Kai (EP)

Kai (Hanja: 开, lit. "Open", stylized as K开I) is the debut eponymous extended play by South Korean singer Kai. It was released on November 30, 2020 by SM Entertainment. The album features six tracks including the lead single, "Mmmh".[2][3] The physical album is available in seven different versions (3 Photobook versions, 3 Jewel case versions and 1 Flipbook version).

Kai
Digital and Flipbook version cover
EP by
Kai
ReleasedNovember 30, 2020 (2020-11-30)
Recorded2020
GenreR&B
Length17:55
LanguageKorean
LabelSM Entertainment
Kai chronology
Kai
(2020)		 Peaches
(2021)
Singles from Kai
  1. "Mmmh"
    Released: November 30, 2020
Music video
"Mmmh" on YouTube
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Beats Per Minute77%[1]

Background

On July 3, SM Entertainment announced that Kai would release his first solo album, and was working on the album production with the goal of the second half of 2020.[4]

On November 11, it was announced that Kai will make his solo debut on November 30, with his 1st mini-album Kai.[5]

Kai's debut single title "음 (Mmmh)", was announced on November 19.[6]

Composition

The title song "음 (Mmmh)" is an R&B pop song with a simple yet addictive melody on a minimalist track, it is also described to be a charming, straight-forward love song.[7][8]

"Nothing on Me" is a PBR&B song featuring a heavy bass groove. It portrayed the moment when the protagonist getting intoxicated by the scent of the other person while moving closer them.[7]

"기억상실 (Amnesia)" is an R&B and trap song with attractive grooves and melody. It discusses the moment when the protagonist is falling in love and forgetting all memories from the past, only want to fill in the memories with the current partner.[9]

"Reason" is a progressive R&B song composed by American producer Mike Daley, with an addictive 808 pattern added to minimal club music, and the lyrics are intriguing about searching for one another, and eventually become fascinated to each other.[7]

"Ride or Die" is a PBR&B song created by producer Cha Cha Malone, it incorporates oriental guitar sound and a dreamy atmosphere. The lyrics are about stepping out of the boundaries to enjoy life.[7]

"Hello Stranger" is a progressive R&B song that stands out with a lyrical guitar sound, the lyrics depict a situation which a person feels a sense of sympathy to a stranger.[9]

Release and promotion

A video highlight "Film: Kai" was released on November 27, a video consists of the performance videos from all of the 6 tracks. The video was released on V Live, Naver, and YouTube.[10] The video is said to raise anticipation for fans, and the inspiration for the concept come from various movies.[11]

Kai appeared on DoReMi Market along with VIXX's Ravi, where he played along with the other cast members and gave spoiler to Mmmh's point dance[12] in the show.

On November 30, the official music video for "Mmmh" was released at 12pm KST, 6 hours before the album's release. The music video incorporates various sci-fi like materials, and shows Kai's teleportation skill, which is his assigned superpower in Exo. An hour after the music video release, Kai appeared on Kim Shinyoung Noon Song of Hope Radio to promote the album and talked about various things related to the album.[13] Exactly an hour before the album's release, Kai hosted a V Live broadcast where he promoted and discussed about the album with fans through interactive comments.[11] Kai performed "Mmmh" for the first time on Naver Now Party B.[14]

Track listing
Kai track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Mmmh" (음)
  • Jane
  • JUNNY
  • Keelah Jacobsen
  • Cameron Jai
  • JUNNY
  • Jane
  • Keelah Jacobsen
  • Alawn
3:12
2."Nothing on Me"Hwang Yoo-bin
  • Jake Torrey
  • Michael Matosic
  • Luke Niccoli
Luke Niccoli2:40
3."Amnesia" (기억상실)Lee Seu-ran
  • Joe Thibodeau
  • Bryant Thompson
  • Rian Ball
Joe Thibodeau2:58
4."Reason"Jo Yoon-kyung
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
  • Michael Jiminez
  • Mike Daley
  • Mitchell Owens
2:53
5."Ride or Die"Kim Yeon-seo
Cha Cha Malone3:20
6."Hello Stranger"Hwang Yoo-bin
  • Rob Grimaldi
  • Theron Thomas
  • Ivory Scott
Rob Grimaldi2:48
Total length:17:51

Charts
Chart performance for Kai
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon Digital)[15] 11
South Korean Albums (Gaon)[16] 3
UK Digital Albums (OCC)[17] 23
US Top Heatseekers (Billboard)[18] 7
US World Albums (Billboard)[19] 11
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[20] 84

Certifications
Certifications and sales for Kai
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
South Korea (KMCA)[21] Platinum 250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history
Release history for Kai
Region Date Format Label
South Korea November 30, 2020 CD, digital download SM Entertainment
Various Digital download

References
  1. Early, JT (December 10, 2020). "ALBUM REVIEW: KAI – KAI". Beats Per Minute. Archived from the original on July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  2. "엑소 카이, 솔로 데뷔…30일 'KAI' 발매 [공식]". n.news.naver.com (in Korean). 2020-11-11. Archived from the original on 2020-11-14.
  3. "EXO on Twitter: "'World-class performer' KAI to debut solo! 1st Mini Album 'KAI (开)' out on 11/30! To open new world of..." Twitter.com. 2020-11-11. Archived from the original on 2020-11-11.
  4. "2020年大驚喜！EXO 舞王 KAI 出道八年首次 solo 發行專輯啦～". Korea Star Daily. July 3, 2020. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  5. "엑소 카이, 솔로 데뷔…30일 'KAI' 발매 [공식]". entertain.naver.com/ (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2020-11-11. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  6. "EXO on Twitter: "KAI's 1st solo album title track '음 (Mmmh)' to be a charming straightforward love song that captures his confident attitude!". Twitter.com. 2020-11-19. Archived from the original on 2020-11-19.
  7. "엑소 카이, 첫 솔로앨범 'KAI'로 보여줄 다채로운 매력". 다음뉴스 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  8. KAI - The 1st Mini Album (in Korean). Dreamus. SM Entertainment. November 30, 2020. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2023 – via Melon.
  9. "'솔로 데뷔' 엑소 카이, 첫 앨범 'KAI' 30일 발매..독보적인 퍼포먼스 예고". 다음뉴스 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2020-11-24. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  10. ""솔로 데뷔 D-3" 엑소 카이 'FILM : KAI' 오늘 낮 12시 공개[공식]". 다음뉴스 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  11. "[V LIVE] KAI (开): THE OPENING LIVE". www.vlive.tv. Archived from the original on 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  12. "[세로캠] 훠! 눈호강! 안방1열로 즐기는 카이의 댄스 세로캠.mp4#놀라운토요일-도레미마켓 | amazingsaturday EP.136 - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-28. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  13. "[FULL] 데뷔 8년만에 첫 솔로 데뷔🎉🎉 음(Mmmh) 쫌 짱인 듯ㅎ ✨카이(KAI)✨님을 모십니다😘❤ / 정오의 희망곡 김신영입니다 - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2020-12-04. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  14. "카이가 PARTY B에 초대합니다💌ㅣNOW. - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2020-11-30.
  15. "オリコン週間 デジタルアルバムランキング 2020年11月30日～2020年12月06日 11～20位". ORICON NEWS. Archived from the original on 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  16. "Gaon Album Chart – Week 50, 2020". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  17. "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. December 10, 2020. Archived from the original on July 4, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  18. "Heatseekers Albums Chart: The week of December 12, 2020". Billboard. December 10, 2020. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  19. "World Albums Chart: The week of December 12, 2020". Billboard. December 10, 2020. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  20. "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży: Albumy" (Select week 24.03.2023–30.03.2023.) (in Polish). ZPAV. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  21. "South Korean album certifications" (in Korean). Korea Music Content Association (KMCA). Retrieved February 10, 2022.
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