ATEEZ Take the Wild West with THE WORLD EP. 2 : OUTLAW
On June 16, KQ Entertainmentโs eight-member boy group ATEEZโconsisting of members Seonghwa, Hongjoong, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung, and Jonghoโare back with their latest mini-album THE WORLD EP. 2 : OUTLAW. The album contains seven tracks including the title, โBOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS),โ and its accompanying music video.
Slow it Down, Make it โBOUNCYโ
โBOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS),โ is a loud and gritty hip-hop track with elements of dubstep. The title track is unlike any the group has released before, though it still maintains that unique ATEEZ sound. The group shows off their range as they sing about showing off their special sound with their vocalist, Seonghwa, rapping and main rapper, Hongjoong, singing a melodic rap in the chorus. The track is catchy, with an addictive chorus and flashy choreography to match.
The music video embodies the vibe of the wild west with its dark members. The group is split off into four pairings, each with their own aesthetic, but working cohesively to propel their storyline. As part of their concept that began with THE WORLD EP. 1 : MOVEMENT, the members are still trying to dismantle the government that is controlling the fictitious dystopian world, World Z. The members are dressed as cowboys, boxers, police, and delivery boys on motorcycles in order to keep their cover before breaking into and destroying the Prestige Academy for the students of World Z. The music video feels like an old western movie with a mix of comedic elements, catching the eye of fans with its fast-paced scenes.
With โBOUNCY (K-HOT CHILLI PEPPERS),โ the story of THE WORLD series is propelled forward, keeping Atiny, the groupโs fandom, on the edge of their seats for what comes next.
Welcome to the OUTLAW
The album begins with the villainous intro track โThis World.โ The song has a menacing beat with a dubstep-like feel. In โThis World,โ the members discuss the necessity of becoming the villain if it means acquiring freedom for the people trapped. As their story progresses ATEEZ is willing to take any path necessary, becoming a part of the darkness in order to be freed from it. This sense of hopelessness can be felt in the lyrics as vocalists Yunho and Jongho assert โWhat can you sacrifice? Can I throw away everything? I’m ready for the dark, I’m ready for this world.โ
Following โThis World,โ is the second track,โDune.โ โDuneโ is a hip-hop track with traces of middle eastern influence and a taste of metal. The unique combination of genres creates an ominous song about feeling lost and in despair synonymous to that of an endless, blazing hot desert. This relationship between a desert and the metaphorical world they describe is further catapulted by the lyrics as main vocalist Jongho cries out, โI’m out of breath here every day, I can’t escape it.โ
With โDJANGO,โ ATEEZ created a hip-hop track with gentle and airy vocals yet powerful rap. The switch ups throughout the song keep the listener on their toes as the group talks about tracking down their enemies. Like the bloodthirsty fictional character, Django, ATEEZ stress that they have nothing to lose when it comes to achieving their goal as Yunho whispers, โI’m a lone gunman, bang, bang, bang, bang.โ
The fifth track โWake Upโ is entrancing, with a hypnotizing beat with elements of dubstep. The Korean title of โWake Upโ is โ์ต๋ฉดโ meaning โhypnosisโ and that is exactly the vibe the song maintains throughout. In their fictional world, World Z, the citizens are under control of the government, put under a trance they cannot escape from. In โWake Up,โ ATEEZ calls out to them, urging them to wake from their spell as Wooyoung delicately sings, โHey, you can hear my voice, I know it. Let me take you there […] A place you’ve never seen so wake up.โ
Wrapping up the album is โOutlaw.โ With a heavy bass adding to the hip-hop beat, โOutlawโ ends the album with a bang. It ends with the group reminding people not to underestimate them. Within them is a monster that will do anything to achieve their goal. The lyrics embody this pride in the final chorus when they state โYou can’t handle it, game over […] That’s your big mistake, Better run ’cause I’m the outlaw.โ In accordance with the story of the album, the members are fugitives that are good at what they do, correcting what is wrong with the government of World Z with finesse.
Keep up with ATEEZ as they begin promotions for THE WORLD EP. 2 : OUTLAW by following them on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok!
Interested in more ATEEZ? Check out our coverage of their Japanese EP Limitless here!
