| NEXT EPISODE |
For the song with the same name, see "Next episode"
NEXT EPISODE is the first collaboration album by AKMU. The album was released on July 26, 2021 by YG Entertainment and distributed by YG PLUS, features various artists such as Lee Sun-hee, IU, Zion.T, Beenzino, Choi Jung-hoon of JANNABI, Crush and Sam Kim, and consists seven tracks including the title track "NAKKA". The music video for "Hey kid, Close your eyes" was released on July 20, 2021.
The physical and LP version of NEXT EPISODE were released on July 27, 2021 and October 10, 2021 respectively.
Description[]
| “ |
AKMU’s [NEXT EPISODE] is a new episode beginning in 4 years since the release of [SUMMER EPISODE] back in 2017 and will be the duo’s “First-ever collaboration album” with the featured artists in every track.
The featuring lineup includes Lee Sun Hee, IU, Zion.T, Beenzino, Choi Jung Hoon of JANNABI, Crush, and Sam Kim. As for the composing and arrangement - JUKJAE, PEEJAY, Lee Hyun Young, and MILLENIUM, who have shown great musical synergy with producer LEE CHANHYUK have teamed up once again and formed an amazing collaboration lineup. We can notice their new musical attempts; it’s the first time that another artist has featured in AKMU’s discography so far, as well as the new. The theme that ties up [NEXT EPISODE] is ‘Beyond Freedom’, ‘Beyond Freedom’ means internal freedom which is not affected by environment and condition, beyond simple physical ease and comfort. AKMU unravels the theme through 7 songs of their track list with different stories. The stories are about having the will to maintain internal sturdiness and stability without submitting to situations one cannot resolve, other people’s standards and biases, and personal wounds. The album will have messages of comfort and hope that we can eventually reach our dreams and goals by finding hope despite difficult situations. |
” |
| — YG Entertainment Official Website [1] | ||
Critical reception[]
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| IZM |  
|
| NME |
|
Ruby C from the British magazine NME gave the EP a five-star rating out of five and said, "Much like a mountainous expedition, there are always risks that come with collaborating with others, but those in 'NEXT EPISODE' work for the better: each track brings out the strengths of the collaborators, while still effective in showcasing Su Hyun's flawless, pristine vocals and Chan Hyuk's adept lyrical storytelling." Tamar Herman, writing for South China Morning Post, said that "between the captivating musicality and the lyrics' compelling themes", the album is "worth listening to again and again."
Track list[]
- "Hey kid, Close your eyes (전쟁터)" (feat. Lee Sun Hee) - 3:53
- "NAKKA (간하)" (feat. IU) - 3:32
- "BENCH" (feat. Zion.T) - 3:45
- "Tictoc Tictoc Tictoc (째깐 째깐 째깐)" (feat. Beenzino) - 3:56
- "Next episode (맞짱)" (feat. Choi Jung Hoon of JANNABI) - 3:12
- "Stupid love song" (feat. Crush) - 3:08
- "EVEREST" (feat. Sam Kim) - 3:15
Audio[]
Spotify[]
Charts[]
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| South Korean Albums (Gaon) | 6 |
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| South Korean Albums (Gaon) | 43 |
Sales[]
| Region | Sales |
|---|---|
| South Korea (Gaon) (as for July 2021 [4]) | 11,552 |
Accolades[]
Awards and nominations[]
| Year | Awards | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 13th Melon Music Awards | Album of the Year | NEXT EPISODE | Nominated | [5] |
| 23rd Mnet Asian Music Awards | Song of the Year | "NAKKA" (with IU) | Nominated | [6] | |
| Best Collaborations | Won | [7] | |||
| Best Vocal Performance | Nominated | [8] | |||
| 2022 | 11th Gaon Chart Music Awards | Song of the Year – July | Nominated | [9] | |
| "Hey kid, Close your eyes" | Nominated |
Year-end lists[]
| Critic/Publication | List | Work | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PopMatters | Top 20 Best K-pop Albums of 2021 | NEXT EPISODE | 4 | [10] |
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ YG Entertainment Official Website
- ↑ Park, Soo-jin. NEXT EPISODE | Review. IZM.
- ↑ C, Ruby (July 30, 2021). AKMU – 'NEXT EPISODE' review: a star-studded collaboration album that doesn’t disappoint. NME.
- ↑ "2021 Gaon Album Chart – July". Gaon Music Chart. (kr)
- ↑ La República (November 8, 2021): MMA 2021: cómo votar por tu favorito en los MelOn MusiAwards
- ↑ 2021 MAMA Nominees – Nominees for 2021 MAMA (en). Mnet Asian Music Awards.
- ↑ Souw, Rebecca (December 12, 2021). BTS and IU Emerge Big Winners Amid Excitement of K-pop's Hybrid MAMA Awards. Variety.
- ↑ Adhya, Arpita (November 3, 2021). 'MAMA Nominations 2021: MNET Awards Nominees FT BTS, Stray Kids & More.
- ↑ Gaon Chart Music Awards (November 27, 2021): 11th Gaon Chart Music Awards 올해의 가수（디지털음원）후보자 (11th Gaon Chart Music Awards (Song of the Year) Nominees)
- ↑ Ribeiro, Ana Clara (November 29, 2021). The 20 Best K-Pop Albums of 2021.
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