Track Review: Jung Kook & Jack Harlow, ‘3D’

For his follow-up to the blockbuster Latto-assisted “Seven,” Jung Kook pulled off one of the hardest tricks in pop music — making a song that’s intentionally similar to your biggest hit without accidentally making a carbon copy that everyone ends up hating.

Where “Seven” pulled from the bustling percussiveness of UK garage, “3D” opts for a slinkier, sparser take on horned-up Top 40 bangers. In his latest step in his quest for global pop domination, Jung Kook trades Andrew Watt and Cirkut for BloodPop. Over a sultry funk-inflected arrangement reminiscent of Justin Timberlake’s “Señorita,” Jung Kook doubles down on “Seven’s” sweet nothings with lyrics paying tribute to the power of lust. “You give me brand-new emotion / You got me drinkin' that potion,” he croons at the end of the second verse.

"Seven” displayed Jung Kook’s ear for recognizing the pulse of mainstream pop, but “3D” shows that he’s also studied older pop stars who came from wildly successful groups. In its pursuit of the sweaty sensuality of “Señorita,” Jung Kook also incorporates elements of both Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson in his whispery vocals in the pre-chorus. Those heated whispers offer a smart entry into a hook that is relatively sparse in comparison to the wordy hook of “Seven.”

Jung Koook’s choice of rapper this time around is Jack Harlow. Although the Kentucky native delivered some of the blandest and most forgettable bars of the year in his verse, the allure of his vocal tone — particularly over such a sexy instrumental — is undeniable. Latto was a much more fruitful addition to “Seven” than Jack was to “3D,” but at least he’s still suave enough to fit on the track. Funnily enough, his outro is miles better than what he delivered during his actual verse. “I got you playin' with yourself on camera / You my bae, just like Tampa / Speakin' of bucks, I got those / And as for fucks, well, not those / And as for thots, well, do you really wanna know?” he spits in a playful waterfall flow.

Bogged down by a tepid Jack Harlow verse, “3D” still rises above the clutter to emerge as a strong follow-up to “Seven” and a key moment of progression in Jung Kook’s journey towards global pop domination.

Score: 69