JYP boy group NEXZ are on the ascendance, and it feels good to write that. Though I enjoyed watching the group form on season two of Nizi Project, it took until last year’s Beat-Boxer for the music to fully win me over. That feeling extended to last month’s excellent title track Mmchk (one of the year’s best songs) and continues into follow-up track Hypeman.

If anything, I wish NEXZ’s latest offering lasted more than two tracks. They’ve got a ton of great b-sides and I’m eager to hear how they continue to develop their colorful dance sound. Hypeman isn’t as undeniable as Mmchk, but its fun, freewheeling sound matches the group so well. The song is well-named, as its explosive energy is bound to get you moving.

Hypeman starts a bit slow as minimalist electro blips give it a plonky rhythm that doesn’t do much for me. However, it isn’t long before the chorus drops and we’re off to the races. I love the heavy percussion here and things grow even better as a melodic post-chorus adds a bit of depth to the structure. It’s all a bit silly, but done in a way that feels authentic rather than a cheap bid for virality. And as we near Hypeman‘s conclusion, it’s hard not to get swept up in its boisterous energy.

Grade: B