Tag: Hui (Pentagon)

[Album Review] WHU IS ME: COMPLEX (1st Mini Album) – HUI (PENTAGON)

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A month ago, I finally got around to reviewing HUI’s solo debut single Hmm BOP, which was released very early on in 2024. In that post, I confirmed an album review would be coming your way. It has taken a little extra time than what I had hoped for, but said album review is finally here. Hmm BOP is featured on HUI’s first mini-album, WHU IS ME: COMPLEX, and is amongst four songs on the mini-album.

While it is a bit early days for me to probably say this, but I reckon HUI has one of the best album releases in 2024. Two songs on the mini-album recieved 10/10 (find out which ones down below) and the other two were also quite strong singles. To me, this highlights two key points. Firstly, HUI deserved solo promotions many years backs. The fact that it took 8 years to finally hear about a solo debut for HUI is ridculous. Secondly, he is a really good artist and definitely deserves some attention.

Continue reading the album review for WHU IS ME: COMPLEX.

WHO IS ME: COMPLEX Album Cover

1. Hmm BOP (흠뻑) (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for Hmm BOP. (10/10)

2. MELO (ft. PARK HYEON JIN) – The instrumental of MELO is definitely the winner. Piano and dreamier elements served as the underlying layer in MELO’s background. But it becomes very robust and complex with its funky synths, detailing and deliberately placed pauses. My favourite bits are actually the instrumental bits following the choruses, when all of the above is given to us in isolation. Now don’t misunderstand my words – the rest of the track is definitely solid. HUI’s vocals are smooth and sound so blissful throughout MELO. No surprises there. Park Hyeon Jin’s featuring grounds the song and gives MELO a bit of stability and balance. (9/10)

3. Cold Killer (ft. JINHYUK (NOWADAYS)) – Cold Killer takes us into rock territory with a deep and grungy rock style that feels fitting for HUI’s repertoire. Unfortunately, I personally felt the main vocalist underdelivered slightly. His delivery lacked a bit of angst that would have worked well in Cold Killer, and I wished his vocals soared a little more at various points throughout the song. On the other hand, I lowkey expected a spectacular high note to really peak off the song, and HUI definitely delivered that during the bridge. There are some more high notes at the very end, which helped end Cold Killer in an awesome and intense manner. JINHYUK from NOWADAYS (a newly debut group under CUBE Entertainment which I will get around to reviewing) provides Cold Killer with its rap sequences, which complemented the rock sound so well. The addition of scratchy rock-esque synths was clever. (8/10)

4. A Song From A Dream (봄이 오면 겨울은 지나가) (ft. WOOSEOK (PENTAGON)) – In the final track, we see HUI reunite with fellow PENTAGON member WOOSEOK. Staying in the rock realm but taking on a ballad approach, A Song From A Dream allows HUI’s vocals to shine so beautifully. The vocal parts in the bridge, the pre-choruses and choruses are just solid evidence of this. The way he harmonises with himself in the bridge and pre-choruses was just so captivating. But what gave A Song From A Dream an edge for me is the featuring of WOOSEOK and how it fits in so well with HUI’s delivery of the song. WOOSEOK’s vocals and rapping give off additional passion to what HUI already offers us, while the energy and chemistry the pair brings to the song makes it reminiscent of past PENTAGON songs and pulls A Song From A Dream altogether to be a highly recommended track. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 9.3/10

WHU IS ME: COMPLEX Teaser Image

[Review] Hmm BOP – HUI (PENTAGON)

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Way back at the start of this year, HUI (the leader of PENTAGON) made his official solo debut after debuting almost 8 years ago as part of PENTAGON. His solo debut consisted of the mini-album titled Whu Is Me: Complex (I can confirm there is an album review coming) and the title track Hmm BOP. My review on Hmm BOP is definitely overdue. The latter was recently named as the best KPOP song of 2024 so far by Billboard. HUI has also been active in the KPOP industry since debuting as a successful music producer (with works such as WANNA ONE’s Energetic and PENTAGON’s hits like Shine and Daisy to his name), and more recently as a trainee on Boys Planet (where he finished 13th).

The song has been out for almost 6 months now and I don’t have a reason as to why I have been putting off reviewing Hmm BOP. I just have. Listening to it today for this review, the song remains just as funky and groovy as I have perceived it back in January. Funky and groovy always translates to fun in my mind, which is undoubtedly hard to deny isn’t the case with Hmm BOP. The beat has foot-tapping energy and the brass just hits right in this retro inspired number. The electric guitar that features in the background blends in effortlessly and gives the track some much needed grit, keeping Hmm BOP from going overboard and feeling unbalanced. As for HUI himself, I still enjoy his expressive, dynamic and exciting delivery in Hmm BOP. His ad-libs throughout the earlier parts of the song were very impressive, but he definitely peaked towards the end when Hmm BOP goes down a chanty anthemic direction. He really shows off his vocal abilities with these ad-libs and it was all captivating to listen to. That chanty line “jiphap the jip to hap the jipjiphap we don’t stop“, which means “Assemble, The A-S-S-E-M To B-L-E The a-assemble, We don’t stop“, is super catchy and an addictive hook. So was the “Hmm BOP” that HUI repeats throughout the song. Altogether, I can see why people have raved about Hmm BOP. And if my praise of the song is saying something, I am most likely there with them.

It would be a complete injustice if the music video did not channel the fun of the song. Good thing that there is no sign of bad news for this release. The whole video is full of fun and colour. No matter what he is doing (ordering a burger in a diner, being the centrepiece at a formal dinner, singing on stage, playing an off-brand Grudge, participating in an aerobics video, controlling puppets, walking on the moon or just having a party), he is bringing the fun to everyone. As it was fun, HUI managed to get away with a few things that I didn’t like – such as the shiny fake tooth, that beanie etc. I mean, the video is intended not to be taken as seriously.

The choreography also promotes that fun, expressive and dynamic side of the song. I actually think it does so in a much better way than the music video does. HUI and his dancer’s expressions were very engaging. The moves were also of the similar nature and I liked the energy that both HUI and the dancers put behind them. I couldn’t remember how many abs reveal he does in the choreography, but rewatching the performance I am glad he didn’t over do it. Too much of them would have raised some questions and lessen the rating of the performance for me. Glad that wasn’t the case. However, I will definitely say that they look great and probably took a lot of work to get it to look like that for this release (which I will applaud him for).

Song – 10/10
Music Video – 8/10
Performance – 10/10
Overall Rating – 9.4/10

[Review] 365 Fresh – Triple H

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Cube Entertainment unveiled a new subunit comprising of its artists recently, with the group being named as Triple H. The group consist of former 4Minute member Hyuna and Pentagon members Hui and E-Dawn (whose real name is Kim Hyo Jong). 365 Fresh is the title track off the subunit’s first mini album, which is titled as 199X. This is the second subunit formed between labelmates at Cube Entertainment, the other being Trouble Maker, comprising of Hyuna and Hyunseung.

365 Fresh is a really cool song. From the start, its upbeat and fresh sound really does stand out. The song delves into the Funk genre. It actually reminds me of songs that Bruno Mars put out, such as Uptown Funk. And like Uptown Funk, it makes me want to get up just dance to it. The catchy “365 So Fresh” that they repeat throughout the song does the job really well and make the song quite memorable. The vocals and the raps are both superb aspects in this song. I would love to hear a little more from Hyuna in the song. She was there but compared to the guys, her part didn’t shine as much. As for the guys, they did a pretty good job with their raps and vocal work. Together, all 3 members came together and showed a dynamic sound that could potentially rival the dynamics that were brought out to play when Trouble Maker released their songs.

Once again, Cube has put out a music video that was slapped with another 19+ rating. And given the scenes in the video, I am quite sure that the Korean netizens are criticising the video left, right and centre. Onto the plot. Hyuna is a hairdresser, but in the video, she is inappropriately touched by the customer. She protects herself from the customer and ends up killing him. Hui seems to be on the run from a gang. E-Dawn attempts to suicide a few times in the video, but (not too sure here) changes his minds. All three somehow meet on the road and end up escaping their currently lives. Hui actually stole a car and coincidently there is bucket loads of money in the boot of the car, so the three of them live new lives in style. There seemed to be a little bit of tension as Hyuna and E-Dawn seem to fall in love, while Hui third-wheels. In the end, after too much partying, they end up jumping off a building, most likely leading to their deaths. I like the video for its storyline and appeal. That being said, I do not condone violence, drug use, suicide or other themes that appeared in the video.

[UPDATED] While it may not be the usual sexy style that we expect and see from Hyuna, the choreography for 365 Fresh is extremely flirty and works well with the song. Even between the trio, there is some sort of chemistry that can’t really be described, but should rather be witnessed. The guys have big shoes to fill, especially given the portfolio of Hyuna and her choreographies, but the guys fit in wonderful, with the funky dance routine.

Song – 9/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 9/10 [UPDATED]
Overall Rating – 9/10 [UPDATED]