ZICO’s Back!

Two years ago, ZICO left the music industry to complete his mandatory military service. While he was discharged back in late April, he’s still been quiet on the music front until it was announced just days ago that he would have a new mini-album release at the end of the month. While we wait patiently for his new project, let’s look back at some of our favorite ZICO releases to get hype for his post-military career.

“Eureka” feat. Zion.T

While ZICO made his official solo debut earlier in 2014, there was some controversy surrounding the song and aesthetic which caused some issues. His first mini-album GALLERY came a year later in November 2015 with title track “Eureka” featuring Zion.T. These two powerhouses together are magical, and they came together for a jazz-influenced hip-hop track that becomes more catchy with each listen. Somehow the song blends the style of both artists, which on the surface seems almost impossible given how polar opposite they tend to be in style.

“Predator” feat. JTONG

A B-side off of GALLERY, “Predator” featuring JTONG is a powerful rap track through and through. As one of my favorite hype songs to this day, “Predator” has the perfect flow and packs a punch that will certainly have you ready to fight the world after one listen.

“I Am You, You Are Me”

While he did have a career as an underground rapper before becoming an idol, ZICO shows us through his solo releases that he is capable of more than that. “I Am You, You Are Me” is a softer, chill R&B track that features more vocal lines from the artist. The softer sound of the song provides great variety, and the video has a very cute soulmate storyline that is certain to melt anyone’s heart. Soft ZICO supremacy. 

“BERMUDA TRIANGLE” feat. Crush, DEAN

If you were around in the Korean entertainment space in 2016 when this single came out, you’ll remember just how prolific it was. Teaming up with two of the biggest names in K-R&B, Crush and DEAN, ZICO provided the world with a certified banger in this legendary collab, which would later birth FANXY CHILD. In fact, you see the first mention of it in the music video. The song itself is fairly simple, but it has a classic hip-hop composition that makes it addictive.

“ANTI” feat. G.Soul

“ANTI” feat. G.Soul is a track that blends a mix of ZICO’s hardcore rap tracks with a smoother R&B sound to create a more laidback and relaxed feeling in the song. G.Soul’s unique vocal color complements ZICO’s fast and often intense raps to create a balance in the song. If you’re a fan of ZICO’s more intense songs, the last third of the track will definitely satisfy you.

“FANXY CHILD” feat. FANXY CHILD

Speaking of FANXY CHILD, the first sample we got of the forming project group was on the 2017 ZICO album TELEVISION. This cypher-style song goes in the following order: ZICO, DEAN, penomeco, and finally Crush. Of course the quartet wasn’t the final lineup, as millic and Stay Tuned were later added to the group when they released their first official single “Y” in 2019.

“Soulmate” feat. IU

Potentially the duo of the century, good friends ZICO and IU teamed up for a sweet single in “Soulmate.” IU is a powerhouse in her own right, and teaming up with ZICO was enough to shake the entire industry. Speaking of soft ZICO, we have more vocals in this track, which seems fitting given IU’s otherworldly and blissful voice. Her style definitely befits a softer aesthetic, so it’s nice to see ZICO blend with her for this to bring us a retro R&B-influenced pop track.

“Extreme”

While the 2019 mini-album THINKING Part.1 brought a myriad of tracks to the table, “Extreme” is ZICO’s tried-and-true hard-hitting rap track off the EP. By this point he had launched KOZ Entertainment, giving him ultimate freedom over his music and releases. The song is fairly simple, with a driving beat accompanying his raps, where he conveys the story of his musical career in both the good and bad. 

“Any song”

Everyone and their mother heard this viral hit when it was released, to the point that it was almost unbearable for some to hear it again. While I can agree it was probably overplayed, it was for a good reason. The song has such an upbeat and bright demeanor, but the lyrics convey a story of burnout. The juxtaposition of music and lyrics being pulled off so well always indicates a strong release, and I think the message of the song really resonated with millions as we adjusted to the pandemic life and had to put more focus inward on our own problems.

“Summer Hate” feat. Rain

With RANDOM BOX being his last release before military enlistment, it was the final EP many of us had to hold us over for his hiatus. This song just feels so appropriate every time summer comes around, especially in the dead of it when all of us are boiling in the relentless sun. The simple melody is light and playful and makes for a great summer track overall.

Edited by Erin Rupprecht