Review: BAP's Bang Yong Guk Gets Experimental In SoundCloud Release 'CRUXE' [AUDIO]

Bang Yong Guk, the multi-talented leader of K-Pop hip-hop idol group BAP, recently uploaded a new song to his SoundCloud account, giving fans a taste of something new.

In the wee hours of the Korean morning on July 9, Yong Guk shared a new track with his Twitter and Instagram followers. The link was to his SoundCloud account and a new song titled "CRUXE."

"CRUXE" is incredibly different from his other solo releases and the songs he has composed for the group as a whole, but nonetheless, fans are loving it.

The slow and simple piano melody is infused with muffled humming and digitized claps - and with no real lyrics, it can be described as equal parts soothing and haunting.

While BAP's singles tend to have a hard edge to them - with dynamic beats and hard-punching lyrics - on the whole, Yong Guk's solo efforts have been a bit more introspective and mild.

The composer-lyricist-producer is most often revered for his husky-voiced raps and bringing light to a wide spectrum of social issues. "CRUXE," on the other hand, takes him away from those tangible ideas to offer something simple and pensive.

Slow, melodic, and a bit eerie, Bang Yong Guk's latest online release is a big change from what fans are used to hearing from BAP. And with little explanation given for his latest creation, Yong Guk is leaving interpretation up to the listener.

The title of the song itself is a mystery, although it seems to suggest a connection to a "curse." The mumbled, auto-tuned vocals are too warped to make out any real words, leading to more questions about the meaning.

After asking his followers, "What y'all think about it?" through social media, Yong Guk received an outpouring of support, mostly from fans intrigued by his latest solo project.

While "CRUXE" leans toward the bizarre and experimental side of the rapper, comments posted by followers on social media suggest they welcome this new, subtle side. Others are speculating that this is just the latest step in his journey toward a solo album release.

The 24-year-old has a handful of collaborative single releases under his belt already (the most successful of which was 2011's "I Remember" featuring Yang Yoseob of idol group BEAST), but despite a hefty presence on SoundCloud, he has yet to release a physical album all on his own.

Based on the latest release, perhaps an album is not so far off.

Check out "CRUXE" below and let us know what you think about it in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

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BAP
Bang yong guk
Yong Guk
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