# Next Episode (EP)

Next Episode (stylized in all caps) is the second extended play (EP) by South Korean brother-sister duo AKMU. It was released digitally on July 26, 2021, and physically on July 27, through YG Entertainment. The EP marks the duo's first album release in nearly two years, since Sailing in September 2019. Described as a "collaboration album", it comprises seven songs, with each track featuring a different artist. "Nakka" serves as the lead single for the album.

## Background and release

South Korean brother-sister duo AKMU released the single "Happening" on November 16, 2020. In a press release for the song member Lee Chan-hyuk hinted that it was a potential prelude to their next full-length album. On June 27, 2021, South Korean news outlet Hankyung reported that the duo would be making a comeback in July, and had begun filming their new music video. On the same day, their agency YG Entertainment confirmed that they were in the middle of filming a music video for a new track. On July 12, the release of AKMU's new album titled Next Episode was announced for July 26.
On July 14, the EP's track listing was published, confirming a total of seven tracks with seven different featured artists. The track list highlighted "Nakka" (낙하) featuring IU as the title track; other featuring artists included Lee Sun-hee, Zion.T, Beenzino, Choi Jung-hoon, Crush, and Sam Kim. Two days later, a video trailer for the EP was released, with YG Entertainment announcing that each track on the album would be accompanied by its own music video.

## Critical reception

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| IZM | |
| NME | |
Ruby C from the British magazine NME gave the EP a five-star rating out of five, and said, "Much like a mountainous expedition, there are always risks that come with collaborating with others, but those in 'Next Episode' work for the better: each track brings out the strengths of the collaborators, while still effective in showcasing Su-hyun's flawless, pristine vocals and Chan-hyuk's adept lyrical storytelling." Tamar Herman, writing for South China Morning Post, said that "[b]etween the captivating musicality and the lyrics' compelling themes", the album is "worth listening to again and again."

## Commercial performance

EP's lead single "Nakka" debuted at number three on Gaon Digital Chart for the week ending July 31, 2021. The following week, "Nakka" rose to the number one spot, becoming the duo's seventh number one single on the chart. It debuted at number 16 on the Billboard's K-pop 100, and peaked at number one for the chart issued on August 14; and remained atop for four consecutive weeks.

## Accolades

Awards and nominations received by Next Episode :
| Year | Awards | Category | Nominee | Result |
| 2021 | 13th Melon Music Awards | Album of the Year | Next Episode | Nominated |
| 2021 | 23rd Mnet Asian Music Awards | Song of the Year | "Nakka" (with IU) | Longlisted |
| 2021 | 23rd Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Collaborations | "Nakka" (with IU) | Won |
| 2021 | 23rd Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Vocal Performance | "Nakka" (with IU) | Nominated |
| 2022 | 11th Gaon Chart Music Awards | Song of the Year – July | "Nakka" (with IU) | Nominated |
| 2022 | 11th Gaon Chart Music Awards | Song of the Year – July | "Hey Kid, Close Your Eyes" | Nominated |
Next Episode on year-end lists :
| Critic/Publication | List | Work | Rank | Ref. |
| PopMatters | Top 20 Best K-pop Albums of 2021 | Next Episode | 4 | |

## Track listing

All lyrics are written by Lee Chan-hyuk, except where noted

## Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from YG Select.
* AKMU – vocals (all tracks)
** Lee Chan-hyuk – vocals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), lyrics (all tracks), composition (all tracks)
** Lee Su-hyun – vocals (1, 2, 4, 6, 7)
* Beenzino – vocals (4), lyrics (4), chorus (4)
* Koo Bon-am – bass (3, 5)
* Crush – vocals (6)
* Lim Heon-il – acoustic guitar (5), electric guitar (5)
* Lee Hyun-young – composition (3, 5), arrangement (3, 5), keyboard (3, 5), synthesizer (3, 5)
* IU – vocals (2)
* Park Jae-bum – drum (5), percussion (5)
* Park Jong-woo (PJnotreble) – bass (4)
* Jukjae – composition (6, 7), arrangement (6, 7), acoustic guitar (6, 7), electric guitar (6, 7), bass (6, 7), drum (6, 7)
* Yoon Jun-hyun - synthesizer (7)
* Choi Jung-hoon – vocals (5)
* Millennium – composition (1, 2, 3), arrangement (1, 2, 3), drum (1, 2, 3), synthesizer (1, 2), programming (1), sampling and editing (1), bass (2), keyboard (2), effects (2, 3), percussion (3)
* Peejay – composition (4), arrangement (4), drum (4), keyboard (4), percussion (4), chorus (4)
* Sam Kim – vocals (7)
* Kim Seung-hyun (Shyun) – electric guitar (4)
* Sihwang – composition (1), arrangement (1), electric guitar (1), electric bass (1), synthesizer (1)
* Chung Soo-wan – electric guitar (3)
* Lee Sun-hee – vocals (1)
* Zion.T – vocals (3)

## Charts

Chart performance for Next Episode :
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
| South Korean Albums (Gaon) | 6 |
Monthly chart performance for Next Episode :
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
| South Korean Albums (Gaon) | 43 |

## Sales

Sales for Next Episode :
| Region | Sales |
| South Korea (Gaon) | 11,552 |

## Release history

Release dates and formats for Next Episode :
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label |
| Various | July 26, 2021 | Digital downloadstreaming | YG |
| South Korea | July 27, 2021 | CD | YGYG Plus |
| South Korea | November 29, 2021 | LP | YGYG Plus |