Minty Gal

Samuel Kim dropped his latest album Now in April 2024. The self-produced project has 6 tracks heavily influenced by his love for R&B and Hip-hop. The main single off the album is Yeh Yeh!” which sets the tone for the entire project. I instantly loved the song, choreography, and visuals. After his 5-year hiatus, I’m sure he couldn’t wait to return to making music that represents who he is now.

The 23-year-old rose to prominence in 2017 through the K-pop survival show Produce 101. He was a favorite amongst the trainees, showcasing his natural stage presence and dancing skills. He was a promising hopeful to join the group Wanna One, but unfortunately didn’t make the cut. Being only 15 during the competition, it was clear that the future would be very bright for Samuel. While signed with Brave Entertainment, he released the mini-album Sixteen, followed by a full-length album Eye Candy, which was met with a positive reception. After moving on from Brave and creating his label, Samuel Management and Entertainment, he is now in the driver’s seat of his career, and we are anticipating great projects from him in the future.

My favorite song on the album is ‘2 Tone Rose Gold’. It is a track that you have to listen to more than once. He also released a choreography video for this song, and true to his DNA, it is ultra cool. I also really like ‘Tell Me’. It has a cool beat and is easy to vibe to, which defines this whole album. The album consists of 6 songs, which feel very cohesive. It’s a feel-good, confident, and well-put-together project that sheds that juvenile vibe felt with his older music. Now is a nice introduction to who Samuel Kim is, which makes sense because he had full rein in the creative process. Unfazed by the pressure, this is the direction I want him to continue in. Genuine lyrics coupled with the perfect blend of hip hop and R&B. I cannot wait for more music because clearly he has the winning formula.