The Bias List is currently churning out new “A Career in Song Ratings” posts, where I rank established artists’ singles runs against each other. When I eventually get to B1A4, they’ll be one of the few groups I split into two entities. For me, there’s such a difference between the five-member version of B1A4 and the current three-member iteration. They might as well be different acts entirely.

The three-member B1A4 (A3?) has been active since 2020, with member CNU taking up most of the production work. Their sound has varied, often taking a retro approach. Such is the case with new single Rock Paper Scissors, which blends elements of retro hip-hop with modern touches. Like so many current K-pop tracks, it’s overly chanty and melodically aimless, centering around a chorus that throws a ton of ideas at you without ever amounting to much. The guys attempt a grab bag of hooks rather than finding just one fantastic one. The result is a bit of a mess.

In another world, we’d have a streamlined version of this song that doesn’t frame itself around the tired “rock paper scissors” gimmick. I wish the group would have opted for a solid, polished new jack swing track rather than this pick-and-mix approach. At its worst, Rock Paper Scissors is actively annoying. At its best, it’s simply forgettable.

Grade: C-