''But for Now Leave Me Alone'' (stylized in all caps) is the second studio album of American rapper
pH-1. It was released on September 15, 2022, through
H1ghr Music
H1ghr Music (stylized as H1GHR MUSIC) (Hangul: 하이어뮤직레코즈) is an international hip hop and R&B record label founded by Korean American musician Jay Park and long time Seattle affiliate Cha Cha Malone in 2017. Stationed primarily i ...
.
Background
In an interview with ''Eyesmag'', pH-1 explained the inspiration behind the album.
People often think of me as a 'bright', 'sweet', and 'soft' person. In this album, I wanted to reveal the dark side of me that was not seen by the public. I wanted to change my image too. Therefore, I changed the overall visuals to match the mood of the song.
Music and lyrics
''But for Now Leave Me Alone'' features songs with a touch of pop. "Zombies" has uptempo rhythm and smooth melody arrangement in the chorus while "Yuppie Ting" borrows from
UK garage
UK garage, abbreviated as UKG, is a genre of electronic dance music which originated in England in the early to mid-1990s. The genre was most clearly inspired by garage house, but also incorporates elements from dance-pop, R&B, and jungle. It ...
sound.
On "Mr. Bad", pH-1 emphasizes the image of the attractive playboy with laid-back raps.
Lyricwise, pH-1 "flips through the anthology of his life, delineating his brush with failed relationship attempts, battling his inner demons, stardom’s double-edged sword and more."
Critical reception
Hwang Du-ha of ''Rhythmer'' rated the album 3 out of 5 stars. According to him, the charm of ''But for Now Leave Me Alone'' is its sophisticated and elegant production. However, because of pH-1's monotonous rap performance, "the more you listen to it attentively, the more you lose interest in it."
Catherine Parker of ''Seoul Therapy'' rated the album 9 out of 10 points. According to her, it "encompasses pH-1’s music tastes by including genres and sounds that he listens to and loves, allowing him to showcase his skills as a singer, rapper, and above all, a storyteller."
Jang Jun-hwan of ''
IZM
''IZM'' () is a South Korean online magazine that publishes pop music
Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms ''popular music'' and ...
'' rated "Mr. Bad" 3 out of 5 stars. According to him, it is a pre-release that "draws attention even without a definite impact." He concluded that pH-1 proves again that he is a "all-rounder" who can fit into any song.
Year-end lists
Track listing
Charts
References
{{reflist
2022 albums
Hip hop albums by South Korean artists
House music albums by South Korean artists
Rhythm and blues albums by South Korean artists