Category: K-POP ARTISTS

K-pop boyband ENHYPEN has recently embarked on a unique collaboration with the globally beloved franchise, Pokémon. The band released a video for their latest drop, “One and Only,” as part of the Pokémon Music Collective project. This collaboration has not only delighted fans of ENHYPEN and Pokémon but also marked a significant milestone in the intersection of music and gaming culture.

The music video for “One and Only” features the members of ENHYPEN accompanied by popular Pokémon characters like Charizard, Charmander, Lucario, Pikachu, Piplup, Snorlax, and Zoroark. The video showcases the band members and their Pokémon companions preparing for a special camping trip. After setting up their caravan, they enjoy roasting marshmallows and take to the skies in hot air balloons.

The lyrics of the song reflect the joy and excitement of this adventure, with the chorus stating, “The whole world is beautiful, it’s so wonderful / When the day goes by, my heart flutters even louder / It makes me excited, more and more / It goes on even when I close my eyes / You’re my one and only.”

The Pokémon Music Collective is a collaboration between The Pokémon Company and Universal Music Group. It features new tracks by various artists, incorporating sounds and music from the Pokémon video game universe. “One and Only” is the second track to be released from this project, following “Utau” by J-pop producer Imase in September 2022.

This collaboration comes less than two months after ENHYPEN released their fourth mini-album, DARK BLOOD, led by the single “Bite Me.” The album marked the first installment of the boyband’s new ‘Blood’ series of releases and was praised as ENHYPEN’s most cohesive work so far.

The music video for “One and Only” is a delightful blend of the band’s energy and the charms of the Pokémon. The Pokémon are shown living with the ENHYPEN members in their dorm and helping with various chores, adding a touch of whimsy and cuteness to the video.

ENHYPEN isn’t the first artist to team up with Pokémon. The Pokémon Company has collaborated with artists like Ed Sheeran, J Balvin, Katy Perry, and Post Malone. In the K-pop sector, Pokémon has also worked with the girl group ITZY.

Formed under BELIFT LAB, ENHYPEN debuted in 2020 after its members were selected through the reality show I-LAND. They recently confirmed that they would start their second world tour in South Korea.

(Featured Image: This was posted on Twitter when the music video dropped. Source: Twitter/ENHYPEN’s Japanese Twitter account.)

K-pop girl group NMIXX, known for their impressive dancing and singing skills, recently experienced a series of unfortunate events during a pre-recording session for JTBC‘s music program K-909. The incident, which involved two drone accidents and a stage fire, raised concerns about proper safety measures in the entertainment industry.

On July 10, fans who attended the recording of NMIXX‘s performance for K-909 reported several safety concerns. According to these accounts, a fire broke out on stage due to mishandling of stage props. As if that wasn’t bad enough, a drone got tangled in member Kyujin‘s hair, and another drone hit member Lily‘s arm. The incident was a shocking and terrifying experience for the fans who were initially excited to hear NMIXX‘s new song before their comeback.

In response to these reports, the K-909 production team issued a statement. They explained that the fire was caused by an issue with one of the props, specifically some pink muhly grass. When the team noticed what had happened, they quickly evacuated NMIXX from the stage, extinguished the fire, and ventilated the whole area. They denied claims of an audience member fainting, stating that one audience member felt unwell and left the filming location with a staff member.

The K-909 team also addressed the drone incident involving Kyujin. They revealed that filming came to a screeching halt when the drone ended up in her hair. It was only after they made sure she was alright that they resumed filming. They ended their statement by expressing their commitment to intensifying efforts to prevent similar accidents in the future.

Despite the incident, NMIXX pushed through with their comeback plans. Their latest single album, A Midsummer NMIXX’s Dream, and its title track, “Party O’Clock,” were released on July 11. You can watch the MV for the latter below.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety measures in the entertainment industry, highlighting the need for thorough precautions to ensure the safety of all involved.

(Featured Image: The NMIXX members made wacky faces on the set of their comeback showcase. Source: Twitter/NMIXX’s official Twitter account)

DSP Media’s co-ed K-pop group KARD is making waves with their provocative and sexy choreography for the song “CAKE.” Known for incorporating mature themes into their work, KARD has once again pushed the boundaries of what is considered acceptable in the K-pop industry.

Earlier this year, KARD stirred controversy with their latest mini album, “ICKY,” and its title track of the same name. The song’s lyrics, packed with suggestive phrases, sparked reactions from critics and fans alike. BM’s verse, in particular, had everyone doing a double-take. BM himself had fun with netizens’ reactions, tweeting that “ICKY” was milder than the other songs on the album, including “CAKE.” 

He’s right. Based on the title, one might think it’s about dessert, but it’s not. Like “ICKY,” its lyrics are packed with sexual innuendos, and BM told fans the choreography would be “freaky.” Sure enough, when the group did “CAKE” on their 2023 PLAYGROUND World Tour, the performance raised eyebrows. Some were taken aback by the song’s suggestive choreography since KARD is a co-ed group.

Usually, not many people would bat an eyelash at provocative dance moves like humping. Especially not in this day and age. But the fact that a co-ed group performed such moves added an extra layer of shock. Some fans who were going to watch the concert with their parents are reconsidering their decision, given the explicit nature of the performances.

Despite the controversy, KARD continues to captivate huge crowds on tour. Besides, their longtime listeners know none of this is that shocking. For one thing, BM’s solo work, which includes songs like “Bad Intentions,” makes “ICKY” sound downright wholesome. Not only that, but he was featured on “Put It On Ya” by Jessi alongside Korean rapper Nafla, and that song is also quite explicit.

The ladies of KARD aren’t shy when it comes to lyrics, either. On their new album, they have a song together called “Fxxk You,” which is not about hating someone.

(Featured Image: The members of KARD took time out for a selfie during a recent video call event. Source: Twitter/KARD’s official Twitter account)

Yorch Yongsin, a distinguished Thai artist, is set to make his K-pop debut in a new boy group under GRID Entertainment.

Despite his young age, Yorch has already worn many hats in the entertainment industry. He caught the Thai public’s eye with his role in Thong Nuea Kao (2013) and has since participated in numerous projects in Thailand. In 2022, he was selected as a trainee by BigHit Music and put in the Trainee A project. Although it was later called off, Yorch continued to pursue his dream.

Upon returning to Thailand, Yorch founded his own entertainment agency, Yorch Entertainment, and promptly released a single titled “Seven (7).” His dedication and hard work eventually paid off when he announced on Instagram that GRID Entertainment would be his new home. GRID Entertainment is part of 131 Label under Kim Han Bin, a.k.a. B.I., a former member of the boy group IKON.

The announcement of Yorch’s forthcoming debut has sparked excitement among many, heightening anticipation for the reveal of additional group members. In line with its boy group plans, GRID has also started a label business and incorporated 131 Label as its first subsidiary. This move is part of GRID’s strategy to bolster its global footprint by concentrating on the core of K-Pop performance to produce diverse music that blends various genres.

GRID Entertainment is not just another newcomer in the industry. It was established by a group of experienced professionals from esteemed agencies like SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment. The company’s CEO, Sim Hyejin, brings a wealth of expertise from her former roles in planning and production at various companies. Under her guidance, GRID meticulously manages every facet of its operations, from scouting talents to nurturing artists.

She says, “131 will be incorporated as a subsidiary label and strengthened as a specialized label for soloists. We’ll preserve its autonomy and offer comprehensive support for recruiting and developing extraordinary artists.”

Yorch‘s journey to becoming a K-pop idol is a testament to his resilience and dedication. Despite the disbandment of Trainee A, he continued to pursue his passion for singing and is now on the verge of realizing his dream. His forthcoming debut with GRID Entertainment is a significant development in K-pop and is eagerly awaited by fans worldwide.

(Featured Image: Yorch posted this photo to announce that he joined GRID Entertainment. Source: Instagram/Yorch Yongsin’s official Instagram account)

The upcoming BLACKPINK concert in Hanoi, part of their Born Pink world tour, has been caught in controversies. Vietnamese authorities are investigating the promoter’s website over a disputed South China Sea map. At the same time, YG Entertainment, the South Korean agency that manages BLACKPINK, has denied the authenticity of a leaked set list for the concert.

The Vietnamese culture ministry has ordered an inspection of the concert promoter’s website after fans noticed it featured a map of the South China Sea with disputed boundaries. This controversy follows Hanoi’s recent decision to ban Hollywood’s Barbie film over a scene allegedly featuring the “nine-dash line” used in Chinese maps to illustrate Beijing’s claims over some areas of the South China Sea, including swathes of what Vietnam considers its continental shelf.

Although BLACKPINK’s agency hasn’t commented on the issue, the organizer has apologized for publishing the controversial map. According to  Vietnam National Television VTV and the VnExpress news website, Brian Chow, chief executive of iMe Entertainment, promised the company would remove the map. The organizer’s website is no longer accessible, but a cached version showed a faint line encompassing the South China Sea. Vietnam and China have always had overlapping territorial claims to a potentially energy-rich stretch of the waterway. Hanoi has repeatedly accused Chinese vessels of violating Vietnamese sovereignty.

This incident has sparked outrage among Vietnamese fans. Some are even thinking about boycotting the concert. A fan named Tu Anh Xinh wrote on Facebook, “Bought two tickets for me and my date. Then I saw the cow-tongue and quit. I am a patriot.” (“Cow-tongue” is a Vietnamese phrase used to describe the U-shaped line.”)

In a separate issue, YG Entertainment has refuted claims about a leaked setlist for the concert. The alleged setlist, which featured only 14 tracks, had been circulating online and received criticism from netizens due to the high ticket prices.

A representative from YG Entertainment stated, “The set list of BLACKPINK’s Vietnamese concert circulating online is not true. We will proceed as usual with the normal tour procedures.”

The alleged set list had caused disappointment among fans who were expecting a more extensive lineup of songs from the world-renowned K-pop group. The ticket prices, which ballooned to almost 540,000 won (414 USD), added to fans’ discontent. But YG Entertainment’s words put to rest any concerns over the setlist.

BLACKPINK is a cornerstone of South Korea’s multi-billion dollar K-pop industry. The world-famous girl group is due to perform in Vietnam for the first time on July 29 and 30, having been granted a license that requested the organizer to comply with the government’s regulations on all performing activities.

Despite the issues, the excitement for BLACKPINK’s debut performance in Vietnam remains high. The group’s dynamic performances and immense popularity are expected to draw a big crowd. Fans are excited for the Hanoi stop of the Born Pink world tour. They hope all the issues will be resolved soon so the event will proceed as planned.

Featured Image: BLACKPINK poses for a photo with the crowd at the Sydney, Australia stop of the BORN PINK tour. Source: Twitter/BLACKPINK’s official Twitter account