Before I Die is the debut studio album by Park Hye Jin, a South Korean singer, rapper, record producer, and DJ based in Los Angeles. Entirely written, produced, and performed by herself, it was released on 10 September 2021 through Ninja Tune. It peaked at number 73 on the UK Album Downloads Chart. It won the Best Electronic Record award at the 2022 Libera Awards.
Background Park Hye Jin released her second EP, How Can I, in 2020. After that, she collaborated with other artists: Blood Orange on "Call Me (Freestyle)" (2020); Nosaj Thing on "Clouds" (2020); Clams Casino and Take a Daytrip on "Y Don't U" (2021).
Before I Die is her debut studio album. It is entirely written, produced, and performed by herself. A music video was released for the album's opening song "Let's Sing Let's Dance".
Critical reception
Adriane Pontecorvo of PopMatters commented that "every cut on Before I Die is so thoughtfully assembled that it becomes exquisitely casual, and Park Hye Jin shows her range as a producer worth keeping an eye on." Kyle Kohner of The Line of Best Fit stated, "Saturated with hazy bangers that explore the emotional gradient between depression and self-assurance, the appropriately titled Before I Die offers a space where yearning, anxiety, and bedridden gloom can coexist." Ben Jolley of NME called the album "an affecting multi-layered debut that, rather than reaching a conclusion of fulfilment, manages to find happiness in just being alive."
The album won the Best Electronic Record award at the 2022 Libera Awards.
Accolades + Year-end lists for Before I Die Publication List Rank Billboard The 20 Best Dance Albums of 2021 Hot Press Top 50 Albums of 2021 The Line of Best Fit The Best Albums of 2021
Track listing
Personnel Credits adapted from liner notes.
Park Hye Jin – production, performance, mixing Tom Jessop – mixing, mastering Dan Medhurst – photography
Charts + Chart performance for Before I Die Chart (2021) Peakposition
References
External links