Before I Die (album)

Before I Die
Studio album by
Released10 September 2021 (2021-09-10)
GenreElectronic
Length43:40
LabelNinja Tune
ProducerPark Hye Jin
Park Hye Jin chronology
How Can I
(2020)
Before I Die
(2021)
Sail the Seven Seas
(2023)

Before I Die is the debut studio album by Park Hye Jin, a South Korean singer, rapper, record producer, and DJ based in Los Angeles.[1] Entirely written, produced, and performed by Hye Jin, it was released on Ninja Tune on 10 September 2021.[1] It peaked at number 73 on the UK Album Downloads Chart.[2] It won the Best Electronic Record award at the 2022 Libera Awards.[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic75/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
Beats Per Minute78%[6]
The Line of Best Fit8/10[7]
NME[8]
Pitchfork6.5/10[9]
PopMatters7/10[10]

According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Before I Die received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 75 out of 100 from 11 critic scores.[4]

Adriane Pontecorvo of PopMatters commented that "every cut on Before I Die is so thoughtfully assembled that it becomes exquisitely casual, and Park Hye Jin shows her range as a producer worth keeping an eye on."[10] Kyle Kohner of The Line of Best Fit stated, "Saturated with hazy bangers that explore the emotional gradient between depression and self-assurance, the appropriately titled Before I Die offers a space where yearning, anxiety, and bedridden gloom can coexist."[7] Ben Jolley of NME called the album "an affecting multi-layered debut that, rather than reaching a conclusion of fulfilment, manages to find happiness in just being alive."[8]

The album won the Best Electronic Record award at the 2022 Libera Awards.[3]

Accolades

Year-end lists for Before I Die
Publication List Rank Ref.
Billboard The 20 Best Dance Albums of 2021: Critics' Picks
Hot Press Hot Press Top 50 Albums of 2021
50
The Line of Best Fit The Best Albums of 2021 Ranked
10

Track listing

All tracks are written by Park Hye Jin.

Before I Die track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Let's Sing Let's Dance"3:50
2."I Need You"3:03
3."Before I Die"3:06
4."Good Morning Good Night"2:52
5."Me Trust Me"1:33
6."Where Did I Go"2:08
7."Never Give Up"2:20
8."Can I Get Your Number"3:14
9."Whatchu Doin Later"2:57
10."Sex with Me (DEFG)"2:28
11."Where Are You Think"1:34
12."Never Die"3:32
13."Hey, Hey, Hey"4:56
14."Sunday ASAP"2:17
15."I Jus Wanna Be Happy"3:35
Total length:43:40

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes.[14]

  • Park Hye Jin – production, performance, mixing
  • Tom Jessop – mixing, mastering
  • Dan Medhurst – photography

Charts

Chart performance for Before I Die
Chart (2021) Peak
position
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[2] 73

References

  1. ^ a b Russell, Scott (6 July 2021). "Park Hye Jin Announces Debut Album Before I Die, Shares First Single". Paste. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b Aswad, Jem (17 June 2022). "Japanese Breakfast, Wet Leg, Madlib Lead Winners at A2IM's Indie Libera Awards". Variety. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Before I Die by Park Hye Jin". Metacritic. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  5. ^ Simpson, Paul. "Before I Die - Park Hye Jin". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  6. ^ Hakimian, Rob (14 September 2021). "Album Review: 박혜진 Park Hye Jin – Before I Die". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  7. ^ a b Kohner, Kyle (6 September 2021). "박혜진 Park Hye Jin's Before I Die is an unassumingly compassionate house soaked debut". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  8. ^ a b Jolley, Ben (9 September 2021). "박혜진 Park Hye Jin – 'Before I Die' review: searching reflection and club-ready bangers". NME. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  9. ^ Zhou, Minna (14 September 2021). "박혜진 Park Hye Jin: Before I Die Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  10. ^ a b Pontecorvo, Adriane (27 September 2021). "Park Hye Jin: Before I Die (Album Review)". PopMatters. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  11. ^ "The 20 Best Dance Albums Of 2021: Critics' Picks". Billboard. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Hot Press Top 50 Albums of 2021". Hot Press. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  13. ^ "The Best Albums of 2021 Ranked". The Line of Best Fit. 13 December 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
  14. ^ Park Hye Jin (2021). Before I Die (CD booklet). Ninja Tune.