Why U Mad? K-pop stars Bobby from iKon and TVXQ’s Yunho release angry album tracks thanking haters
- The two tracks – U Mad and Thank U – challenge people’s stereotypical view of K-pop being bright and cheerful
- In fact, K-pop stars often comment on social problems and sing about dissatisfaction with the state of the world
K-pop is witnessing a new trend at the start of 2021, if the new solo projects by two prominent boy band members are anything to go by: they’re really upset.
Monday saw the arrival of “Lucky Man”, the second solo album from iKon member Bobby. It’s fronted by the boisterous track U Mad, which sees the rapper seriously letting loose.
“Enemies are everywhere, I love my enemies,” he declares. “Because of them I also become who I am / Feeling adrenaline / Feeling energy”.
Upon the release of the album, Bobby said the song was an expression of anger towards himself, and was also a criticism of people’s materialistic and opportunistic nature.
Bobby’s song arrived a week after a similarly themed song from Yunho, aka U-Know of TVXQ, who released a film noir gangster-inspired music video for the track Thank U on January 18.
In it, he shares wisdom for those trying to endure and get over hardships, and uses the chorus to sardonically thank those who dislike him.