26 Unskippable Minutes… Kim Ximya Has Returned

Rapper Kim Ximya has released his second full-length album, 'Dogma', after 6 years. The album is structured around a 26-minute music video and a limited-edition player that lacks a skip function. The video stitches the album's tracks together into one continuous piece, while the physical album is delivered via a dedicated player rather than a CD. The music released on streaming platforms is arranged differently from the music contained in the video and the player. In essence, the music changes depending on the channel through which one listens to the album.

Reactions to the album have included both evaluations of being 'popular' and jokes about being the 'enemy of the public.' While the sounds are more ear-catching than his previous music, the album—which prevents moving to the next track during playback—and the long video demand that the listener finish it from start to finish. In a recent meeting near Jogyesa Temple in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Kim Ximya connected this discomfort to the sensation felt during meditation. He stated, "The feeling of 'I want to move, I want to move' during meditation is similar to the feeling of 'I want to skip, I want to skip' when listening to music. So, I felt like, 'Let's all feel this feeling together.'"

A 26-minute video and an unskippable album

Unlike typical individual track videos, the music video for 'Dogma' bundles the album's tracks into a single 26-minute video. It was directed by contemporary artist Park Chan-kyong, the brother of director Park Chan-wook. The video includes scenes such as the demolition and reconstruction of the MMCA, and features desolate shrubbery, construction sites, and a monk holding a knife instead of a wooden fish. Park Chan-kyong created the visual flow of the video by editing his own paintings and videos. The album consists of 10 tracks.

The physical album was produced in a limited run of 4,500 copies. Instead of a CD, it takes the form of a dedicated player with music embedded, which has play and stop functions but lacks a 'skip' function to move to the next track. To hear the tracks at the end, one must play from the beginning. Kim Ximya revealed that he drew the idea for the player from the 'Buddha Machine', which repeatedly plays meditative sounds. He explained that he wanted to place the experience of resisting the urge to move during meditation alongside the urge to skip tracks while listening to music, sharing that sensation with the listener.

The music in the video, the player, and the streaming versions were not edited in the same way. On streaming platforms, he released versions with different arrangements from the music in the player and the music video. While listeners can select specific songs on streaming, they cannot skip the track order on the limited-edition player. Pitchfork gave 'Dogma' a score of 7.7 out of 10. According to the source, this is the highest score this outlet has given to a Korean hip-hop album. Kim Ximya said, "After enduring that urge to skip, your head definitely becomes quiet. That was the result I wanted above all else."

Lifestyle changes that created repetition and stillness

While explaining this album, Kim Ximya repeatedly mentioned 'repetition' and 'stillness.' He said, "It contains a lot of the changes in my life, such as speaking less lately and focusing on the stability that repetition provides." He cited his approximately two years of service as a social service agent starting from 2020 and his subsequent marriage as the background for these changes. He noted that although his mind was complex since childhood due to having many thoughts, he found unexpected stability by following a set routine.

"While serving as a public service agent, I felt my mind becoming clear through the repetitive commuting and simple labor," he said. "Since then, I have been very focused on repetition." The stability experienced through repeating daily routines extended to the musical form. He gained the inspiration for the dedicated player from the Buddha Machine that repeats meditative sounds, and he brought the repetitive rhythms of techno into the album. He applied the same experiment to the track 'HDI HDI HDI HDI HDI HDI', which emphasizes repetition from its title. Kim Ximya explained, "I thought deeply about which genres could send listeners into the state of techno trance (a state of immersion like meditation by following repetitive sounds and beats)."

Buddhist teachings are also an element he sought to find stability. Describing himself as a "fan of Shakyamuni," Kim Ximya said he was drawn more to the words and philosophy of Shakyamuni than to Buddhism itself. He explained that the attitude of stepping back from conflict helped him avoid the stress caused by changes in his musical environment following marriage and helped him avoid marital conflicts and understand himself. He revealed that he is currently reading the early Buddhist scripture 'Sutta Nipata'. The interest in repetitive sounds and stillness contained in the album is linked to the changes in his life that he personally disclosed, such as his social service agent life, marriage, and interest in meditation and Buddhism.

From biting rap to the expression of sound

Kim Ximya debuted in 2016 by forming the duo XXX with FRNK. After dropping out of George Washington University in the United States immediately after admission and entering the Korean hip-hop scene, he gained support from enthusiasts and critics with his biting rap that criticized the current state of rappers. FRNK later became known as a dedicated producer for NewJeans, and the two worked together to release music as XXX. In addition to his activities with XXX, Kim Ximya has released albums as a solo musician and has participated in rap making for K-pop songs for artists such as NCT, EXO, and Red Velvet.

In his second full-length album, released after six years, Sound Supply Service, which is active in the Itaewon DJ scene, participated in producing all tracks. The album includes tracks such as ‘My Life & Nothing Else’, ‘Move My Feet’, ‘9 Out of 10’, and ‘HDI HDI HDI HDI HDI HDI’. The first half emphasizes the colors of electronic music, and the third track, ‘T-H-I-R-S-T-Y’, fills a significant portion with sound instead of rap. In ‘HDI HDI HDI HDI HDI HDI’, lyrical melodies are arranged. Kim Ximya stated, “It feels like one more tool of expression called sound has been created besides words (rap). Things that cannot be conveyed through words can be conveyed through sound. That is why I have become very interested in sound as well.”

The album's final track, ‘Keep Counting’, contains both beats and rap. Kim Ximya explained that he placed the direction he wants to move toward in the first half, and music that would satisfy the listeners who waited for him in the second half. He said his attitude has changed toward making music that is easier to listen to than in the past and looking toward popularity. In the past, he thought of popularity as an element he presents to the listener, but now he views it as an element like a seasoning that completes a dish together. Regarding the background of his collaboration with Oh Hyuk, the leader of the band Hyukoh, he explained that expanding music with popular elements while maintaining his own color is the kind of music he aims for.

Reflecting on the 10th Anniversary of Debut and Speaking of Communication

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the release of the debut album ‘KYOMI’ by Kim Ximya and XXX. Feelings about the past 10 years are contained in tracks such as ‘9 Out of 10’ from the new album. The title ‘Dogma’ carries the meaning of being 'self-righteous'. Kim Ximya revealed that he looked back on whether he might have missed opportunities due to the self-righteousness of thinking he was the best and that he didn't need to listen to others during the past 10 years. He explained that he has been contemplating ways to expand music between artistry and popularity.

When asked what he wanted to say to his past self, Kim Ximya replied, “Please, just try to get along.” He added that rap was a window for communication for him, and that even his critical, biting rap ultimately meant wanting to talk together and become friends. He also explained his desired reaction to the album in line with communication. He said, “Whether it is positive or negative, it is fine, but instead of mocking or fighting comments, I hope to see 'reviews' that allow for communication regarding this album. To me, music is conversation and communication.”

Kim Ximya captured his life as a social service agent, changes after marriage, the stability gained from repetition, and the relationship between Buddhist teachings and music in the new album. He revealed that he is currently reading ‘Sutta Nipata’. A 26-minute video, a limited edition record that plays in order, and streaming audio with separate arrangements were released as different ways to listen to ‘Dogma’.

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