Huh, formerly known as Rose de Penny on season 8 and 9 of Mnet’s Show Me The Money, returns with a new persona and the emotionally charged full-length album 926. The album consists of 10 tracks that illustrate the artist’s preferred life pattern of working through the night as opposed to Korea’s typical office schedule of 9am to 6pm. With an emphasis on the life of a creative, Huh sheds light on his nocturnal working hours that allow him to further tap into his emotions and creativity. From a fervent beginning with “Die,” to the witty title “EXS,” to the deeper look into his thoughts on the ordinary working hours with “9 to 6,” 926 embodies the inner workings of Huh.
Huh earned the nickname “Little Giant” for being able to hide his beauty behind a cute exterior and drew attention from the hip-hop scene for his strong and unique flow. He ignited his career back in 2020 on Show Me The Money (season 9) when he joined the Dynamic Duo and BewhY team. The various skills and experience he gained led him to release the tracks “Win Win (feat. Gaeko and BewhY)” and “Y earned (feat. Gaeko and SOLE).” After Amoeba Culture recruited him in 2021, Huh released a single album, uh-uh, featuring Amoeba Culture’s legendary rapper Gaeko and trendsetter Kid Milli. Since then, Huh continues to produce influential releases and work with noteworthy talent such as BLOO, Leellamarz, and Mirani.
926 begins with “Die,” a dark, intense track that encapsulates the feeling of staying above water to prove yourself. The background instrumentals incorporate a variety of sounds including strings, bells, and crows to create an eerie, attention-grabbing opening. The lyrics “You won’t even dare / To take my light / Die when I die / They will smile, so I can’t die,” emphasize Huh’s urgent need to stand up against those that doubted him.
With a transition into the rap heavy “DDKD (feat. JUSTTHIS and Dynamic Duo),” Huh provides an aggressive yet steady flow to detail moments of working hard to stand out above the rest. In the impactful music video that accompanies the track, Huh lies in a coffin at a church. Visitors pretend to cry and pray around his body, which signifies that they only support him because of his importance. With lyrics like “Even if it goes overtime, it’s the beginning / The persona you want to be / I’ll be your mentor, yesir,” he explains the work it takes to become the ideal version of yourself.
To further explore the theme of grinding to make a name for himself, “Django (feat. OURREALGOAT, lobonabeat!, and Gwangil Jo)” discusses the positives and negatives of rising to the top, and the desire to repay those who have stood by his side since the beginning. He also mentions the need to beware of those that only use him to get close to money as he sings, “The people who love me / Use it to get the money.” To acknowledge his genuine support system, he shares his desire to make them proud and repay them for their pure love.
“Phantom (feat. Mirani),” enters with a spectral introduction melody before Huh crashes in with a strong, ariose rap to capture the essence of doing your own thing and only worrying about yourself. Despite having vastly different sounds and styles, Huh and Mirani work flawlessly on the song as Huh’s rough sound is softened by Mirani’s smooth, sleek tone. The heavy piano chords combined with Huh and Mirani’s cool vocals and dismissive lyrics create a fresh, assertive atmosphere.
To slow down the fast paced energy, “Dreamwalk,” showcases a glimpse of Huh’s vocal abilities throughout his rap verses. Lyrically, the track displays a softer side of Huh as he expresses his desperation to escape a heartbreak that haunts even his dreams and his inability to do so. The lyrics “Dreams lock me up even though it’s yesterday / Nightfall / Into the depths, right / Wrong I couldn’t fight though / I’m still trapped in a dream,” discuss his inability to escape the endless thoughts of this person, even in his subconscious.
Offering a sonically soft track, “interlude 130,” sounds like a breath of fresh air after working tirelessly by giving fans a moment to rest with a slowed, calming instrumental. Like the album’s theme of hard work and paving your own path, the first five tracks created an almost non-stop energy leading up to this well-timed moment of temporary peace.
To carry on with more gentle energy, Huh teams up with PARA9ON and THAMA for one of the double title tracks, “Thumbs up.” The track is a plea to rekindle an old relationship despite any past turmoil. Huh recognizes regardless of the problems that have arisen and his inability to solve them, he needs this person next to him. To express the urgency to see and be with them he cries out, “I feel so lonely. I want you to know that / You know I hate the panic / You’re the only one who can solve this / I can do it today / Stay with me.”
“Pouritup (feat. SOLE),” listens like a conversation between two old flames. As Huh speaks of drinking to cope in the chorus and pre-chorus, SOLE enters on the verses as a rebuttal to explain her choice to never look back on the relationship. The two voices mix their opposing tones, seamlessly intertwining to create an intimate atmosphere and solemn feel.
The album then transitions into the second title track, “EXS.” Huh sings of a powerful feeling that overtakes him. Offering a rich, husky tone combined with an intense beat, he explains the overwhelming desire to spend time with this person. A sinister music video compliments the track and displays Huh covered in blood while sitting in an empty diner, standing outside the burning building, and crawling on the floor looking for a way out. As he sings, “Unable to wake up from this bad trip / burn up, let you be gasoline,” he lies on the pavement in an attempt to escape his thoughts. Throughout the track he displays a variety of mixed messages and emotions when telling this person that he hates them, despite wanting to be with them. Huh’s indecisiveness and inconsistency creates his own inescapable labyrinth.
The album rounds out with the gloomy, somber track “9 to 6,” which personifies the emotions of longing for an ex-lover. Huh yearns for a relationship he once had and shares his disappointment in himself with the simple phrase, “It doesn’t look good on me.” His deep voice combined with the electric guitar riff create a moment for fans to reflect and bask in his emotions.
Overall, 926 reveals a more gentle side to Huh as he weaves his thoughts and feelings into tales of love, heartbreak, and his career. His unconventional working hours give him the ability to access a higher level of sentiment and authenticity by releasing from a confining work schedule and allowing him to create freely. Steady vocals combined with husky rap allowed fans to see and feel a variety of different emotions, proving his skilled storytelling abilities. We are looking forward to seeing what Huh does next!
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