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| Monsta X's I.M dropped his first solo mini-album "Duality" on Feb. 19. Courtesy of Starship Entertainment |
By Dong Sun-hwa
I.M, rapper of K-pop boy band Monsta X, is making waves on global music charts with his first solo mini-album "Duality," released Feb. 19.
"Duality" dominated not only the worldwide album charts but also the top album charts in 18 countries, including Brazil and Russia on iTunes, according to the platform Saturday. The album's lead single "God Damn" also made it into the top 10 on Amazon's best seller digital song chart.
The rapper is going strong on local music charts as well. "God Damn" and the four other tracks included on the mini-album all entered the top 10 on the Bugs Music chart upon their release.
"Duality" is I.M's first solo release since his debut in 2015, which centers on the duality of people's inner world, according to the artist. "God Damn" is a trendy hip-hop track with some twists in the mood.
The album also offers "Howlin," "Happy to Die," "Burn," and "Flower-ed." I.M participated in the creative process of each track, trying to display his unique musical style, distinctive from that of Monsta X.
"I picked 'God Damn' as the lead track because it expresses me the best," I.M said in an email Q&A, Friday. "It is about the emotions you feel as you lie to yourself about being happy.
"I am anxious and thrilled at the same time to showcase the music that sounds completely different from that of my group. I hope a lot of people enjoy it. If the COVID-19 situation improves this year, I want to play concerts and hold hands with our fans."
I.M also had an interview with American internet radio platform RADIO.COM on Friday and revealed what the other Monsta X members said of his tunes.
"Hyungwon said they were really good, but were not really like Korean mainstream music," I.M said in English.
He said his well of inspiration for "Happy to Die" was the 2004 comedy-drama film "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet.
"I was watching 'Eternal Sunshine' at that time and got the inspiration from that movie," the star said. "I named the song 'Happy to Die' because of what Jim Carrey said at the frozen lake ― 'I could die right now, Clem.'"
He added he would like to collaborate with rapper Post Malone in the future.
Watch his interview: twitter.com/Radiodotcom/status/1362748521997295619?s=20
I.M, whose real name is Im Chang-kyun, debuted as a member of Monsta X on the album "Trespass." He has put out several mixtapes including "Fly With Me" (2018) and "Horizon" (2019).
