Chow Lee transforms lust into an artform. On his breakout single “ms. beautiful V!,” he proudly declares, “You and your coochie is twins/You’ve got a beautiful vagina,” leaning into his crass humor without a hint of shame. His sex raps serve up a cocktail of the silly, crass, and genuine—a true pervert’s anthem. The New York rapper’s playful approach, combined with witty punchlines, ensures that even lines like, “Wanna have sex? I’m the best sexer!” somehow land as slick rather than sleazy. His self-deprecating charm underscores a deeper truth: intimacy, like everything leading up to it, should be fun and vulnerable.
When Chow Lee and Cash Cobain dropped 2 Slizzy 2 Sexy, they laid the foundation for a new wave: sample drill as the soundtrack for cosmopolitan horndog anthems. Now, Sex Drive, Lee’s latest project, builds on that momentum, doubling down on brash, hedonistic energy while refining the formula. Lee’s 2023 solo album Hours After the Club leaned into Jersey club influences and nocturnal vibes, with Auto-Tuned crooning about G-spots over flashy synths. As sexy drill continues to rise, with artists like wolfacejoeyy and Baby Osama expanding the sound, Lee still reigns as its most charismatic entertainer.
On Sex Drive, Lee refines his signature style, offering 19 tracks that delve deeper into his sexual psyche. The opener “advance w her!” kicks off with Jersey-club-inspired beats, revving up his one-track mind with racecar intensity. His aversion to marriage is delivered as a victory lap. But on “LSD,” Lee shows a different side—a sultry R&B cut where he sings about love, conflict, and, in his usual cheeky manner, cunnilingus, all with a sweetness that contrasts the bluntness of his lyrics. Occasional moans add to the album’s sensual texture, reminding listeners that exploring desire can also be a path to self-discovery.
While Lee shines solo, the best moments on Sex Drive come from collaborations that elevate his storytelling. Flo Milli’s feature on “swag it!” reframes Lee’s playful queries as impassioned pleas, while Anycia’s commanding presence on “get back!” turns the rapper into a wide-eyed admirer. On the other hand, the male features are hit or miss—Roy Woods’ performance on “tequila vacay!” feels like a watered-down attempt at tropical vibes, channeling The Weeknd and Post Malone with less impact. Still, Bay Swag and Cash Cobain save the day with “act bad twin!”—a dreamy, Jersey club slow jam that samples PARTYNEXTDOOR and showcases a moment of genuine tenderness as Lee croons about a woman “trying to match [his] sins.”
The maximalist production on tracks like “addys!” and “bangbang!” creates an intoxicating, multisensory experience, while more straightforward cuts like “settings!” get by on Lee’s sheer charisma and conviction. The album closes on a high note with “skeleTONS,” where a moody, 40-inspired beat gives the project a post-Drake vibe—except in Lee’s hands, it’s thrilling, playful, and fresh. His versatility across these various styles makes his relentless fantasizing feel like more than just surface-level perversion. With Sex Drive, Chow Lee turns desire into something prismatic, something worth exploring in all its chaotic glory.
