What Time Is It? (The Jet Boy Bangerz EP)
| What Time Is It? | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP by The Jet Boy Bangerz from Exile Tribe | ||||
| Released | July 24, 2024 | |||
| Recorded | 2024 | |||
| Genre | J-pop, R&B, hip hop | |||
| Label | Sony Music Associated Records | |||
| The Jet Boy Bangerz from Exile Tribe chronology | ||||
| ||||
What Time Is It? is a three-track extended play (EP) by Japanese dance and vocal group The Jet Boy Bangerz from Exile Tribe, released on July 24, 2024.[1]
It is the group's second EP, following their debut release PHOTOGENIC (2024).[2]
The EP peaked at number 3 on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart and number 2 on Billboard Japan's Hot Albums chart, selling approximately 73,000 copies in its first week.[3]
Background and release
The EP serves as the group's second release following their debut EP PHOTOGENIC, which topped both Oricon and Billboard Japan album charts.[4]
Prior to the official release, two tracks—"BOYS -TJBB Anthem-" and the title track "What Time Is It?"—were released digitally, with their music videos simultaneously published on YouTube.[5]
The EP was released on CD on July 24, 2024, through Sony Music Associated Records in two formats: a limited first edition (CD+DVD) and a regular edition (CD).[6]
Composition and themes
The lead track "What Time Is It?" centers on the concept of time, expressing themes of intense focus and a forward-driven mindset.[7]
The choreography incorporates a technique known as "strobe", characterized by sharp, segmented joint movements.[8]
Member Akira Tanaka described the song as having a mysterious and exotic tone distinct from their previous work, noting that the music video explores dual timelines of past and future through visual motifs such as mirrors and intentionally offset choreography.[9]
The EP also includes "BOYS -TJBB Anthem-", a live-oriented anthem track, and "CITY LIGHT", an R&B ballad featuring vocal interplay and harmonies among the group's three vocalists.[10]
Recording and production
The production of "What Time Is It?" involved a team of domestic and international creators, including producers T.Kura and Chaki Zulu, as well as singer-songwriter JAY'ED.[11]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Arrangement | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What Time Is It? | Mayu Wakisaka | T.Kura, Chaki Zulu, JAY'ED | T.Kura, Chaki Zulu | 2:32 |
| 2 | BOYS -TJBB Anthem- | SHOKICHI, IKE | Dirty Orange, SHOKICHI, IKE | Dirty Orange | 3:37 |
| 3 | CITY LIGHT | EMI K. Lynn | NEXXT | NEXXT | 3:50 |
Artwork and packaging
The EP features different cover artworks depending on the edition. The limited edition depicts the members in front of a large mechanical clock set, while the regular edition uses a monochrome collage of the ten members.[12]
The physical release includes a CD+DVD limited edition and a CD-only regular edition.[13]
Promotion
The music video for "What Time Is It?" was released on YouTube ahead of the EP launch.[14]
To promote the EP, the group performed a free live event tour titled Jet Engine.[15]
Commercial performance
The EP debuted at number 3 on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart dated August 5, 2024.[16] It ranked number 2 on Billboard Japan's Hot Albums chart, recording 73,250 CD sales.[17]
References
- ^ "EP information". THE JET BOY BANGERZ official site.
- ^ "Release details". THE JET BOY BANGERZ official site.
- ^ "Oricon chart data". Oricon.
- ^ "Artist news". Musicman.
- ^ "Pre-release information". Billboard Japan.
- ^ "Release formats". Official site.
- ^ "Song analysis". Out of Music.
- ^ "Choreography details". Billboard Japan.
- ^ "Interview". USEN.
- ^ "Track details". Official site.
- ^ "Production credits". Out of Music.
- ^ "Artwork information". Sony Music.
- ^ "Packaging details". Sony Music.
- ^ "MV release". Billboard Japan.
- ^ "Tour information". Official site.
- ^ "Oricon ranking". Oricon.
- ^ "Billboard Japan ranking". Billboard Japan.