Thinking (album) explained

Thinking
Type:	studio
Artist:	Zico
Cover:	Zico Thinking Part.1 Album Cover.jpeg
Caption:	Part.1 digital cover
Released:	(Part 1) (Part 2)
Genre:	K-pop K-rap dancehall hip hop R&B ballad
Length:	18:18 (Part 1) 18:10 (Part 2)
Label:	KOZ Kakao M
Prev Title:	Television
Prev Year:	2017
Next Title:	Random Box
Next Year:	2020

Thinking is the first studio album by South Korean rapper and producer Zico. This is the first work from Zico released by his own agency, KOZ Entertainment, and distributed by Kakao M. Thinking is made up of 2 EPs, which were released separately to digital music and streaming platforms. The first EP, Thinking Part.1, was released on September 30, 2019, and the second EP, Thinking Part.2, was released on November 8, 2019. The physical version of the album, with the combined EPs, was released on November 8, 2019.^{[1] [2]}

His first full-length album in eight years, Zico, in an interview said he poured his true emotions into this album. He said, "I guess I’ve been mistreating myself. In the course of feeding 'Zico,' I found out that human 'Woo Ji-ho' [Zico's real name] was worn out, unaware of how to live, how to feel when left alone. I wanted to talk about those feelings in my new album. I always knew that I was struggling from my two distinct identities, but tried to ignore it and brush it off since I didn’t want to accept it. I didn’t want to ruin my character as 'Zico'. So I kept upping the tension, sometimes exaggerating my punky, wild image. I guess it was my way of confirming my self-esteem. But the gap grew wider and my emotions piled up to the point where I couldn’t breathe. So I decided to be honest to myself, show my vulnerability for the first time in my career."^[3] He added, “Some of the emotions were frankly some things that I didn't want to face. As 'Zico', there's the bright and energetic side. But as a human being, you have some sides to yourself that you don’t want to show. This is about that.” Thinking Part.1 is about "laying out the different emotions and thoughts people commonly have in their everyday lives", while Thinking Part.2 is more about the "detailed and intricate feelings or reactions that I have of those moments".^[4]

Thinking peaked third on the Gaon Music Chart.^[5]

Release history

Region! scope="col"

Date	Format(s)	Label	Notes
Various	September 30, 2019		KOZ Entertainment	Thinking Part.1	^[7]
	November 8, 2019			Thinking Part.2
South Korea				Full album	^[8]

See also

• Zico discography

Notes and References

1. Web site: Rapper Zico's 'double life'. The Korea Times. Sun-hwa. Dong. November 11, 2019. February 10, 2023.
2. Web site: Zico Opens Up About Disrupting His Image As A "Rebel In Hip-Hop" With His Deeply Vulnerable Album, "Thinking". BuzzFeed. Sarah. Han. January 8, 2020. April 2, 2020.
3. Web site: Zico returns with new reflective album 'Thinking'. The Korea Herald. Dam-young. Hong. November 8, 2019. February 10, 2023.
4. Web site: Zico reflects on his feelings: Second part of the rapper's 'Thinking' project is his most emotional work yet. Korea JoongAng Daily. So-yeon. Yoon. November 7, 2019. February 10, 2023.
5. Web site: Gaon Album Chart – Week 46, 2019. Gaon Chart. ko. November 21, 2019.
6. Web site: http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=11&hitYear=2019&termGbn=month. ko:2019년 11월 Album Chart. November 2019 Album Chart. Gaon Music Chart. December 12, 2019. ko.
7. Web site: K-pop Comeback Spotlight: Zico-First Full Length Album. Lilly. November 10, 2019. Hellokpop. February 10, 2023.
8. Web site: ZICO The 1st LP [THINKING] Pre-Order]. November 4, 2019. Facebook. February 10, 2023.