Well, this is a surprise! I somehow missed the announcement about this song, so hearing a collaboration between two of K-pop’s most influential rappers comes as a pleasant little shock tonight. Stop The Rain pairs Epik High’s Tablo with BTS’s RM, crafting a multi-generational shot of emotional catharsis.
I’m always hesitant to write about songs like this because I don’t feel like they fit well into my ratings system. I tend to cover music created for a wide audience and chart ubiquity. Some might call it “manufactured,” but I’ve always hated the negative connotation that word entails. Given its collaborating artists, Stop The Rain will always be part of chart conversation, but above all else it feels like the musical equivalent of a diary entry — a confessional airing out of inner thoughts. As such, blathering on about its “hooks” feels a little silly.
Sonically, the first thing I notice about Stop The Rain is how well Tablo and RM’s voices fit together. Each has the ability to move from airy melodicism to sharper textures. This track falls much closer to the “airy” side of this spectrum, though its more confrontational verses contrast nicely with the soft chorus. Overall, it’s quite a beautiful piece. I don’t know how much I’ll actually listen to the song on its own, but I appreciate how it makes a strong, resonant statement. There’s a place within the wider K-pop industry for this style of project and it’s nice to be reminded of that.
Hooks
8
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
8
RATING
8