Polished Performance but Questionable Authenticity
XG's latest track "Howling" from their album AWE is a high-energy, polished piece that showcases the group's versatility, but it raises some questions around authenticity. The song leans heavily into an intense, wolfpack-themed concept, complete with growling sound effects and fierce lyrics. While it delivers on technical prowess, particularly in the vocal and production departments, there’s an undeniable disconnect between the confident aggression in the lyrics and the group's usual image. This contrast makes the performance feel slightly forced at times.
Strong Production and Vocals
The production on "Howling" is a standout. The pre-chorus and chorus bring out the best in XG’s vocalists, especially with the smooth, almost haunting harmonies that set up the drop. The group knows how to create a dynamic atmosphere, and they leverage it well in this track. Instrumentally, the song balances punchy beats and moody, synth-heavy melodies, giving it a sense of urgency and power. However, the execution of the rap sections, while rhythmically sharp, feels less convincing.
Rapping Lacks Natural Flow
Rapping lines like "Too many cappin’, I be losing headcount, see the red dot?" comes across as trying too hard to project toughness, which doesn’t quite align with XG’s usual style. It’s not that the rap performances are weak; in fact, they’re delivered with great confidence and technical skill. But there's a sense that they’re pushing for an image that doesn’t feel entirely natural. This mismatch might detract from the song’s overall impact for some listeners.
Thematic Consistency, But an Image Problem
Lyrically, the song is a mix of fantasy and bravado, which fits the wolfpack theme. Lines like "You unleashed the beast, call it wolf gang 'cause we 'bout to feast" contribute to the track’s thematic consistency, but again, the hard-hitting delivery feels slightly disjointed from the group's established identity. The wolf motif, while visually and sonically compelling, might come off as more of a stylistic experiment than a true reflection of the group's ethos.
Bold Ambition, But a Divisive Track
"Howling" is a bold and ambitious track that showcases XG's ability to step outside their comfort zone. The production and vocal performances are excellent, but the song's attempt at a tougher, more aggressive image feels somewhat inauthentic. As part of their broader project, AWE, this track may appeal to fans looking for something different, though it could leave others questioning the group’s evolving identity.
Listen to XG Howling
XG Howling Lyrics Meaning Explained
The meaning of Howling by XG is centered around power, unity, and the fierce determination to dominate their competition. Through rich wolf imagery and assertive lyrics, XG positions themselves as a formidable group, ready to take on challenges with strength and precision. The song highlights their rise to prominence in the music industry, likening their journey to that of a pack of wolves, where unity and aggression are key to survival and success. With references to predatory instincts, resilience, and ambition, Howling serves as an anthem of confidence and fearlessness, showcasing XG’s readiness to conquer their field.
Dominance and Rising Power
XG’s “Howling” opens with a declaration of their powerful presence in the music industry. The line, "First we rock and that's how we roll / Block is hot ’cause X took that throne," emphasizes the group's dynamic rise to success. They compare their ascent to "rock and roll," signifying a career built on effort and strategy, now ready to roll into the spotlight. The reference to "block is hot" symbolizes the intensity surrounding their emergence, as they confidently claim their position as industry leaders. Their resilience is reinforced with the line, "Tough as diamonds, no sticks and stones," suggesting they are unbreakable, leaving their competition behind like sticks and stones, having transformed into something much stronger. The mention of "Dots connecting like tic-tac-toe" highlights their calculated moves and also cleverly ties in with their name, “XG,” much like the X’s and O’s in tic-tac-toe.
The Wolfpack Mentality
The wolf imagery becomes central in the song as it progresses. "Lights go out and my pack just grow" suggests that even in challenging situations, their unity strengthens, resembling a growing wolfpack. Their competitors are seen as prey, as conveyed in the lines, "Opposition my prey my foes / Game of hunger, I bring that smoke." XG positions themselves as fierce hunters, ready to dominate their adversaries with competitive hunger. Phrases like "Fangs out" and "Attack on three, that's a man down" solidify the predatory, aggressive tone, aligning the group with a powerful wolfpack prepared to attack and succeed.
Precision and Ambition
XG’s sharp focus and ambition are highlighted in the lyrics, "Too many cappin’ I be losing headcount, see the red dot?" where "red dot" symbolizes a target, much like in video games or hunting, representing their precision in identifying and overcoming challenges. Their relentless pursuit of success is reflected in, "I like to cook, so I hunt for my dinner / My appetite only get bigger and bigger," where "cooking" is a metaphor for creating music, but also signifies their growing hunger for more achievements. The nod to Michael Jackson's iconic "Thriller" in "If I turn wolf then it must be a thriller" blends pop culture with their narrative of evolving into fierce competitors, referencing the transformation into a werewolf.
The Wild and Rebellious Spirit
The song’s chorus, "Ah-ooh / That's how we howling, growling, wildin'," captures the rebellious and untamed spirit of XG. Howling and growling reflect their bold and wild nature, as they fully embrace the wolfpack persona. "Moonwalk on a rooftop, like a wolf" not only evokes the image of wolves moving confidently under the moonlight but also refers to Michael Jackson’s smooth moonwalk, symbolizing their ability to move with elegance while maintaining a dangerous edge. This image is strengthened by the line, "I move like Nat Geograph with a zoom shot," implying that their moves are carefully observed, much like a National Geographic documentary.
Unleashing the Beast
As the song approaches its conclusion, XG unleashes their full potential with the lyrics, "You unleashed the beast / Call it wolf gang ’cause we 'bout to feast." Here, they identify as a "wolf gang" ready to dominate and take over the scene. Their relentless ambition is further illustrated in the line, "Never cease, I got mouths to feed," comparing themselves to a wolf providing for its pack, representing their commitment to succeeding for their team. The imagery deepens with, "Alphas now the fear surrounding," where the howling of their fans, AlphaZ, amplifies their dominance. The bridge, "Welcome to the wild / Where the strongest ones survive," reflects the harsh realities of the music industry, where only the strongest can thrive, mirroring the survival-of-the-fittest mentality of the wild.
XG Howling Lyrics
[Intro]
(Ooh)
(Ooh)
(Rrar)
[Verse 1: Cocona, Harvey, Jurin, Maya]
First we rock and that's how we roll
Block is hot ’cause X took that throne
Tough as diamonds, no sticks and stones
(Dots connecting like tic-tac-toe)
Lights go out and my pack just grow
Opposition my prey my foes
Game of hunger, I bring that smoke
(Ahaha, you don't want no smoke)
[Verse 2: Harvey, Maya]
Fangs out
Attack on three, that's a man down
I been throwing these paws like a handout
Too many cappin’ I be losing headcount, see the red dot?
I like to cook, so I hunt for my dinner
My appetite only get bigger and bigger
If I turn wolf then it must be a thriller
Woke up in blood, so I must be a killer
[Pre-Chorus: Juria, Hinata, Chisa, Jurin, (Juria & Hinata & Chisa)]
No way out when it fades out
Can't hide in the dark
'Cause when the moon light
On a full rise is glowing down
Nothing can stop or еndanger us
So don't play with us, could be dangerous
So run if you hеar the sound (The sound)
'Cause that's how we howl
[Chorus: Chisa, Cocona, Juria]
Ah-ooh
That's how we howling, growling, wildin'
(That’s how we howl)
Ah-ooh
That’s how we howling, growling, wildin'
So where are you now?
[Interlude]
(Ooh)
(Rrar)
[Verse 3: Jurin, Harvey]
Moonwalk on a rooftop, like a wolf
I move like Nat Geograph with a zoom shot
Hoorah huddle up, bring in the whole squad
These plays is not for you to re-enact
First down, and you know how we adapt
Touch down and you know how we impact
Caught the throw, got the goal
Rewind the video, do I really gotta run it back?
[Verse 4: Maya, Cocona]
You unleashed the beast
Call it wolf gang ’cause we 'bout to feast
Call it firsthand, a new type of breed
Never cease, I got mouths to feed
Listen ―you hear the howling
Sound of a couple thousand
Alphas now the fear surrounding
I move in silence, brute like a group of wildlings
No choice but to choose the violence
[Pre-Chorus: Hinata, Chisa, Juria, Harvey, (Hinata & Chisa & Juria)]
Can't break out, no escape route
There's nowhere to hide
It’s close to midnight
And the night skies come haunting down
Nothing can stop or endanger us
If you anger us, could be dangerous
So run if you hear the sound (The sound)
'Cause that's how we howl
[Chorus: Juria, Hinata, Maya]
Ah-ooh
That's how we howling (Hoo), growling (Ha), wildin'
(That's how we howl)
Ah-ooh
That's how we howling (Hoo), growling (Ha), wildin'
So where are you now?
[Bridge: Hinata, Juria, Chisa & Hinata, Juria & Chisa]
Welcome to the wild
Where the strongest ones survive
Too late to run away
You better kneel and pray
We're howling in the dark
[Chorus: Juria, Maya, Chisa]
(Ooh)
That's how we howling (Hoo), growling (Ha), wildin'
(That's how we howl)
Ah-ooh
That's how we howling (Hoo), growling (Ha), wildin'
So where are you now?
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