3D (feat. Jack Harlow)

"3D" by Jung Kook featuring Jack Harlow is a song that explores the themes of desire, longing, and the yearning for physical intimacy in the context of a long-distance relationship. The central message revolves around the desire to transcend the limitations of digital communication and experience a connection in the real, three-dimensional world. The title itself is a metaphor; '2D' represents the flat, screen-based interactions like video calls and texts, while '3D' symbolizes the depth and tangibility of being physically present with someone. The lyrics express the frustration of not being able to touch or kiss a loved one who is far away, highlighting the emotional gap that technology cannot bridge. The song carries a mature and sensual tone, shifting from the digital foreplay of 'sexting' to a direct appeal for a physical encounter. Throughout the song, there's a notable emphasis on consent, with lines like "So if you're ready" and "And if you'll let me" underscoring the importance of mutual willingness. Jack Harlow's verse adds a layer of swagger and a different narrative perspective, reflecting on past promiscuity before suggesting a more meaningful, present connection, which reinforces the song's overall theme of seeking a genuine, physical bond.

The song narrates the intense frustration and longing that comes with a long-distance relationship in the digital age. The protagonist, voiced by Jung Kook, feels the limitations of modern technology, expressing that he can't physically touch or kiss his partner through a phone or across the vastness of the universe and different time zones. He feels stuck in a two-dimensional reality, where he can see her on a screen but is missing the crucial third dimension: her physical presence. This feeling of incompleteness fuels his desire to bridge the gap and make their connection tangible. He communicates a clear and urgent wish to see her in person, 'in motion, in 3D,' signaling a move from a static, digital image to a dynamic, real-life experience.

This desire is framed with an emphasis on consent, as he repeatedly asks, 'if you're ready' and 'if you'll let me,' making it a proposition rather than a demand. The lyrics escalate in passion, using metaphors like 'champagne confetti' to suggest a celebratory and explosive culmination of their meeting. The repetition of 'body to body' underscores the deep craving for physical closeness and intimacy, moving beyond the 'sexting' or 2D interactions that have defined their connection so far. He feels an intoxicating, 'brand-new emotion' from her, describing it as a 'potion' that makes him 'crazy' with desire.

Jack Harlow's verse introduces a different, more boastful and reflective perspective. He starts by paying homage to Jung Kook's charisma ('I'm on my Jung Kook, take a chick off one look') before recounting his own past experiences with women, moving from boredom with one to a history of multiple partners. His narrative suggests a transformation; he implies his past was about quantity and perhaps a more superficial approach to relationships. He uses a jarring metaphor comparing the sight of his love interest's body to a 'dead body' in its ability to command attention. However, he concludes his verse by suggesting a newfound maturity, stating that now when he holds someone's hand, 'it's a new story.' He extends an invitation, offering to fly his partner from 'Korea to Kentucky' to make their connection physical, to 'see if I get lucky,' bringing the theme full circle to the desire for a real-world meeting.

"3D" was released on September 29, 2023, as the second solo single by Jung Kook of BTS, following his hit "Seven". The track features American rapper Jack Harlow. It was announced by Big Hit Music on September 24, 2023, as a pop and R&B song designed to show a more mature side of Jung Kook. The song was co-written by Jack Harlow and produced by BloodPop and David Stewart, the latter of whom also worked on the BTS hit "Dynamite". The collaboration came about as Jung Kook expressed his admiration for Jack Harlow's music. The track was positioned as a follow-up that carries on the legacy of male dance artists, specifically bringing back a mid-2000s hip-hop/dance sound in a contemporary way. The song is featured on Jung Kook's debut solo album, "Golden," which was released on November 3, 2023. Several remixes were also released, including one by American DJ MK and another version featuring Justin Timberlake instead of Jack Harlow. The music video was directed by Drew Kirsch and filmed in Los Angeles.

The song's rhythmic and rhyming structure is crafted to create an infectious, mid-tempo groove rooted in early 2000s R&B and pop. The rhythm is driven by a repetitive and percussive beat with a prominent bassline, creating a steady, danceable pulse throughout the track. The tempo is upbeat and propels the song forward. Lyrically, the song doesn't adhere to a strict, traditional rhyme scheme, instead favoring a more fluid structure common in contemporary pop and R&B. It uses a combination of perfect rhymes (phone/zone) and slant rhymes to maintain flow without sounding rigid. Jung Kook's verses often follow a simple rhyming pattern that makes the lyrics feel conversational yet melodic. The pre-chorus builds anticipation with its repeated lines. The chorus is the most rhythmically insistent part of the song, with its repetitive hook designed for memorability. Jack Harlow's rap verses introduce a more complex rhythmic flow, with internal rhymes and a cadence that contrasts with Jung Kook's smoother vocal delivery, adding rhythmic diversity to the track.

"3D" employs a mix of musical and literary techniques to create its distinct vibe.

• Musical Style: The song is a Pop and R&B track with a strong nostalgic flavor, reminiscent of early-to-mid 2000s music, particularly drawing comparisons to Justin Timberlake's early solo work. It features a minimalistic arrangement with a hard-hitting, percolating drum pulse, a smooth bass flow, and bright synth chords that create a danceable, upbeat tempo.
• Vocal Delivery: Jung Kook utilizes a smooth, gliding vocal tone that suits the lithe phrasing of the melody. He also incorporates soft whispers, such as the opening "One, two, 3D," and uses layered vocal echoes in the chorus ("And if you'll let me (and if you'll let me)") to establish a seductive and intimate mood.
• Repetition (Hook): The chorus is built on the repetition of the phrase "I wanna see it in motion, in 3D," creating a catchy and memorable hook that reinforces the song's central theme. The phrase "Body to body to body to body to body" is another instance of repetition used to emphasize the intense desire for physical contact.
• Narrative Contrast: The song features a narrative contrast between Jung Kook's verses, which focus on earnest longing and desire for one person, and Jack Harlow's rap, which introduces a more braggadocious and historically promiscuous persona, adding a different texture and perspective to the track.
• Consensual Language: A key literary technique is the repeated use of conditional phrases like "So if you're ready" and "And if you'll let me," which frames the sexual proposition within a context of consent, a notable choice in a mainstream pop song.

"3D" achieved significant commercial success and cultural impact immediately upon release. It debuted at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, marking Jung Kook's second solo top-ten entry and making him the first member of BTS to achieve this milestone. The song also debuted at number one on both the Billboard Global 200 and the Global Excl. US charts, collecting 104.3 million streams and 119,000 sales worldwide in its first week. In the UK, it peaked at number five, making Jung Kook the first Korean solo artist to secure two top-five singles on the UK Singles Chart. The collaboration between a K-pop superstar and a mainstream American rapper sparked considerable discussion. While commercially successful, Jack Harlow's verse, particularly his reference to "ABGs" (Asian Baby Girls) and the "dead body" metaphor, generated controversy and debate regarding racial stereotypes and misogyny, highlighting cultural sensitivities in cross-cultural collaborations. The song's 2000s R&B and pop sound was noted by critics as part of a trend of Y2K nostalgia in contemporary music. Ultimately, "3D" solidified Jung Kook's position as a formidable global pop star outside of BTS.

The song is built around a central metaphor of dimensions to articulate the difference between digital and physical intimacy.

• 2D vs. 3D: This is the most prominent metaphor. '2D' (two-dimensional) symbolizes the flat, impersonal nature of communication through screens—phones, video calls, and images. It represents the limitations of a long-distance relationship where connection is visual but not physical. '3D' (three-dimensional) represents the desire for a real, tangible, in-person experience, embodying physical presence, touch, and corporeal intimacy.
• The Universe and Time Zones: Lyrics like "kiss you through the universe / In another time zone" function as metaphors for the vast emotional and physical distance separating the lovers, highlighting a sense of helplessness against these barriers.
• Champagne Confetti: This phrase is used as a metaphor for the celebratory and explosive release of a female orgasm, contributing to the song's sensual and mature themes.
• Potion: Jung Kook sings, "You got me drinkin' that potion," which symbolizes the intoxicating and enchanting effect his love interest has on him, making him feel crazy with desire.
• Dead Body Metaphor: Jack Harlow's line, "When I seen that body, you would think it was a dead body / The way I told my boys, 'Come look,'" is a jarring metaphor used to express how utterly captivating and attention-grabbing he found the person's physique. It's not literal but serves to emphasize intense physical attraction.

The most significant recurring motif in "3D" is the concept of dimensions, which is central to the song's entire narrative. The phrase "in 3D" is the primary lyrical hook and is repeated throughout the choruses and post-choruses. Its repetition drills home the song's core message: the desire to move a relationship from a two-dimensional, digital space into a three-dimensional, physical reality. Another key recurring phrase is the conditional and consensual opening of the chorus: "So if you're ready / And if you'll let me." This line's repetition is significant as it consistently frames the song's sensual desire within an atmosphere of respect and consent. The phrase "See you like that" in the pre-chorus serves as a recurring build-up to the main hook, emphasizing the visual and physical yearning. Finally, the repetition of "Body to body" in the second verse acts as a mantra of physical intimacy, explicitly stating the desired outcome of their meeting.