Product Code Database
I Trust (stylized in sentence case) is the third Korean extended play (fourth overall) by South Korean girl group (G)I-dle. It was released digitally on April 6, 2020 and physically on April 7, 2020 by Cube Entertainment. I Trust features 5 tracks including the previously released single "Lion" and the lead single "Oh My God", which was produced and written by Soyeon alongside Big Sancho. The physical version is available in two versions: "True" and "Lie". I Trust is the followup to their second EP I Made, released in 2019.
The EP debuted atop the Gaon Album Chart and became (G)I-dle's best selling work since debut, selling 112,075 copies in its first week.
On March 19, 2020, Cube Entertainment announced that (G)I-dle would be making a comeback with an extended play in early April. They had already completed their album jacket photoshoot, filming of the music video and were in the final stages of comeback preparations. Later the same month, Cube officially announced their comeback with the released artwork teaser image of the third mini-album I Trust through their official social network service. The teaser contains the album name and release date.
I Trust is (G)I-dle's third release in the 'I' series, following I Am and I Made. I Trust comes from setting the subject of belief as "myself". The theme of the album is 'I trust = I trust myself' and through this (G)I-dle showcases their own unique confidence. Soyeon revealed she got inspired by watching isekai anime, for the whole album concept.
"Luv U" is a trap song which combines heavy 808 bass, hard drum beats, and tongue-clicking sounds recorded by member Soyeon which creates a playful yet serious, bright but dark atmosphere. The lyrics express a strong energy of love and revolve around a situation when you have to believe in yourself. Soulbeats called it "borderline industrial, with pops, clicks, riffs that read more like sounds than music, but composed so deftly that they form a clear melody and rhythm".
"Maybe" is a dream-like dance-pop song that combines slow chord progression and minimalist electronic instrumentation, though the rubbery synths and staccato drums play against the scratched strings for a spectacular drop. It represents the confusion one faces when coming to believe in themselves.
The group held an online live media showcase before the song's digital release with Jo Kwon as the MC.
(G)I-dle continue their promotion activities with follow-up song "Luv U" starting April 28, on SBS MTV The Show to repay the love sent from their fans for I Trust. The promotions of the song ended on May 3.
"Oh my god" was released as the album's lead single on April 6, 2020, with the accompanying music video. In South Korea, the song debuted and peaked at number 15 on the Gaon Digital Chart. Moreover, the song attained international success, peaking at number three on Billboard's World Digital Songs chart. "Oh My God" debuted in the charts of several countries, including Hungary, Thailand and Scotland. The song gave (G)I-dle four music show wins.
Pop music critic Seo Jeong Min-gap included (G)I-dle's I Trust in the list of albums 'If You Don't Listen, You Will Regret It'. Lee Jeong-beom of XSports News included "Luv U" on his list of the "10 K-pop Girl groups' B-Sides that left an impression and helped improve the quality of my life this year". In his article, he wrote that the song expressed a cute side to a strong character and saying "it takes risks to show a side that is not customary for a certain field of creation." He concluded, "The song received high marks for expressing a character that was strong outside but soft inside through a fun, energetic and charming way."
| + I Trust on critic lists !Critic/Publication !List !Rank !Notes !class="unsortable" | Ref. | |||
| Dazed | The 40 Best K-pop Songs of 2020 | 18 | "Oh My God" | |
| MTV | Best Kpop B-sides of 2020 | 15 | "Luv U" | |
| Tonplein | Best Songs of 2020 | 15 | "Oh My God" | |
| Rolling Stone | 20 Best K-pop Music Videos of 2020 | 4 | Music video |
I Trust debuted at number 7 on the KKBOX Hong Kong Korean Album Weekly Chart. Later, it peaked and charted at number 3 for week 16 and 18 of 2020.
It was reported that I Trust set the highest record for a South Korean girl group to topped iTunes Top Albums chart in 62 countries worldwide. The album also ranked first in the United States on iTunes Pop Album Chart, K-Pop Album Chart, and K-Pop Song Chart. The album scored their best one-week sales with 1,000 copies and a total of 2,000 album-equivalent units in the week ending April 9, debuting at number 4 on Billboard's World Albums Chart.
On May 6, (G)I-dle debuted at Rolling Stone's Top 25 Breakthrough chart as the only K-Pop group to chart for the month of April at the top 20 spot with a unit growth of 3.3 million and over 5.5 million total on demand audio streams in the U.S.
On July 13, it reported that I Trust rank in the Top 20 albums for Gaon's Mid Year Album Sale Chart, with 151,108 album sales. (G)I-dle remains one of two 2018 rookie female groups and only female artists to come from a "non big three" company in the top 20.
Additional personnel
| +Awards ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Organization ! scope="col" | Category ! scope="col" | Result ! |
| 2020 | NetEase Cloud Music Award | Popular Album of the Year | ||
| Best Creativity of the Year |
| +Weekly chart performance for I Trust |
| +Monthly chart performance for I Trust |
| +Release formats for I Trust |
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