Uncut Gem
2025 EP by KiiiKiii
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Uncut Gem is the debut extended play of the South Korean girl group KiiiKiii. It was released by Starship Entertainment and distributed by Kakao Entertainment on March 24, 2025. It contains six tracks, including the lead single "I Do Me".
Background and release
On February 10, Starship Entertainment announced that it would be debuting a new girl group, KiiiKiii.[1] Six days later, it was announced that the group's debut extended play Uncut Gem would be released on March 24.[2] That same day, the music video for "I Do Me", the lead single of the EP, was pre-released.[3] On February 23, KiiiKiii pre-released the music video for the B-side track "Debut Song".[4]
Composition
Uncut Gem is a seamless blend of hip-hop and pop, with punchy beats, dreamy synths, and addictive bass lines.[5]
As for the tracks, "Debut Song" is a trap and electropop track with an old-school K-pop, which interpolates "Happy Birthday to You",[6] "Groundwork" is a rap track with an alarm-like beat, glitchy synths, and heavy bass,[7] "I Do Me" is a pop track with an upbeat, feel-good energy,[5] "There They Go" is a bass-driven R&B track that uses marching snare and sound of heavy breathing to build an intriguing soundscape,[6] "BTG" is an immersive, hypnotic track that layers chic rap, synth arpeggios, and groovy 808 bass,[5] and "One Off" is a 2010s pop track.[6]
Critical reception
According to Jeong Gi-yeob of IZM, the EP is a blend of "repetition and innovation", focusing on low to mid-range vocals with 1980s foreign synth-pop rhythms as its distinct strength. Jeong also emphasized its "unique style" through the integration of the other songs and visualizations on the album, although there were unnecessary aspects that should have been left behind.[8]
NME's Puah Ziwei said that, as what the EP's title implies, it is still "fresh" and can be "rough around the edges", playing it a little too safe. As for its silver lining, Ziwei applauded KiiiKiii's "uniqueness" in the current landscape and for bringing back a sense of "fun and excitement" to the world of K-pop.[6]
Commercial performance
The EP topped the weekly Circle Album Chart, dated March 23–29, with 206,221 sales.[9]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Debut Song" | Lil Cherry |
|
| 2:02 |
| 2. | "Groundwork" |
|
|
| 2:32 |
| 3. | "I Do Me" | Jinooya |
|
| 3:10 |
| 4. | "There They Go" | Jang Seok-hoon |
| 2:35 | |
| 5. | "BTG" |
|
|
| 3:10 |
| 6. | "One Off" | Lee Seul-ah |
| Rigo | 3:05 |
| Total length: | 16:34 | ||||
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Monthly chart
|
Year-end chart
|
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | March 24, 2025 | CD | |
| Various |