Seventeen’s Vernon is on his ‘Worst Behavior’ in ‘Black Eye’

Christmas has come early thanks to Vernon and his latest release, “Black Eye.” Establishing itself as the first solo mixtape project from the singer’s discography, “Black Eye” follows his previously released project “Beg For You (Remix)” – the reworked Charlie XCX single, where Vernon featured alongside A.G. Cook and Rina Sawayama – and Omega Sapien’s “Wrecker.” 

Co-written and composed by him, “Black Eye” fits Vernon’s artistic expression like a glove. The textured pop-punk single offers a delectable assortment of distorted electric guitars and crunchy percussion arrangements, a perfect mix of sounds to enhance his frustration with isolation and inability to connect with others around him. Coupled with his raw and rough vocal tones, “Black Eye” is sonic catharsis for those who never mastered the art of expressing anger and resentment. If you fancy yourself as someone who grew up with pop-punk, “Black Eye’s” soundscape will instantly remind you of Paramore, Simple Plan and Avril Lavigne’s music. Fun fact: Vernon has previously shared his admiration for an array of pop-punk artists including Lavigne.  

Blunt and clear in his expression, the artist finds himself battling loneliness and solitude, despite making several attempts at trying to connect with someone: “I can’t stand the quiet/ Is anyone out there.” The chorus sees the singer let it all out as he slips into his “worst behavior,” seeking a way out of reality: “I’m on my worst behavior/ Don’t stop me now/ I f**king hate this world/ So show me a way out/ Wake me up from this nightmare, please.”

In true pop-punk fashion, Vernon steers away from a vibrant color palette in the music video. Donned in either a black-on-black ensemble or faded denim with a luxurious white fur coat, the rapper wanders inside a warehouse at dusk, sometimes atop a monster truck. His overall style, demeanor and attitude perfectly embody the rebellious essence of the track. 

In an interview with a Korean news outlet, Vernon revealed that he worked on his mixtape while on tour with his fellow Seventeen bandmates. Despite a grueling schedule and production process, Vernon was “excited” to share his music with Carats (Seventeen’s fandom). 

Vernon is the third member of the 13-piece act to release a mixtape, following Hoshi’s Spider (April 2021) and Woozi’s Ruby (January 2022). Earlier this year, Seventeen released their fourth studio album Face The Sun and its re-packaged version Sector 17. To promote the release, the band embarked on an illustrious world tour titled after the studio album.