Badman (EP)

Badman

Front cover art of the Badman EP

Cover art of the EP
EP by B.A.P
Released August 6, 2013
Recorded 2013
Genre K-pop, hip hop
Length 20:08
Language Korean
Label TS Entertainment
B.A.P chronology

One Shot
(2013)		 Badman
(2013)		 —
Singles from Badman (EP)
  1. ""Coffee Shop""
    Released: June 28, 2013
  2. ""Hurricane""
    Released: July 17, 2013
  3. ""Badman""
    Released: August 6, 2013

Badman is the third EP by the South Korean hip hop-R&B boy group B.A.P. It was released both online and offline on August 6, 2013 under the record label of TS Entertainment and distributing label of LOEN Entertainment. It charted number 1 on the Billboard World album Charts. [1]

Production

Along with revelation of the album name and its track listing on July 28, 2013, TS Entertainment hinted that the Badman EP would "contain music that only B.A.P can do... [it] is supposed to have genres they never tried before in the album."[2] The agency had also stated before that there were going to be three promotional singles from the upcoming third EP.[3]

"Coffee Shop", the EP's lead single, was written and composed by the music producer duo of Kang Ji-won and Kim Ki-bum, who have previously worked on successful hits with other artists from record label of TS Entertainment, including Secret , as well as B.A.P themselves for "Warrior", "Power", and "One Shot".[4] The group also collaborated with the pianist Song Young-joo for the instrumental part of the track.[5] B.A.P travelled to several sites in the USA to shoot scenes for music video of the song, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Santa Monica, San Francisco, Washington D.C. and New York City.[6]

"Hurricane", the next single, was composed and written by the music producers, Marco and Jun Da-woon, who had worked with TS Entertainment in the past on various projects. They had collaborated with Secret on "Calling U" from their third min-album Poison (Secret EP) and "Only U" from their fourth mini-album Letter from Secret. The duo had also produced songs for B.A.P, such as "Punch" from their second mini-album One Shot as well as single "No Mercy".[7][8] Marco and Jun Da-woon also penned the lyrics of the song while B.A.P's rapper and leader Bang Yong Guk contributed to the rap part of the song. B.A.P had travelled to USA to shoot the scenes for music video of the song, visiting several different places in Las Vegas.[6]

The final single, "Badman" was written and composed by Kang Ji-won and Kim Ki-bum.[4] B.A.P's Bang Yong-guk confirmed his part in writing the song: "I thought it was unfortunate that you always hear about criminals every time you turn on the news, making society feel scary and unsafe. I wanted to bring awareness. I feel that there are so many big issues that we should not forget about yet we forget them so easily. I felt that no one else would convey these messages about society if we didn't do it..."[9]B.A.P filmed the music video in the city of Detroit, Michigan.[6] An estimated hundred extras, and internet personality Elijah Daniel,[10] were brought in for the filming and the music video was directed by Hong Won Ki-won of ZanyBros.[11] The video was released on August 5, 2012.[11]

Release and promotion

The music video for "Coffee Shop" was uploaded on the official YouTube channel of TS Entertainment on June 27, 2013.[5] The single itself was released digitally on June 28, 2013.

B.A.P member Youngjae mentioned July 17, 2013, as the release date of the next single, "Hurricane", on his Twitter account on July 9.[12] On July 17, 2013, the music video for "Hurricane" was uploaded on the official YouTube channel of TS Entertainment, which featured the boys voyaging the streets and casinos in of Las Vegas.[5] The single itself was released digitally the same day.[13]

The title of the third single, "Badman", and the track list, cover art and release date for their third Korean EP, Badma were and revealed on July 28, 2013.[14] In the following dates, several individual concept shots and group teaser images were unveiled.[9] "Badman" was not released as a separate digital single like "Coffee Shop" and "Hurricane", however, all three songs were included in EP and "Badman" was chosen as the lead single for the promotional activities following the release of the EP.

The Badman EP was released online on August 5, 2014, and offline on August 6.

Critical reception

Grace Danbi Hong of M! Wave gave "Coffee Shop" a rating of 4.5 out of 5 and called it bittersweet, simple and relaxing. She praised the 'elegant' sound brought by the jazz pianist Song Young-joo "which slowly fills the emptiness around until there’s just no more room... and yet, we don’t feel suffocated..." Hong went on to praise the 'beautiful' visuals of the music video and the members for "pushing the pause button in some of the busiest cities in the US."[15]

Tracklisting

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Whut's Poppin'"  Marco, Bang Yong-guk 1:50
2. "Badman"  Kang Ji-won, Kim Ki-bum 3:47
3. "Excuse Me" (Park Soo-seok, Sleepy)  3:35
4. "Coffee Shop"  Kang Ji-won, Kim Ki-bum, Bang Yong-guk 3:39
5. "Bow Wow"  Park Soo-seok, iNoo, Bang Yong-guk 3:37
6. "Hurricane"  Jun Da-woon, Marco, Bang Yong-guk 3:32
Total length:
 20:08

References

  1. ↑ http://www.allkpop.com/article/2013/08/bap-tops-billboards-world-albums-chart-with-badman#axzz2fDilyUep
  2. ↑ "B.A.P releases album cover + tracklist for 'BADMAN'". Allkpop. July 28, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  3. ↑ "B.A.P’s ‘Coffee Shop’ to Feature Jazz Pianist Song Young Joo". M.net. June 27, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "B.A.P’s ‘Coffee Shop’ to Feature Jazz Pianist Song Young Joo". M.net. June 27, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "B.A.P returns with MV for 1st title track "Coffee Shop"". Allkpop. June 27, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "B.A.P releases another photo + video teaser for "Coffee Shop"". Allkpop. June 19, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Marco discography". Naver. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Jun Da Woon discography". Naver. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "[Updated] B.A.P unveils group images ahead of 'BADMAN' MV teaser release + Bang Yong Guk revealed to have written the lyrics". Allkpop. August 1, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Elijah Daniel featured in B.A.P Music Video". Elijah Daniel. August 6, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "B.A.P returns with blockbuster MV for 'BADMAN' + mini album". Allkpop. August 5, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Youngjae reveals date for B.A.P's second title song?". Allkpop. July 9, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Hurricane - Single by B.A.P". iTunes. July 17, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  14. ↑ "B.A.P releases album cover + tracklist for 'BADMAN'". Allkpop. July 28, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  15. ↑ Grace Danbi Hong (June 28, 2013). "[Single Review] B.A.P "Coffee Shop"". M.net. Retrieved June 29, 2013.