ZICO is back with a new release in the form of RANDOM BOX and its title track “Summer Hate,” a fun and fresh take on the unbearable heat of a summer day. Backed by Rain for maximum star power, the song is already on its way to being the viral hit of the summer.

“Summer Hate” is an unexpected twist on a summer release: amidst tropical beats and reggaeton influence, ZICO and Rain actually sing about how they dislike summer. Much of the melody lies in the repetitive chorus and the “I hate this summer day” hook, but the small pops of muted brass and saxophone give the song a fun flavor. 

It’s no surprise that ZICO is already dominating the charts, with “Summer Hate” already rising to the No. 1 spot on the MelOn, Genie, and Bugs in real time. The song’s simple chorus has also sparked a Tik Tok dance challenge, with idols like SEVENTEEN’s Hoshi and Woozi and Boys’ Republic’s Suwoong with Jongup showing off their dance skills under the #SummerHateChallenge hashtag. ZICO himself even appeared on MBC “New Today” to do the challenge during the weather forecast.

As for the rest of the RANDOM BOX mini-album, “Cartoon” carries much the same playful energy as “Summer Hate,” with plenty of Caribbean vibes to spare. The song is so bright that it actually almost veers towards being campy—fitting for a song titled “Cartoon.” With the addition of BIBI on “Love & hate” comes the R&B flavor on the album. The track is still in line with the EP’s tropical influence, but BIBI’s feature gives the song an 2000’s R&B/pop feel, with ZICO’s biting rap verses bringing the modern inspiration. “No you can’t” is the hardest hitting track on the mini-album, with just the sparse opening notes preparing the listener for the onslaught of ZICO’s unparalleled bars. It’s the kind of song that shows ZICO at his best—star-studded features and viral dance challenges aside, ZICO needs little more than a simple beat to let his talents shine. The album rounds out with “Roommate,” an impossibly feel-good R&B song about reaching the old-married-couple stage of a relationship. The chill song sets the tone perfectly with the Netflix intro, and uses the act of mindlessly watching TV together to sing about a comfortable love. With an easy electric guitar and laidback beats, it’s a song made for the hottest days of the season when a Netflix session indoors feels like the only salvation from the summer heat.

Check out the fun and quirky video for “Summer Hate” below.