MTBD (song)

"MTBD" (Korean: 멘붕; RR: Menbung) is a song by South Korean rapper and singer CL. It was released through YG Entertainment on February 27, 2014, as a track off 2NE1's final studio album Crush (2014). "MTBD", which derives from the phrase "mental breakdown", was written and produced by Teddy Park with additional lyrics penned by CL. The song was used in the fifth episode of Fox's Lucifer, which was broadcast in February 2016.^[1]

"MTBD"
Song by CL
from the album Crush
Language	Korean English
Released	February 27, 2014 (2014-02-27)
Genre	K-hip hop dubstep electro trap
Length	3:15
Label	YG
Songwriter(s)	Teddy Park Lee Chae-rin
Producer(s)	Teddy Park
CL singles chronology
"The Baddest Female" (2013) "MTBD" (2014) "Dirty Vibe" (2014)
Audio video
"멘붕 (MTBD)" on YouTube

Background and music

"MTBD" was confirmed to be included in the tracklist for 2NE1's second Korean-language studio album, titled Crush on February 19, 2014. The song was subsequently released on February 27 as part of Crush, as the sixth track off of the album.^[2] The song serves as CL's second solo track during her career with 2NE1, with her first solo single being "The Baddest Female" (2013). "MTBD" was written by both CL and long-time 2NE1 collaborator Teddy Park, with additional production by Park. "MTBD", which is an acronym stemming from the phrase "mental breakdown", integrates the genres of EDM, hip-pop and bubblegum trap and consists of a tense drum beat, low bass, and a unique synth sound.^[3][4] It interpolates a strong dubstep and trap beat complemented by her "inimitable" style.^[5]

CL was accused of blasphemy following the release of "MTBD", particularly amongst Muslims, for incorporating chanted verses from the Quran.^[6] A re-edited version was released and the incorporated verses were removed.^[7]

Reception

Following the release of Crush, "MTBD" was met with positive reviews from music critics. August Brown of the Los Angeles Times named it the best track off of the album, writing that the "808-destroying stomper as good as anything on rap radio in America right now."^[8] Rolling Stone referred to the track as the centerpiece of Crush and further complimented CL's confidence.^[3] Writing for Billboard, Tamar Herman viewed the track favorably, writing that the solo track remains one of her strongest works to date.^[9] The publication wrote in another view that the song "is the show-stopping centerpiece where CL’s ferocious flow takes no prisoners amid twitching triple hi-hats and the bass going 'boom boom boom.'^[10] Billboard further ranked the song as the second best K-Pop Deep Cut in December 2017, praising the song's production and composition in addition to CL's musicality.^[7] Fuse said that CL "takes center stage on the incredible solo track 'MTBD,' which sounds like an upgraded version of DJ Snake's 'Turn Down for What.'"^[11]

CL performing the track on 2NE1's All Or Nothing Tour in Jakarta in June 2014

Live performances

CL performed the track live for the first time on 2NE1's two-day stop on their All or Nothing World Tour in Seoul on March 1 and 2, 2014. On March 7, a video of her tour performance was uploaded to 2NE1's YouTube channel. The stage was met with favorable reception among fans, who praised CL's stage charisma, stating that "it's not a joke", and "it's a live jackpot".^[4]

CL faced controversy again in November 2016 after performing the unedited version of "MTBD" at the Los Angeles show of her Hello Bitches Tour. CL quickly issued an apology and corrected the issue by her next concert.^[12]

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2014) Peak position South Korea (Gaon)[13] 15 South Korea (K-pop Hot 100)[14] 16 US World Digital Songs (Billboard)[15] 9

Monthly charts Chart (March 2014) Peak position South Korea (Gaon Chart)[16] 22

References

1. Omega, Jan (February 26, 2016). "Blackjacks In The U.S. Go Crazy When 'MTBD' By 2NE1 Leader CL Plays On New Fox Comedy 'Lucifer'". The Inquisitr.
2. "2NE1 Announces Full-Length Album 'Crush,' New Singles Details (Updated)". Billboard. February 18, 2014.
3. "20 Best Pop Albums of 2014". Rolling Stone. December 19, 2014. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
4. "'나쁜 기집애의 섹시 카리스마'..CL, '멘붕' 무대 공개" ['The Baddest Female's sexy charisma'..CL's 'MTBD' stage released]. SBS Entertainment News (in Korean). March 8, 2014.
5. "5 top songs of K-pop rapper CL, the 'Baddest Female'". South China Morning Post. February 26, 2019.
6. "투애니원 신곡 '멘붕', 이슬람 모독 논란 휩싸여" [2NE1's new song 'MTBD' is overwhelmed with controversy over Islamic blasphemy]. TV Daily. March 13, 2014.
7. "The 40 Best K-Pop Deep Cuts of the Decade So Far: Critics' Picks". Billboard. December 1, 2017.
8. Brown, August (April 1, 2014). "Review: 2NE1 showcases K-pop's bright future in America with 'Crush'". Los Angeles Times.
9. Herman, Tamar (October 21, 2016). "CL's Live Performances: 5 Times She Dominated the Stage". Billboard.
10. "The 25 Greatest K-Pop Albums of the 2010s: Staff List". Billboard. December 17, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
11. "40 Best Albums of 2014". Fuse. December 15, 2014. Archived from the original on May 13, 2019. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
12. "2NE1's CL issues apology for performing unedited version of 'MTBD'". SBS PopAsia. November 8, 2016.
13. "Digital Chart – Week 11 of 2014". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved 28 November 2022.
14. "K-pop Hot 100 - MTBD". Billboard. March 15, 2014. Archived from the original on September 20, 2015.
15. "CL Chart History: World Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
16. "Digital Chart – March 2014". Circle Chart (in Korean). March 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2022.