R&B veteran BUMKEY is returning with a new full-length album that encapsulates his 10-year musical journey.
BUMKEY's third studio album "ON MY WAY" will be released today at 6:00 p.m. across various online music streaming platforms. Serving as a single narrative built upon the time and life he has steadily accumulated since his first studio album in 2016, the release captures BUMKEY's present as he continues to walk his own musical path, showcasing a deeply expanded musical world.
BUMKEY's signature musical color, which fluidly traverses hip-hop and jazz centered around R&B and soul, remains potent on this album. In particular, a lineup of artists who have built unique musical worlds in their respective fields—including BewhY, JUSTHIS, lIlBOI, GSoul, THAMA, and Horim—participated in the album to add richness.
The title track "Freewill (feat. BewhY)" is a song about "free will," choosing the direction one believes in and moving forward amidst countless options. BUMKEY's rich vocals and BewhY's intense rapping blend together to clearly deliver the message of the song. Dancer Batta and comedian Lee Jung-gyu, who are close friends with BUMKEY, make cameo appearances in the music video, drawing attention.
Another title track, "2006," was created by BUMKEY while recalling the moment he first met his current wife, expressing the love and memories built together with one person over a long period through BUMKEY's uniquely warm and delicate R&B sensibilities. The pre-released track "SPEEED (feat. JUSTHIS, Justin Park)" is also included in this studio album. Carrying a message that questions the direction of life one truly desires amid a fast-paced daily routine, the track features appearances by JUSTHIS and Korean-American R&B artist Justin Park to complete an intense synergy.
BUMKEY has established himself as an artist representing Korean R&B, receiving recognition for his unrivaled tone and musicality through numerous hit songs such as "Bad Girl," "Attraction," and "The Lady." Recently, "Bad Girl" has garnered renewed attention, continuing a reverse-running trend and reintroducing BUMKEY's long-loved music to a new generation.
Meanwhile, apart from his music activities, BUMKEY has continuously engaged in social activities related to drug prevention and youth support. Since being appointed as a special lecturer for national juvenile detention centers in 2019, he has conducted special lectures on preventing the abuse of narcotics for schools and correctional facilities of all levels, and this year he was also appointed as a civilian member of the Narcotics Countermeasures Committee under the Office for Government Policy Coordination.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)
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