In part. 2 of the “search for MIB” series, (read part. 1 here), Jungle Entertainment - home of hip-hop luminaries Tiger JK and Yoon Mi Rae (Tasha) – took a huge gamble in the idol field with rookie hip-hop boy band M.I.B: Most Incredible Busters. Similar to Cho PD’s treatment of Block B, M.I.B (rappers SIMS, Cream and 5Zic, and singer KangNam) were left to their own devises to create their very own debut project. They debuted with the release of a full-length album and the unprecedented tactic of releasing FIVE singles; four solo singles for each member and the lead single “GDM” to mark the album’s release and the group’s debut on the music stages. Did the gamble work?

As a group, M.I.B. is solid, with enough diversity to create a proper boy band and different rap styles that are authentic without coming off as too gimmicky.

The first out of the gate was 5Zic and his solo “Beautiful Day“, which showed off his gritty characterization, using a slight raspy quality in delivering his lines. Cream, with one of the most unfortunate stage names in K-pop, takes on the lover boy persona on “Do U Like Me” with a smooth style that’s supposed to be seductive, yet is too jumpy in production to achieve the proper effect. SIMS, the resident speed rapper, is the partier with his solo “Hands Up“, the second of the weak solo singles, which is unfortunate because he’s the most talented of the four. The track drowns him out in a haze of noise and hip-hop production gimmicks. In all, these three rappers can’t create memorable solo tracks, which is fine by me. Their group stuff works better.

Before I get to the proper M.I.B. tracks, I have to talk about KangNam.

KangNam’s singing does the job of being the singer in a hip-hop track; he’s neither good enough to overshadow the rappers, but not so terrible to make the sub-hooks and bridges unbearable. In fact, he does a good job on the lead single by adding the climax that the song needed. But his solo, “Say My Name“, is ear sandpaper. The combination of his vocal layers and auto-tune only highlight the fact that KangNam is not an able singer on his own. At least, not yet. When I first heard 5Zic’s solo with Rphabet’s Bee, I thought he was now part of M.I.B, but it became clear why KangNam wasn’t the guest singer; he couldn’t reach the vocal highs Bee can or sing with enough emotion to make that kind of a bridge believable. To become an integral part of M.I.B, KangNam has his work cut out for him. At this point, he’s overshadowed by the other three in talent.

Solo MVs: “Beautiful Day” | “Do You Like Me” | “Hands Up” | “Say My Name“

As a group, M.I.B. gels amazingly well. On their three stand-out tracks, “G.D.M“, “Complicated” and “Who Am I?“, M.I.B. pull off the party, relationship anger and swagger themes with a level of cohesion and production that was missing in the solo tracks. “G.D.M.” has a robotic hook, a treble-heavy dance production and a bridge that’s perfect to shout out in a club at one or two in the morning. It isn’t original, but the track hits all the notes required to debut in the k-idol scene. By the way, I’m convinced the D was supposed to be drinks, but had to be changed to dreams to satisfy the censors, since SIMS is not legally able to drink.

“Complicated” has to be their best track yet, a feat considering their rookie status. Its busy production fits the theme of the nebulous point during a break up where things are neither here nor there and all the emotions inherit in that situation. “Who Am I”s shout-along hook lets you know what it’ll be about, and the closing break is a great way to highlight the individual talents of the three rappers all in one spot.

Though the record ‘M.I.B.’ isn’t breaking any new ground, it does have its moments of talent that with more time and experience, could take this group somewhere.

Jungle Entertainment aimed to bring out a hip-hop idol boy band (though M.I.B. claims they aren’t), and it largely succeeded with “G.D.M”. Yet the record doesn’t fit that mold. ‘M.I.B.’ is hip-hop through and through, but it isn’t sugary enough for pop and isn’t gritty enough to stay in hip-hop proper. Unlike Block B’s ‘New Kids on the Block‘, which had loads of electro-pop elements to stay afloat in k-pop, ‘M.I.B.’ on the other hand doesn’t have enough. It sticks to its guns of treble and bass interplay that is common in hip-hop and throws it to an audience that isn’t accustomed to that particular style.

That being said, the production is too busy to make for a straight hip-hop record, even at its most down to earth moments. If the aim of M.I.B. is to stay in this “no-man’s land”, then great; there aren’t many groups that can straddle that fence well. However, if they don’t work better at their game, they’ll be swamped by the current kings of that fence – Block B. And to some extent, One Way.

M.I.B.’s self-titled debut record is an able introduction to what these guys are all about; treble-heavy production, classic hip-hop themes of partying and self-aggrandizement, and diverse personalities for the k-idol audience to latch unto. The rappers are talented, KangNam has hope to get there, and when they work, M.I.B. surpasses expectations. But when they fail, it’s bad. I like Most Incredible Busters, and I think the Jungle Entertainment pedigree will be one reason they’ll go places, but ‘M.I.B.’ the record doesn’t get there just yet.

In the search for the MIB, this lead is still in progress.

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Hi! My name is Xtian, and I’m a total pop music whore. I’m from NYC and can be seen dancing in the streets with headphones permanently glued to my ears. I may not have had a musical background, but I’m a lover of all things music, so I’m excited to be bringing a new voice to the McRoth’s funhouse. Y’all can email me at paulaboy2505@aol.com, or better yet, follow me on twitter, where I do most of my social media-ing, @drowningn00b. See y’all lataz.