Sik-K Releases New Album HEADLINER
If you’re into K-Hip-Hop at all, you’re probably familiar with the H1GHR MUSIC artist Sik-K. Despite being featured regularly by some of the bigger names in the industry, his solo work isn’t as widely known. His first studio album FL1P was released in February of 2019, and is now followed up by the artist’s latest 10-track full album HEADLINER.
An Unconventional Title Sequence
This album release is accompanied by a short film which intriguingly opens with the final song of the album, “Tell Ya!” before flowing seamlessly into the opening track, “Darling.” “Tell Ya!” features heavy use of autotune and a much more subdued melody in general. It’s an interesting contrast when looking at the lyrics, which present a much more angry undertone to the whole song, the type of thing you may expect to have an intense melody like punchnello’s “Absinthe.” This melodic choice, however, has more mass appeal on the hip-hop and R&B scene, which could help link it to a more mainstream audience who may not prefer more intense rap. Upon first listen it may not appear to be spectacular, but it definitely grows on you with each listen. “Darling” has the same melodic base, but a completely different sentiment within the lyrics, which are far less superficial and angry. Prominent R&B singer Crush features on this track, which adds a new dimension to the song and helps to differentiate between the two tracks.
The visuals of the accompanying film add an interesting depth to the song: the use of neon colors and lack of focused light driving home the anger in the lyrics. Many of the shots don’t present a clear picture of Sik-K’s facial features, and his demeanor fits the lyrics more clearly than the melody itself, showing the intensity behind his words. The most gripping point of the film is approximately halfway where the video shifts to a darker story. While “Tell Ya!” featured a bar scene and is fairly nondescript in terms of metaphors, the beginning of “Darling” shows a bloodied Sik-K being picked up by a woman who is later seen taunting him as he’s tied to a chair, denoting a more sinister and intense shift in the entire premise of the cinematic tale. If you give up on the video in the beginning and write it off as shallow, you’re sure to miss the stronger metaphorical story that this video was meant to convey.
The Album
With two tracks featured on the comeback film, there’s still eight more to explore within HEADLINER. Sik-K’s preference for autotune continues in the first B-side “New Love,” which has a traditional R&B rhythm that’s easy to vibe to. “She’s Gone” shifts gears a bit, with a more upbeat melody and crisp sound at the beginning, catching the listeners’ attention as it shifts from the previous songs. This crisp and staccato sound is the mainstay in the track, which seems like an interesting contrast when comparing it to the heavy emotions associated with the loss of a close person. Oftentimes songs regarding loss have a much more legato and somber atmosphere to reflect heartbreak, but the differentiating sound of “She’s Gone” adds more flavor to Sik-K’s repertoire.
The next track “Addy” features soloist MOON and changes up the R&B influence to something a bit less traditional, adding a more playful sound to the whole album. Rather than the previous tracks that have some melancholic undertones, this track seems pure and upbeat. MOON’s vocals also add a nice and smooth tone to the otherwise rap-focused track. “TOO PICKY” continues this trend with a bouncy melody and lighter tone that is particularly addictive. “12:45” returns to the smoother and more subdued R&B rhythm that is fairly reminiscent of “New Love,” and has a calmer quality to it.
Trucking along to “Nirvana,” Sik-K adds a bit of rock influence to this track, much like his previous release, “Fire.” This adds another element of depth to the album, and it’s nice to hear a new sound added to the mix. “Bae” shifts gears into a lo-fi feeling, giving off the vibes of a thoughtful moment in a quiet coffee shop. It’s a nice switch up, especially to have Sik-K provide some softer vocals rather than his usual particularly rough rap style, and as such, this surprising shift may be the best track on the album.
We’re not done with big name features on this album, as the final track that we have to cover, “IBTFY,” features fellow R&B artist pH-1. The pace is picked back up on this song, with an influence of driving EDM in the rhythm. It definitely has a lot of potential for mass appeal, as it also blends together some great vocals from pH-1 and a lighter tone from Sik-K himself. It’s a nice shift from the subdued “Bae” and is executed quite well.
Sik-K’s style of music isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but HEADLINER certainly brings in a musical element to fit just about everyone’s taste, even if only a little bit. The showcase of a truly talented artist is the ability to explore different genres, and that’s exactly what can be heard in HEADLINER. Even if the title pieces weren’t favorites, you’re sure to find something to enjoy in this album.