After their incredible mini album this spring, I’m a bit irked ZEROBASEONE haven’t made a group comeback since. However, the members have still been very active, with solo work from Sung Hanbin and Kim Jiwoong and the debut of hip-hop unit EMP, consisting of Seok Matthew and Park Gunwook. I didn’t write about their mixtape back in September because it wasn’t really promoted, but the guys have made a quick return with new single Run.
Run features Korean hip-hop legends Dynamic Duo, adding a bit of gravitas to the project. I only wish the song itself felt as momentous. I actually enjoyed some of the material on EMP’s mixtape. Much of it was deliberately silly in a way that commercial hip-hop used to be in the 90s and 00s and that energy suits this duo. Sadly, Run wants to take itself seriously and suffers from a certain amount of posturing.
There are some promising ideas here, particularly the club-ready production that adds gloss to a rugged arrangement. But more than anything, Run is obnoxious. After a decent intro, the song becomes two minutes of men shouting at us in various cadences. It’s not a pleasant sound, and the addition of tinny trap percussion further irritates the ear. More than anything, it all feels unintentionally silly, which is quite different than the intentional silliness they were aiming for in their earlier work.
| Hooks | 6 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 6 |
| RATING | 6.5 |
Grade: D
Ngl, I love the wobbly synths and the percussions that characterizes most of the track, but god I hate that fuckass trap breakdown that makes up for the pre-choruses, it grinds my gears so much… but the guys deliver it well and I guess live performances might elevate this song given the nature of the pre-chorus and chorus.
7.25 (7, 8, 7, 7) for me
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I really like ZEROBASEONE, but I have to admit I’m not the biggest fan of the musical direction Gunwook and Matthew took for this release. It feels a bit like flavorless modern rap, relying on an unnecessary dosage of sing-talk over a fairly dry, minimalist beat. We all know how beautifully ZEROBASEONE can sing, so it feels like a missed opportunity—they easily could have blended their rap delivery with strong vocal melodies to give us something far more engaging and uniquely ZB1. Honestly, this sounds like a track TREASURE or xikers might release.
I’m not particularly happy with this single, and while I hold onto hope for the full EP, listening to the album sampler leaves me unsure if this project will be for me. It feels like a shame that so few releases today pay due respect to the golden age of hip-hop or offer a truly fresh, unique take on the genre. Good rap songs seem harder to find these days, largely because I’m not a huge fan of the modern trend of heavy autotune. I completely respect that many fans love groups like TREASURE, P1Harmony, or Stray Kids for that style, but that particular sound just doesn’t draw me in as much.
7.25(7,7,7,8)
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oh dear, as I wrote one song ago, pop songs are supposed to be fun not a chore.
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