‘F.U.C.K.’ Review: Victoria Monét Wants a ‘Friend U Can Keep’

It’s about that time of year — Victoria Monét dropped her new single “F.U.C.K” on Feb. 1, just in time for some steamy Valentine’s Day escapades. From “Ass Like That” to “Moment,” the genius behind many of Ariana Grande’s hits never fails to disappoint on her own tracks. “F.U.C.K” is a must for any sophisticated consumer of music.

In just 205 seconds, Monét shows off a wide repertoire of throwback classics through the instrumentation and backing tracks in this song. Smooth rhythms coming from the drumset and Hi-hat layered over the heart-like pounding from the electric guitar. Monét keeps it classy, using sexy innuendos without explicitly divulging her desire to be a F.U.C.K. (A “Friend U Can Keep”). This is a conventional track with a chill tempo guaranteed to make you want to groove.

Monét’s silky voice can make anything sound smooth. After saying she wants to be a “friend u can keep,” she soon follows with “I’m just tryna jump your bones / We don’t gotta jump the broom, you know.” Does she just want a friend or something more? Well, why not both? In the opening verse, she sings, “Might not be the one but I’m definitely the prototype.” Things can never go south when nothing official is established, so why not just take your time and enjoy the ride? Monét seems to believe things are more fun without a label. Monet’s innuendo is always highly effective: “I think I want you to maybe meet me at my crib tonight:” Instead of directly saying “come over,” she dances around the idea to eliminate the pressure of the connection progressing to anything more serious than friendship.

It’s hard to decide the best aspect of this song, but the sultry harmonies in the bridge are definitely a top contender. While alluding to a more interesting ending, Victoria Monét stacks a few harmonies by repeating “oh.” Although not particularly breathtaking, they add onto the seductive tone presented throughout the song, acting as the icing on the cake.

Victoria Monét is definitely an underrated artist who deserves more recognition. While she may not be the greatest vocalist of all time, her lyricism more than makes up for that, and is what makes “F.U.C.K” one of her greatest songs yet.