Monsta X’s Joohoney has just released his second mini album, though he’s also put out a handful of mixtapes over the years. This follows digital pre-release Push, which failed to capture attention despite a notable team-up with IVE’s Rei. Now, he’s back with an even more notable feature — legendary boxer Muhammad Ali in the form of his iconic “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” audio clip.
And… that’s all you really need to know about this song. It’s gimmicky, cribbing that well-known quote as its spoken-word chorus and surrounding it with an ugly synth loop. Elsewhere, the track blends rock production with Joohoney’s hard-hitting rap. It’s not a particularly enjoyable listen in any way, as he spends most of the time shouting at listeners to prove his resolve. But when it comes down to it, I just can’t get past that chorus. It’s like the audio version of a cheap t-shirt with some cheesy, overused motivational phrase written on it. I suppose Sting could get you pumped up to go to the gym, but I can’t imagine listening to it in any other context.
Hooks
5
Production
7
Longevity
7
Bias
6
RATING
6.25
Grade: D
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