SKY-HI and Stray Kids 3RACHA Joins Forces on ‘Just Breathe’
The single comes a few weeks after Stray Kids announced their March 2022 comeback
Japanese rapper SKY-HI and K-pop powerhouse Stray Kids’ production unit 3RACHA blend their artistry on the hard-hitting collaborative single “Just Breathe.” Comprising Bang Chan, Changbin and Han, 3RACHA have played an integral role in defining Stray Kids’ widely celebrated discography.
The powerful rap anthem, penned by SKY-HI, blends soaring trap sounds with hip-hop beats, weaving a compelling playing field for the rappers to demonstrate their varied flows. Catching listeners off-guard, the single opens on a rather somber note with an eerie yet stable synth arrangement with SKY-HI’s intentionally auto-tuned vocals echoing: “Yeah, baby, what’s the matter with your bleary eyes?/ Not enough no matter how many times we fight.”
The soundscape and mood of the track quickly shift from eerie to ruthless with the gradual introduction of a punchy hip hop beat as SKY-HI begins to rap: “I don’t care if I am a loser or a winner/ There ain’t no you and me on our path anymore/ Only ’cause I’m the king, top of the leader/ If it’s a crime to not have a dream.” The intro may lead the audience to believe the track stems from a mindset of a protagonist enduring a terrible break-up, but as it progresses, the nuanced sensibilities of the human psyche emerge, highlighting the ethos of the track.
Delivered in Japanese, Korean and English, the trilingual track touches upon thought-provoking thematics of self-love: “Not someone else, just be yourself/ On the other side of the mirror must not be an enemy,” taking charge of your own fate; “I survive until the end with desperation in a harsh world/ Even if it all disappears, I’m not gone,” and surviving the toughest days life as to offer. It’s a fitting track for those who struggle to believe in themselves, resulting in distortion of their identity and confidence.
Concluding on an inspiring note, SKY-HI, Changbin, and Han leave listeners with the ultimate truth of life; you are your own cheerleader and trust no one except yourself: “One day, live will end, you got endless vibes/ It’s the shapeless love that shines ’til the end (No)/ Not someone else (What?), just be yourself (What?)/ That guy behind the mirror is surely not the enemy.”
“Just Breathe” comes roughly a week after JYP Entertainment’s group, Stray Kids announced their forthcoming comeback. Titled ODDINARY, the release follows their highly successful and critically acclaimed 2021 LP No Easy and will be released on March 18th, 2021.
