Musical trends come and go in K-pop and usually mirror sounds popularized elsewhere on the globe. Most of these trends start out well enough before the industry eventually drives them into the ground, but a certain trend of the moment has my hackles up already. An increasing amount of boy groups are latching onto a specific “rage” hip-hop sound popularized by Western artists like Travis Scott and Playboi Carti. I know I’m older than the typical K-pop fan and likely have a different musical background, but if this style takes hold of the industry it will be difficult to give it the kind of chance I’d like to. I simply find the sound repetitive, monotone and very affected.
This brings us to ENHYPEN, who have tried on this style for new single Knife. To be fair, the group has flirted with these sounds before — as early as 2022’s Future Perfect (Pass The Mic) (a song I actually enjoy). However, their music has become shorter and more threadbare with time, downgraded to the two-minute mark and lacking the structural diversity that used to make K-pop interesting. They’ve never been a vocally oriented group, so this move toward heavily processed shout-talk-chant fare makes sense in a way. And, I’m sure there’s some recipe to funnel it into exciting product. However, simply grumbling “Knife knife knife knife” during the chorus is not that recipe.
The thing is, Knife might actually be decent if developed further. Its production has a mechanized rhythm that lurches with intention, casting a stronger groove than I’d expected. Buoy this with a nice melodic centerpiece, ease up on the incessant vocal effects and the result wouldn’t be too dissimilar from what senior groups like EXO made their name on. Sadly, Knife sacrifices drama for swagger, getting by on repetition rather than telling a full story with payoff. It feels designed to clip into twenty-second soundbites for the TikTok generation and probably works best in that context.
| Hooks | 6 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 6 |
| RATING | 6.75 |
Grade: D+
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Well… it’s a dull knife, that’s all I’m gonna say
6.5 (6, 7, 7, 6) for me
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disappointed, so dull song even their main vocalist is not seen in the mvv
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For me, ENHYPEN is at their best when they emphasize vocals and pop/rock/dance-based production. We know they can do trap well (Chaconne my beloved), but the hook is very very lazy. Hoping the b-sides will carry this album (have only played the tt so far)
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the b-sides are good!
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I’m already tired of this sound. it peaked with Fame by RIIZE I’m afraid. every single b-side on the album is better, so there’s that.
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I feel like what made the Riize song a better effort than this and even FaSHioN is the melodies (which is absent in the other two songs) and even the production was a bit more dynamic and had a sense of angst to it which they again executed it well with the melodies. The other two is just repetitive with less dynamics and borderline shouting and repetitive hooks 🥴
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fame has more traditional “kpop” song elements and a very specific sm approach (vocal-focused, melody-driven, harmonies, layers, dynamic/intriguing production) which imo, completely elevates this genre and makes the song more interesting. it’s emotional rollercoaster angsty hip hop which fits their concept. knife and fashion are just… dull to me and one noted. idc for that sound. it’s flexing without real charm or personality.
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Diabolical how many times ‘knife’ is repeated on a 2:19 min track.
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Enhypen is at their peak of popularity so why are their releases becoming less interesting and more soulless 😭 I want to love their music but I feel they’re just losing their artistic identity by following lazy trends
sadly this isn’t my least favorite track on the album 🥀 Lost Island is good though
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We’re definitely seeing a trap / “rage hip-hop” takeover among boygroups, especially since CORTIS’ debut. I’d say RIZZE and LNGSHOT’s attempt worked better because they were anchored in a strong melody and had a more noticeable R&B orientation.
Meanwhile, CORTIS did their job with the “shock factor” and went all-in with the rage style first. I wouldn’t be surprised if the CORTIS guys were credited on songwriting/production because it just sounds way too similar to them.
Also, this track could’ve been saved by a stronger hook, but even then, I don’t think this was a smart choice for the main single. In my opinion, ENHYPEN are at their best when doing dance-pop tracks or doing 90s pop throwbacks. Hopefully, the album will have more to offer.
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charli and ariana did it better i fear
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Crazy how we can go from peak songs like Tamed-Dashed to this…
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Also is it too much to ask to have a bridge in a title track, BELIFT? We haven’t had one in like what…. THREE YEARS?
But I guess in this current generation of kpop asking for a bridge would be too big of an ask so I guess there’s no use complaining over and over 😦
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This is definitely CORTIS’ Fashion with a major production budget.
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As someone who really fell for Enhypen because of songs like Moonstruck and Fatal Trouble, this feels extraordinarily dull, which is ironic for a song called Knife.
And just when it starts showing some interesting elements, it ends. It feels so soulless and incomplete. The song is so painfully obviously made for titok trends at that length.
I am a huge fan of Heeseung vocals and could barely distinguish his voice on this track because of all the modulation and effects.
I know people will say Pass The Mic exists, but that song actually has some melody and goes somewhere, unlike Knife.
Could not be more disappointed. I hope the bsides fare better.
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