Song Review: KISS OF LIFE – Kitty Cat (Julie solo)

I think I have made it quite clear in my previous reviews that I am more biased towards songs that feature heavy singing in comparison to rapping, but there are few exceptions.

Despite being a rap-based, hip-hop heavy song, ‘Kitty Cat’ might be my favourite among all of the KISS OF LIFE solos.

Leader and Main Rapper Julie puts on a very convincing performance within this song. I don’t think I would have liked this song half as much I do if not for her charismatic and effortless delivery. The way she enunciates the words hits the sweet spot every single time. It does not come off as trying too hard either, everything flows naturally. I believe she was able to put her competence on full display, and that is an absolute success especially this is the first time we’ve heard her rap.

I’m also a big fan of the song’s production. Every single KISS OF LIFE solo (with the exception of Haneul, which I will not review because I am not a big fan of it) has been very well produced. It gave me the feeling of doing exactly what needed to be done for this kind of song. I am not particularly familiar with hip-hop style productions, so I can’t give many specific comments about it, but I love how the strong percussion beats that bleed into the top line were able to synergise so well with Julie’s ‘cool’ attitude in her delivery. It feels so complimentary.

Also, Kitty Cat’s hooks quite subtle, but I think it is the most memorable among the 3 solos I’ve reviewed. Part of this is again, because of the every convincing rap delivery of Julie, but its melody and rhythm feel sleek and effortless, like the likes of Le Sserafim’s ‘Fearless’. It is the kind you can say to yourself for hours before you even realise that it’s already stuck in your head.

While (almost) all of KISS OF LIFE solos have been quite good, I think ‘Kitty Cat’ takes the crown for being the one that feels the most realised in its potential, with neither the song’s production, hooks, or delivery particularly holding it back. I’ll be keeping an eye out for Julie, who already has become one of my favourite idol rappers in this generation of K-pop.

The score which I give below is tentative- I expect it to rise in the future, but I am playing quite safe because of how rare it is for me to like a rap-based song. It might not end up aging well for me. But my gut is telling me it will. If this appears quite high in the end-of-year countdown, don’t be too surprised!

Hooks – 9
Production – 9
Rap Delivery – 9
Overall – 9