XX is the debut studio album by South Korean rapper Mino. It was released on November 26, 2018, by YG Entertainment.[2] Written and produced entirely by Mino,[1] the album consists of twelve tracks including the hit lead single, "Fiancé".[3]
Background and release
On September 13, 2018, YG Entertainment CEO Yang Hyun Suk revealed that he was in the process of filming a music video for Mino's upcoming first solo album, working through the night with Mino to do so.[4][5] On October 26, a teaser poster for the album was released, which announced the album name as XX and indicated that the album would drop some time in November.[5][6][7][8][9] In late-October, a third teaser poster established the album would be released on November 26.[10] On November 16, the title of the lead single, "Fiancé", was revealed, and on November 20, the full track list and its corresponding writing credits were announced.[11]
On November 21, Mino released a teaser for the music video of "Fiancé".[12][13] Over the course of the next three days, Mino released a total of three direct message teasers, where he talked about how we was constantly working on the album in the studio and how he felt like he "grated [his] soul into [the] album."[14] The album is also said to be representative of Mino himself and his style.[14] A teaser poster was released on November 25, one day before the album was set to release.[1]
"Fiancé" is a track that has a hip-hop sound combined with trot, creating "a genre that may be familiar or unfamiliar".[3][14][15] It includes samples of "소양강 처녀" ("Soyanggang Maiden"), a Korean trot song from 1969.[3][14][15] Mino also particularly emphasized the depth and importance of the lyrics.[3][14] According to Mino, there is no specific meaning behind the title of XX; rather, fans are encouraged to interpret the album on their own.[3][14] Mino also played a role in designing the album packaging, the concept for the "Fiancé" music video, and the promotional material.[14]
Reception
The album was released on November 26, 2018, in conjunction with the music video for "Fiancé". The Korea Herald commented that "Fiancé" uses "brilliantly entwined retro Korean beats."[16] Meanwhile, Billboard praised the music video for its "mesmerizing aesthetics inspired by traditional Korean culture."[15] The video depicts Mino searching for a woman while he is in either a field, or in a throne room dressed as a Korean king and surrounded by concubines.[15][16] Mino's role as a king was inspired by the 2012 Korean film Masquerade.[17]
Two songs on the album, "Trigger" and "Hope", were rated as "X", meaning that they are unsuitable for anyone under nineteen years of age.[16]
The music video for "Fiancé" reached ten million views on November 30, four days after its release.[18]
Track listing
The following tracklist was adapted from the official released track list image.[11]
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