Victoria Monét: “SOS (Sex on Sight)” [ft. Usher] Track Review

Whenever someone mentions responsive desire, I immediately think of dead prez’s stic.man suggesting on their 2000 single “mind sex,” “Before we make love, let’s have a good conversation”—a sapiosexual’s dream. On the other side of the spectrum is spontaneous desire, a more immediate urge—what Victoria Monét explores in her new collaboration with Usher, “SOS (Sex on Sight),” the first release from the upcoming deluxe version of last year’s Grammy-winning Jaguar II (release date TBA). Monét described the feeling in a statement: “Sometimes that desire can feel as urgent as being rescued from a natural disaster, or in this case, rescued from your own sensual urges.” If Usher is Glen Powell in Twisters, I guess Monét is the storm?

“SOS” presents a simple mantra for choosing instant gratification over slow-burn intimacy: “I am way too sexy to be alone.” Monét’s signature luxe horns burst through a slinking bassline on the Camper-produced track, with the usual pre-bedroom banter in play: “Hope you’re ready for the rain”; “Wonder which one of my lips gon’ be your first kiss?” Her and Usher’s sleek textures do a lot to freshen those clichés. His soft raps flow into cursory smooth talk, while Monét’s vocals sail effortlessly over the bridge. For a longtime Usher enthusiast like her, “SOS” is a quiet coup. For him, it’s a strong addition to his collection of duets with R&B’s foremost women (previously: Summer Walker, H.E.R., Yuna, and Muni Long) that feels like the lovechild of Jaguar II and Confessions.