Tag: SUGA

BTS – “Arirang” review

BTS is a boy band from Seoul, South Korea consisting of RM, Suga, J-Hope, Jin, Jung Kook, V & Jimin. Their full-length debut Dark & Wild under Bighit Music & the HYBE Corporation was moderately received although Wake Up & Youth both proved to be less favorable, bouncing back with Wings & dividing audiences again by dropping Face Yourself a couple years later. Love Yourself: Tear as well as Map of the Soul: 7 & BE would continue to polarize the musical spectrum, reuniting following the completion of their military service for their 9th album.

“Body to Body” gets things going with this k-pop/pop rap intro expressing the lustful desires towards their romantic interests whereas “Hooligan” talks about acting a fool again & wanting everyone to watch these beat go crazy. “Aliens” fuses trap with the k-pop & pop rap sounds thanks to Mike WiLL Made-It confidently assuring the world that this’ll be one of the biggest jams of the year just before “FYA” produced by Diplo & Flume sings about a woman willing to dance on fire.

Pluss & Mike WiLL run it back with BTS on “2.0” pulling inspiration from trap once again so they can remind everyone of how they do but after the “#29” interlude, “Swim” sings to their lovers about spending their lives watching them & how they’d only want to be beside them. Tame Impala gives “Merry Go Round” a bit a synthpop vibe realizing their lives are broken rollercoasters only they themselves can blame for it while “Normal” sings about what they would like to consider the usual

“Like Animals” continues the 2nd half of Arirang with this atmospheric pop ballad assuring the love of their lives to eat this life until their hearts are full while “they don’t know ‘bout us” combines elements of trap along with pop rap & k-pop singing about people not knowing shit regarding them. After asking “1 More Night” to stay with their partners, “Please” makes it clear to them that they’ll take another step closer when the world falls apart & the final song preceding the “Armyrang” outro ends by singing about following their loved ones “Into the Sun”

It was funny to see the “Dynamite” music video being included during season 10 of MTV’s hit series Beavis & Butt-head on Paramount+ preceding their move to Comedy Central, but I’ve never considered myself a fan of BTS’ music outside of that & Arirang achieves the expectations of becoming the most enjoyably consisting LP they’ve ever made. Their k-pop style secondarily explores the sounds of pop rap, alt-pop, trap, synthpop, pop, experimental hip hop & contemporary R&B for a reunion that offers a glimpse of new perspectives.

Score: 3.5/5

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Megan Thee Stallion – “SUGA” review

Megan Thee Stallion is a 25 year old rapper from Houston, Texas who rose to prominence last May with the release of her debut mixtape Fever. I myself was very impressed with how it displayed Megan’s knack for catchy songwriting, dirty south/Memphis inspired production & a unique personality. However despite being entangled in a lawsuit with 1501 Certified Entertainment earlier this week, I was still very curious & excited to see what she would do on her 3rd EP over here.

The album kicks off with “Ain’t Equal”, where Megan talks about how she isn’t like any other over a cloudy yet dark trap beat from Helluva. The next track “Savage” talks about how wild she is over a J. White instrumental with a keyboard lead similar to that of the Star Trak days while the song “Captain Hook” finds Megan over some bass lead by the sound of a sword being pulled out as well as some pots & pans. The track “Hit My Phone” featuring Kehlani is your usual bedrocker tune with Jake One behind the boards while the song “B.I.T.C.H.” interpolates 2Pac’s Ratha Be Ya Nigga” over a classy sample of Bootsy Collins’ “Rather Be With You”.

The track “Rich” talks about her newfound wealth over a quirky instrumental & speaking of Star Trak, the song “Stop Playing” is one of 2 cuts on the album produced by The Neptunes. This first one has a nightly yet calming vibe to it whereas Megan & Gunna both declare that they ain’t messing around. The penultimate track “Crying in the Car” is pretty much Megan melodically firing back out at those who’re mad at her elevation over a more lusher instrumental from Pharrell & Chad Hugo then the closer “What I Need” gets more flirtatious over a sensual Timbaland beat.

For a while I’ve been saying that Megan Thee Stallion is the best female rapper in the mainstream right now (with Rapsody being the best female rapper right now PERIOD) & this just proves my point. There are a few weak spots, but the catchiness of Fever is being quadrupled on here with her best songwriting & instrumental choices to date.

Score: 3.5/5