Trey Songz, Back Home | Track Review 🎵

Trey Songz, assisted by Summer Walker, delivers an enjoyable and relatable R&B single, “Back Home,” which depicts a love-hate relationship.

Despite remaining prolific, releasing two projects in 2018, Trey Songz hasn’t been the mainstream heavyweight he once was.  Even so, the Grammy-nominated R&B musician remains a compelling artist, even if his focal point continues to be a three-letter word.  Worth noting, Songz released previously unavailable mixtapes Anticipation (2009) and Anticipation II (2011) on streaming and digital platforms in April 2020.  Enough background though.  Songz returns with a brand-new single, “Back Home” enlisting the services of ubiquitous R&B collaborator, Summer Walker.  The results are positive.

There is no question about the identity of “Back Home.” This is a contemporary R&B record through and through, featuring sleek urban production work by Chrishan and Hitmaka.  The backdrop consists of a robust bass line, keyboards, and more of a ‘throwback’ R&B beat.  By ‘throwback,’ I’m not referring to the live drums of soul, but this is more of the drum programming that dominated R&B in the aughts before more trap oriented and electronic beats entered the bag of tricks.

So, with the vibe established with the production, Trey Songz definitely does work vocally.  His tone is rich and sexy, perfectly suited for this record, which actually embraces a love-hate relationship, with more emphasis on the love, it seems.  On the chorus, he sings:

“If it isn’t love, why I keep coming back
I keep coming back, back home.”

Must be love considering prior, he says, hypothetically, “Ayy, I could cuss you out, hit my side bitch / You think she flew out; I deny it.”  Summer Walker excels on the second verse, providing a response to Trey’s dedication.  She captures that love-hate dynamic perfectly:

“You get on my damn nerves
Then I say that I’m done
Then I miss you in the middle of the club
By the end of the night I’m calling you drunk
So, if this isn’t love.”

Trey responds with a final verse, essentially confirming that despite their disagreements, “It’s never really over” because, again, “If this isn’t love, why do I keep coming back?”

Final Thoughts 

All in all, Trey Songz delivers a solid, enjoyable contemporary R&B cut with “Back Home.”  He sounds terrific, as does Summer Walker, who gives the female side of this love-hate relationship. The production by Christian and Hitmaka is winning.  The songwriting and theme, quite relatable. What more can you say but #winning.

Trey Songz • “Back Home” (Ft. Summer Walker) • Atlantic • Release: 4.29.20

Photo Credit: Atlantic