New Kids: Continue is the first extended play of South Korean boy band iKON. It is the third of the group's four-part album series that began with the single album New Kids: Begin and ended with the second extended play New Kids: The Final.[1]
It was released by YG Entertainment on August 2, 2018.[2]iKON's leader B.I was credited as the only record producer of the EP. The EP contains 5 songs including the lead single "Killing Me", all written or co-written by B.I.[3] The physical album comes in two versions: Red & Blue.
The lead single of the album, "Killing Me", was released with a music video on August 2, 2018.[4] The song, a trap-dance track driven by wailing synths and a riotous beat,[4] describes feelings after a "painful breakup"; its title was inspired by the common phrase "this is killing me".[5]
The music video conveyed the emotional devastation described in the lyrics through the use of flames, darkness, brightly hued sets, and expressive dance movements.[4] "Freedom" was released as the second single (referred to as "sub title") of the album on August 2.[6] It is described as a rock-infused song.[7]
iKON held a dance cover contest for the song "Killing Me" from August 20 to September 30, 2018. Three winners were announced at the end of the contest.[8]
In South Korea, New Kids: Continue debuted at 2 on the Gaon Album Chart.[9]
In the United States, the album was No. 4 on Billboard World Albums, with about 1,000 copies sold.[10] In South Korea, "Killing Me" debuted at 19 on the Gaon Weekly Chart and rose to a peak of 9 the next week.[11] The song debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's World Digital Song Chart, marking the group's best sales to date.[10]
South China Morning Post praised the diversity and wild genre shift of the album but criticized it for following a predictable and standard pop formula.[12]Billboard praised the title song "Killing Me", saying that “unlike most K-pop songs, it forgoes a titular earworm hook, choosing instead a more dramatic declaration.”[13]
