I wasn’t positive whether or not Die For Love ought to be categorized as a “tune overview” or a “buried treasure.” It has no music video, nevertheless it’s listed as one of many title tracks from B.I’s latest album. No matter you need to name it, this is without doubt one of the strongest Ok-pop songs I’ve heard in awhile.

I can say the identical for the album — particularly the primary six tracks. It offers me an identical feeling to G-Dragon’s 2013 opus Coup D’Etat. Like GD, B.I can do all of it. The album is hip-hop at coronary heart, however he’s keen to sort out a number of genres inside that framework. He’s obtained the expertise, songwriting expertise and character to drag it off.

For me, Die For Love is the primary summer time banger Ok-pop has delivered this 12 months. It has a vaguely tropical home beat, although the manufacturing is far more diverse than that descriptor might point out. We even have an sudden piano solo in the course of the observe’s outro. B.I’s vocals are modified with the proper quantity of filters and results, leading to a texture that feels humid and hazy. He used this similar trick on final 12 months’s standout Maintain Me Up and it really works so properly together with his voice.

Talking of voices, the always-welcome Jessi pops up midway by the observe. Her verse gives chew, even when the tune would have labored simply in addition to a B.I solo. She blends proper into Die For Love‘s potent melodies, that are easy however sharply constructed. There’s no level in the course of the tune the place I really feel the construction is just killing time. It’s taut and fascinating throughout.

I’ll have an interest to see if Die For Love elevates to a “9” score because the summer time goes on. At this level, it’s proper on the sting.

Grade: B+