One of my favorite artists is PARTYNEXTDOOR; OVO’s biggest R&B artist. I would consider myself a super-fan of PARTYNEXTDOOR’s music, so take my rankings with a grain of salt. Even my least favorite of his four self-titled projects is in my top 25 favorite albums, but here is what I think of them:
1) PARTYNEXTDOOR
Sometimes, nothing is better than the original, and I think this rings true for PARTYNEXTDOOR’s projects. From the hits like “Break From Toronto” and “Wus Good / Curious” to lesser known songs like “Right Now” and “Welcome to the Party”, PARTYNEXTDOOR establishes a unique and enticing R&B sound with impressive production and writing skills. He was only 19 when he dropped the project, but it was composed with skill that would make you think he had been in the game for many years. If I want anyone to get into PARTYNEXTDOOR, I tell them to start here. This is a no-skips album for me!
2) PARTYNEXTDOOR 4
In 2024, PARTYNEXTDOOR dropped his fourth self-titled album, with a sound that, in my opinion, resembles the music that got him so big. The album cover is scandalous, and the lyrics will match the expectation he sets with it, but that does not stop him from telling a story about how his relationships are impacted by the fame and fortune he was thrust into in early adulthood. The production on this album is my favorite part about it. The melodies, the beats, and the background vocals are what entice me most. Even though he may be singing about something that seems to lack depth, the music tells you that his message is important, and the music feels beautiful. This album has a few skips in my opinion, but the songs I love are my favorite of ANY of PARTYNEXTDOOR’s releases. I streamed “L o s e M y M i n d” well over 800 times during 2024, and “C o n t r o l”, “R e a l W o m a n”, and “N o C h i l l” weren’t far behind it.
3) PARTYNEXTDOOR TWO
I love this album, and it certainly has its hits, like “Recognize” and “Her Way.” This album is good, and I really like it, but compared to PARTYNEXTDOOR and PARTYNEXTDOOR4, the storytelling, lyricism, and production are good, not incredible. This album is more of an acquired taste, at least for me. Part of why I love it is that I never want to overplay it, like I certainly did with PARTYNEXTDOOR 4.
4) PARTYNEXTDOOR 3
The reason why this album is last on my list is because it is a very different sound than what is on 1, 2, and 4. I love when artists experiment with their sounds, and I love the vibes on this album! It is very good, but if you are looking for what you are expecting from his other projects, this is not it. I do think this album is very well done, but it is not my favorite as someone who loves the sound of his other projects!