YOUNG POSSE’s New Concept Sends “COLD” Chills
YOUNG POSSE tries something different with their latest title track, “COLD (feat.10CM).” The girl group known for their eccentric hip-hop concepts released a ballad to lead their new special album. Released on March 2, COLD contains seven tracks that follow a tragic story.
TRACKLIST:
“COLD (feat.10CM)”
“Lovestagram”
“Blue Dot”
“Daddy Don’t Leave Me”
“Santa Claus Left Me No Goodz”
“Oskar’s Drawing”
“COLD (YPS Colder Ver.)”
The Title Track: “COLD (feat.10CM)”
“COLD (feat.10CM)” delivers YOUNG POSSE’s take on a hip-hop ballad. In collaboration with singer-songwriter 10CM, this track focuses on vocals and sparingly-used rap portions. This song documents the conflicting emotions of a heartbroken woman betrayed by a lover. She feels enraged, yet still wants to hold onto a relationship she thought was one without deception.
The music video for “COLD (feat.10CM)” transforms the song into a drama OST by delivering an emotional, dark short film. Taiwanese actor Tseng Jing Hua portrays Oskar, a man romantically involved with a character portrayed by YOUNG POSSE’s Doeun. The circumstances surrounding their relationship unravel in many surprising directions. This music video deals with topics such as parental abandonment, deepfakes, and suicide. The decision to tackle such heavy topics feels entirely different from YOUNG POSSE’s previous concepts like “MACARONI CHEESE” and “ATE THAT.” The group showed that they can transition between lighthearted, wacky concepts and serious, thought-provoking ones.
The B-Sides: Continuing the Story
The B-sides “Lovestagram,” “Blue Dot,” “Daddy Don’t Leave Me,” and “Oskar’s Drawing” all seem to connect to the “COLD (feat.10CM)” music video. The shortest song on the EP, “Lovestagram,” contains a chill beat and lyrics solely about falling in love. “Blue Dot” comes in as an intense EDM track written by Yella D and members Doeun and Sunhye. “Daddy Don’t Leave Me,” alluding to the father in the music video, is another short song, clocking in at 1:47. The track contrasts its depressing connotations with a calm lofi beat.
“Oskar’s Drawing,” an alternative hip-hop song written by Yella D and Doeun, ties up the storyline. As the third song on the EP less than two minutes long, it focuses on one simple idea: the disdain felt after the father left. The song references a children’s drawing seen in the “COLD (feat.10CM)” music video, one with a parental figure’s face obstructed by messy pen marks. The EP ends with “COLD (YPS Colder Ver.),” a rendition of the title track without 10CM. Cold’s theme makes the EP engaging, but it requires the context of the music video to enjoy it fully.
Returning to Christmas After Controversy
The holiday-themed B-side “Santa Claus Left Me No Goodz” comes sandwiched between “Daddy Don’t Leave Me” and “Oskar’s Drawing.” As the only song not related to the EP’s story, it sticks out. YOUNG POSSE likely reworked “Santa Claus Left Me No Goodz” from their shelved holiday song from 2024: “Santa Claus is coming to hood.” The group originally planned to release it on December 13 with their winter digital single album, Street Carol…(With John Park), but decided not to after “taking fans’ opinions into consideration.” The backlash, stemming from concerns of cultural appropriation, initially prompted DSP Media to cancel its release.
“Santa Claus Left Me No Goodz” is a trap song describing the frustration of not being on Santa’s good side. YOUNG POSSE and their producer KIGGEN created the song as comedic relief on an otherwise tense EP. The silly visuals on the COLD highlight medley for “Santa Claus Left Me No Goodz” further support its strange place within the special album.
The Verdict: An Unexpected Direction
YOUNG POSSE made a bold move switching gears to the COLD concept. While it is too early to tell whether it will stay or if the group will go back to their roots, COLD shows a well-crafted narrative with a lot to interpret. The ballad title track is far from my favorite but I commend YOUNG POSSE’s creative team for making something unpredictable.
“COLD (FEAT.10CM)” TITLE TRACK SCORE: 7/10
“COLD (FEAT.10CM)” MUSIC VIDEO SCORE: 9/10
COLD EP SCORE: 8/10
Overall Score: 8/10
Edited by Lacey Diluvio