iKon is a part of the 3rd generation of k-pop, most known for the incredibly famous Love Scenario. They were formed in 2015, through the YG survival show Mix & Match, with seven members, Bobby, June, DK, Chan, Song, Jun, and B.I., the last of which left in 2019. In 2023, they joined a new company.

Here are my credentials: I really don’t know much about iKon, which is kind of par for the course when it comes to this blog at this point. Of course I know Love Scenario (who doesn’t?) but besides that, my knowledge is pretty limited. I did watch their season of Kingdom: Legendary War, but I was more focused on ATEEZ and Stray Kids, so I’m excited to find out more.

EP #1: The Final Battle

My Type was technically a pre-debut single, but is a good look at iKon towards their beginning. It goes for a mostly laid-back R & B mixed with hip-hop that works pretty well, but a couple of the rap segways are a bit too harsh, and don’t quite fit in. I do like the music video, however; it has a self-aware humor that got some good chuckles out of me, and is just fun in general. It slowly wormed its way into my head. Also, I have that dark blue and white striped shirt that one of them was wearing (I think Jinhwan?), so I did a double take. 

From their pre-releases (in the Final Battle EP), I really enjoyed Go Up’s gentler beginning and synthy background leading into the final chant, but also the a-capella rap in Climax . I think that in general, I liked Team A’s songs more than Team B’s, but I also don’t know the details of the competition show enough to know what led up to that.

Album #1: Welcome Back

Airplane is a little more melancholy than My Type, going for what’s a pretty average k-pop ballad—albeit heavier on the hip-hop than is common—with quite a nice chorus and a nostalgic feeling for relationship gone by. I especially liked the “just one more day, just one more hour, just one more minute” line and the storytelling of the music video.

Rhythm Ta is their official debut, and is both more in-your-face and harsh in tone than either pre-release. It’s similar to the now-popular EDM for boy groups and to the late 2010’s girl crush in its sharp delivery, oppressive instrumentation, and “I’m-so-cool” lyrics (which I’ve been trying to find a better name for but can’t), but surprisingly, I actually didn’t mind it, besides the “Ry-thym-ta” hook, though I like the later rock version better. I definitely could’ve done without the AAVE and the cultural appropriation, though since this is YG, I’m disappointed, not surprised.

Never has a title so fit a music video as in Dumb & Dumber. Similar to Rhythm Ta in terms of song style and aesthetic, it goes for a much funnier execution, displaying the members being…well, incredibly dumb. It’s hard to not be won over by how utterly ridiculous the entire thing is and how much they commit to it, but I have to admit that I was way too distracted by the insanity of the MV to actually process the song itself. I did like the “la di da di” hook though. This is probably showing my age, but when I heard it, I was reminded of Party Rock.

From the album, Welcome Back, I enjoyed the mix between the quieter piano-led moments and the more climactic ones in What’s Wrong, the brass in I Miss You So Bad, the surprisingly lovely singing in Apology, the whistling hook in Today, and the complete lack of awareness of the hilarity of Anthem (the Jets from West Side Story are calling and they’d like their song back).

Single #1: New Kids; Begin

#WYD (not sure why the hashtag is in the title) is downtempo from the start, with a light touch of both piano and brass that blends well with its k-drama-ready music video, which follows people falling in love and sharing moments together. It’s not the most unique track, but it’s a nice break from the barrage of more in-your-face ones from earlier.

Bling Bling, like Rhythm Ta, goes for the “I’m-cooler-than-you” lyrics ad nauseum, but unlike Rhythm Ta, I can’t find anything to like about this one. It overuses autotune, goes back to the bad AAVE, and its titular, droning hook is honestly grating on the ears, like an anti-drop to the nth degree. I barely got past the first verse.

Album #2: Return

Love Scenario is absolutely iKon’s most popular song, and the first one of theirs I heard. Making the choice to start right from its laidback earworm of a chorus, it doesn’t have a climactic point or show stopping moment, but neither is it boring. Its MV is shot in such a fun way, making it feel unique while still also feeling like an iKon song. Something about it is just deeply addictive, and that addictiveness is what led to it actually being banned before important Korean tests, though thankfully it wasn’t banned for me.

From the album, Return, I enjoyed the different layers of emotional vocals and the whistling hook in Don’t Forget, the anthemic nature of Sinosijak’s verses, the hand-clapping pre-chorus and Bobby’s excellent rap in Beautiful, the guitar in Jerk, and the sweet lyrics and great outro of Best Friend. Overall, I thought this was a very strong album, with Don’t Forget as my main hidden gem.

EP #2: New Kids; Continue

Killing Me is built on a power ballad foundation mixed with a pop song, a combination that works very well. The lyrics are all about how difficult a breakup is, and are pretty good, and the MV is practically drowning in red, blue, and purple. It communicates heartbreak and shock quite well, and though I think the track would’ve been stronger without the anti-drop chorus, that great bridge and last repetition of the hook save it.

From the EP, New Kids: Continue, I enjoyed the build-up and delightfully upbeat outro in the pre-chorus of Freedom, and the summer party vibes of Cocktail. The EP is way more happy than I would’ve expected with such a sad single.

EP #3: New Kids; The Final

Goodbye Road is, as fits the name, a sad breakup song. But it distinguishes itself from other ballads by bringing in acoustic guitar, iKon’s signature hip-hop, and a very minimalistic production. It feels nostalgic and, while a little melancholy, not bitter, wishing their past lover the best. Though I wouldn’t listen to it everyday, I did like it, especially the rousing outro. Also, I don’t normally speak about choreography, but the dance for this one caught my eye with how flowy and light it is, which is unusual for a boy group and worked well here.

From the EP, New Kids: The Final, I enjoyed the ever-changing flow of Don’t Let Me Know, and the great vocals in Adore You.

EP #4: I Decide

I’m Ok has a sort of creepy, high-pitched…organ (?) and sharp percussion in its beginning, and shockingly, with lyrics about depression and a thumbnail of fire, it’s not about being ok. It reminds me a bit of some of BTS’ early, super-angsty raps surrounding heartbreak, and I honestly kind of like that leaning into the melodrama. I was all prepared to make fun of it for a lack of self-awareness, but I’m happy to say that I found myself proven wrong, and this one ended up being a favorite of mine.

Dive wasn’t what I was expecting, from its more upbeat feeling in general to its interesting sound of traditional Korean strings layered on top of more common hip-hop and percussion and possibly a harmonica. It’s a hype track in the most literal sense of the word, and its outro only serves to underline the point. It’s worth noting that this was their first release without B.I., who left the group after controversy surrounding drugs, and his absence is definitely felt.

From the EP, I Decide, I enjoyed that raging guitar hook in the anthemic Ah Yeah (absolutely my hidden gem, it was so much fun!), and the marching band influences in Moving On.

Single #2: Why Why Why

Why Why Why goes back to the more gentle sounds of #WYD and Goodbye Road, but goes for a more powerful climax than those did. While it doesn’t quite go far enough for me and ends up falling a little flat, I do like that they tried something new. As for the MV, there’s some great shots, especially the aerial flower and the complete silence while the trailer’s lit on fire.

EP #5: Flashback

But You goes for a synthier, more disco-inspired sound than iKon’s gone for before, but it fits well with their voices. I had to resist the urge to get up and dance, especially at the “I need you baby” hook. In their Killing Verse performance, they seemed to be having such a good time performing this that I couldn’t help but love it too. Straight on the roller skating playlist. They all sounded great, but DK and Jinhwan especially really shined in this one.

From the EP, Flashback, I enjoyed the hearty guitar and EDM mix in Dragon, the breezy feeling of For Real, and the lovely piano backing up their voices in Name.

Album #3: Take Off

Tantara is a pre-release, but it does have a music video, so I’m treating it like a single. It’s more in the “I’m-cooler-than-you” vein than I can really tolerate, truth be told, and this one just…wasn’t for me with all its empty posturing and shouting. I’m also annoyed that, in the year of whoever 2023, we’re still doing the AAVE and the terrible box braids. It was bad enough in 2013, but just last year? C’mon, guys.

U is the actual single from their most recent EP, and thankfully goes back to the nostalgic, upbeat pop that I think fits iKon much better. I first heard this song when it had just come out, although I hadn’t seen the music video yet, and its brightness and emphasis on their friendship made me like it more. It absolutely has immaculate road trip vibes, and I especially enjoy the moments where it pulls back and then explodes with “babayyyy!” (ignore my terrible attempt at replication, please). But, genuinely, I really liked this one and its sense of freedom.

From the album, Take Off, I enjoyed the interesting strings in Rum Pum Pum, the falsetto vocal swells in Like A Movie (which feels a bit like a spiritual successor to Love Scenario), the gentle hook of Never Forget You, and the genuinely fun feeling of Fighting. This was a more pared-back album than their last, but I think it offsets U well.

Single #3: Panorama

Panorama is technically their most recent release, and is a special single that harkens back to their earlier, lighter tracks spotlighting important moments of relationships right out of a kdrama. Also like those, it’s not that unique, but it’s definitely enjoyable, and a good way to cap things off.

Verdict: TL;DR

I’m glad I did this! I’ve gained a new appreciation for hip-hop, and discovered that I really can enjoy it in certain circumstances, but especially when iKon are the ones performing it. And, through watching both clips from their time on Kingdom: Legendary War and their Killing Verse video, I also found an appreciation for their humor and their capacities for self-reflection, so that was a nice surprise! They’re very talented, in singing, rapping, and song-writing.

My Top 5 songs are Goodbye Road, Love Scenario, Don’t Forget, Dive, and U, with Ah Yeah as an honorable mention. iKon gets an 8.5 out of 10 from me, and I confess I’d expected not to like their discography, thinking it similar to NCT 127 or other various shouty boy groups, but for the most part, I was wrong. Even coming in with those preconceived ideas, I found a lot to like from their work, especially when they dive into rock or add strings or acoustic guitar. I don’t have that much of an emotional connection to their work, I admit, hence I can’t really give them a much higher score.

Next time, we’re back with a HUGE girl group, so stay tuned! Tschüss!