Seungri’s new album has seemed to split opinion online, with some listeners declaring it the best full-length of the year and others feeling like its sound is outdated when thrown into the modern K-pop landscape. In many ways, the album feels like it could have been released in 2012 or 2013, and that’s precisely the reason I like it so much. Rather than go tropical or future base, The Great Seungri draws from an earlier era of EDM — where tempos were fast and drops were euphorically robust.
Where R U From is the second title track to be taken from the album, and comes across as a long-lost PSY single as seen through Seungri’s playful lens. Its dull electro thump stays steady throughout most of the running time, laying down an addictive bassline and warped, seesaw synths. Over the top, Seungri delivers a charismatic performance pitched halfway between rap and vocal. There’s not a whole lot of melody to be found here, but the sense of goofy swagger makes up for it.
A guest feature from Winner’s Mino acts as a nice balance, supplying a looser dose of hip-hop and a more excitable, higher-toned delivery than Seungri’s easygoing approach. Like so many YG hype tracks, Where R U From is built around a repetitive hook so simple that it’s difficult to forget. But unlike some songs of this nature, everyone involved actually sounds like they’re having a blast. The song doesn’t take itself too seriously, and this infectious energy helps cover its more derivative moves. Add to that one of the year’s most brilliantly off-the-wall music videos and you’ve got a comeback that re-establishes Seungri’s undeniable star power.
Hooks | 8 |
Production | 9 |
Longevity | 8 |
Bias | 9 |
RATING | 8.5 |
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