ALBUM REVIEW: BIG Naughty's debut EP Bucket List is a comprehensive musical guide to Youth 101

One of the most incredibly talented prodigies of K-Hip Hop/R&B of this generation, BIG Naughty has officially dropped his debut EP ‘Bucket List’ and its visionary quality is sending fans reeling. H1GHR Music clearly hit the bull’s eye with this one because BIG Naughty is much more than just a singer-songwriter/rapper. He’s an artist in the truest sense of the word and through the 7 distinct yet coherent songs on this EP, he effortlessly weaves a story representative of youth.

Joker (Feat. JAMIE)

With Joker, BIG Naughty initiates a game of chess with prior knowledge of defeat. As a matter of fact, it feels almost as though he's even more drawn to this game because he knows the outcome. While it may not be in his favour, it is beautiful regardless, much like the aftermath of love and everything it leaves it its wake. The prelude is alluring enough to bring you in but as BIG Naughty takes over, you're swept up in a gentle whirlwind of emotions. As paradoxical as that sounds, the song is heavily emotionally charged and yet, the power in this song lies in its softness. His vocals are in perfect contrast with the jazz elements of the song and the subtle vibratos towards the end of his lines are the perfect little additions to say the least. His rap, set against the same jazz beat, brings in a sense of urgency, adding a mysterious dimension to the song. 'Joker' is the kind of track that makes you pause and restart just because you want to keep listening to that one part you can't get out of your mind. JAMIE comes in like a queen and evidently, she's one of the finest vocalists the industry has to offer. While BIG Naughty had an air of submission to his voice, JAMIE is unapologetic about having the upper hand in this dynamic, making it very clear that there couldn't have been a more perfect featuring artist. This is not just a collaboration but musical role play at its best.

Frank Ocean (Feat. SOLE) (Prod. Cosmic Boy)

'Frank Ocean' invokes the feeling of love had and love lost and the beat, heavily inspired by and yet maximally different from the eponymous American singer/songwriter Frank Ocean's own style, perfectly complements the lo-fi vibe of the song. The song goes by and lingers, as if like a trance and SOLE adds to the dream-like quality of the song's being with her voice which is best described as a songbird's melody. The harmonisation on this track is almost angelic and BIG Naughty's clear diction and ability to sound out every single word while also artfully rapping is one of the most charming points of this song. The addressee of the song is a chimera and while she's perpetually out of reach, one cannot help but long for her. Not only does the title refer to Frank Ocean but a line from his song "Nikes" is brought in, referring to how love from anywhere else is fruitless and driven by self-interest whereas the feelings between the central couple in the song were once motivated by sincerity.

Girl At The Coffee Shop (Feat. Wonstein) (Prod. PEEJAY)

Girl At The Coffee Shop is BIG Naughty’s reinterpretation of a classic old Korean song called ‘Girl At The Cigarette Shop’ by Song Chang Sik, one of the most influential musicians of the 60s and 70s. While the original leans towards a folk-rock sound, BIG Naughty and Wonstein take a 90s jazz approach to it, giving it an incredible reformation, fit with the times. The bass plays a major role in carrying the bouncy rhythm and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that this track has one of the best compositions in the album. It’s the perfect example of reconstructing something from the ground up while retaining the integrity of the original shape which is testimony enough of his musical genius. Props are also due to PEEJAY for the incredible production value that he lends to the song, making it an overall bop that you just can’t help vibing to.

Brand New World (Feat. Rohann) (Prod. PEEJAY)

This song is indeed true to its name as BIG Naughty initiates the way to a whole new world or rather, brings it to light. The punk rock genre is perfect for the Pink Floyd-like sound that BIG Naughty and Rohann bring to the scene and the lyrics are as hard-hitting as they get. The rap is reminiscent of Seo Taiji & Boys, making this track a one-of-a-kind blend of all things revolution. ‘Brave New World’ also seems to mark a second half for this album, focusing more on youth, dreams and regret or the lack thereof.

10 Years Later (Feat. Paloalto) (Prod. Minit)

10 Years Later is a journey, both in terms of genre as well as narrative. What starts off with a smooth piano melody dives deep into an EDM beat as the rap takes on a fast pace. The alternating pitch changes in the vocals take the song through to a crescendo until the beat drops, ushering in the legend, Paloalto. This feature was an incredibly smart choice, especially considering that the song charts a 10-year gap between wanting to make it and finally doing so. There is a distinct change between perspectives and while BIG Naughty expresses a youthful regret, Paloalto makes it clear that such regret is nothing but temporary and 10 years later, they won’t be as suffocating as they seem now.

Bravo (Feat. Coogie, GSoul) (Prod. GRAY)

This collaboration is a K-Hip Hop lover’s dream come true. With GRAY on the beat, BIG Naughty and Coogie taking on the flow and GSoul blessing us with his golden vocals, ‘Bravo’ is easily the pick-me-up anthem of 2021. From someone working a 9-5 job to one living their dream life, young or old, this song is sure to resonate with anyone feeling like they’re living on auto-pilot. Either way, just getting through another day is worth bravado. Courage lies in the smallest feats and ‘Bravo’ plays on this emotion beautifully.

Bucket List (Prod. DPR CREAM)

Finally, BIG Naughty closes it out with ‘Bucket List’ backed by DPR CREAM’s signature addictive dream-pop beat. BIG Naughty addresses the idea of the intense spine-breaking academic pressures that are placed on students, drowning out their own dreams and authentic ambitions in favour of higher education in top Universities like SNU. He refers to Daechi-dong, the “Mecca of private education” which remains bright even after night falls owing to the high concentration of hagwons or private academic institutions which claim to have the highest success rates when it comes to sending students to SKY Universities. However, this comes at the price of the tragic loss of youth. Such a life is not living at all. Kicking competition to the curb, BIG Naughty expresses the desire to move ahead in life with the people he loves by his side.

BIG Naughty does all this and more with just his debut EP which makes one think what else he could possibly have hidden in his artistic arsenal. For now, this EP is going on replay until I can decide which one I want to make into my ringtone.

ALSO READ: BIG Naughty navigates youth, love and regret through sonic masterpieces in debut EP Bucket List

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