B-side Tracks: Male Solos Part 1
After covering some awesome female soloists, it seems fitting to move on to their male counterparts. This week, we will take a look at some fantastic male idol solo tracks that have come out in recent years.
“One and Only” - B.I (iKON)
At the arrival of iKON’s newest album, I wasn’t expecting such a banger to be present on the tracklist. Leader B.I. is known for his hand in composing and writing the majority of iKON’s songs, but this is the first time he’s had a solo track on the group’s discography. “One and Only” caught my attention immediately with its intense hip-hop and trap-like beat, making it instantly addicting. Not to mention, it’s refreshing to have a song bragging about yourself that can give you strength even on the toughest of days. If you haven’t checked out B.I.’s “One and Only” yet, you’re definitely missing out on one of the best tracks on the album!
“Daydream” - J-Hope (BTS)
BTS rapper J-Hope’s highly anticipated mixtape finally dropped and definitely lived up to its hype. J-Hope’s personal flavor definitely shines throughout the whole album, but “Daydream” really captures the essence of J-Hope—not only in the lyrics, but through the musicality and aesthetic as well. It brings a very different hip-hop sound than his groupmates’ releases, with a very ‘90s hip-hop feel that we don’t hear much nowadays, especially in K-Pop. The change of sound is refreshing and, on top of that, so quintessentially J-Hope.
“UP” (feat. MINO) - Bobby (iKON)
iKON’s rapper Bobby has certainly always been busy with his own activities outside of his group, working often with WINNER’s leader MINO. In his most recent solo album release, Bobby released yet another banger with “UP,” a heavy and intense rap song that definitely has a badass vibe to it. Feeling determined, driven, or just straight-up angry? “UP” is the perfect song to channel those feelings.
“Heyahe” - ONE
YG Entertainment’s solo artist ONE was thought to make a huge splash once he finally debuted, but that turned out not to be true. Despite a somewhat disappointing start, ONE’s “Heyahe” is a solid R&B track that is almost guaranteed to get stuck in your head after even just one listen. It’s a chill, summery track that reminds me of lying idly on the beach. Though you may not be familiar with ONE, “Heyahe” is definitely a track to add to your repertoire.
“Inferiority Complex (feat. Eunha of Gfriend)” - Park Kyung (Block B)
Park Kyung of Block B’s “Inferiority Complex” with GFRIEND’s Eunha is the collab you never knew you needed in your life. The song is light and sweet—the cute sides of both members on the song coming out strongly in the best way possible. Eunha’s voice really complements Kyung’s singing tone, and the music video adds an even cuter element to the song that is just totally irresistible. Having a bad day? This sickeningly cute number is sure to cheer you up.