[Review] Unfair – FELIX (Stray Kids)

With news that Stray Kids will be making a comeback soon with their fourth studio album, KARMA, I thought I would start on the many reviews I have not posted for Stray Kids – the solo tracks from their Hop mixtape and the unit tracks from their Mixtape: Dominate album. Next up is FELIX’s solo single from Hop, Unfair. For the other reviews of Stray Kids’ solo songs from the Hop mixtape, see the links below the music video.

It is interesting to hear a more vocal-centric track from FELIX, who is known for his deeper voice, which tends to lend well towards rapping. Unfair combines FELIX’s vocals with a cool hip-hop beat, giving it a semblance to the style he is more known for. Within the verses of Unfair, we also get some delicate piano accompanying the hip-hop beat. These two elements come together quite well, creating an emotive and heavenly atmosphere that allows FELIX to liken his journey to the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast. Unfair speaks to the insecurity he feels (references to feeling like a ‘beast’ in the lyrics) and how love (references to Belle in the lyrics) can help him overcome his insecurities. As for FELIX’s vocals, I am a bit torn. I very much prefer his usual deep style, as he showcases in the raps and the choruses, even in a melodic manner. It feels natural and allows Unfair to be associated with him. However, in the verses, the autotune strips away his characteristic deep voice, leaving behind an artificial-sounding voice that I cannot connect with. I wished FELIX and the producers had fully embraced his deeper voice and utilised it in the verses, as this would have felt fitting with what he is conveying in Unfair.

The music video draws upon the Beauty and the Beast storyline that I mentioned earlier. We see FELIX portray a winged beast, like a fallen angel, wandering alone in the dark forest. In the presence of the rose, he is reminded of his love (the flashback scenes earlier show him in the presence of Belle, dressed in white to represent innocence and purity). He comes to terms with his beastly appearance, which briefly reappears and then disappears, showing the audience that there is hope for one to overcome their insecurities. The visual aspects of the music video are amazing, particularly those underwater scenes.

Song – 7/10
Music Video – 10/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10

I.N’s HALLUCINATION | SEUNGMIN’s As We Are | FELIX’s Unfair | HAN’s Hold My Hand
HYUNJIN’s So Good | CHANGBIN’s ULTRA | LEE KNOW’s YOUTH | BANG CHAN’s Railway