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It’s been a whole three years since the Kpop Star contestant turned popular R&B queen, Lee Hi, has been in the spotlight. But the wait is finally over. Lee Hi makes a chart-breaking comeback with her latest album, Seoulite, produced by labelmate Epik High’s Tablo. Featuring a number of Kpop’s top rappers from Dok2, iKON’s Bobby, to Minho of Winner, Seoulite shows jaw-dropping advancement in Lee Hi’s music taste — sassier, foxier, edgier, and more mature than ever. Get ready for a full shot of soulful ballads and R&B goodness.
Track 1 – World Tour (비행)
World Tour kicks off Seoulite with a hi-fi female vocal sample and bumpin’ drum beats to amp up the retro hip hop feel. Lee Hi’s rich and flowing vocals coupled with Minho’s nonchalant rap give World Tour a sense of detachment and freedom. Just like the lyric says, “don’t think about it”, let Lee Hi take you on a relaxing trip around the world when you’re feeling tired.
Track 2 – My Star
My Star takes a completely direction with bouncy bass strings and light drum beats accompanying Lee Hi’s powerful voice. It’s a lighthearted tune with the relaxing vibes of bluegrass jazz mixed together with the grooviness of soul melody — a very Western sounding number indeed. The a ccapella harmonies during the bridge is unexpected and gives the song a fun musical feel as well.
Track 3 – 손잡아 줘요 (Hold My Hand)
The next track Hold My Hand takes on a bright and sly vibe. This swingy retro soul number is made of cheerful electric bass lines and bouncy piano chords. Lee Hi’s unique laid-back and sophisticated voice brings out the flirty and confident side of the woman asking for her lover to come back at the same time. Worth noting is the ingenious tempo and melody progression change during the bridge — totally unexpected and original.
Track 4 – 희망고문 (Blues)
Melodic piano and violin kicks off the song, which are quickly joined by a simple, steady drum tempo and Lee Hi’s sonorous vocals. Blues falls squarely into the mid-tempo R&B arena with a pleasing to the ear composition that’s easy to catch onto. Though the lyrics are pleading and doleful, the rhythmic beat of the song makes it less depressing sounding and gives it a sense of determination.
Track 5 – 한숨 (Breathe)
A winding piano instrumental opens the sentimental ballad song Breathe. Besides the heart-melting melody, you can hear Lee Hi’s famous low-pitched and bluesy voice during the verse of the song that adds much woefulness. Yet what surprised me is her high-pitched clear vocals during the chorus — something that I’ve never heard from her before, which felt refreshing.
Track 6 – 스쳐 간다 (Passing By)
Continuing the melancholic vibe from previous tracks, Passing By is a soft ballad accompanied by a simple acoustic guitar and light beats. The beautiful guitar plucking riffs during the verses is my favorite part of the song and reminds me of the sounds you’d hear walking in an European street. Lee Hi’s vocals are equally sorrowful, appropriately conveying the helplessness of seeing things pass by before your eyes.
Track 7 – Fxxk Wit Us
Jumpy piano chords and a heavily distorted synth sound gives Fxxk Wit Us a distinctive and unusual aura — something in between a rugged street hip hop performer and a confident high-class urban socialite. Not only is top rapper Dok2’s clean rap a dose of extra swagger, Lee Hi also really commits to the fearless attitude of the song whilst singing to edgy lyrics. Fxxk Wit Us is a bold album closer with a simple but sassy message: don’t mess with Lee Hi.
Track 8 – Official
A slow-jam R&B track with heavy beats that’s full of sultriness, Official surely shows off Lee Hi’s groovy and soulful vocal talents. Rapper Incredivle makes an appearance to switch up the mood and blow off some of the hot steam. Official is definitely a song with a tasty and rich flavor, but it can feel a bit stuffy and heavy at times too.
Track 9 – 안봐도 비디오 (Video)
This bouncy urban hip hop R&B number starts slower and winding, but quickly picks up its tempo and turns into a playful jam. Bobby’s husky, hard-hitting rap makes its appearance half way through the song. Though the rap matches the melody well and flows seamlessly, Bobby’s tone seemed too aggressive for the nature of the song, and was a harsh transition from Lee Hi’s smooth vocals. I’m a total fan of Video‘s composition and melody, but wish it didn’t sound like two different versions from the two artists.
Track 10 – Missing You
Next up is another slow-jam R&B ballad with crystal clear piano riffs. Missing You‘s instrumental and rhythm has an old-school flavor to it, like something you’d hear back in the late 90s and early 2000s. But it’s modernized with a more complex and layered composition and a varied vocal delivery. Overall, it’s a very relaxing and listenable number — something you’d find at a live music restaurant or a lounge bar.
Track 11 – 밤샘 (Up All Night)
This haunting tune has a clean and sorrowful piano instrumental as its backbone. Lee Hi’s airy vocals paints a perfect picture of the song’s bleakness and Tablo’s rap echo adds more to the feeling of emptiness. Though the melody is flatter compared to other tracks on the album, the emotional delivery in Up All Night gives you goosebumps.
Track 12 – 나는 달라 (I’m Different)
Lee Hi is bringing all the YG artists along with her as I’m Different is yet another collaboration on Seoulite with both iKON’s Bobby as well as Akdong Musician’s Suhyun. It completely reverts the previous somber feelings and ups the mood with a faster beat, spunky electric guitar notes, and the girls’ playful voices. It feels like a harmonious mix of Lee Hi’s groovy and soulful music style with light doses of AkMu’s quickness sprinkled in at just the right places. In contrary, Bobby’s part seems unnecessary, not adding much more to the overall funkiness of the song.
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