Bobby - ‘LUCKY MAN’ Album Review

In many ways, 2017’s Love and Fall should have been a catalyst for greater solo success for iKON’s Bobby. A former winner of the famous Show Me The Money television show - and the only K-Pop idol victor in the rap competition’s run thus far - his floaty, highly accessible full-length debut was never going to be perfect, but it still showcased the young rapper in a broader, more sonically refined space. However, opportunities were seldom afforded to the Korean star in the time that followed the release, seemingly unfairly sidelining the upstart, and potentially stunting his growth too.

Now, though, the 25-year-old is returning refreshed with LUCKY MAN, a 17-track LP chock-full of diversity, maturity, and a narrative wholly engrossing in its layout. It’s an ode to those who are with him, against him and yet to come on board, culminating in a record which shows that, although it has been a little over 40 months since fans last heard the rapper on any sort of extended offering, he has not missed a single beat.

Opening with “U MAD,” the iKON rapper launches straight into the aggressive, abrasive side of his personality with a frenetically aggressive hip-hop number. Syringed with whomping, whirring synths, charring basslines and a chorus drop bursting with vivacious bite, releasing the rage of a star ready for his big moment, it’s ambitiously gung ho, but works superlatively. “The loser is doing better than expected // Bet you caught a stomachache from jealousy,” he energetically raps, each word laced with an unabating charismatic self-belief. It’s a steadfast lead-single for the album, and an unflinchingly high-octane benchmark for the quality expected of the born hitmaker.

After a short skit, “RocKstaR” follows, a more tempered cut but one nonetheless in-your-face. Centred around descending, choppy synth loops and sharp bass beats, it’s a quick-witted offering which reminds audiences that the 25-year-old is a bonafide rockstar, and an assertive reminder that he believes he is on an untouchable level of his own. Very much of the same ilk as “U MAD,” “RocKstaR” is a charismatic hip-hop number which operates just as much as a mission statement as it does anything else, proving to be a welcome reminder of the young star’s talents, in case you‘d foolishly forgotten them.

“NO TIME” does reign in the borderline cockiness, though, switching gears and opting to go into familiar rap territory: a party song. It’s a welcome change of tone, with the track riding a bass-filled bounce for the majority of its three-minute runtime, only ever detouring for its atmospheric, blistering chorus that pulsates with an omnipresent, vibrating urgency. A smart offering which retains the consistent magnetism of the previous two cuts, “NO TIME” is an indiscriminate hip-hop effort which tackles its sociable theme of partying with seamless charm.

“BrEAk It DoWn” continues proceedings swiftly, its compelling repeating synth-line and stretchy percussion aiding in moulding a light-hearted singalong anthem. Armed with an earworm of a hook and a poppy colour, it’s brings with it a refreshingly fun shade to the album, even succeeding in making the humorous line of “We're stupid bitches so we're happy” sound somewhat endearing.

However, it is after “SKIT 2” in which LUCKY MAN seems to truly find its footing, with tracks focusing on a gushing attraction born out of excitedly getting the phone number of a crush. Offerings like “In THE DaRk,” a tropical house infused song which innocently exclaims “In this dawn, I'm lost thinking of you,” spring with a noticeably vibrant pep, whilst “LiLaC” serves up a breezy, rhythm guitar-leaning pop-rap track which floats across atmospheric synths and trap beats as Bobby plaintively proclaims “You are my first love.” It’s a phenomenal section of the LP, one punctuated with the sleek, airy “Ur SOUL Ur BodY” which enlists the help of bandmate DK’s honeyed, wispy vocals to drive home its sincerity, and a three-track run which shows a pronounced sensitivity to the 25-year-old who so often drips with an irresistible cocky conviction.

Yet, after “SKIT 3,” and one final effusive love song; the bouncy, sidechain-heavy “GOrGeOuS,” which bobs along with a simple keyboard melody, percussion loops and synth bells, the confident rapper finds himself writing about another all too familiar topic: heartbreak.

“LiAr,” the opener of this portion, depicts a downtrodden man confused about the state of his past relationship in the midst of accessible mainstream appeal and an outstanding layering of thick, weighty synths, condensed rhythm guitar pads, and trap beats. “She’s a freakin’ liar,” the rapper states, feeling both aggrieved and deeply hurt by the events, in turn painting the track with a believable impact and investable earnestness. Astutely, “LiAr” never builds to a grand climax either, instead relying on the artist coming face-to-face with his emotions in a restrained, mature manner, all without hindering the audience’s trust in the lyrical candour.

“HeartBROKEN PlaYboY” continues, with palm-muted chugging guitar riffs and backup vocals leading into a forthright acceptance of his newfound loneliness, matched with an optimistic eye towards a future which will see him “blast off like a gem.” The bouncy, future bass-inspired drop in the initial chorus before the rock-tinged second verse is a particularly smile-raising moment, but it’s the unwavering buoyancy which truly allows the song its stars, and consequently ensures that, despite the subject matter, Bobby never stumbles into the trap of releasing maladroit, melodramatic rap which the world has heard enough of in recent years.

Before the final three offerings there is one more skit which, admittedly does move into more dismayed territory - the theme being that despite the clubbing and surface-level willingness to move on he is still, in fact, heartbroken - but it does so without feeling disingenuous. “RaiNinG,” the follow-up cut which introspectively charts the slumbering depression of a heartbroken man, is a sonic triumph. Opening with staccato piano chords, the slowly progressing melody wraps around the duo of Bobby and bandmate JU-NE with ease, the two blending the harsh subject matter with a catchy jollity, and a hook impossible to shake off.

From there, “Let iT Go” triumphantly sees the 25-year-old come to terms with his situation, its repeating titular refrain both dually welcomed and appreciated, before “DeViL” wraps up proceedings neatly with a return to the bold, brash Bobby heard at the beginning of the record. It’s an excellent closer, with its thumping kick drums, bass beats and eery synths making for a palpably daunting, intimidating soundscape, and its arena-made, anthemic rock chorus providing a powerful exclamation mark on an LP full of unexpectedly thought-provoking moments.

In conclusion, LUCKY MAN sees Bobby return with a jubilant sense of artistry, a point to prove and, consequently, a vastly dynamic album full of differing soundscapes, emotions and inspirations. There’s no denying that iKON’s hip-hop star is ready to build a solid solo career for himself away from his main commitments, so the hope has to be that, this time, he will be allowed to do just that.

Album rating: 9/10