ICHILLIN' Pre-Release "Demigod" And YOUNG POSSE Come Back With "YOUNG POSSE UP"

ICHILLIN' (아이칠린) - DEMIGOD 

ICHILLIN', the seven-member girl group under KM Entertainment that made their debut on September 8, 2021, came back today on February 5, 2024 with their seventh digital single "Demigod". This single is the second pre-release single (after "Bite Me" that was released on January 4, 2024) for their upcoming yet-unnamed third mini album. Both of those pre-release singles are follow-ups to the group's second mini album "I'm On It!" that was released on July 19, 2023 with "Kick-Start" as the album's title track.

This songs marks a rather drastic change to the group's sound as it very hip-hop-oriented. And heavy hip-hop not the standard mainstream that K-pop groups usually do. The melodies, as is the usual case, some on the bridge and the chorus with a repetitive hook in the middle to build up the tension. The music video, on the other hand, remains fresh and funny in contrast to the general tone of the music, which makes it stand out more. 

YOUNG POSSE (영파씨) - YOUNG POSSE UP 

YOUNG POSSE is a rather new five-member girl group under DSP Media and BEATS Entertainment. The group made its debut on October 18, 2023 with their first EP album "Macaroni Cheese". "Young Posse Up" marks the group's first digital single and it was actually released yesterday on Sunday February 4, 2024. This single is the follow-up to their debut EP album and features three guest stars: Verbal Jint, NSW Yoon and Token. Verbal Jint (버벌진트) is a South Korean rapper. NSW Yoon (real name Lee Seung-yoon (이승윤)) is also a South Korean independent rapper. And Token (real name Benjamin David Goldberg) is an American rapper. All those guest rappers appear in the music video making it appear that the song is a collaboration of 8 rappers!

At this point it is rather clear that the group is not your standard K-pop girl group but rather a rap-quintet that specializes in heavy hip-hop. You could probably call them K-hip-hop but their sound is so American and "western" that there is nothing Korean about them, for better or for worse. Which is a rather strange move for their company DSP (best known for their co-ed group KARD) and their parent company RBW (that has groups like Kara, Mamamo and Purple Kiss). Unfortunately the song has no distinctive melodies, no ups and downs, just monotonous rapping with different voices from start to finish. Maybe it would appeal to hard-core hip-hop fans but to K-pop fans I'm afraid it would be a hard-pass.