K-Pop
Crush & J-Hope Offer a Behind-the-Scenes Look at ‘Rush Hour’ Music Video: Watch
Get up! The content surrounding Crush’s new track, “Rush Hour” keeps on coming. Last week, fans were treated to a dance practice video featuring the South Korean rapper alongside BTS‘ J-Hope expertly hitting the funky track’s choreography. On Monday (Sept. 27), the goodies continued with a behind-the-scenes look at the making of “Rush Hour.” Crush kicked off the video by giving fans an explanation of the visual’s concept. “On a very desolate road, my imagination takes wing, which resolved the complicated and frustrating situation,” the translation reads. Of the track itself, Crush added that “Rush Hour” is a “funky song and it also had elements of hip-hop mixed into it,” before giving a hearty recommendation to the video’s viewers to give the song a spin. J-Hope also gave his perspective o...
BLACKPINK Make History as First Girl Group to Earn No. 1 Album in 14 Years
BLACKPINK have made history with their sophomore album, BORN PINK, by becoming the first all-female group to top the Billboard Top 200 albums chart since 2008. BORN PINK moved 102,000 equivalent album units in its first week of release in the US. As a result, BLACKPINK are the first girl group to go No. 1 since Danity Kane did so with their album Welcome to the Dollhouse in April 2008. The success of BORN PINK also means that three different South Korean acts have topped Billboard in 2022. BTS and Stray Kids each previously went No. 1 with their albums Proof and Oddinary, respectively. Advertisement Related Video In October, BLACKPINK will embark on a world tour that includes performances in Korea, the United States, Canada, the UK, Europe, South Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Tickets t...
SEVENTEEN’s Jun Drops His Latest & Sexiest Solo Single ‘Limbo’: Watch
After SEVENTEEN wrapped the U.S. leg of their Be the Sun world tour, member Jun took no time to release a new solo track that keeps fans hot even as temperatures are cooling down. “Limbo” is the new single from Jun, the Chinese-born K-pop star who is one of the standout performers and dancers in SEVENTEEN, released in both Korean and Chinese. While Jun has previously focused on ballads and acoustic tracks when it comes to solo tracks, “Limbo” delivers his seductive side. The star purrs, “Listen, I’ve been looking for the love/ I wanna hear your voice/ You know what I mean?” over grinding, electro-pop production. The accompanying music video is equally bewitching. From rocking latex gloves and a crop top to giving his best sexy vampire character, Jun’s looks throughout the visual are only o...
Fan Chant: 2022 Is for the Girls
Welcome to Fan Chant, a weekly column for K-pop fans, stans, and newbies alike. Each week, I’ll be rolling out interviews, lists, and all kinds of content to keep you in the loop on the latest and greatest from our friends in Seoul and beyond. Also, make sure to subscribe to my companion newsletter! At its core, I simply believe that being a K-pop fan should be fun. Think about why you got into your ult group — whether it was the music, the thrilling music videos, or the immaculate vibes between members, odds are there was something that made you smile and want to keep tuning in. For the chronically online among us — myself absolutely included — it’s easy to get caught up in release goals, voting, and the ever-present charts that circulate fandoms. This week, I found myself thinking about ...
Defense Minister Says It Would Be ‘Difficult’ to Exempt BTS From Mandatory Military Service
The latest proposal aimed at allowed BTS‘ members to avoid South Korea’s mandatory military service stint appears unlikely to do the trick. According to the Korea Times, a lawmaker from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea proposed a revised bill on Monday (Sept. 19) that would make an exemption for decorated pop stars such as the seven-man boy K-pop band to swap their military obligations for an alternate service. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The fourth go at allowing pop celebrities who have gotten orders of merit from the government — which BTS received in 2018 — to skirt the required two-year military hitch for all able-bodied men between 18-28 was proposed by Rep. Kim Young-bae, who reportedly said, “Korean pop celebrit...
Meet NewJeans: HYBE’s Global Breakout Girl Group Where ‘Everything Was Riding on Secrecy’
One month ago, something strange happened in the K-pop world: A girl group surprise-dropped their first music video on YouTube with zero hype, news or previously released information. Surprise releases aren’t new to the global music industry, with most artists preferring later announcements to hype up album streams nowadays, but NewJeans created something remarkable in their unexpected and unorthodox drop in the K-pop business, where expert planning and precise rollouts are cornerstones. Korean companies utilize a proven method of announcing albums, releasing pre-order information, and teasing material from the photo shoots, videos and songs before revealing everything all on D-Day to maximize immediate impact across the charts and the public. Only rarely will K-pop stars have a ...
BLACKPINK Detail All the Fun Callbacks in the ‘Shut Down’ Music Video: Watch
BLACKPINK‘s video for the Born Pink track “Shut Down” premiered Friday along with the release of the eight-track LP. Now, devoted Blinks are getting an inside look at what it was like for members Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé to shoot the visual for the track. “Did you guys notice?” Jisoo asks her fellow group members — as well as the Blinks at home watching — in the video. “Our ‘Shut Down’ music video has put in some of the scenes from our previous music videos to show the new BLACKPINK. We hope you look forward to it.” In the music video, fans noticed that “Shut Down” acted as both a reflection on BLACKPINK’s past eras since their 2016 debut with “Whistle” in addition to a fun game for eagle-eyed viewers to decode all the small details and links to the group’s previous video releases, as ...
BLACKPINK “Shut Down” Kimmel with High-Energy Performance: Watch
BLACKPINK supported their latest album, BORN PINK, with an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday night. The all-star foursome of Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa staged a highly choreographed performance of “Shut Down,” which you can replay in full below. The group previously appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live in October 2020, where they performed “Lovesick Girls.” That appearance was also historic as it marked the first time an all-female K-pop act was interviewed on the program. To further support BORN PINK, BLACKPINK will embark on “the largest world tour in the history of a K-pop girl group” beginning next month in South Korea. A North American leg launches in Dallas on October 25th and extends through the end of November. Tickets are available here, and see our dream setlist for the tour....
Here Are All the Easter Eggs in BLACKPINK’s ‘Shut Down’ Music Video
BLACKPINK is officially back in your area. Two years after the release of the K-pop girl group’s debut album, The Album, the four-piece — Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa and Rosé — finally released their second album, Born Pink, on Friday (Sept. 16), and with it, an Easter egg-filled video for the album’s title track, “Shut Down.” As it turns out, video Easter eggs are not just a favorite of Taylor Swift (who is, notably, a fan of the girl group). When the visual for “Shut Down” arrived in the early hours of Friday morning, fans noticed that it acted as both a reflection on BLACKPINK’s past eras since their 2016 debut with “Whistle,” in addition to a fun game for eagle-eyed viewers to decode all the small details and links to the group’s previous video releases, as well as their solo and group discogr...
NCT 127 Share Their New ‘Attitude’ & Goals for Experimental Album ‘2 Baddies’
“Fast” is the first word said on NCT 127‘s latest album and embodies the palpable excitement and passion the boy band has for their new music. The group’s last full-length from nearly a year ago, Sticker, became the act’s highest- and longest-charting project when it peaked at No. 3 and spent 17 weeks on the Billboard 200. Their latest, 2 Baddies released on Sept. 16, is the record they plan to reach more fans with even greater ambitions and goals. Speaking over an afternoon Zoom call in Seoul, the members talk excitedly about an album they see as pushing themselves as experimental K-pop artists who fully commit to exploring different sounds. While album openers “Faster” and “2 Baddies” embrace high-turbo energy alongside multiple racing and car references, the LP explores different sounds...
Lisa Calls Blinks’ Excitement Over ‘BORN PINK’ One of Her ‘Biggest Motivations’: Exclusive
What’s her name, what’s her name? Lisa sat down for a new profile with CR Fashion Book‘s fall/winter 2022 issue revealed Friday (Sept. 16), and Billboard has the exclusive scoop on her thoughts about BLACKPINK‘s new album, her fashion aspirations and more. “Before our comebacks, we always get into lengthy conversations about what we can do to improve,” the Thai K-pop idol told the fashion magazine about how she, Rosé, Jisoo and Jennie approach each new BLACKPINK era. “We try to bring out the best outcomes by discussing our thoughts on music videos, outfits, choreography, and even the littlest details such as hair colors.” The rapper also spoke about her special connection to the girl group’s Blinks, particularly in the lead-up to BORN PINK, which arrived Friday on the heels of ferocious le...
iKON’s DK Talks Making His Runway Debut, Solo Music at New York Fashion Week: Exclusive
South Korea was fully represented for the upcoming 2023 spring/summer season at New York Fashion Week this year. Not only did the Concept Korea SS23 show spotlight three emerging Korean designers UL:KIN, BESFXXK and CAHIERS, but it highlighted additional areas of K-culture throughout the evening showing. Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news For the Tuesday evening (Sept. 13) show, Min, the singer-actress and former member of chart-topping girl group miss A, was in attendance at the show alongside cast mates Abraham Lim and Patrick Park all in the midst of rehearsal for KPOP, the forthcoming Broadway musical about the music scene. Meanwhile, Stylists and representatives who work behind the scenes with top K-pop and K-drama talent were seated among NY...
