Best New Tracks - Pitchfork: D.R.A.M.’s “Cute” Will Just Make You Smile

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D.R.A.M.’s “Cute” Will Just Make You Smile Posted: 03 Aug 2016 02:28 PM PDT Of rap's latest crop of potential pop crossovers, D.R.A.M. is the best equipped to tackle a song like "Cute." Though he has a voice like a wrecking ball, and a smile nearly as large, D.R.A.M.'s most notable quality remains the total joy he weaves into each of his songs. Not unlike his best tracks—the "Hotline Bling"-inspiring "Cha Cha," or his recent Billboard staple "Broccoli"—"Cute" channels pure euphoria into each line (and there are at least three or four strong hooks packed into this one song). "Cute" is the classic sound of crushing hard for four minutes. "Even though it's cliché," D.R.A.M. sings coyly, "I saw you on your Instagram/And I think you're cute." The Charlie Heat-sourced instrumental velvety organs and Hemsworth-ian 8-bit synths set the vibe, while D.R.A.M.'s fluttering melodies are as endearing as ever. It's hard not to smile as he declares, "I just had to park my car cause I was finna crash the whip/Scrolling through my feed I saw you just had post a pic/I choose you like a Pokémon." As rappers continue to stretch the 808s & Heartbreak aesthetic to its dour limits, D.R.A.M.'s "Trappy Go Lucky" tunes are a refreshing break. And for those of you curating summery "Found a New Bae" playlists, "Cute" will fit well between "I'm Sprung" and "My Boo."