''Born to Be XX'' is the second
extended play
An extended play record, usually referred to as an EP, is a musical recording that contains more tracks than a single but fewer than an album or LP record. (EP) by South Korean girl group
Kiss of Life. It was released on November 8, 2023, through S2 Entertainment. The EP contains seven tracks, including the lead singles "Bad News" and "Nobody Knows".
Title
Speaking about the album's name, member
Belle explained that the two ''X" symbols in the album's name signify two different concepts: special things that are not welcomed
y othersand the group's message to reject prejudice, misunderstandings and stereotypes.
Background
On September 28, 2023, S2 Entertainment released a poster indicating that Kiss of Life would make their comeback in November. On October 13, 2023, the group revealed that they would make a comeback on November 8, 2023, by posting a teaser.
Promotion
On October 16, 2023, a poster was released featuring the members mugshots with the caption 'Who's the villain'. On October 17, the group released the tracklist of the album. From October 19 to 25 the group released various concept photos. On October 27, a trailer for the EP was released. On October 30, the group released the sneak peek of the tracks.
Composition
The lead single "Bad News" is a groovy mid-tempo that blends elements of
pop,
hip-hop, and
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
, which makes this feel like the most natural evolution of the burgeoning band's sound,
whereas "Nobody Knows" is a slick, upbeat slice of
R&B influenced by the
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.jpg, Clockwise from top left: U.S. President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office following the Watergate scandal in 1974; The United States was still involved in the Vietnam War i ...
.
"TTG" was described as a R&B track which reminds music from 2000s,
and "Gentleman" is a song which has a unique sound with
Afro
The afro is a hair type created by natural growth of kinky hair, or specifically styled with chemical curling products by individuals with naturally curly or straight hair.Garland, Phyl"Is The Afro On Its Way Out?" ''Ebony'', February 1973. ...
rhythm,
reggae
Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...
patterns, and
soul
In many religious and philosophical traditions, there is a belief that a soul is "the immaterial aspect or essence of a human being".
Etymology
The Modern English noun ''soul'' is derived from Old English ''sāwol, sāwel''. The earliest attes ...
gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...
.
"Says It" is a track dedicated to fans written by member Belle captures the emotions of unrequited love.
Critical reception
Carmen Chin writing for ''
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
'' described the extended play as "as a diamond in the rough" and is a sophomore album, which certainly has some gigantic shoes to fill after their debut which exceeds all expectations.
Kim Do-heon of ''Zenerate'' ranked the album at number 6 for their list of The 15 Best K-pop Albums of 2023.
Accolades
Track listing
Charts
Weekly charts
Monthly charts
Release history
References
{{Kiss of Life
2023 EPs
Korean-language EPs
2020s Korean-language albums
Kiss of Life (group) EPs
Contemporary R&B albums by South Korean artists
Hip hop albums by South Korean artists
Dance-pop albums by South Korean artists