A year after the release of his second EP, Peaches, Kim Jongin—better known by the stage name, KAI—has made his solo comeback with his third EP, Rover. KAI is best known as the charismatic and powerful main dancer of K-pop sensation EXO, but since the release of his 2020 debut EP, KAI (开), he has been steadily growing his own fanbase as a soloist.

With his third EP, KAI explores new sounds and proves why he has earned the moniker “idol of idols.”

The following review is based on the opinion of the writer and does not reflect the thoughts of Team Genius Korea or Genius Media Group, Inc.

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TITLE TRACK: “Rover”

“Rover” is a remake of “Mr. Rover” by Bulgarian pop singer DARA. She is credited as a composer and writer for “Rover,” and has uploaded multiple Instagram posts showing her support for KAI’s rendition of the song. The most noticeable difference between “Mr. Rover" and “Rover” is that the latter is in a lower key; other than that, the songs are quite similar sonically. However, with a change in its lyrics and KAI’s magnetic vocal and dance performances, “Rover” avoids being a simple copy-and-paste project.

KAI’s previous singles “Mmmh” and “Peaches” were both of the R&B genres, but “Rover” is a dancehall track containing a heart-pounding bass. “Rover” also features prominent use of percussion throughout—twinkling bells, and the marimba can be heard in the background as KAI’s sultry voice draws listeners in.

Stop, I’m throwing away my name
Mr. Rover, rover, rover
I’m coming over, over, over
Call me Rover, rover, rover
I’m coming over
Throwing away my name, ‘Mr.’

Lyrically, “Rover” is about an individual who dismisses the criticisms of others and chooses to live freely as a wanderer (hence the title, as “rover” can be used as a synonym of “wanderer”). No matter how much people try to figure out the rover in question, they turn up empty-handed due to their ever-changing identity. Eventually, the rover decides to put an end to their ever-changing identity and challenges those who criticize them to figure out their true self. “Rover’s” meaning is expressed in the music video, which we will now dig into.

Music Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlTIextYnyQ

The music video for “Rover” begins with KAI creating an ID card in a dimly lit room. He constructs his first identity, Mr. Frank William, from a list of names he has presumably made himself. This is just the first of many identities KAI creates for himself, as we later see in a multitude of cuts, he has created over a dozen fake IDs with a variety of names and photographs of himself in a variety of fashion styles.

One of the identities KAI assumes is Mr. Elliot Billy, a reference to the 2000 British coming-of-age film, Billy Elliot. The film centers around the titular protagonist, an 11-year-old boy who is passionate about ballet. In a May 2014 interview with The Celebrity Magazine, KAI revealed he first learned ballet as a child after watching The Nutcracker, and began practicing the dance form again as an adult after watching Billy Elliot.

The final ID card KAI presents is devoid of a name and photograph, and simply reads “MR.” This is KAI accepting himself as a free artist, no longer tying himself down to one specific identity to please others. This occurs during the bridge, where KAI sings,

Flip the thinking that cages you
As you see who I am, watch me go
Baby, catch me if you can, let’s race so

Intercut with the music video’s plotline are snippets of “Rover”’s choreography. While we are not shown the full dance, I am confident when I say it will more than likely be one of the standouts of 2023. The choreography is sleek and powerful, showcasing why KAI is referred to as one of the best dancers in K-pop. Idols such as SF9’s Taeyang and DKB’s Heechan have already posted dance covers of “Rover’s” dance chorus, and in the following weeks, more and more idols are sure to join them.

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B-Sides

“Black Mirror”

The first B-side on Rover, “Black Mirror,” is described as a hip-hop R&B track that explores how we humans are dependent on stimulating and provocative social media content. Its name refers to how our smartphone screens look when they are not in use—black mirrors for us to gaze upon ourselves. On “Black Mirror,” KAI critiques society’s obsession with social media and how it can become addicting,

The pictures in the timeline
Are overflowing with fancy garages
The more I fall for it, the harder it is to get out

Even so, we continue to use social media simply because we love it, as KAI belts in the pre-chorus,

Black in the mirror (Mirror)
Know that you like it
You like it, you like it
Lost in the maze (Maze)
You get excited

“Black Mirror” serves as a fantastic B-side opener if you’re listening to the EP from beginning to end, which I recommend you do.

“Slidin’”

One of my favorite tracks on Rover, “Slidin’,” is pure R&B goodness. It begins with a harp-like instrument that immediately draws the listener in, and the synths heard throughout bounce off it perfectly (as soon as I heard those synths, I knew I was a goner). With “Slidin’,” Kai shows off his sensual vocals and enchants as if he were a siren. Lyrically, the song compares love at first sight to one being suddenly soaked during a downpour,

Fleeting moments turn into strong attraction
Thirsty, like rain that the dry ground has been waiting for

If you’re a fan of KAI—or even EXO’s—songs of the R&B genre, I’d highly recommend “Slidin’.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UXHiW9dd7M

“Bomba”

Another genre venture for KAI, “Bomba,” is a reggaeton-inspired track with prominent synth riffs. In the Countdown Live for Rover, KAI revealed “Bomba” was almost the lead single of Peaches. Since he liked the song and its accompanying choreography so much, KAI decided to put it on Rover and not let it go to waste. I’m curious to see this full choreography, and I hope we won’t have to wait too long for it.

Lyrically, “Bomba” follows along the same lines as “Rover” and encourages the listener to live freely without stress. In the pre-chorus, KAI chants,

No matter, it’s nothing
This night is brighter than the day
Freely becoming hotter

With its carefree attitude and pounding rhythm, “Bomba” is the type of song that would be perfect for a music festival, as it’s sure to get the crowd jumping.

“Say You Love Me”

Another favorite of mine, “Say You Love Me,” is a moody, hip-hop R&B track with straightforward lyrics—KAI wants you to be honest with him and say whether you really love him or not. This is perfectly expressed in the song’s earworm of a chorus, where KAI pleads: Just say you love me tonight (Tonight)/Don’t make me jealous tonight (Tonight).” With its haunting melody and KAI’s low, sensual vocals, “Say You Love Me” is intense.

After the FILM:KAI preview we received on March 13th from EXO’s official TikTok account, which features KAI covered in blood and stalking around a hotel as “Say You Love Me” plays in the background, I knew this would at least be in my top three. As a huge horror fan, I can’t wait to see this section of FILM:KAI.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2X49KVADpk

“Sinner”

The final song on Rover, “Sinner,” serves as an excellent album closer. It’s a simple pop song accompanied by a piano and prominent synthesizer and grows in intensity as it reaches its climax. Lyrically, “Sinner” discusses that while there is joy in love, there is also pain, and the two often conflict. KAI describes himself as the sinner in question, and he does not want his lover to cast him aside. Instead, he pleads for forgiveness from his lover, deeming them his salvation. With lyrics such as “I’m a sinner, forgive me/Lock me up in your embrace/Let me live,” “Sinner” is haunting but beautiful.

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ROVER

KAI’s debut album, KAI (开), is hailed as one of the best solo EPs in K-pop. His second release, Peaches, also received favorable reviews from critics and audiences. The shift from group member to soloist has its trials and errors, but with his third EP, KAI has found what works best for him and proves he can succeed as a soloist.

Here, KAI cements why he is revered by so many in the idol industry. Despite being a veteran idol, he never plays it safe and is willing to venture into new sounds. On Rover, KAI experiments with dancehall and reggaeton while also polishing his prowess in R&B, displaying his capability in multiple genres. While no track on Rover sounds alike, they fit cohesively. I would attribute this to the EPs message—to live freely and love yourself, no matter what others think.

KAI works hard at every opportunity to improve and expand upon himself—whether that be in vocals or dance—and shows a true passion for his craft. As someone who has been an EXO-L since Ex’Act,, witnessing KAI’s growth as a performer has been a blessing, and I am excited to see how he further develops himself. In the meantime, look forward to FILM:KAI, which is due to come out on March 20th!

Genius Rating: 4.5/5