New Kids: Continue
2018 EP by iKON
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
New Kids: Continue is the first extended play of South Korean boy band iKON. It is the third of the group's four-part album series that began with the single album New Kids: Begin and ended with the second extended play New Kids: The Final.[1] It was released by YG Entertainment on August 2, 2018.[2] iKON's leader B.I was credited as the only record producer of the EP. The EP contains 5 songs including the lead single "Killing Me", all written or co-written by B.I.[3] The physical album comes in two versions: Red & Blue.
| New Kids: Continue | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Digital and Red version cover. | ||||
| EP by | ||||
| Released | August 2, 2018 | |||
| Studio | YG (Seoul) | |||
| Length | 17:18 | |||
| Language | Korean | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | B.I | |||
| IKON chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from New Kids: Continue | ||||
| ||||
Composition
The lead single of the album, "Killing Me", was released with a music video on August 2, 2018.[4] The song, a trap-dance track driven by wailing synths and a riotous beat,[4] describes feelings after a "painful breakup"; its title was inspired by the common phrase "this is killing me".[5] The music video conveyed the emotional devastation described in the lyrics through the use of flames, darkness, brightly hued sets, and expressive dance movements.[4] "Freedom" was released as the second single (referred to as "sub title") of the album on August 2.[6] It is described as a rock-infused song.[7]
Promotion
iKON held a dance cover contest for the song "Killing Me" from August 20 to September 30, 2018. Three winners were announced at the end of the contest.[8]
Reception
Commercial
In South Korea, New Kids: Continue debuted at 2 on the Gaon Album Chart.[9] In the United States, the album was No. 4 on Billboard World Albums, with about 1,000 copies sold.[10] In South Korea, "Killing Me" debuted at 19 on the Gaon Weekly Chart and rose to a peak of 9 the next week.[11] The song debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's World Digital Song Chart, marking the group's best sales to date.[10]
Critical
South China Morning Post praised the diversity and wild genre shift of the album but criticized it for following a predictable and standard pop formula.[12] Billboard praised the title song "Killing Me", saying that “unlike most K-pop songs, it forgoes a titular earworm hook, choosing instead a more dramatic declaration.”[13]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Killing Me" (죽겠다; juggetda) | B.I |
|
| 3:13 |
| 2. | "Freedom" (바람; balam) |
|
| Millennium | 3:21 |
| 3. | "Only You" |
|
| Kang Uk-jin | 3:32 |
| 4. | "Cocktail" (칵테일; kagteil) |
|
| Millennium | 3:46 |
| 5. | "Just for You" (줄게; julge) | B.I |
|
| 3:21 |
| Total length: | 17:00 | ||||
Charts
Awards and nominations
Music program awards
| Song | Program | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Killing Me" | M Countdown (Mnet) | August 9, 2018 | [14] |
Release history
| Country | Date | Label | Format | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | August 2, 2018 | YG | Digital download, CD | [2] |