Young Posse trades beats for ballads in new release 'COLD'

By Pyo Kyung-min

Young Posse, a rare girl group in the K-pop scene pursuing authentic hip-hop, has unveiled a different side of itself by venturing into the ballad genre for the first time since debut.

The five-member group — Sunhye, Yeonjung, Jiana, Doeun and Jieun — released its latest album, "COLD," along with the title track of the same name on Sunday. This marks the group's first release in eight months since its third EP, "ATE THAT."

The new lead track is an emotional ballad with a hint of a hip-hop beat. It expresses the pain of a loved one's sudden, cold demeanor. The group's agency, DSP Media, described the song as "a melancholic blend of a wistful guitar riff layered over a classic boom-bap beat," which proves Young Posse's ability to "navigate between singing and rapping."

Adding to the track's appeal is the participation of Kwon Jeong-yeol, the vocalist of the beloved indie band 10CM, known for hits like "Americano" (2010) and "What the Spring??" (2016).

Since its debut in 2023, Young Posse has primarily stuck to hip-hop-driven tracks, with hits like "XXL" earning them a rare status in K-pop, especially among girl groups. Thus, making a ballad the title track for this album was a bold move, according to the members.

"We've always been a group that breaks the norm and we constantly crave change. Of course, there was some fear in embracing something different," Sunhye admitted during a press event at the YES24 Wanderloch Hall in Seoul, Tuesday.

"But we enjoy challenges. This experience proved that we're capable of taking on more in the future, and that's both exciting and rewarding."

Sunhye also shared her excitement about collaborating with 10CM.

"Tackling the ballad genre for the first time felt daunting, but thanks to Kwon, we were able to complete the song perfectly," she said.

"When we first reached out for a feature, he told us he already knew about our group and our song 'XXL,' which gave us a lot of confidence. After listening to the demo, he readily accepted the offer, so I'd like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude."

The album consists of seven tracks: "Lovestagram," "Blue Dot," "Daddy Don't Leave Me," "Santa Claus Left Me No Goodz," "Oskar's Drawing" and "COLD (YPS Colder Ver.)," in addition to the title track. All members contributed to penning the lyrics for every song.

While "COLD" leans into the ballad genre, the album as a whole stays true to Young Posse's hip-hop roots, ensuring that fans of the group's signature style won't be disappointed.

The members described the album as a "cohesive cinematic narrative," encouraging listeners to experience it in full, along with the music video.

"The music video tells the story of siblings seeking revenge after being abandoned by their father," Yeonjung explained.

"Doeun and I took on acting roles to convey the characters' emotions, making it feel like a full-fledged movie. We hope fans listen to all seven tracks and watch the video together for the complete experience."

The music video was filmed entirely in Taiwan, directed by Taiwanese filmmaker Remii Huang, with star actor Tseng Ching-hua starring alongside the Young Posse members.

Next, the Young Posse members have set their sights on a major goal.

"We want to win first place on a domestic music show and put on a fun encore stage," Jieun said. "Since the album's called 'COLD,' we thought it'd be hilarious to celebrate by eating cold noodles while singing onstage."