down!). The sound on “Pain 1993” is something that was much needed this year, with the kicked-back, psychedelic production completely dominated by Drake’s bars. The vibes of the song are unmatched, putting the listener in a trance with the lyrics highlighting the elegant life these rappers live. Although the song is nothing short of amazing, once Playboi Carti comes in, it falls off a bit.
By all accounts, fans were excited about Playboi Carti’s verse. Yet, when he rolls in with a different and ear-piercing baby voice, it’s understandable why they would get upset. Don’t get me wrong, the baby voice is likable on plenty of other Carti songs. Here, it’s just far too high-pitched. The Atlanta rapper is also off-beat, which usually is not a problem for him since his flow does not rely too much on lyricism and being on the beat.
Unfortunately, Carti’s flaws are apparent on this track, and the baby voice is way too amplified. This is not the Playboi Carti we have grown to love, as his vocals are more saturated, further dragged down by his weak bars. He sounds similar to Young Thug here, but without that same appeal, it doesn’t work. If he took a more laid back approach and brought a relaxed flow to the table, “Pain 1993” would be so much better.
“Pain 1993” doesn’t intend to get a profound message across, just a vibed-out feeling. The track makes the listener feel great, thanks to stellar production and bars from Pi’erre Bourne and Drake (as well as an interesting verse and catchy ad-libs sprinkled throughout from Playboi Carti). The lyrics serve as an aid to the beat, keeping the listener engaged with simple rhyme schemes and bars about elegant lives lived, letting the production do the talking. Playboi Carti drags “Pain 1993” back from being incredible, but it still earns a rating of 7/10.
What do you think of the new Drake and Playboi Carti “Pain 1993” track? Are you a fan of the song or no? Do you think Carti’s verse could have been better or do you like it as it is? Let us know your thoughts and opinions down in the comment section. If you want more music and content in your life, make sure to check out our Instagram @audiblwav and YouTube channel. On our Instagram, we keep your feed fresh with daily song suggestions, concert videos, and sneaker shots, while providing you with weekly video content on our YouTube channel. Don’t miss out, tap the links above!