The Boyz Defy the Odds in Unexpected
The Boyz are back, with a fresh label and a fresh sound in Unexpected, the group’s first release under One Hundred following their departure from IST Entertainment in December 2024. As the 11-member machine of a group welcomes a new beginning under One Hundred, Unexpected is as much an exuberant welcome as it is a bittersweet turning point for the group, with the album’s release date corresponding to the beginning of Leader Sangyeon’s military enlistment. As the eleven members danced, boxxed, and jived through the synth-pop title track “VVV,” the striking visuals of their music video were silhouetted against heartfelt, even tearful, Instagram stories of the members giving their leader and fellow member a full send-off.
The group’s bold choreographies, leveraging their numbers and their performance power, land true in the “VVV” music video. The visuals merge eclectic sets with some great color grading to make for an eye-popping music video that’s as bold as it is fun. With sequins, nightlife, and eleven men dancing (or, in certain instances, boxing) in sync, The Boyz don’t skip a beat.
Unexpected dwells in this in-between from dance-y, hype synth tracks like album openers “VVV” and rolling “Feel the Bass” to R&B groove with “Starry Night” winding toward a softer, musing side in “Nothing” and album closer “Cross Over.” Each of the eight B-sides matches the sparkling poppy synths of “VVV” with their own distinct vision for the group. The unit song “Feel the Bass” (featuring members Jacob, Juyeon, Kevin, Eric, and Sunwoo) is hip-hop perfection, with lightning-fast raps alongside even-tempered vocals. “Starry Night” is a windows-down, night-drive type of song, winding its way through dreamy R&B vocals, with member Jacob participating in the song’s production. In what is perhaps a tongue-in-cheek reference to their 2020 song “Salty,” “Ain’t Salty” brings high-drama with staccato strings and a full, explosive drop. Laid-back “Rose” brings an edgier note to the album’s R&B repertoire before diving right into guitar-forward “Rock and Roll,” which, contrary to its title, is more of a lights-dimmed sexy dance track than it is rock. Unexpected’s nostalgic turn begins with “Nothing,” reminding the listener of the group’s current moment in time, toeing some new line and turning on a new axis. It’s also, at its core, a desperate break-up song, but the lyrics speak to something perhaps more on the nose for The Boyz: “I've grown so much already / I can't accept it as it is.” Punny “Miss Demeanor” tunes city pop elements into a catchy, whispered, repeating dance-beat.
Unexpected closes with crown jewel “Cross Over” (Korean Title: “Love! 우린 이미 선을 넘었어”). With each member participating in the lyrics of “Cross Over,” the song is a fitting dose of both nostalgia and hope. It’s a thank-you note to fans, a celebration of new beginnings, a nod to their hardships, and a send-off to their leader: “Even as time passes, we will forever meet again in the spring that resembles you.”
The Boyz’s distinct artistry shines through each note of Unexpected. Through this release, the group stands tall, heads held high as if to say, “there will always be change, and yet we are the same.” New label, same iconic sound. The Boyz aren’t going anywhere.
Edited by Rachael Lovette