New Kids: Continue
Digital and Red version cover.
EP by
iKON
ReleasedAugust 2, 2018 (2018-08-02)
Length17:18
LanguageKorean
Label
ProducerB.I
IKON chronology
Return
(2018)		 New Kids: Continue
(2018)		 New Kids: The Final
(2018)
Singles from New Kids: Continue
  1. "Killing Me"
    Released: August 2, 2018
  2. "Freedom"
    Released: August 2, 2018

New Kids: Continue is the first extended play of South Korean boy band iKON. It is the third of the group's four-part album series that began with the single album New Kids: Begin and ended with the second extended play New Kids: The Final.[1] It was released by YG Entertainment on August 2, 2018.[2] iKON's leader B.I was credited as the only record producer of the EP. The EP contains 5 songs including the lead single "Killing Me", all written or co-written by B.I.[3] The physical album comes in two versions: Red & Blue.

Composition

The lead single of the album, "Killing Me", was released with a music video on August 2, 2018.[4] The song, a trap-dance track driven by wailing synths and a riotous beat,[4] describes feelings after a "painful breakup"; its title was inspired by the common phrase "this is killing me".[5] The music video conveyed the emotional devastation described in the lyrics through the use of flames, darkness, brightly hued sets, and expressive dance movements.[4] "Freedom" was released as the second single (referred to as "sub title") of the album on August 2.[6] It is described as a rock-infused song.[7]

Promotion

iKON held a dance cover contest for the song "Killing Me" from August 20 to September 30, 2018. Three winners were announced at the end of the contest.[8]

Reception

Commercial

In South Korea, New Kids: Continue debuted at 2 on the Gaon Album Chart.[9] In the United States, the album was No. 4 on Billboard World Albums, with about 1,000 copies sold.[10] In South Korea, "Killing Me" debuted at 19 on the Gaon Weekly Chart and rose to a peak of 9 the next week.[11] The song debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's World Digital Song Chart, marking the group's best sales to date.[10]

Critical

South China Morning Post praised the diversity and wild genre shift of the album but criticized it for following a predictable and standard pop formula.[12] Billboard praised the title song "Killing Me", saying that “unlike most K-pop songs, it forgoes a titular earworm hook, choosing instead a more dramatic declaration.”[13]

Track listing

No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Killing Me" (죽겠다; juggetda)B.I
  • B.I
  • Joe Rhee
  • R.Tee
  • R.Tee
  • Joe Rhee
3:13
2."Freedom" (바람; balam)
  • Millennium
  • B.I
  • Seung
Millennium3:21
3."Only You"
  • B.I
  • Bobby
  • B.I
  • Kang Uk-jin
Kang Uk-jin3:32
4."Cocktail" (칵테일; kagteil)
  • B.I
  • Bobby
  • B.I
  • Millennium
Millennium3:46
5."Just for You" (줄게; julge)B.I
  • B.I
  • Kang Uk-jin
  • LIØN
  • Kang Uk-jin
  • LIØN
3:21
Total length:17:00

Charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Japan Weekly Albums (Oricon) 25
Japan Hot Albums (Billboard Japan) 22
South Korean Albums (Gaon) 2
US Billboard Top Heatseekers 15
US Billboard World Albums 4
US Billboard Independent Albums 33

Awards and nominations

Music program awards

Song Program Date Ref.
"Killing Me" M Countdown (Mnet) August 9, 2018 [14]

Release history

Country Date Label Format Ref.
Various August 2, 2018 YG Digital download, CD [2]

References

  1. ↑ "iKON completes New Kids project : 'New Kids:Continue' is third EP for the popular boy band in 15 months". Korea JoongAng Daily. August 6, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "iKON to return with new album next month". Kpop Herald. July 17, 2018.
  3. ↑ "iKON – 'NEW KIDS:CONTINUE' TRACKLIST". YG Life. July 27, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 "iKON Makes a Dramatic Return With Haunting New Single 'Killing Me'". Billboard. August 2, 2018.
  5. ↑ "iKon explains meaning behind new single 'Killing Me'". Kpop Herald. August 2, 2018.
  6. ↑ "'Comeback D-7' iKON Reveals Teaser Poster for Sub Title Song 'FREEDOM'". YG Life. July 26, 2018.
  7. ↑ "iKON aims to repeat viral success with new album". Yonhap News. August 2, 2018.
  8. ↑ "3 winners announced for iKON dance cover contest". Kpop Herald. October 4, 2018.
  9. ↑ "2018년 32주차 Album Chart" [Album Chart – Week 32 of 2018 (New Kids: Continue] (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  10. 1 2 "iKON Hit New Peak on World Digital Song Sales Chart With 'Killing Me'". Billboard. August 9, 2018.
  11. ↑ "2018년 32주차 Digital Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart.
  12. ↑ "'New Kids: Continue' by iKon is underbaked, but worth a listen [Review]". South China Morning Post. August 12, 2018.
  13. ↑ "iKON's 'Killing Me' earns Billboard's praise, tops iTunes charts in 24 countries". Kpop Herald. August 3, 2018.
  14. ↑ "iKON Tops 'M Countdown' with the Song 'KILLING ME'… 'Overwhelming Performance in Music Charts'". YG Life. August 10, 2018.
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