The lead single's name is a play on the English meaning "going to you" and the literal Korean pronunciation sounding similar to the word "reason" (Korean: 이유; RR: iyu).[2] "2U" contains a message to a weary or lonely person running after their dreams: There are those who stay by your side who love you because you are you.[3]
"2U" was written and composed by Korean-American artist Chancellor with Kang in mind from the onset. Even during Chancellor's initial working stages with the song, Kang thought it matched him well.[2][3] He described "2U" as a hybrid of pop and hip-hop genres with a "gentle and comfortable" sound well-suited for spring, and MTV News pointed out the single had "R&B flourishes" as well.[2][4] Writing for IZM, Hwang In-ho described it as house track incorporating a synth-based rhythm, R&B beats and slow tempo.[5] As part of Grazia Korea's May cover story, Kang was asked if there was a specific reason for choosing groovy title tracks such as "2U" despite others thinking of him as an artist with powerful, strong performances. He replied that he wanted to show what he is capable of step-by-step to heighten the sense of tension.[1]
A music video teaser emulating a movie poster composition was revealed on March 20.[6] The full music video directed by VM Project Architecture was released alongside the song. Doug Riggs, Caspar von Winterfeldt, and Brian Scott Robinson headed the US crew.[7] It was filmed in one day at the Los Angeles Theatre. Kang found the filming location's inspiration and vibe to be well-connected to the song's concept and himself.[2]
"2U" is Kang's first top ten single on the Gaon Digital Chart, peaking at number 7.[8] According to the Korea Music Content Association, Kang achieved a Gaon triple crown during the thirteenth week of 2020 in part due to "2U" ranking first in the download and BGM charts.[9] Those sales were further reflected in the Gaon monthly charts for March 2020 with "2U" topping the download chart and ranking number 15 in the subsequent BGM chart.[10][11] The song also took first place on five music shows: The Show, Music Bank, Show! Music Core, Show Champion, and M Countdown.[12]
^ ab"'CYAN' 강다니엘 "타이틀곡 '2U', 나한테 잘 맞은 옷 찾은 느낌" [일문일답]" ['CYAN' Kang Daniel "Title song '2U', the feeling of finding clothes that suit me well" [Japanese Q&A]]. Sports Donga (in Korean). March 24, 2020. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2020 – via Naver.
^Hwang, In-ho. "2U- Kang Daniel". IZM (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 9, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
^""영화 포스터 연상"…'컴백 D-4' 강다니엘, 타이틀곡 '2U' MV 티저 공개" ["Reminiscent of a movie poster"... 'Comeback D-4' Kang Daniel, title song '2U' MV teaser released]. Xports News (in Korean). March 20, 2020. Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020 – via Naver.
^Paranoid Paradigm (April 23, 2020). "KANGDANIEL - 2U". Vimeo. Archived from the original on May 16, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
^"[DA:차트] 강다니엘 'CYAN', 가온차트 1위…13주차 3관왕 달성" [[DA: Chart] Kang Daniel 'CYAN', Gaon Chart 1st place... achieved 3 crowns in the 13th week]. Sports Donga (in Korean). April 2, 2020. Archived from the original on April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020 – via Naver.
^"강다니엘, 미니 1집 활동 성공적 마무리 #안녕다니엘#5관왕#안방1열 소통" [Kang Daniel, successful completion of 1st mini album activities #HelloDaniel#5Crowns]. OSEN (in Korean). April 13, 2020. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2020 – via Naver.
^Park, Yun-jin (April 1, 2020). '더쇼' 강다니엘, 컴백과 동시에 1위…"힘든 시기, 다들 건강하길" ['The Show' Kang Daniel, No. 1 at the same time as comeback… "Hard times, I hope everyone is healthy"]. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020 – via Naver.
^Kim, Nara (April 3, 2020). [종합] '뮤직뱅크' 강다니엘, NCT127 꺾고 1위…엑소 수호 솔로 데뷔X홍진영 컴백 [[Comprehensive] 'Music Bank' Kang Daniel beat NCT127, 1st place… EXO Suho Solo debut X Hong Jin-young comeback]. My Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020 – via Naver.
^Park, So-yeon (April 4, 2020). '음중' 강다니엘, '2U'로 1위…임영웅 신곡 최초 공개·수호 솔로 컴백 [종합] ['Dark' Kang Daniel, 1st in '2U'… Im Young-woong's first new song released and protected as a solo comeback [Comprehensive]]. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020 – via Naver.
^Kim, Mi-ji (April 9, 2020). '쇼챔' 강다니엘, '2U' 막방도 1위로 마무리…임영웅·홍진영 출격[종합] ['Show Champion' Kang Daniel, '2U' Makbang also finished in 1st place… Lim Young-woong and Hong Jin-young scramble [total]]. Xports News (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020 – via Naver.
^Park, Su-in (April 9, 2020). ‘엠카운트다운’ 강다니엘, 세정 꺾고 출연없이 1위 ['M Countdown' Kang Daniel wins cleansing, No. 1 appearance]. Newsen (in Korean). Archived from the original on September 14, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020 – via Naver.
