Bae Jinyoung’s already been through two idol groups in his career, debuting with Wanna One and later with CIX. After choosing not to re-sign his contract with the latter, he’s stepped out as a soloist. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard a Jinyouong solo track, but this time it feels different.
Round & Round takes an old school approach, utilizing retro hip-hop beats to craft a funky outing. The verses feel almost freeform, composed of a series of colorful rap before we get a hint of melody during the pre-chorus. Unfortunately, this is all set-up for a truly awful chorus. Round & Round‘s centerpiece sounds like a dozen mosquitoes buzzing around your head, nagging you in rhythm. The instrumental throws in some grating percussion for good measure until the final product becomes downright headache-inducing. Jinyoung doesn’t bring much to the proceedings, retracing expected tropes when it comes to phrasing and performance. For me, this is a definite pass.
| Hooks | 5 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 6 |
| Bias | 6 |
| RATING | 6 |
