2 weeks ago
19
Since their debut in 2023, n.SSign have struggled to forge their own sound, shifting genres and energy with each comeback. For me, they’ve yet to better the stunning ballad Higher, which displayed a vocal ambition we don’t often hear in K-pop these days. New single Itty Bitty introduces a bit of bombastic funk but ultimately becomes yet another generic boy group banger.
There are moments of promise anchoring Itty Bitty. The powerful chorus has touches of SHINee, though they’re smothered by somewhat dull production and a throwaway “la la la” post-chorus. The verses employ the kind of stuttering, NCT-esque beat we’ve heard hundreds of times over the past few years, sacrificing drive for copy-and-paste posturing. Verse two injects some needed sonic drama, but there’s only so much you can do with a line like “she got me oh so sticky.” Major side eye emoji on that one, boys…
Ultimately, Itty Bitty scratches enough baseline boy group itches to work as a fun stopgap, but in a year desperately in need of 9+ rated standouts, my playlist doesn’t need any more stopgaps. I’m looking for a group like n.SSign to truly knock things out of the park and I sense they can do that if given the right material. Itty Bitty takes some tentative steps in the right direction, but leaves me wanting more.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
English (US) · 