After contributing to MONSTA X’s music and releasing many mixtapes, the Starship Entertainment boy group’s maknae, I.M, finally dropped his much-awaited first solo album on February 19, 2021. The very personal digital mini-album DUALITY topped global and Korean music charts right after its release.

Im Changkyun debuted with the stage name I.M as the youngest member of MONSTA X in 2015. He has participated in creating MONSTA X’s songs since the beginning by writing lyrics or self-composing B-side tracks. He released his first mixtape, WHO AM I, in 2016 and dropped a mixtape called BeMyFriend with fellow MONSTA X member JOOHONEY. I.M’s self-composed B-side track “Night View” from the boy group’s latest album became No. 13 on the Billboard World Digital Songs Sales Chart on his birthday, January 26. He showed the world his all-around musical talent and most certainly proved that he has it in him to become the next big solo artist to look out for.

THE ALBUM: DUALITY

The duality of the teasers showed that fans could expect a different musical side from the group’s, bringing I.M’s more personal style and stories into focus. The much-awaited album topped several iTunes charts around the world, with the title track “GOD DAMN” entering Amazon’s Best-selling Digital Song Chart, and it was not just the international welcome that was this warm — all five songs of the album entered Melon’s 24Hits Chart and ranked between No. 1 and No. 6 on Bugs!.

I.M wrote, composed, and arranged all five songs of the dynamic tracklist of DUALITY, bringing us a deeply personal album talking about the differences between the outside and inside, focusing on the various aspects of a person and his inner thoughts. It is a title that clicks well with the artist known for his different colors.

TITLE: “GOD DAMN”

The smooth bilingual title song shows off I.M’s own duality, talking about how sometimes we lie to ourselves about being fine or happy. The song reflects many sides of the artist, yet is very relatable to every listener since we all have things we deal with, like different doubts and emotions. Even when you are a worldly known idol like I.M, sometimes you need to push yourself to be able to move forward. We are able to hear and feel this whole process through the lyrics.

B-SIDES

“Howlin” is a full English track with lyrics that show vulnerability through contemplating the ups and downs we all go through. In “Burn,” we get some progress as the feelings and the desire to reach peace become more intense. “Happy To Die” features some higher notes as we reach the end of the album. “시든 꽃 (flower-ed)” is the full Korean closing track; a bit slower and softer with effortless vocals that are refreshing to hear from I.M, once again proving the artist’s versatile abilities.

You can follow I.M’s personal process of dealing with emotions through DUALITY, showing a very relatable, human side of himself. It is invigorating to see and hear his own style both musically and lyrically in his first solo album.

Don’t forget to check out the “GOD DAMN” music video down below and give a listen to the full album!