KAI’s Unrivaled Return

It’s been a long 16 months since we last heard from KAI, but he’s back and, dare I say it, better than ever. His third mini-album Rover marks his first solo comeback since 2021’s Peaches, and the Korean music industry has been lacking in his distinct flavor ever since. There’s something to be said for his solo releases, full of a sexual tension and energy that are unrivaled. That said, Rover and its title track of the same name see KAI somewhat abandon the R&B sound that was so prevalent in his first two solo releases and adopt a more hip-hop-based sound. It’s refreshing and nice to see the artist not pigeonholing himself into one sound or one genre.

The Title Track: “Rover”

When you think of earworm tracks, EXO is sure to appear more than once. The group has released so many albums and mini-albums since their debut in 2012, so they’ve had plenty of time to amass plenty of songs to keep you hooked (off the top of my head: “Ko Ko Bop,” “CALL ME BABY,” “Tempo,” “Love Shot,” “Power,” and so many more). “Rover” is no different. It’s just as catchy as an EXO release, but it’s also distinctly KAI. You’ll find the chorus stuck in your head after just one listen, and you’ll be dancing to the beat of the track as soon as it starts. 

The music video is exciting. There’s so much going on that, by the end of it, you don’t realize it’s only been three minutes. Of course there’s the incredible choreography that we’ve come to expect from KAI, no matter if he’s releasing as part of a group or solo, but there’s also an interesting concept that plays into the lyrics of “Rover.” A majority of the music video sees him dancing, but when he’s not dancing, he’s adopting different aliases and working as a slightly manic cosmetologist.

The chorus opens with the line, “Stop, I’m throwing away my name,”* before leaning into references to the childhood playground game of Red Rover. Whether he’s actually a cosmetologist or it’s a front for some underground business is hard to tell. However, they do have a tunnel system and we see the store get the windows blown in, so it’s entirely possible the barber shop is into some shady stuff. 

Something also interesting for the music video is the aforementioned incredible choreography. It’s a lot more powerful than the choreography seen in his debut, “Mmmh,” but “Rover” still has that edge of sensuality that is synonymous with KAI. It’s a change for him as a solo artist and it’s always fun to see our favorites embrace a different style and completely make it their own.

The Album: Rover

Along with “Rover” comes five new B-side tracks. Track two is “Black Mirror,” which was described on the EXO Twitter account as, “posing questions about everyday life full of digital devices and content.” The title and song’s meaning definitely lean into the television series of Black Mirror, which features individual episodes of various genres, but focuses on the theme of technology to comment on today’s social issues. KAI delivers that same message while leaning more into the hip-hop sound and rapping more than singing.

The third track is “Slidin’,” which sees KAI return to his R&B roots that we heard plenty of in his debut album. It’s still got a hint of edge with the back beat, but I don’t find it as catchy as the previous two tracks, which is fine. It’s valid and makes sense to have a song that calms down the vibes for a moment before ramping back up, which is exactly what “Slidin’” does as it leads into “Bomba.”

“Bomba” was also mentioned in the tweet about “Black Mirror,” with the EXO account describing it as having a message about “enjoying every moment.” “Bomba” brings back that catchy earworm vibe that somewhat dropped out after “Rover” and has a Latin influence that’s heard not only in the beat, but also in the repeated phrase “no es nada” at the beginning of the chorus. 

KAI’s third mini-album wraps up with the tracks “Say You Love Me” and “Sinner.” “Say You Love Me” is edgy, it’s moody, and I love everything about it. There’s a possessiveness about it that would be a red flag in real life, but is almost heart-melting when you hear KAI’s voice. Listen, if KAI was asking any of us to tell him we love him, would we say no? Absolutely not. “Sinner” is a departure from the rest of the album. It’s got ballad-like qualities, and the backing instrumentation and beats are so soft that they just highlight KAI’s voice as he sings “I’m a sinner.” That’s what makes it almost alarming when the beat picks up in the last thirty seconds of the track; you’re not expecting the soft-spoken track to do that, but it works so well and ends Rover on a powerful note.

So maybe this is my KAI bias coming through, but this release is my favorite of 2023 thus far. It’s different. It’s catchy. It’s a fun new side of KAI that we haven’t seen in his solo releases, and I can’t wait for the day we get a full album release from him. Hopefully that comes before his mandatory military enlistment, but if it doesn’t, I’ll be waiting patiently for his return.

“Rover” Title Score: 10/10

“Rover” Music Video Score: 8/10

Rover Album Score: 10/10

Final Score: 9.3/10

*Lyric translations from music video subtitles

Edited by Aleena Faisal