Watch Joohoney’s Desolate Video for ‘Smoky’

Monsta X rapper Joohoney made his much-awaited solo return today with his sophomore mixtape Psyche. Led by the single “Smoky,” the record follows the his 2018 solo debut mixtape DWTD.

The black-and-white music video shows the rapper dressed in black and running desperately through a hazy, empty field. Dust and smoke fly through the air and surround him as he frantically tries to seek a way out. “Smoky” follows the release of the more confident and anthemic “Intro: Ambition” and the pair contrast each other beautifully to present two sides of Joohoney to the audience before they hear the entire mixtape.

“Smoky” also provides the raw emotional connect many were expecting from the rapper’s sophomore offering. The lyrics are heartbreaking and explore loneliness, self-doubt and a want to return to one’s childhood when things were more innocent and less complicated: “I don’t know who I am/No one knows who I am/I don’t even know if my smile is happy/I don’t know if I’m sad now.” The track’s progression is hopeful however, as Joohoney vows to rise above all his challenges and the hate thrown at him to become a better person even if the future is hazy, “Nobody can stop me now/Nobody can hold me down/They’re gonna try to bring me down/My future smoky, smoky.” In the final verse of the track, the rapper is joined by a choir of children singing along with him. “Smoky,” like the entire mixtape, was written, produced and arranged by Joohoney, and shows off a different side of the rapper with its acoustic rock base.

Psyche comprises a total of seven tracks and features collaborators like former 4TEN member and rapper TEM and legendary vocalist Boa Kim. Joohoney is set to return with his group Monsta X on their third studio album Fatal Love in November.