PARTYNEXTDOOR Gets Introspective on ‘(P3)’

Jordan Bailey

Jahron Brathwaite is, as he puts it in a handwritten letter on website, just a kid from Mississauga, Ontario singing his stories, and he can’t believe that people want to hear from him. He’s modest for sure, though proud to call himself a creative and a musician. Performing under the name Partynextdoor, his unique style of R&B caught the attention of fellow Canadian singer-songwriter Drake in 2013, beginning a collaboration that led to Drake signing Brathwaite to his label and Partynextdoor has just issued his third album, “Partynextdoor 3 (P3)”.

Partynextdoor is part of an emerging alt-R&B, trap, hip-hop sound, a popular sound that originated with Drake. “(P3)” is right there with albums like Bryson Tiller’s “Trapsoul”, particularly when it comes to the sexy, dripping-with-soul ambience, a set meant to be played in a dimly lit room, lying next to your lover. Opening track “High Hopes” emphasizes this right off the bat. At nearly 8 minutes the song streams through an ethereal, dark world of stylistic rhymes and smooth vocals, even a shout out to the classic 90’s era R&B, by way of Blackstreet’s “No Diggity.” “Problems & Selfless” continues the trend with Brathwaite flawlessly melding vocals with rap against a slow moving, atmospheric beat.

Given that PND came up beside Drake, it’s safe to say he now has friends in high places: his latest video, “Come and See Me,” stars Kylie Jenner. The clip features Brathwaite out with friends while his mind is elsewhere. He’s trying to figure where he went wrong in a lost relationship, going through old voicemails while she sits at home wondering where he is. The song is his version of a love letter and a chance at redemption. While the track features a verse by Drake, (the only song on “(P3)” he contributed to), the video focuses strictly on Jenner and Brathwite.

If you’re unfamiliar with Partynextdoor, think of him as a sort of stretched out version of The Weeknd. Their respective moods are similar; dark, yet proud, blending electronics with R&B, and the themes are primarily love and sex. Though where The Weeknd is short and to the point, PND prefers to stretch out, allowing him to improvise lines as he spills out his heart. “P3” is modest poetry without a doubt. After all, he is just a kid from Mississauga, sharing his thoughts.

“Partynextdoor 3 (P3)” is available on Aug. 12 via Apple Music.