As one of the longest lasting rappers on the Korean scene, Verbal Jint has gone through many different phases in his career, with highs and lows (including a few scandals). But despite any of the lows he’s faced, it cannot be denied that the rapper has contributed significantly to the K-Hip-Hop industry in Korea. It has been years since we’ve gotten an album from him, and even longer since a full album. But after a long wait, Verbal Jint is back with full album Inflection Point, featuring a number of very talented artists.

“공인 (Public Figure)”

The main music video to showcase the album, “공인 (Public Figure),” was released on April 6 and features veteran rappers Swings and Han Yohan. The song has an interesting composition, less focused on the beat and placing much more emphasis on the lyrics and message Verbal Jint is attempting to relay. Even without a translation, upon first listen it's pretty easy to figure out that it’s a track about the gossip public figures are subjected to, with Swings and Yohan opening up the song as two Verbal Jint haters, loudly airing their grievances about their fellow rapper. He is called names for not wanting to subject himself to certain breaches of privacy, which in turn gets him even more nasty things said about him. It’s a song pointing to the issue that many public figures face, where their humanity is taken from them, and the moment they snap back, they are called out for it.

The video is pretty simple, showing Verbal Jint as a set director, his two feature rappers playing the part of actors on his set. There is also a couple that play the part of judgemental fans, all of whom show fear in Verbal Jint’s presence when he directly addresses them, despite talking badly behind his back. But as the video comes to an end, he appears to lighten up and give them praise, and all members on set enjoy a meal and work together. It’s made to show the contrast between outward judgement and a person’s true nature, which can only be revealed by direct contact and not from the sidelines. 

The Album

Inflection Point kicks off with “Gone for a Minute,” a track that has a slower tempo and classic R&B feel. It’s a refreshing, nostalgic type of sound for us older folk who remember the popular music of the ‘90s and early 2000s. “Hey VJ” continues with this type of vibe, this time focusing more on the early rap sound of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. In both these tracks, Verbal Jint is solo, so both tracks place heavy emphasis on his rap flow and the differing melodies that are a homage to the roots of his music.

“Pedestrian Flow” features Isobel Kim and shifts gears into a more lofi type of vibe, this time accompanied by some additional smooth vocals that work well in subduing the rather prominent piano melody used throughout the track. “Open Letter” featuring Hwayoung is a more popular melodic formula for hip-hop, not unlike the things you’ll hear at the top of the charts.

“나는 하수다” featuring curv moon takes some inspiration from gospel music, most prominently in the opening bars. It’s a nice surprise and particularly uncommon in Korean music, and that influence remains noticeable even as the melody shifts for Verbal Jint’s verse. curv moon has great vocal flavor to accompany this type of track, a unique color that isn’t easily imitated. If you’re a fan of the harder rap variety, “흑화의 뜻” may be more up your alley. Featuring lIlBOI, this track places heavier focus on the rap verses, with the flow as the main staple ahead of the repetitive background rhythm.

As we move into the second half of the album, we’re greeted with “내가 그걸 모를까,” another very classic rap track with the type of beat we may expect from a cypher. The slower tempo and repeating melodic line are used as a base for the flow of both Verbal Jint and his feature, JUSTHIS. “아홉수” follows with a more somber tone, a slow tempo R&B track that has a strong edge of blues to the sound.

“물론 아냐 라면” picks the tempo and feeling back up a bit, feeling like a happier, more pop-influenced track. While it’s certainly not the kind of thing you’d hear from a K-Pop group, it has a more upbeat feel compared to the rest of the album, which gives it some pretty strong summer vibes. Next comes “비정한 세상 피토하는 음악 (feat. 마미손),” where we go full ‘80s. From the first note, the ‘80s synth is so obvious, you would think this is something straight from the peak of the decade. Verbal Jint even lends his vocals to this track for a fresh new feeling, and not only is it unexpected, but it’s an awesome addition.

We go back to basics with “My G-Wagen (feat. SUPERBEE),” a retro hip-hop style beat with a classic feel that hip-hop lovers will find comforting and familiar. The final full track “Discord” features BIG Naughty and maintains that nostalgic hip-hop feel with a brighter tone and overlays the sound of a baby’s voice throughout the track, which we have to wonder is a testament to BIG Naughty’s age. The album then concludes with a two-minute outro, a simple melody that places all emphasis on Verbal Jint’s flow and winds down the album to its conclusion.

All in all, Inflection Point is a great exploration into early hip-hop and provides a number of different musical flavors, all of which do a great job paying homage to the roots of K-Hip-Hop. There’s a good mix of retro and modern, which keeps the listener on their toes as each track begins. There’s definitely a reason that the rapper has been in the industry for so long, and Inflection Point is a perfect example of why.