Off the Beat is the third extended play by the South Korean rapper I.M. It was released by Sony Music Korea on April 3, 2024. The EP contains six tracks, including the lead single "Lure".
Background and release
On March 12, Sony Music Korea announced that I.M will make a comeback in April, three months since the release of his digital single "Slowly" featuring Heize.[1] On March 13, it was revealed through the official SNS that he will release an extended play Off the Beat on April 3, ten months since the release of his second extended play Overdrive,[2] with the lead single "Lure" revealed on March 18.[3] On March 29, the album preview was released.[4]
The physical EP was released in two standard versions; Off and Beat,[5] with the addition of jewel case and Nemo versions.[6]
Composition
I.M made his name on all track credits, participating in the production of all songs.[3]
Off the Beat expressed the "atypical" nature of being unconventional through music.[4] It was sonically more upbeat than Overdrive, incorporating influences from hip hop, soul, R&B, and Latin music.[7]
Promotion
In April, Sony Music Korea collaborated with B.stage for the opening of "Imvitation - on the low" pop-up store, to commemorate the release of his album.[8] It was also announced that he will have his first world tour Off the Beat, to be held in eighteen cities in ten countries.[9]
Commercial performance
I.M received his first Hanteo Chart Bronze Certification Plaque for achieving more than 100,000 copies in Initial Chodong sales in its first week of release in South Korea.[10]
^Kim, Sun-woo (March 12, 2024). [단독]몬스타엑스 아이엠, 4월 솔로 컴백 [[Exclusive] Monsta X I.M, makes solo comeback in April]. JTBC (in Korean). Retrieved March 12, 2024 – via Naver.
^ abKim, Won-hee (March 18, 2024). 몬스타엑스 아이엠, 컴백 타이틀은 '루어' [Monsta X I.M, comeback title is 'Lure']. Sports Trends (in Korean). Retrieved March 25, 2024 – via Naver.
^ abYoon, Ki-baek (March 29, 2024). 몬스타엑스 아이엠, 6색 매력으로 꽉 채운 '오프 더 비트' [Monsta X I.M, 'Off the Beat' filled with 6 colors of charm]. Edaily (in Korean). Retrieved March 29, 2024 – via Naver.
^Yoo, Byung-chul (March 22, 2024). 몬스타엑스 아이엠, 완벽 수트핏 자랑한 'Off the Beat' 콘셉트 포토 공개…조각 같은 비주얼 [Monsta X I.M, unveils 'Off the Beat' concept photos boasting perfect suit fit... Sculpture-like visual]. Global Epic (in Korean). Retrieved March 25, 2024.
^Kim, Soo-jin (March 27, 2024). 몬스타엑스 아이엠, 'Off the Beat' 콘셉트 포토 추가 오픈..독보적 감성 예고 [Monsta X I.M, opens additional concept photos for 'Off the Beat'.. Unrivaled emotional forecast]. Star News (in Korean). Retrieved March 27, 2024 – via Naver.
^Ahn, Hee-jung (April 14, 2024). 몬스타엑스 '아이엠' 팝업, 비스테이지가 운영…팬덤 편의성↑ [Monsta X I.M pop-up, operated by B.stage... Fandom convenience ↑]. ZDNet Korea (in Korean). Retrieved May 20, 2024 – via Naver.
^Lee, Jin-joo (April 22, 2024). 몬스타엑스 아이엠, 첫 솔로 월드투어 'Off the Beat' 오는 5월 개최 확정 [Monsta X I.M, confirms to host his first solo world tour 'Off the Beat' in May]. BNT News (in Korean). Retrieved May 3, 2024.