Warrior (EP)

Warrior
EP by B.A.P
Released	January 26, 2012 (Digital download) February 2, 2012 (CD)
Recorded	2011-2012
Genre	Hip hop, K-pop, Latin, R&B
Length	11:38 (11 minutes, 38 seconds)
Label	TS Entertainment
Producer	Kim Tae-Sung, Kang Jiwon, Kim Kibum
B.A.P chronology
Warrior (2012) Power (2012)
Singles from Warrior EP
"Warrior" Released: January 26, 2012 "Secret Love" Released: March 1, 2012

Warrior is the first single album by South Korean boy band B.A.P. The single album was released digitally on January 26, 2012, and contains four tracks. The accompanying CD of Warrior was released on February 2, 2012, when the album sold 10,000 copies in two days upon its release.^[1] The album also debuted on Billboard's World Albums Chart at number 10.^[2] The lead single, "Warrior", was released on January 26, 2012 through various online digital stores. In March 2012, B.A.P released a follow-up single, "Secret Love".^[3] The mini-album peaked at number three on the Gaon Album Chart.

Background and promotion

On January 16, 2012, TS Entertainment revealed the jacket photos of Bang Yong Guk and Jung Daehyun, thus revealing the latter as the fourth member.^[4] The following day, jacket photos of Zelo and Moon Jong Up were released, and revealed the latter as the fifth member.^[5] On January 19, 2012, jacket photos of Kim Himchan and Yoo Youngjae were released, and revealed the latter as the final member.^[6] The same day, they also released the music video teaser for their debut single, "Warrior" with TS Entertainment saying that "it carries a powerful flavor that will help bring out a fierce performance from B.A.P."^[7] TS Entertainment also announced that the title track, “Warrior”, was composed by Kang Jiwon and Kim Kibum, whose previous works include Secret's ”Magic“, “Madonna“, “Shy Boy“, “Starlight Moonlight“, as well as Bang & Zelo‘s “Never Give Up“.^[7] The group started promoting "Warrior" on KBS's Music Bank on January 27, 2012. "Burn it Up" was used as the introduction song for their debut stage in music show programs. The group also performed all the tracks of Warrior (EP) on their debut showcase held in Seoul, South Korea which was attended by 3,000 people. In March 2012, B.A.P released a follow-up promotional single, "Secret Love".

Critical reception

iTunes wrote "Short for Best Absolute Perfect, BAP is a Korean boy band, and Warrior is its debut EP. While the group's breakneck rapping and over-the-top imagery (check out the video) set it apart from the typical ballad-centric K-Pop offerings, BAP is most definitely a boy band, complete with matching dyed-blond hair and ultra-sleek production. The title track sounds like something straight out of Step Up 3D, with gigantic drums, walls of synths, and a whistle punctuating the whole song. "Unbreakable" flaunts more of an R&B vibe, set to skittering snares and subdued claps. The real standout here is "Secret Love," where the beats mellow out enough to actually hear the members rapping. It’s set to boom-baps, chill acoustic guitar strumming, and smooth singing from Secret's Song Ji Eun."^[8]

Chart performance

On February 2, 2012, Warrior was released on various music stores in South Korea. The mini-album peaked at number three on the Gaon Album Chart and peaked at number ten on the Gaon Monthly Album Chart.^[9] The album sold 10,000 copies in just two days upon its release.^[1] The album also debuted on Billboard's World Albums Chart at number 10.^[2] As of March 2012, Warrior has sold over 23,821 copies in South Korea.^[10]

Singles

Warrior

Main article: "Warrior"

The song served as B.A.P's debut single, the first from their self-titled debut album. "Warrior" debuted at number fifty-four on the Gaon Chart and peaked at number forty-four.^[11] "Warrior" was lauded by various media outlets and netizens for its powerful and fierce imagery on its music video and live performances. The song was written and produced by Kang Ji Won and Kim Ki Bum, the same composer of Song Jieun's "Going Crazy" and Bang&Zelo's "Never Give Up". Additionally, B.A.P's leader, Bang Yong Guk, co-wrote "Warrior". Kaylin Ro of Arirang Pop's in Seouls described "Warrior" "as a song in a new genre that blends the elements of krump and rock with an intense hip hop beat." Ro added that "it contains a powerful message, speaking on behalf of those who face numerous challenges in their daily lives, and the spectacular performance on stage is definitely eye-catching. The song's lyrics describes the injustice of the current society and the protagonist's desire to end it.

Secret Love

Main article: "Secret Love"

After B.A.P ended the promotion for "Warrior", TS Entertainment announced that they will have follow-up promotional single in March with "Secret Love". The song features label mate Song Jieun of Secret and is written and produced by Bang Yong Guk, Kang Ji Won and Loptomist. On February 27, TS Entertainment revealed, “Following B.A.P’s performance of Warrior on the February 26 episode of SBS’ Inkigayo, the members will begin promotions for Secret Love later this week and shed their tough masculine image to display a new side to them.”^[12] The agency added, “We contemplated quite a lot on which track we should follow up to Warrior off B.A.P’s debut album and since we wanted to show a new side of the group we decided on Secret Love.”^[12] The song tells the sad love story from the perspective of a celebrity and how they have to hold secret relationships.^[12] The song served only as a promotional single with its music video being filmed with behind the scenes footage of "Warrior" and "Never Give Up". It also serves as a tribute video to their fans.^[12]

Track listing

※ Bold at the space of "Tracks" means promotional singles in each album.^[8]

Charts