Korean-Canadian artist James An will transport you back to the 1990s with his new EP, I Have No Friends And I Must Party. This eight-track release captures his genuine passion for hip-hop and skilfully pays homage to it. The artist mixed the quintessential elements of golden age hip-hop to create a beautiful and necessary listening experience.
James opens his EP with GTA (Grand Thank Auto), presenting his fearless approach to experimenting with sounds. The track shines with a stylish fluidity, beautifully blending R&B, soul, and funk. The snare drums in the chorus create a feeling reminiscent of a coming-of-age show, similar to the iconic sounds featured in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Moving to Way Too Many, the song acts as a reflection on society and its expectations, which is characterised by an interesting mix of slick rhymes and insightful lyrics. There’s a recurring theme of dealing with the aforementioned issues and the internal conflict that arises from them. It feels like the artist explores their cultural identity and takes pride in defying stereotypes. Despite the challenges and noise, James is focused on his future and refuses to be dragged back by past constraints or societal expectations. Embracing the spirit of the title, he incorporates a multitude of sounds. Yet, this experimentation is precisely what makes the song great, resulting in a beat unlike any other.
Before the new EP was released, James revealed a double single consisting of A Streetcar Named Desire (feat. Donna Goldn) and Sasha. The latter is a laid-back song; it explores the bond between his seven-year-old dog, with whom he has a heart-warming relationship. The repeated phrases, such as: “Take me for a walk / we don’t need to talk / You are the only universe I saw / Take me for a walk / we don’t need to talk”, show the joy found in simple, everyday interactions and the comfort of being with someone special – Sasha, in this case.
Each listener understands lyrics differently, but that’s the beauty of music; it is free to interpret. For Eva, in our opinion, paints a vivid picture of love, introspection, and existential musings: “I’m fallin’ underneath your eyes / What more can I see / What more can you need, take my hand in freefall / I’m fallin’ on my knees tonight / On the floor, we sigh / Someone told me about it, this romanticide”. The more you listen to the song, the more you realise that it explores a connection between two people, likening their bond to an infinite universe. The imagery of light, fractals, and silhouettes underscores the complexity and depth of their relationship. The lyrics also touch on societal issues, fake prophets, and the commercialisation of individuals. The repeated phrase “love, sex, death” highlights fundamental human experiences and the intertwined nature of these concepts. The further we read into the lyrics, we notice that they continue the theme of exploration and connection. It feels like they reflect on the transient nature of life and love, comparing it to stars that appear bright even after they’re gone. The imagery of “undercover aliens” implies feeling out of place or seeking something beyond the ordinary. The idea of blooming and fading captures the ephemeral nature of life and relationships, and the repeated lines about liking and writing a letter emphasise the urgency and sincerity of the moment.
Moving to a heavier topic, Children’s Day represents everything we dislike about the world. James’ lyrics reflect a powerful commentary on various social issues, particularly focusing on the violence, systemic failures, and societal complacency that plague both his home country of South Korea and the United States. Lyrics such as “I have begun this letter two times and torn it up twice” visibly suggest difficulty in expressing the gravity of these issues, and with the words “School violence / another student suicided, teachers silent”, James boldly points to the tragic reality of bullying and the failure of teachers to intervene – a common issue in South Korean schools. Apart from criticising the passive role of bystanders who fail to act against injustices, James also implies a breakdown in societal standards and the legal system. In addition, he is unafraid to show the depth of despair among young people. What’s paramount for us is that the artist fairly critiques the focus on materialism and superficiality in mainstream rap, contrasting it with the deeper issues: “Guns and gangs, who rapped about that / Chains and blings, who’s rappin’ about that / Cars and hoes, who rapped about that / Fancy clothes, who’s rappin’ about that”.
He also speaks out about systematic failures in healthcare, where he points out a tragic story of a child failing to receive timely medical care. It is hard not to write an essay on this song; it is truly a mind-blowing track. James also emphasises on the epidemic of gun violence in the US, which is well-described in the following lyrics: “This year alone over two hundred mass shootings in the States (…) / Who the ones that are shooting / Who the ones gettin’ shot / The mall, the restaurant, the schools, the club, nobody’s safe”. Although the song conveys a sense of despair among the youth, it also clearly calls for deeper awareness and action. On top of that, James’ personal anecdotes and experiences bring a human perspective to the broader social critique.
Misanthrope and Who Am I and Where I Am, are both Korean songs that might be challenging for non-Koreans to understand. As much as we desired to translate the lyrics, the essence of the tracks was unfortunately lost in translation. However, the musical arrangements and the rapping are absolutely spot on.
The strength of I Have No Friends And I Must Party lies in its musicality – you never know what sound is going to pop up next. This release is so intense that there aren’t enough words to express how great this EP truly is. James, yet again, boldly embraced his creative vision, and the result is a thrilling roller coaster of amazing sounds, making for a worthwhile listen. The only challenge is pinpointing a single standout track, as all eight pack a punch.
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Written by Team View of the Arts
View of the Arts is an online publication that chiefly deals with films, music, and art, with an emphasis on the Asian entertainment industry. We are hoping our audience will grow with us as we begin to explore new platforms such as K-pop / K-music, and Asian music in general, and continue to dive into the talented and ever-growing scene of film, music, and arts, worldwide.