After many, many years, T.O.P finally released his full debut solo album last week. Listening through, it’s the kind of work I admire even if I don’t personally enjoy. He’s always had an idiosyncratic approach to hip-hop that I believe works better in small doses as part of a larger group. However, fans of his style will have plenty to feast upon as he fully indulges his ambitions on tracks like Studio54 (완전미쳤어!).
For those too young to catch the reference of its English title, Studio 54 was a major force in the late-70s disco movement — an iconic hub for that culture. Naming your song after this club instantly invites expectations for how the music might sound. T.O.P’s Studio54 is mildly danceable in areas, but it’s definitely not disco. Pre-release descriptions described it as “house music.” I’m not sure it’s that, either. For one, the production is too fitful to get a good groove going. The beat completely switches several times, ultimately becoming sludgy and slow.
Studio54‘s chorus is the closest we get to actual dance music, though even here I find the instrumental off-putting. T.O.P’s performance is warped and otherworldly (on purpose!). These vocal effects run rampant throughout the album and will be a key indicator of whether you’ll enjoy the sound or not. For me, a song like this just isn’t sticky enough to overcome the textural challenges I have with it. Again, I admire T.O.P for taking an artistic swing. This one isn’t for me.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
7
Bias
7
RATING
7.25