Before I Die (album)
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| Before I Die | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 10 September 2021 | |||
| Genre | Electronic | |||
| Length | 43:40 | |||
| Label | Ninja Tune | |||
| Producer | Park Hye Jin | |||
| Park Hye Jin chronology | ||||
| ||||
Before I Die is the debut studio album by Park Hye Jin, a South Korean singer, rapper, record producer, and DJ based in Los Angeles.[1] Entirely written, produced, and performed by herself, it was released on 10 September 2021 through Ninja Tune.[1] It peaked at number 73 on the UK Album Downloads Chart.[2] It won the Best Electronic Record award at the 2022 Libera Awards.[3]
Park Hye Jin released her second EP, How Can I, in 2020.[4] After that, she collaborated with other artists: Blood Orange on "Call Me (Freestyle)" (2020);[5] Nosaj Thing on "Clouds" (2020);[6] Clams Casino and Take a Daytrip on "Y Don't U" (2021).[7]
Before I Die is her debut studio album.[8] It is entirely written, produced, and performed by herself.[1] A music video was released for the album's opening song "Let's Sing Let's Dance".[9]
Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 75/100[10] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [11] |
| Beats Per Minute | 78%[12] |
| DIY | [13] |
| The Guardian | [14] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 8/10[15] |
| Loud and Quiet | 6/10[16] |
| NME | [17] |
| Pitchfork | 6.5/10[18] |
| PopMatters | 7/10[19] |
| The Skinny | [20] |
According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Before I Die received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 75 out of 100 from 11 critic scores.[10]
Adriane Pontecorvo of PopMatters commented that "every cut on Before I Die is so thoughtfully assembled that it becomes exquisitely casual, and Park Hye Jin shows her range as a producer worth keeping an eye on."[19] Kyle Kohner of The Line of Best Fit stated, "Saturated with hazy bangers that explore the emotional gradient between depression and self-assurance, the appropriately titled Before I Die offers a space where yearning, anxiety, and bedridden gloom can coexist."[15] Ben Jolley of NME called the album "an affecting multi-layered debut that, rather than reaching a conclusion of fulfilment, manages to find happiness in just being alive."[17]
The album won the Best Electronic Record award at the 2022 Libera Awards.[3]
Accolades
| Publication | List | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard | The 20 Best Dance Albums of 2021 | — |
|
| Hot Press | Top 50 Albums of 2021 | 50 |
|
| The Line of Best Fit | The Best Albums of 2021 | 10 |
Track listing
All tracks are written by Park Hye Jin.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Let's Sing Let's Dance" | 3:50 |
| 2. | "I Need You" | 3:03 |
| 3. | "Before I Die" | 3:06 |
| 4. | "Good Morning Good Night" | 2:52 |
| 5. | "Me Trust Me" | 1:33 |
| 6. | "Where Did I Go" | 2:08 |
| 7. | "Never Give Up" | 2:20 |
| 8. | "Can I Get Your Number" | 3:14 |
| 9. | "Whatchu Doin Later" | 2:57 |
| 10. | "Sex with Me (DEFG)" | 2:28 |
| 11. | "Where Are You Think" | 1:34 |
| 12. | "Never Die" | 3:32 |
| 13. | "Hey, Hey, Hey" | 4:56 |
| 14. | "Sunday ASAP" | 2:17 |
| 15. | "I Jus Wanna Be Happy" | 3:35 |
| Total length: | 43:40 | |
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.[24]
- Park Hye Jin – production, performance, mixing
- Tom Jessop – mixing, mastering
- Dan Medhurst – photography