Jaerim - Rock Climbing (Lidmer Review)

Jaerim has steadily released albums, carving out his niche in the scene. In 2024, with his official debut album [Seongdong Gongpal], he refreshingly depicted the neighborhood and life he grew up in. The following year, through the collaboration [GMBT] with producer Sun Gin, he showcased his matured rap skills. He was undoubtedly a rookie to watch. However, his name didn't gain as much recognition as expected. Compared to the skills and musical perfection he's proven as a rapper, the space reality has afforded him remains limited. His new album [Rock Climbing] starts from this very reality at his feet. Rent and part-time jobs, strained relationships, lost performance opportunities, and family livelihood – Jaerim has tied the various pressures surrounding him to the symbol of a 'rock face.' It's a wall he must overcome to keep living. What empowers him most here is his solid rap. Jaerim delivers remarkably engaging rap once again. In many tracks, he seems to anticipate the beat's flow, riding it with a slight delay to create space, and even when the rhythm flows irregularly, his flow remains stable.