Okay, I'm just gonna let everything out here since I cannot really take it anymore.

So, Epik High released their new album "99" and everyone's been gushing about it and all that. It's their very first album under YG Entertainment, so all the YG-stans welcome them with open arms, and are happy that YG got them.

But, honestly, I wasn't ecstatic.

One reason is that because I was scared. I've been Epik High's fan ever since their debut, and I know their music, their sound. Them leaving Woolim was fine, since they set up Map The Soul after that, but joining a new company? I wasn't ecstatic because I was scared that they'd lose their "Epik High-ness" once they moved to YG, but I just set it aside and thought, better YG and SM or JYP, since YG is the company with the closest sound to theirs.

Another reason was that because I hated how people were just taking notice of them now that they're in YG. I mean, honestly, their music has been amazing ever since. And now it's all about Papa YG having Epik High under his company, so amazing blah blah. Psh, puh-lease.

And now that "99" has been released...

All the reasons why I was scared and not ecstatic really were valid. Because aside from "It's Cold", I'm not liking the album very much.

"UP" is honestly my least favorite. Well, it could be one of those songs I like the most, BUT PARK BOM'S SCREAMING GETS TO MY NERVES EVERY SINGLE TIME I LISTEN TO IT. I listen to it for the non-Park Bom parts, but if there would be a version of it without Park Bom, I'd really love that.

I'm not liking the album because it just doesn't sound like them anymore. I know that sounds change over the years, but this album, just doesn't sound like Epik High anymore. It sounds like an idol group under YG Entertainment, something Epik High is not. I mean, I like the music in the album, but the fact that it's Epik High behind it saddens me. It doesn't sound like them, and no matter how I try to love it wholeheartedly, I just can't. The very reason why I love "It's Cold" is because it's the only song on the album that sounds like Epik High. Sure, their creativity is still there, but...

And now everyone loves them because they're in YG. There's so much more to them than just being in YG. I don't know how to say it. I mean, the genius that comes in this album isn't YG. It's Epik High. It's them. It always has been in all their albums. Tablo, he isn't in ranks with GD and Zico and Junhyung. He's in ranks with Leessang and Tiger JK and Tasha, at least for me. You see the difference? No matter how much I love GD and Zico and Junhyung, for me, Leessang and Tiger JK and Tasha are in a much higher league than them. And Epik High (and Tablo) are in that league for me. But with this album, I don't know where thewy are anymore.

And just to say something about the "It's Cold" Karaoke video: some people say it's funny, but it's not. AT ALL. People think it's just YG trolling, when I know that Epik High's behind that video. The song is about solitude, being alone, and the coldness of it, the sadness of solitude. The Karaoke video is perfect for the song because of the meaning of the song itself. Solitude. Being alone. Being alone in a Karaoke, singing to a song like that. It's just perfect.

OKAY I'LL STOP NOW.

Just so you know, I'm an SM-stan who respects Korean hip-hop so much. I'm not really a YG-stan, and after the SM artists, I pick which singers/artists I listen to. Most of them are hip-hop/RNB singers/artists. And I love BoA and Epik High's music the music the most. Just thought I'd put that out there.