Track List:
01. 천재 (Behind the scene)
02. Artist *Title
03. ANTI (Feat. G.Soul)
04. FANXY CHILD (Feat. FANXY CHILD)
05. She`s a Baby
06. BERMUDA TRIANGLE (Feat. Crush, DEAN)
Zico is a member of Kpop idol group, Block B but they haven't released an album for awhile now. I used to be a fan of them years ago and always respected Zico for coming up from the underground to stardom. He really impressed me during their debut when he showcased his rap skills during Block B's live stage. Television is Zico's newest mini album after several appearances on mega popular rap show, Show Me The Money as well as a couple of digital singles released prior.
TELEVISON reminds me of why I don't like Zico's music completely. This mini album's track list switches between an idol rapper then a rapper that comes from the underground Korean rap scene. Zico doesn't know how to have his music go both ways in a solid matter. Listeners instead get Zico trying too hard to appeal to everyone from the two different groups. I couldn't connect to his songs such as She's a baby and other pop songs that felt disjointed on Television. Anti, a collaboration he did with singer/songwriter G.soul is without a doubt the best track on the mini album. Zico's rap flow is sick while G.Soul adds his sultry RnB vocals to the chorus of the song. What's really messed up is Anti's lyrics written by Zico himself. The lyrics of this song are clearly a jab at other Kpop Idols. Hmmm.. Zico, The last time I check, you were a Kpop idol once upon a time. Don't let being on Show Me The Money make you have amnesia or make you think you can look down on other idols. Most of the fans you have came from you being in Block B so don't forget that. Its very hypocritical too because he can't shake off that idol style in some of his music. I believe he is afraid to do music that only he likes since it might contrast with what the majority of his fans like. Tracks like Artist were that defense mechanism to make sure his little Kpop fans remain happy. They are happy while I'm listening to the song wondering how he backtracked from such a good song like Anti. Of course this is all my thoughts. Zico is praised for being able to jump back and forth between K-indie and Kpop. I just don't think it worked for this album musically.
Zico can rap really well when he's not putting up a front for the people around him. On SMTM, he tries to act hard like everyone else there in order to shun his Kpop idol image. We all know that they hate Idol rappers on that show. He then goes back to putting on makeup and eyeliner because he knows that the bulk of his fans are used to seeing him like that. I wonder if he will ever have the courage like Jay Park to put out whatever the hell he wants even if there's a chance his fandom doesn't like it. I'm in no way saying that he should not think about his fans at all but he seems to be conflicted in where his heart truly is in his music. Zico seems to have the most fun when he does a more underground rap sound. One of my favorite tracks by him is 말해 Yes or No. Who is the real Zico under all the flip-flopping?
Television wasn't my cup of tea. The tracks didn't connect like I wanted them to either. Anti is a good Jam if you want to check out that track though.
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