Your favorite idol’s favorite idol is back! With his fourth mini album, EXO’s KAI breaks another of his self-imposed rules. Just like he took us all by surprise by dropping his third album on literally any date that wasn’t March 30th, Wait On Me caught us off guard by being seven tracks instead of his classic six. Everyone say, “Thank you, Jongin” for the bonus!
Across Wait On Me, you really get the sense that these songs were built for, and by, KAI specifically. There’s no one that could pull them off the way that he does. Across genres and vocal styles, KAI carries every song with his typical elegance, nonchalance, and sensuality. Let’s break down why each and every one of these tracks is a hit.
‘Wait On Me’
Wait On Me aptly opens with the title track of the same name, and perfectly sets the tone for the album, both lyrically and in terms of production. ‘Wait On Me’ is stacked with harmonies and afrobeats percussion, which you’ll see time and time again throughout this album. As well as being a great reference to the two years we’ve waited for KAI while he’s been enlisted, lyrics like “I don’t want to get too serious,” set Wait On Me as the carefree, liberated album that it is.
The music video and choreography, unsurprisingly, is absolutely stunning. One of the sets is particularly Dune-esque which is the first of two Zendaya movie references we’ll make here. We also have to highlight the dystopian breakdown in the bridge, reminding us of KAI’s previous tracks ‘Reason’ and ‘Black Mirror.’
‘Walls Don’t Talk’
“Just a casual night….” Like we said, with this album, KAI is having some serious fun, and we love that after the existential explorations of Rover, his most recent album before enlisting. This Reggaeton-infused prerelease track also does the best job of showcasing KAI’s personality; blending his scorching sensuality with playfulness in the Y2K, camcorder-style music video.
‘Pressure’
“Come give me that pressure,” umm…ok? The first official b-side of Wait On Me sees KAI blending Latin and trap with his dreamy vocals. However, the sudden deep, lower register to end the track made us gasp and was the perfect transition to the next song…
‘Ridin”
As promised at the end of ‘Pressure,’ ‘Ridin” showcases KAI’s husky lower tone. We’ll never get enough of it, so we’re thankful that Wait On Me gave us a whole track to enjoy this side of KAI. Techno-inspired, we’re obsessed with the percussion on this one. Also, is this a reference to KAI’s magnum opus, ‘Ride Or Die,’ or are we reading too much into it?
‘Off And Away’
Still holding onto the Afrobeats inspo that is the golden thread throughout Wait On Me, ‘Off And Away’ is KAI’s most wistful moment on this album. With lyrics like “right now I’m so broken, off and away,” and dreamy production, this one is for the ‘Blue’ enthusiasts.
‘Adult Swim’
‘Adult Swim’ was the first pre-release track, and we still think it was such a smart move to have this as KAI’s first song following ‘Rover.’ The anti-chorus is so iconic, and we were euphoric over seeing KAI and BADA LEE pair choreo again!
Are you ready for our second Zendaya reference? Could this aesthetic be any more Challengers coded?
‘Flight To Paris’
From swimming to flying, KAI can do it all. We’re really going on a journey with these song titles, huh? KAI continues his tradition by ending Wait On Me with a full-circle, softer moment. It still has the summer vibes, with Jersey club influence, but now KAI is breaking away from the past and moving forward to a new chapter!
So, are you in agreement that each and every track on Wait On Me is a banger? Which is your favorite? Let us know everything you have to say over on Twitter @TheHoneyPOP, Facebook, or Instagram!
Want more K-Pop? Head this way!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EXO:
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KAI:
INSTAGRAM
Related
