Rest is Overrated in B.I’s New Single “Keep me up”

B.I doesn’t want to rest in his new single “Keep me up,” written by B.I, Catherine Lee, and Aja Ayanna Cruz and composed and arranged by Stereotypes and 9am. The single is the title track of B.I’s new EP Love or Be Loved, Pt. 1, released November 18, 2022. The EP has five dance, R&B, and soul-styled tracks, one of which is “BTBT” featuring Soulja Boy and DeVita, released May 13, 2022.

“Keep me up” is an extension of “BTBT,” from falling in love at first sight, surrounded by lustful nights, to the difficulty of facing reality and specific emotions. The moments when you’re too far gone to care, too far in the deep to leave, and no longer the person you used to be. It’s a fusion of English and Korean that connects the two audiences, making it a catchy, stuck-in-your-head kind of song.

In the music video, the camera angles and choreography are suave and complement the desperate tone in the vocals at times, other times looking elegant, despite the messy apparel and graffitied walls around them. At first glance, it seems you go back in time when B.I removes “BTBT” from his VCR and plays “Keep me up” next. However, that old building and dangerous environment depicts our world when we’re in love.

The music video also shows us a concept of our future, displaying minimalism instead of vibrant colors from the 1970s and bringing back old technology with futuristic tapes and flying cars. It’s genius. It shows us that nothing really comes to an end because trends come back. And if trends and concepts don’t really change, then why would the construction of love? Because that’s what B.I’s watching after all…

Edited by Erin Rupprect