Crush has been a reliable presence in K-R&B since his debut over a decade ago, scoring at least one big hit nearly every year. Last year’s Rush Hour paired him with BTS’s J-Hope and brought a renewed sense of funk to his sound. New single Hmm-cheat (흠칫) continues the party, borrowing from classic grooves to craft an irresistible vibe.
I’m so happy to see Crush embrace this upbeat route. After all, my favorite Crush song remains 2014’s new jack swing b-side Hey Baby. Hmm-cheat isn’t quite as addictive (it needs a stronger melody), but its lively percussion and beatboxing makes for an irresistible backdrop. There’s a bit of Stevie Wonder here, a little Michael Jackson there, but strung together with an early-2000’s Neptunes approach guaranteed to evoke nostalgia from multiple generations of listeners. The song may not bring anything new to the mix, but it wears its influences very well.
Funk music can often be exclamatory and a bit scattershot when it comes to melody. Hmm-cheat follows suit, devoting most of its time to a single, repeated “hey pretty girl, where you at?” hook. The chorus offers more of a vocal showcase, but I wish this refrain resounded with more power. Even so, it’s hard to say no to a beat this nimble and exciting.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
What works so well for this song is the loose, confident delivery style. It sounds like a day or three of hanging out in the studio, layering one-time takes into gorgeous tapestry of vocals. Then polishing it all up with contemporary effects.
Often here, there is a comment about how much better a song will sound or look when it is performed, especially from the big idol groups. This song skips to a performance-style straight away.
It is so refreshing to hear. So refreshing to see. A song that isn’t over-thought, over-workshopped, over-rehearsed, over-sung, over-choreographed. Just a groove laid down and grooved over.
Incidentally, every time I see the artist name Crush, I think Krush Groove – the old school hip hop movie from back in the day. I don’t know if that was the inspiration.
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Not bad, but not as stylish as Rush Hour.
Btw, will we get a review of Viviz’ EXCELLENT Untied?
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This makes me think of early 2000s music videos. Most importantly, he looks like he’s having fun! Which is great!
Also Nick, will you give a listen and review to Vince’s Get Out? I believe it’s a pre release to his upcoming EP. https://youtu.be/o4YEKEERaYc?si=Rm_o5_m2ueisY4JI
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