A+ (EP) explained

A+
Type:EP
Artist:Hyuna
Cover:A+, Hyuna, 3rd EP.jpg
Released:August 21, 2015
Recorded:2015
Length:15:13
Prev Title:A Talk
Prev Year:2014
Next Title:A'wesome
Next Year:2016

A+ is the fourth extended play (EP) by South Korean singer Hyuna. It was released on August 21, 2015, by Cube Entertainment and distributed by Universal Music. The EP consists of five tracks and incorporates Pop, R&B and Hip hop music genres. The physical album was released three days later on August 24. To promote the EP, Hyuna appeared on several South Korean music programs, including Music Bank, Show! Music Core and Inkigayo. "Roll Deep" was released as the lead single alongside the EP release.

Background and release

On June 4, 2015, it was announced that Hyuna was preparing for her solo comeback in August.[1] [2] On August 9, Cube Entertainment released a trailer filmed in Los Angeles for her fourth mini-album A+, which was released on August 21.[3] [4] On August 13, "Because I'm the Best" (or "Roll Deep" in international markets) featuring Jung Ilhoon of BtoB was announced as the album's title track.[5]

On August 20, the music video for "Because I'm The Best" was released via the 4Minute YouTube channel,[6] followed by a racier 19+ version of the video deemed the "Original Version" on September 6.[7]

On September 14, 2015, Hyuna released a short music video for the album's intro track "Run & Run".[8]

Commercial performance

A+ entered and peaked at number 5 on the Gaon Album Chart on the chart issue dated August 22–29, 2016.[9] In its second week the mini album fell to number 33, dropping the chart the following week.[10] A+ charted at number 15 on the Gaon Album Chart for the month of August 2015 with 7,387 copies sold.[11]

The title track "Roll Deep" entered at number 32 on the Gaon Digital Chart on the chart issue dated August 22–29, 2016 with 80,086 downloads sold and 803,443 streams based on its first two days of availability.[12] [13] [14] In its second week, the song peaked at number 13 with 107,723 downloads sold and 2,599,263 streams in its first full week.[15] [16] [17] "Roll Deep" charted at number 44 on the Gaon Digital Chart for the month of August 2015.[18]

Reception

Billboard contributor Jeff Benjamin praised "Because I'm The Best", saying "HyunA confidently raps and chants about her swag, making playful remarks about how even her friends are jealous of her because, well, she's the best. Ilhoon [...] drops in to further the claims as the two spit over hard-hitting, synth-heavy hip-hop production with elements recalling recent work from Mike Will Made It and DJ Mustard." Benjamin also highlighted the styling and aesthetic of the track's music video, citing its "tongue-in-cheek presentation" as proof of the opinion that "HyunA is easily one of the baddest females in K-pop."[19]

Charts

Music charts

Chart Peak
position
Note
Gaon Weekly Albums Chart5 [20]
Gaon Monthly Albums Chart15 [21]
Billboard World Albums Chart[22] 2 [23]

Sales and certifications

Release history

Country Date Format Label
South KoreaAugust 21, 2015Digital downloadCube Entertainment
August 24, 2015CD
United StatesSeptember 18, 2015Digital download

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lee. Jeong-ah. [단독]'패왕색' 현아, 8월 솔로 컴백 '더 아찔해진다']. SNS Entertainment News. June 5, 2015 . SBS & SBS Contents. September 30, 2015.
  2. Web site: Seon. Mi-gyeong. 현아 측 "8월 목표 솔로 컴백 준비중..확정된 것은 없어". OSEN. June 5, 2015 . September 30, 2015.
  3. Web site: Jeong. Yu-shin. 현아, 21일 정오 '에이플러스' 발표..컴백 확정. OSEN. August 12, 2015 . September 30, 2015.
  4. Web site: HYUNA – 4th Mini Album Trailer. August 9, 2015 . YouTube. Cube Entertainment. September 30, 2015.
  5. Web site: Ghim. Sora. HyunA Reveals Her Title Song Featuring BTOB's Jung Ilhoon. BNT News. September 30, 2015.
  6. Web site: HYUNA(현아) – '잘나가서 그래 (Feat. 정일훈 Of BTOB)' (Roll Deep) M/V. August 20, 2015 . YouTube. Cube Entertainment. September 30, 2015.
  7. Web site: HYUNA – 잘나가서 그래 (Feat. 정일훈 Of BTOB) (A+ Original Ver. MV). September 6, 2015 . YouTube. Cube Entertainment. September 30, 2015.
  8. Web site: HYUNA(현아) – Run & Run M/V. September 13, 2015 . YouTube. Cube Entertainment. September 30, 2015.
  9. Web site: 국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트! . . July 23, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150903022732/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=36&hitYear=2015&termGbn=week . September 3, 2015 .
  10. Web site: 국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!. Gaon Chart. July 23, 2016.
  11. Web site: 국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!. Gaon Chart. July 23, 2016.
  12. Web site: 국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!. Gaon Chart. July 23, 2016.
  13. Web site: 국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!. Gaon Chart. July 23, 2016.
  14. Web site: 국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!. Gaon Chart. July 23, 2016.
  15. Web site: 국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!. Gaon Chart. July 23, 2016.
  16. Web site: 국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!. Gaon Chart. July 23, 2016.
  17. Web site: 국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!. Gaon Chart. July 23, 2016.
  18. Web site: 국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!. Gaon Chart. July 23, 2016.
  19. Benjamin. Jeff. HyunA's 'Because I'm the Best' Video Would Make Miley Cyrus Proud: Watch. Billboard. September 30, 2015.
  20. Web site: Gaon Weekly Albums Chart, August 23 – 29, 2015 . Gaon Music Chart . Korea Music Content Industry Association . September 30, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150903022732/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=36&hitYear=2015&termGbn=week . September 3, 2015 .
  21. Web site: Gaon Monthly Albums Chart, August 2015. Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. September 30, 2015.
  22. Billboard World Albums. Billboard. September 30, 2015.
  23. Billboard World Albums Chart, Week of October 10, 2015. Billboard. September 30, 2015.
  24. Web site: Gaon Monthly Album Chart, August 2015 (see #15). Gaon Music Chart. Korea Music Content Industry Association. October 12, 2015.