February ended on a high note for EXO-Ls as EXO, SuperM, and EXO-CBX vocalist BAEKHYUN surprisingly teased new music on the 28th. His last release was his 2024 fourth solo album, Hello, World, which proved wildly successful as it went on to sell over 1 million copies. His label, INB100, posted concept photos for his single, “Do What You Do,” with a caption revealing its March 3 release date and insinuating it would include a mystery collaboration. This single would become BAEKHYUN’s first song collaboration in four years. His label did not leave fans guessing who BAEKHYUN teamed up with for too long, as the official reveal came a few hours later.
EL CAPITXN, known for working with K-Pop acts including BTS, TXT, IU, and more, produced the track. BAEKHYUN, who often dives into the R&B genre with his solo releases, fittingly recruited American R&B singer-songwriter UMI to join him as the featured vocalist. UMI, who has been writing songs since the age of five, began garnering major success in 2018 with her viral independently-released single “Remember Me.” She has since released multiple EPs and a 2022 debut album, Forest in the City. This collaboration with BAEKHYUN does not serve as UMI’s first time working with a K-Pop act, with one of her best-performing songs being 2023’s “wherever u r” with BTS’ V. Along with contributing her gorgeous vocals to the track, UMI assisted with crafting lyrics for “Do What You Do.”
The smooth R&B track shows conflicting depictions of post-breakup coping. UMI begins the song by expressing animosity toward her former partner for their part in the split. She beautifully flutters between her higher and lower registers as she flows through the chorus and verses. BAEKHYUN utilizes his voice similarly when his verse arises around halfway through the track, allowing them both to match their emotional deliveries with the shifts in production. In contrast to UMI’s verse, BAEKHYUN depicts a more yearning attitude toward the breakup as he hopes for another chance. The two singers harmonize together effortlessly after BAEKHYUN’s verse, showcasing the perfect meld of their gorgeous voices.
“Letting it go now / Putting you out my mind / So do you what you do babe / No, I’m not trippin’ on you babe,” BAEKHYUN and UMI sing.
The song is visualized in its official lyric video, where BAEKHYUN longs for a love lost. In the lyric video, UMI and BAEKHYUN play the roles of people in a tarnished relationship, as UMI appears physically far away but is not adrift from BAEKHYUN’s mind. BAEKHYUN scrolls through his social media feed as videos of UMI singing her verses pop up alongside him. Her face even appears on a display of the moon floating in his room and on the actual moon outside his window, complementing his passionate lyrics about wanting to wait for love to be restored.