Queen Naija & Ari Lennox, Set Him Up | Track Review 🎵

Queen Naija & Ari Lennox shine on duet “Set Him Up,” where both women discover they’re sleeping with the same man (scandalous).

“We ‘bout to set him up, yeah, yeah.” Oh my – that poor guy! Actually, if you listen to the 🎙 Queen Naija and 🎙 Ari Lennox collaboration from start to finish, you won’t feel the least bit of sympathy for the guy – “He had it coming”! Why? Well, both Naija and Lennox have been dating and ultimately sleeping with him so, whatever comes of their set up on 🎵 “Set Him Up”, appearing on the deluxe version of Naija’s debut album, 💿 missunderstood…still, is definitely deserved.

Very much a duet, nearly every section of “Set Him Up” is truly collaborative, which is awesome.  This allows both talented singers to develop tremendous chemistry.  Duets always require quite a bit of skill to pull off, particularly when lines are traded with a greater frequency than most.  Basically, both ladies share their ‘girl talk’ which involves the sexual skills of this certified male hoe.  “The nigga turned me out,” they sing on the first verse, continuing, “When he went down South, I had to change the sheets.” Woo! Of course, the discovery that they are sexing with the same man occurs on the second verse, with the plan being hatched to set him up on the bridge.  The results work out quite well from both a narrative (songwriting) and vocal perspective.  This is the perfect R&B soap opera.  Add lush production by 🎛 Pat McManus, 🎛 Boston, and 🎛 Mike Woods, and things are even better.

Final Thoughts 💭

Soap opera songs aren’t new to R&B.  🎙 R. Kelly was a master at them – maybe a bit too damn good if you catch my drift.  Nonetheless, “Set Him Up” gives both Queen Naija and Ari Lennox a surefire winner.  We get sex, drama, and great vocals by two talented women.  What more could you ask for?

🎙 Queen Naija & Ari Lennox • 💿 missunderstood…still • 🏷 Capitol • 🗓 4.16.21

[📷: Capitol]