High school student Byeon Baekhyun's MP3s. The list that dominated the list was rhythm and blues (R&B).

It was the music he enjoyed the most. He liked that it wasn't bound by formats, time signatures, etc. and that he could sing freely and create his own groove.

It was also the music he wanted to be the best at. It was as difficult as I wanted to be good at it. R&B, like a love-hate relationship, became his roots.

This is Baekhyun's first album after going solo. After the previous album, “Bambi,” Baekhyun greeted his world after three and a half years with “Hello, World,” a mini 4 album.

This time, he dug into what he craves the most: R&B. 'Hello, World' was dyed in all white.

◆ Hello, World

'Hello, World'. Baekhyun greeted the world with a greeting. All six songs were recorded in R&B. The theme is dreams and aspirations. It was compared to movie genres such as action, noir, and romance.

It opened with alternative R&B. The first track is 'Good Morning'. It captures Baekhyun's first beginnings and new ambitions.

This time, singer-songwriter Cold also participated. The two have been working together since 2019, from Baekhyun's first solo album, “Diamond,” to his second album, “Love Again,” and his third album, “Love Scene.

Baekhyun's persistence stands out. It's not often that a K-pop singer sticks to R&B for an entire album. The album's participants are also R&B singers.

“Ballads are popular in Korea, but R&B is not,” said critic Kim Do-heon. ”After Taeyang, Baekhyun emerged as a promising artist who fused K-pop and R&B. It is still valid.”

“There are many singers who can sing R&B, but it is difficult to move forward with R&B as a milestone, so it is a meaningful album in that sense,” he analyzed.

◆“A Song for Me”

The title song is “Pineapple Slice” (Pineapple Slice). It's R&B pop. The irresistible charm of the song is compared to a slice of pineapple.

The introduction expresses the feeling of opening a new act with synths. Baekhyun says, “The introduction is very important. I pictured myself on stage. It was like a song for me,” he says.

"Give it to me naturally / Oh what's your name". From the beginning, Baekhyun emphasized his trademark, seductive vocals and sensual performance.

'Just a bite of Pineapple slice of me,' he sang, while performing mesmerizing choreography. The falsetto burst with sexiness. In the second half, he added excitement with his high notes.

(Of course, listeners may like or dislike it depending on the listener.) You can feel more comfortable or bored than its predecessor 'Bambi'.

The production is 2% disappointing: the instruments and sounds used are reminiscent of the 2010s. The production could have been bolder to match Baekhyun's changing vocals.

Critic Kim said, “It doesn't stand out for trying something new,” but “it's meaningful for the sincere presentation of the music they have been doing. It is a work that is faithful to the artist's identity.”

◆ Visual and vocal favorites

If its predecessor “Bambi” was intense to listen to with the ears, “Pineapple Slice” is more about visualization. It continued Baekhyun's existing mood, emphasizing music videos and solo dances.

Baekhyun functions as an all-around player. He doesn't miss a beat on stage, whether it's vocals, performance, or visuals.

Baekhyun showed off his slow jam-oriented R&B. He created his own mood with sticky and romantic songs.

This time, he expanded his range within R&B. It features vocals that change from song to song. Baekhyun's breathing, vocalization, tone, and ad-libs added dimension to his vocals.

“Rendez-Vous” has a bossa nova rhythm with R&B vocals, and ‘Woo’ has light vocals that contrast with the heavy drums.

'Cold Heart' is a hip-hop R&B song. In “Truth Be Told,” Baekhyun sings a mournful song.

◆ Baekhyun's Variations

R&B is a big genre. To use a tree analogy, it's the roots. It branches out into many branches, such as soul, funk, and hip-hop, which in turn produce other fruits (genres).

Baekhyun is solidifying his color while making small variations within R&B. He has taken the first step. He just needs to build up possibilities and efforts in his own 'world' like now.

Baekhyun wants to show only one thing with this album. “I want to show my infinite possibilities as an artist,” he said.

Critic Kim said, “Baekhyun has started his first career with a new company. It's a starting point,” and said, ”The new album captures the middle ground between an R&B singer and a K-pop star.”

He added, “Baekhyun's music has always been about storytelling. The challenge is how to differentiate it from the past.”

“Hello, World” received an overwhelming response from the day it was released. It sold 893,214 copies on the first day, according to HantarChart. It crossed the 1 million mark in five days. It sold 1 million copies in five days.