Bang Yongguk is back! A year after his return with 2, the B.A.P leader and soloist has returned with another EP, The Colors of Love. But that’s not all! Bang Yongguk is set to also embark on a world tour, greeting fans for the first time in several years. 2023 is going to be quite the year for the artist, and The Colors of Love album is just the start.

Tracklist: 

1. “Ride or Die”

2. “Breath”

3. “Green (feat. SOOVI)”* 

4. “Rain On Me (feat. COE)”*

5. “UFO”

6. “I Don’t Care”

*Note: Author’s Favorite Pick

“Ride or Die”

As the album is centered around the colors of love, “Ride or Die” is red for passion as Bang Yongguk expresses how much he feels for his person. Through thick and thin, Bang Yongguk is ready to go and risk it all for his lover. If he’s not with them, there is no purpose or meaning to his life. This kind of love is fast and exciting, but also with a hint of danger as one could equate it to something new and foreign. “Ride or Die” leans more into the hip-hop/R&B sound, but there is a more grunge style added in that gives it that intensity that is alluring and mysterious. It’s also a great song to have on when actually going on a drive. If there's one thing that you need to remember about Bang Yongguk, it’s that his deep voice and rap is sure to raise hairs and give you a chill. There aren’t many with a deeper register like his, but that’s what gives him his edge and style.

To complement the song, the music video features a lot of red throughout. Whether it be from the red moto jacket that he wears, the red motorcycle he rides, or the red lights of the motorcycles, it’s clear that red is the theme. While there is no exact storyline to the music video, getting to see Bang Yongguk light up the screen is such a delight. After all these years, he remains his charismatic self and sticks true to his strengths of captivating his viewers with his intense gaze and deep voice. 

What The Colors Say

Prior to the release of the EP, Bang Yongguk pre-released “Green” featuring SOOVI (accompanied by a lyric video), with the color green representing safety and security. He expresses throughout the song that he is someone who will be the calm among the chaos while also being there to let all the worries go when he and his lover/friend are together. Green is also a significant color, as this song in particular can also be related to B.A.P’s fandom color as their color was also a bright green, never forgetting to recognize his and his group’s fans.

When you look at the other songs like “Breath,” it could be something refreshing like the color white, as there is this innocence of love and life, but when you throw “Rain on Me” into the loop, the color blue or purple comes to mind as the song plays on a sexier, cooler, confident sound and style. But not all love is bright, happy, or passionate. Love can also be dark and heavy, which can be heard in “UFO” and “I Don’t Care,” which have angrier tones.

All in all, The Colors of Love takes you on quite the rollercoaster when it comes to love, and Bang Yongguk has outdone himself once again. For those who are long time fans, it’s been awhile since we’ve seen such a wonderful mix of sounds and styles from Bang Yongguk. It’ll be great to see him on the stage once again with his upcoming tour and how these songs will come to life as performances.