Kick Back and Relax with BIG Naughty’s first EP Bucket List
In days where sometimes it seems like nothing is getting better, nothing is quite as refreshing as a relaxing album to sit and enjoy and take your worries away, if only for a short period of time. H1GHR Music rapper BIG Naughty picked a fantastic time to drop his first official EP with the label. The album features a star-studded cast of producers and features, with a major theme of youth binding together the different sounds of the album. BIG Naughty has a style of music that feels fit for the current state of the world, and his album proves to be a nice break from the hustle of daily life.
The Title: “Joker”
Bucket List kicks off with the title “Joker” featuring vocalist JAMIE, or Park Jimin formerly of 15&, for those more familiar with that name. The beat has a classic R&B feel with a catchy piano riff and rhythm guitar, giving a retro atmosphere with a chill vibe. JAMIE’s vocals fit nicely into the melody and bring a lovely tone to the track, while BIG Naughty lends his vocals as well rather than hard rapping. The track definitely has a homey feeling, and brings a level of comfort to the listener.
For a song that has such a chill vibe, the music video is surprisingly dark. It opens with a news report of a bank robbery and our artist, both with shots in an interrogation room and kidnapped alongside his female counterpart (played by Jung Daeun). BIG Naughty sports a number of bloody cuts on his face as well. The video overall has a darker tone, with very little color being used. It definitely presents a more serious and mature image for the young rapper and showcases his ability to act alongside rapping and singing.
The B-sides
Bucket List B-sides kick off with “Frank Ocean,” a track produced by Cosmic Boy and featuring prominent vocalist SOLE. The moderate tempo and R&B elements are felt in this track much like the title “Joker,” though there is a bit of a whimsical feeling to the song that makes it feel more sentimental. You can certainly hear this conveyed in the chorus when BIG Naughty sings “I’m alright,” a sentiment that can definitely hit home for some of us these days. SOLE is most prominent as a background harmonizer, adding a sweet flavor to the overall vocal color of the song.
Third track “커피가게 아가씨” picks up the mood a bit, with a faster tempo and more upbeat demeanor that has BIG Naughty rapping more than vocalizing. The track has a fun and bouncy feeling that will put a smile on your face, and reminds us of a warm, sunny day. “멋진 신세계” takes a different route musically, presenting a more old school rap type of beat and a more biting tone, with the feeling of rebellious youthfulness that certainly makes us feel old. Despite coming to terms with our own aging, the song has a strange nostalgic feeling of days in high school and feeling combative toward authority, which is relatable even as you begin to age.
“10년 후” returns to the more dreamy sound, highlighted by the opening of the soft piano before the beat drops for a more fast paced hip-hop track with an oddly soft demeanor. The verse from rapper Paloalto adds a great element of intensity into the track, as his tone is a bit deeper than BIG Naughty’s and fits along nicely with the melody. “부라보” was produced by AOMG artist GRAY and features Coogie and brings a song perfectly fit for the warm days of summer that sings of individuality and living as your authentic self. The light hip-hop track has a very optimistic feeling to it that helps lighten the heart on heavier days.
Wrapping up the album we have “Bucket List,” a track produced by DPR CREAM. The song is a great mix of genres used in the rest of the album, with a more hip-hop influenced beat but a more upbeat message. There are no featured artists on this track, so the album ends with just the rapper himself showing off his skills.
Bucket List all in all is a pretty solid album to sit with and really feel, with many different feelings expressed in each track and a wide range of emotions. We found it to be particularly comforting on a day of some more negative emotions, with the more subdued R&B beats and uplifting messaging hitting home in a harsh winter. This is a great first step for BIG Naughty in his career, and we’re excited to see how much he will grow as time passes.