Song Review: WAYF Boys – A4M

Just like NewJeans before them, CORTIS have spawned their own K-pop progeny. This irreverent, “we don’t give a f*ck,” vocal effects heavy alt-hip-hop has become a popular touchstone and I don’t expect it to slow down any time soon. The most obvious competitor at this moment is WAYF Boys, who do a very similar thing with a stronger R&B flair. Look, I don’t want to be mean about this music. It’s clearly pitched at a much younger audience than me and my frustration is probably the exact reaction it’s meant to elicit. And really, I get it. The pop music landscape has always had its counter-programming — work that’s meant to come across as more “authentic” and rebellious. Often, this music feels bigger in the moment than its legacy ends up being in the long run. And when it comes to WAYF Boys’ horny new single A4M, we’re really just dealing with the latest in the Baby Got Back/Tootsie Roll/Rump Shaker lineage of silly butt songs. Really, my main issue here is the incessant vocal warping. This kind of brainless party song can be fun and A4M has a lively beat reminiscent of its early-90s forebearers. When the track pauses for a vocal-focused pre-chorus, I can hear the appeal. However,...