music.wikisort.org - Composition

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.

New Kids: Continue
Digital and Red version cover.
EP by iKON
Released	August 2, 2018 (2018-08-02)
Recorded	2018
Length	17:18
Language	Korean
Label	YG
Producer	B.I
IKON chronology
Return (2018) New Kids: Continue (2018) New Kids: The Final (2018)
Singles from New Kids: Continue
"Killing Me" Released: August 2, 2018 "Freedom" Released: August 2, 2018

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

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

External links

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