After years of ready for JYP Leisure to debut their workforce from 2021’s LOUD survival collection, KickFlip have been one among my most anticipated new acts of 2025. Sadly, I haven’t been in a position to join with their music up to now. I hoped the songs would develop on me with time, but when something the alternative has occurred. There’s a really wonderful line between rambunctious/enjoyable/cheeky and cloying. For me, songs like Mama Mentioned lean additional towards the latter. Thankfully, follow-up observe Knock Knock factors a brand new manner ahead.

I’ve lengthy had a love-and-hate relationship with JYP’s musical output. The company appears to favor extremely repetitive, nursey rhyme hooks — particularly on the subject of boy teams. At its finest, Knock Knock has a fab sound paying homage to EXO’s basic Growl. I just like the tight vocal harmonies that buttress the music’s hook and want they have been framed round extra participating melodies. Whereas I don’t significantly just like the refrain, the way in which it’s delivered is charming and recent. Given totally different materials, it’s clear KickFlip might (and hopefully will) be a formidable rookie group.

So reasonably than spend an excessive amount of time dissecting Knock Knock, I want to consider the music as a roadmap for future endeavors. I hope the group eases away from gimmicks and explores the extra soulful points of their vocal line. This music works finest in service to its groove, particularly when the vocals forge their very own rhythm.

Grade: C+