Okay… Confession time.
GOT7 is the most frustrating group I follow.
This K-pop boy group debuted in 2014, under their label JYP Entertainment. Early on, fans had high expectations for GOT7. Their debut EP Got It? nabbed the No. 1 spot on Billboard's World Albums chart.
GOT7 was initially promoted as a hip hop group, but the image didn't stick long. By the time they released their second EP Got Love, GOT7 had moved toward a more firmly-rooted pop image with feel-good singles like "A."
The move away from a hip hop focus wasn't surprising. At the time, you had groups like Block B, B.A.P, and BTS who all had strong hip hop roots. Each group has a least one member of their rapline that honed their skills in the underground hip-hop scene before they debuted.
GOT7's rapline, on the other hand, is comprised of what's known as "idol rappers." Idol rappers don't typically have experience in hip hop and essentially learn how to rap as they're training to debut.
Now, I’m not saying all idol rappers who haven't had underground experience are bad. There are some who've worked hard to develop their skills and could probably hold their own on a rap competition show like "Show Me the Money."
But, as much as I love the rappers in GOT7, I don't love their rapping.
The rapline – made up of Mark, Jackson, and BamBam – is one of the weaker ones in K-pop. You could blame that on the fact that, as foreign members, Korean is not their first language. Or it could simply be a lack of skill. You could even argue that they just follow JYP's typical style of rap. As Jackson himself once said… He raps, he's not a rapper.
On the other hand, GOT7 has a talented vocal line made up of group leader JB, Jinyoung, Youngjae, and Yugyeom. They can belt out notes with the best of them. And JB, in particular, is honing his producing and writing talents.
But the group struggled to find a solid hold in the Korean music market and international recognition. After Got Love, we didn't see another GOT7 album on Billboard's World Albums chart until Flight Log: Turbulence in September 2016.
I was honestly surprised to see Turbulence and its predecessor Flight Log: Arrival both peak at No. 1 on the World Albums chart.
Here's why…
GOT7's most recent Flight Log album trilogy was mostly lackluster. The producing felt lazy, relying too heavily on common sounds popular at the time. There was little originality or individuality in any of the Flight Log albums: Departure, Turbulence, and Arrival.
Many of the songs for Flight Log were composed by earattack. The funny thing about earattack's moniker… the music created isn't the kind of "ear attack" I think he's going for.
The rapline stuck with cheap tropes and relied on the rappers growling out most of their lines. And the vocal line often sounded uncomfortable singing just out of their typical vocal ranges.
This isn't to say the Flight Log trilogy was a complete disaster. There are a few songs from it that I regularly listen to, including "Beggin' On My Knees," "Hard Carry," and "Sign." But, it didn't showcase the group's talent.
So when GOT7 announced an October comeback with a new album – 7for7 – I was nervous.
I was also thrilled, to say the least, to see earattack's lack of involvement in 7for7. After they released the album teaser, the revealed amount of member involvement was incredible. For each song, there was at least one member who participated in the creative process...whether it was lyric-writing or composing.
Once the album and the music video for the title track "You Are" were released, I realized quickly this is a new beginning for GOT7.
After my first listen of the album, I told a good friend of mine (who is also an avid IGOT7) that this was the GOT7 album I needed. And I meant it.
Even though GOT7 debuted more than three years ago, this felt a bit like they were going back to basics. So let's take a look at each individual track…
Song Reviews
"Moon U"
"Moon U" has a strong R&B sound with some of the best rap verses on the album. Youngjae and BamBam both contributed to lyric-writing, with Youngjae also aiding in the composition. If you've listened to Youngjae's releases on Soundcloud, this song has his touch written all over it. And, his vocals steal the show.
"Teenager"
After GOT7's pre-release showcase, it was clear "Teenager" would be a popular song. JB contributed to lyrics and composition. "Teenager" has a strong bass line, and Jackson throws his harsh rapping style right alongside it. Despite its somewhat relaxed beat, it hits hard. JB knows how to put GOT7's personal talents to good use and he made sure everyone had time to shine.
"You Are"
As the album's title track, I was expecting a lot from "You Are." The chorus is the most memorable part of this song with the vocalists belting out "It's a beautiful sky" during the feel-good chorus. The song is fairly simple, but uplifting with a few fun electro pop moments to keep it interesting.
"Firework"
"Firework" has a stripped, slowed-down trap beat. This sound relies almost entirely on the vocals. Even the rapline sings on this track. I was surprised at how solid all the rappers were at singing their verses. This is one of the best examples I've heard of GOT7's talent. I need to give props to Jinyoung for his producing contribution to "Firework."
"Remember You"
"Remember You" gives us more rapline singing, and, again, I couldn't believe how well the rappers sang. BamBam has a hand in lyrics and composition. He's still developing his skills, but it's a sweet song with a beautiful piano accompaniment.
"To Me"
"To Me" was the song I was most excited to hear. Yugyeom worked on the track with the producer Effn. They've worked on other tracks before, including, "You Know," which I've had on repeat for months. Yugyeom created a song that sounds great… if you just listen to the vocalists. The rapping felt a little abrupt at points, as did the ending.
"Face"
"Face" is my personal favorite (at least right now!). The vocal blending and the buildup before the chorus gave me chills. The chorus has been stuck in my head since I first listened to it. The rapping is less harsh than usual, with all of the rappers sounding much more comfortable. This song had the best production on the album, which isn't surprising.
Collapsedone took the lead on production for this track. He also worked on JJ Project's (JJ for JB and Jinyoung) album Verse 2. You could feel his touch throughout the song as each verse flowed perfectly to the next.
Final Thoughts
This album isn't experimental. GOT7 isn't pushing any boundaries...and that's okay. Instead, they focused on finding each member's strengths and created a solid album that's just nice to listen to.
The album also has a cohesive sound. Each song flows well into the next, and nothing really feels out of place.
The vocals shine in this album, and GOT7 turned expectations on their heads as the rapline seemed to sing more than rap throughout the album. Strangely enough, the sound worked out well. This album felt like the rapline was moving away from the typical harsh, talk/rapping that's typical of JYP rappers and more to a softer, singing rap-style.
The album's title 7for7 is so fitting. This album was a product of GOT7 working together, realizing each member's strength, and putting them to good use.
This is a new beginning for a group that's finally finding a sound that let's everyone shine. And I can't wait to hear what's next.
In the meantime, I'll just keep 7for7 on repeat.