Song You Need To Know: CAMO, ‘Mapsi’

There’s nothing we love more than badass women in Korean hip-hop, and CAMO is one of the names we’re keeping our eye on. The South Korean artist made her debut in 2020 with her EP Ice and then garnered attention with her hit single “Life is Wet” featuring R&B artist JMIN which dropped that same year. CAMO has since dropped numerous successful releases, making a mark with her fierce attitude and bold artistry.

Her latest single “Mapsi” dropped earlier today, and blends booming bass, R&B and rolling trap with Asian instrumentals with splashes of anguished electric guitar. Written by CAMO and produced by 808 Mafia’s MP808, “Mapsi” is a glimpse into the rapper’s life as she says, “I feel weird with all these camera flash/ New emotions I can feel it on the flesh/ Catch no feelings, that’s a bet/ I still worry holding on to the past.” Fluent in both English and Korean, CAMO plays with various bilingual puns throughout the tracks–with “Mapsi” in English she refers to the map of her life while in Korean she refers to her drip and success.

CAMO pays tribute to various branches of Asian culture in the fiery music video for “Mapsi,” performing the track on intricate sets that feature dragons, an abundance of the color red, and a feast of sushi. She wields a katana in some scenes, establishing herself as a warrior ready to fight and establish herself in the industry, confident with every move she makes.

According to a press release, “Mapsi” presents the East-meets-West soundscape CAMO aims to highlight via her upcoming first LP, Pressure Makes Diamonds, set to drop in February. In addition to her solo releases, CAMO has worked with various prominent artists in the Korean hip-hop and R&B scene, including AOMG rapper Simon Dominic for her 2021 single “Wifey,” and Woodz and Gemini on the latter’s 2021 release, “MIA.”