With “Animal Farm” standing as the last pre-release single for new album Lowlife Princess: Noir, you knew the album was going to be an intense ride. On November 18, BIBI released her first full album containing a total of 12 tracks, including three pre-release singles: “Animal Farm,” “MotoSpeed 24,” and “Sweet Sorrow of Mother.” The new title track “BIBI Vengeance” once again shows BIBI as the anti-hero of a dark story as she gets lost in her thirst for vengeance.

As expected of the artist, “BIBI Vengeance” tells a very vivid story when the song is coupled with the music video. The track itself has a Latin-inspired beat that takes prominence in the chorus. The beat is fairly simple to highlight BIBI’s vocals and the message of her lyrics, which tie in to the story built on previous releases and are explored throughout the rest of the album. The use of her deeper register in the chorus really drives home the dark themes of the track. It’s undeniably a catchy song, whether or not you’re following along with the full lore of Lowlife Princess: Noir.

“Animal Farm” was incredibly shocking with its use of violence in the music video, and while there are still such themes in “BIBI Vengeance,” it’s far more toned down in terms of gore. Much of the video has a dark focus with little color used in the scenes. The opening scene shows BIBI dressed in white (the white is definitely a paradoxical metaphor) walking into the funeral of a man her character murdered, as implied when she slyly smiles while bowing down at his grave. Her facial expressions in the music video are exceptional and portray the exact feeling of each scene, especially her use of crazy eyes. Brutal deaths are implied but not fully shown, highlighting just how dark and dirty this fictional world is. There is a portion of the video where she has a hostage, and even without a fluent understanding of Korean, you can tell he’s begging for mercy, which she refuses to provide. Bad b*tch, indeed.

Lowlife Princess: Noir kicks off with an almost dream-like opening intro that quickly devolves into something more sinister, almost as if to present the contrast between the innocent and corrupted versions of the main character BIBI has played in her story. The short one minute intro sets the stage for the first track “Blade,” which opens up with a robotic distortion before BIBI begins her first verse. This song almost has a classic K-Pop composition, with a strong build-up in the pre-chorus to the chorus drop that brings in more EDM influences before returning to a simpler melody in the verses.

The album then shifts into the new title track followed by “Animal Farm,” which we’ve previously discussed. Next comes the other two pre-release singles, “MotoSpeed 24” and “Sweet Sorrow of Mother.” “MotoSpeed 24” has a softer pop sound with light Latin influences not unlike the title. BIBI uses the lighter melody to sing at a higher register, and overall, it brings a less intense feeling to the album for a break from the vehemence in the opening tracks. “Sweet Sorrow of Mother” is a quick one minute track that brings jazz influences into the mix, making it totally stand out from previous songs. The lightness of it is almost comical in its contrast, and with the sudden and abrupt end, it provides an almost eerie feeling.

The second half of the album kicks off with “Loveholic’s hangover” featuring Sam Kim, the only feature on the album. This track opens up with a simple piano melody before it is joined by an almost frantically paced hi-hat and BIBI’s first verse. The piano almost feels like it doesn’t fit the tempo of the track as the melody picks up above it, likely since the hi-hat is going in double time. It’s an interesting sound for sure and feels well thought out. Sam Kim’s voice is very subdued and breathy and fits along with this melody unbelievably well.

“Wet Nightmare” begins to shift away from the lighter, jazzy feel with a classic hip-hop beat, but is highlighted by an extensive use of accidentals in the vocals which make for a haunting track. There’s definitely a darker meaning to the song if you think deeper about the title. “Witch Hunt” ramps up the haunting atmosphere, bringing back the sinister feeling in the beginning of the album. It’s short and sweet, coming in at under two minutes. 

“Lowlife Princess” feels like a culmination of all of the songs before it, almost as if the bad and grim personality her character has curated until now comes out in this song. Radiating confidence and menacing intentions, this hip-hop track showcases the manipulative objective of the referenced lowlife princess.

“JOTTO” has a totally different feel from the previous track, where BIBI goes from a more breathy rap style of vocalization back to her usual singing style. There’s a deep house influence in the chorus that makes the track stand out, and the genre shift definitely makes this song interesting. To round out the album, we have “City Love,” a high-tempo pop-rock-influenced track that ends with a guitar solo that makes it feel almost like the entire story is speeding and will crash at the very end. It’s an interesting way to round out the album, almost like speeding to your death. It seems fitting for the full theme of the album.

The album is a wonderful listen from the very start and showcases the depth and artistry BIBI perfectly encompasses. There’s a little bit of something for everyone on this album, and for those who aren’t as familiar with BIBI, it’s a great introduction to learn more about her style and her skill.

Edited by Aleena Faisal