Throwback Thursday: Jackson Wang Edition
Photo: Team Wang
Making his big debut in 2014, GOT7 member, solo artist, and CEO/founder of Team Wang, Jackson Wang, stepped into the K-Pop scene. Jackson Wang is a household name in K-Pop. His contributions to GOT7 are monumental, and his singing and rapping skills have had a major impact. His debut as a soloist produced music that has resonated broadly with fans. With singles dating back to 2017 and four full-length albums, Jackson’s has made a name for himself. So, let’s take it back and talk about some tracks from Jackson Wang.
“OKAY” - OKAY - Single
On November 30, 2017, Jackson released his multilingual track “OKAY.” An R&B track with a hip-hop influence, “OKAY” is an upbeat song that showcases Jackson’s skillful rapping. Throughout the song, Jackson’s flow is steady, and as the intensity of the song progresses, so do Jackson’s vocals. Starting with a groovy synth instrumental, the track draws listeners in, and when Jackson’s raspy singing voice starts, it matches the song's steady pace. Once he begins to rap, listeners hear the angst and emotion behind each word, and when they reach the chorus, they are introduced to Jackson’s ability to pull emotion from listeners. The song is captivating from beginning to end, and it’s no wonder it is a favorite among many fans.
“TITANIC (feat. Rich Brian)” - MIRRORS
On October 25, 2019, Jackson released his full-length album MIRRORS. The jam-packed album features eight songs. Each song resonated widely with fans. With tracks like “BULLET TO THE HEART,” “DWAY!,” and “FADED,” for example, it is hit after hit on this album. One song many enjoyed is the sixth song on the album, “TITANIC (feat. Rich Brian).” The song is a hip-hop-heavy track that showcases the lyrical skill and flow of Jackson and 88rising rapper Rich Brian. Throughout the track, both rappers are dropping bars that, if listeners aren’t fully paying attention, they may miss, and both have such memorable verses that, from one listen, listeners will be hooked. “I got you, girl on panic. Iced out wrist, titanic,” “Oh, you got me in a bad place. Might crash the whip in a valet,” are examples. The track is an energetic listen built for replay, with both rappers delivering verses sharp enough to reward repeated attention.
“LMLY” - LMLY - Single
On March 26, 2021, Jackson released his bright, heartwarming song, “LMLY.” A beautiful pop song about love and the pains one might go through, Jackson takes listeners on a journey as he tells a story about love. Throughout the song, Jackson describes the pain of loving someone who doesn’t feel the same way. With lyrics like, “You don’t call me baby. You call me my name. But I keep on hoping, nothing has changed,” and “If you don’t feel it too, but whatever you do. Don’t leave me loving you. If you’re out of this when I’m all in, then I need a warning,” listeners can hear the pain of experiencing that level of heartbreak, and as a listener, you are locked into the story unfolding before them. With such a groovy, upbeat pop instrumental, listeners can hear the joy that comes with love, but also experience the turmoil through the lyrics. It is a beautiful song, and Jackson does a masterful job of embracing that and making it deeply effective.