Hooligan (song)

"Hooligan" has been described as alternative hip-hop.^[1] The production blends a strings arrangement with a percussion rhythm resembling the sound of sharpening blades.^[2][3][4][5] In both Korean and English,^[3] the BTS singers each perform the sung-through part in the chorus in falsetto,^[2][4][6] while the rappers perform the verses in an aggressive, braggadocious style.^[6][5][7] Lyrically, they reflect on their journey to success^[3] and assert their global dominance.^[4]

The song received generally positive reviews. Nicole Fell of The Hollywood Reporter considered it one of the most interesting tracks on Arirang.^[2] Consequence's Wren Graves called it "glitchy and infectious".^[6] Michael Cragg of The Guardian described BTS as "adept" at "riding Hooligan's metallic experimentation".^[8] Mark Savage of BBC regarded the song as "equally audacious" as their song "Fya".^[4] Writing for The New York Times, Jon Caramanica commented that the song evokes the style of music from 1940s films, calling it "a thrilling tug of war".^[9] Rhian Daly of NME stated that the song "dials up the fun and takes things into satisfyingly strange sonic territory".^[1] Pitchfork's Joshua Minsoo Kim remarked that "The beat's contrasting elements befit the whiplash in vocal deliveries: RM gives off a cartoonish villain laugh while V and Jimin deliver soaring vocals."^[5] Vulture's Craig Jenkins criticized the song, writing that the BTS members "spend too much time admiring the beat".^[10]