South Korean Rapper, Singer-Songwriter, and Record Producer, B.I, dropped his first full-length album as a solo artist, WATERFALL, on Tuesday. As of 2 June, B.I’s title track “illa illa” set a new record as the most viewed k-pop male soloist debut music video in the first 24 hours. It also surpassed 10 Million views within 22 hours, becoming the fastest k-pop male soloist debut video to hit the milestone.
Upon release, the album skyrocketed to the #2 spot on the iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap Album chart, right under DMX, and stayed there for the first 48 hours. It's now currently sitting at #3, and peaked at #1 in over 20 countries. “illa illa,” most simply put, is about hope. B.I elaborates; “I wrote the song wishing that it could provide comfort to those that listen to it. Everyone has their own struggles whether it be with relationships, work, family, loneliness. As much as it can seem difficult at the time, there is a beach in the distance. To remember that every chapter that closes just means that a new chapter is about to begin.”



WATERFALL comes fresh off the release of “Got It Like That,” a collaboration with Destiny Rogers and Tyla Yaweh. This fuse of cultures and genres did not go unnoticed, with AV Club, stating “The Stereotypes, the team that produced the track, has a lofty resumé [...] so in joining forces with someone with as unerring a knack for hooks as B.I., it was basically impossible for this song to not be an absolute banger. Guest Destiny Rogers’ light and dreamy vocals pair smoothly with fellow visitor Tyla Yaweh’s energetic ad libs; by the time the powerhouse rapper enters with his melodic flow and boastful lyrics, it’s hard not to believe in the power of an impeccably produced pop track.”

Consisting of 12 tracks, B.I’s ‘1st Full Album [WATERFALL]’ is a story of his musical journey and appreciation for all the people who have helped and supported him along the way. Water in many literary works represents the flow of life, and each track on this album is meant to take its listener on a journey together from the waterfall to the vast seaside. “The waterfall that begins with falling down, That’s me”; a lyric that stood out and impressed viewers around the world during B.I’s appearance on South Korea’s Rap Competition, Show Me The Money in 2014, is now coming back full circle as a lyric on track 01. “WATERFALL.” 7 years later, after his debut, B.I is breaking into the scene with his first album, WATERFALL, knowing well the difficulties and challenges of walking down the path of one’s passion. This album is symbolically referencing the idea that the only way is up when people fall down.

Another stand out track on this album, “Daydream,” features K-Pop powerhouse Lee Hi, and marks their second collaboration. “I wrote this song as a reminder of the dreams I used to have and feel. The feeling of waking up from a deep sleep and a sweet dream that seemed so real, covering up a cloudy and unfamiliar universe where I felt lost. Watching beautiful stars fall from the sky daily is how quickly a beautiful daydream can pass.” The album closes out with the track “Re-birth,” a message to himself and listeners that every new road must start at the beginning.
Picture courtesy of 131LABEL