Mystic Story’s first boy group ARrC debuted last summer with a pair of promoted tracks that mixed quirky ideas with well-worn boy group tropes. Their agency is known for creative concepts but I’m waiting for the music itself to stand on its own. Comeback nu kidz offers an intriguing first step into new territory even if track has room to grow.

Having been an avid music consumer in the early-2000’s, I’ll always be down for a funky Neptunes-esque hip-hop beat. The beat that laces nu kidz feels so authentic it might as well have been a sample. The producers have mastered this sparse, brittle percussion, adding a healthy dose of bass to bring the sound into a new generation. This is a great match for ARrC’s charm, but nu kidz‘s topliners can’t quite find the hooks needed to make this sonic brew pop.

The track opens with a promising vocal, riding the groove with a laidback funk. From here, I expect a chorus that builds upon this approach to craft a memorable centerpiece. Instead, the refrain follows its smooth intro with a simple chant. This feels like the easy way out and the rhythm of this hook doesn’t quite catch my ear the way I’d hope. nu kidz is still an improvement upon the boys’ debut, but I feel like they’ve got so much more in them than this.

Grade: B-