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Kmusic Review: Infinite H’s Mini Album “Fly High”

January 14, 2013

Infinite H is here at last! The Hip Hop based sub-unit of Infinite, consisting of members Hoya and Dongwoo, revealed their very first album “Fly High”. Primary, the renowned indie-hip hop producer, contributed a lot to this album and worked heavily with the boys. In total there are five tracks contained within the album; four of which feature verses from exceptional MCs and R&B artists. Loaded with great songs that perfectly display the duo’s roots, talent, and passion, “Fly High” will definitely soar and take the Kpop world by storm!

The first track of the album is “Victorious Way” and it basically presents Hoya and Dongwoo as new but commendable representatives in the world of Hip Hop. The beat is sick and takes me back to when Hip Hop was purely just rhythm and rhyme. I honestly have to admit that I scoffed and snickered when I heard Dongwoo say “I do this shit till I got my own Maybach”. It’s funny how the musical transition that these two idols made became the medium that enabled them to curse in a song when they weren’t allowed to do so before. Just to be clear, I love these two to death and I do understand that before even joining Infinite, they were heavily immersed within the Hip Hop culture. However, cursing makes it seem like they are trying too hard. The fact of the matter is that ever since they became “idols”, it’s almost as if I can’t take them seriously as rappers. This situation would be comparable to having actors from the Disney channel release mixtapes filled with beats from E40. After listening to the entire song, I got pass the “idol” stigma and ended up really liking this track because these two actually pulled it off. In fact, I have always thought that Dongwoo had an exceptional rapping ability as well as the perfect tone of voice to go along with it. Although I thought Hoya’s rhymes were a bit rough around the edges when Infinite first debuted, he has also improved tremendously in the past two years. As these thoughts came to mind, the initial doubts that I had about their abilities faded away. How could I have doubted them?

The second track is their promotional single “Special Girl” featuring Bumkey. This track is laid back and light hearted, practically sweet even. The music and arrangement for this song was wonderful and not overly commanding, flawlessly showcasing the voices of the three artists, making it easy for listeners to follow. The lyrics are also really cute and although corny, they flow really well and constructively piece together the feelings of love, doubt, and nervousness that this guy has towards his secret crush. There’s also a music video for this song and dear lord almighty, it is filled with absolute beauty! Yadong OTP shippers are definitely hyperventilating and having repeated episodes of cardiac arrest from the sheer sexiness of these two gorgeous young men. “Special Girl” was the right choice as the promotional single.

“Without You” is the third track and features one of my favorite R&B singers. I was so excited and jumped for joy when I heard Zion T’s voice! My goodness, his vocals trigger some of the best sensations to surface which eventually surges through your body, mind, and soul! I was even more amazed when I found that Dongwoo and Hoya also possess the ability to sing up to Zion T’s level. I mean I have always adored their little singing parts in Infinite’s songs here and there but to actually hear a song of their own done so well was wonderful. By successfully providing vocals not only for their verses but the singing as well during a live performance proves that they truly have what it takes to make it big! Aside from the singing aspect, the rapping that they delivered in this song exuberates with such charisma and charm that it lures you in and gets you lost within the vibrations of their voices.

Another R&B song follows up with a simple beat and clear vocalizations. This track is called “I Can’t Tell You” and it features Dynamic Dou’s Gaeko! The tempo also decreases a bit in this track compared to the others, making the song’s mood a bit more solemn. Lyrically, the song depicts a man talking and admitting that although he is a bit sad about how both parties have fallen out of love with one another, he’s more tired of the situation than anything and that they should move on.

The closing song is the title track and features label mate, Baby Soul, who has previously worked with them on the song “Cry” that was released in Infinite’s first studio album. “Fly High” picks the mood right back up with a cheerful, happy, and carefree sound that is escalated by Baby Soul’s vocals. The two rap about the realization of one’s dream and actually being able to live that dream. Although there wasn’t much of a bang or a “wow” factor to this song, this is my favorite song because of the message that it is delivering. It reinstates the idea the dreams and aspirations are not just wanton and unachievable goals, they can be tangible so long as we reach for the sky with a bright smile plastered on our faces. When I listened to it, I see a road ahead of me, my road to take to whatever destination I choose and I think that’s a great departing note for the fans. It promises endless and infinite possibilities and reassures those who are not confident in themselves. Thank you Infinite H!

Although I had my doubts at the beginning, all of it is now wiped away clean and I find myself wanting to kick myself for doubting my beloved Infinite members. Their rapping and vocal abilities were and are substantial, I applaud them for being able to express these songs so well. Dongwoo and Hoya both performed in a manner that was able to bring happiness to their fans. I seriously caught myself just smiling out of nowhere while listening to these tracks. “Fly High” was fresh, light hearted, and simple with nothing too complicated to muddle its pureness. The fact that all of the tracks exhibit clear and thorough beats makes me really happy because I am seriously tired of all that synthesizing and dubstep. Therefore, credits to Primary because he did an astonishing job on this album as well as the various other artists that participated in making this album excel, like Beenzino and Vida loca. Check “Fly High” out for sure and help out Infinite H by purchasing this album!