I.M of MONSTA X Releases New EP ‘Off the Beat’ With Title Track ‘LURE’

I.M., member of the K-pop group MONSTA X, and now an accomplished soloist, has released his new E.P. ‘Off The Beat.’ With six new songs, each embodying a unique story, the album incorporates hip-hop with ‘atypical’ musical elements from various genres such as soul, R&B, and bossa/Latin music.

The focus track, ‘LURE,’ is the first to stand out as a unique musical endeavor, showcasing I.M’s musical expansiveness between his vocals and his rap skills. With a punchy beat and Latin-influenced guitar sound, the tune becomes tangible in the listener’s mind. The opening starts with soft guitar strumming that lures us into upbeat hip-hop and trap sounds, carrying into smooth vocals. Ending with a type of serenading tone with the lyrics “Want ‘em to know for sure, can’t keep it on the low, babe can you love me out loud,” I.M sure aims to hold onto the theme of ‘temptation’ and luring his listeners in to the lyrics.

Each song on the tracklist unveils I.M’s current identity and different aspects of his daily life. ‘Bust it’  conveys his self-confidence over a strong trap sound, ‘X0′ is a smooth sound that draws someone in late at night. ‘Skyline’ with its rhythmic beat and tempting lyrics. ‘MMI’ contains self-confessional lyrics in an uptempo exotic melody. ‘nbdy’ is where one is faced with the emptiness of someone’s absence.