You’ve got to root for a group like BLACK6IX. Judging from their cheap music video (seriously, the fact that they couldn’t even manage the interlacing and frame-rate correctly is embarrassing), the guys are working on a shoestring budget. They’ve barely been given the opportunity to promote, but their debut single showed promise. And against all odds, comeback track Like A Flower is even stronger, eclipsing work from artists much bigger and more successful than this struggling rookie group.

It’s not that Like A Flower is the second coming or anything, but it puts enough of a unique spin on current trends to feel fresh and exciting. The electronic beat kicks in from the first moment, but it’s joined by a near-constant rush of atmospheric filters that lend the instrumental an unexpected dramatic quality. The guys’ performance echoes this vibe — the flow of the rap segments feels unique and well-suited to the track, and the vocals carry a surprising power.

When we get to the chorus, Like A Flower takes another welcome twist. Rather than settle for a standard tropical house refrain, the hook incorporates an instrumental that borrows more from east Asian influences. While it could have packed an even greater punch, this slinky synth line gives Flower the unique calling card it needs. Even the aggressive post-chorus hip-hop breakdown — where so many songs go wrong — brings the track to interesting places. Like A Flower is the perfect example of why listeners should never count out rookie groups. Sometimes they’re the ones delivering the goods and pushing k-pop forward.