penomeco is back with [ Rorschach ] Part 2, the follow-up to April’s [ Rorschach ] Part 1, and title track “X.” The second half of the [ Rorschach ] album features six tracks, includes rappers Gaeko and viceversa on the album opener “Ghost” and Loopy on “Bangers,” and ends with “23 Pt.2,” a throwback to the rapper’s single, “23.”

“X” is a very ‘90s-inspired rap track, with a basic backbeat that never really increases in tempo. By doing this, the spotlight is placed on penomeco’s lyrics, which focus on looking back into the past at where we thought we’d be and where we’re actually at. The music video is filled with shots of penomeco rapping in an abandoned school, with classrooms, hallways, and what looks like the school gymnasium featuring more than once. Among the references in the track are nods to American rapper Snoop Dogg and American cartoon Scooby-Doo. penomeco is a skilled rapper and lyricist, and this track really just cements the fact that he’s one of the standout Korean rappers.

[ Rorschach ] Part 2 has some tracks that are more in-your-face than others, but for the most part, this release reminds me a lot of penomeco’s earlier, chiller tracks. “Ghost” and “X” are the more in-your-face tracks, but then things start to calm down with “YAK YAK.” It’s a really nice switch, and doesn’t feel awkward when you listen to the album from beginning to end. All of the tracks keep an even tempo like the title track “X” kept, which I think is really cool.

As stated above, “23 Pt.2” is a throwback to penomeco’s second single, and the lyrics also nod to his track “WTF (When Too Far),” but it isn’t the only song on the album to reference previous tracks from the rapper. “YAK YAK” mentions “coco bottles” in the refrain, and while fans know of his love for soda, the reason we know this is because of his 2018 track “COCO BOTTLE.” One of the final references I caught in the lyrics of “Bangers” is a direct line from the track “another level” by ZICO featuring penomeco: “Jeonbu sseureo damjago jeon segyeui Paper bills.”

Make sure to watch the music video for penomeco’s “X” below and stream the album. You can now also buy both parts of [ Rorschach ] in one convenient album!

Edited by Vivian N.