Category: KPOP NEWS

Lim Jaebeom’s solo career is officially taking off.

As of August 26, 2021, the leader of GOT7 has finally released his first mini-album SOMO: FUME. Not surprisingly, it’s filled with songs that are distinctly Jay B.

While JB is currently promoting the title track “B.T.W” and enjoying his status as a solo artist, he is also eager to work with Mark, Jackson, Jinyoung, Youngjae, BamBam, and Yugyeom again. Jay B has confirmed that they are working to make a GOT7 reunion happen soon.

GOT7 has been working together since 2014 but the group hit an unusual milestone in early 2021. All members of the idol group decided against renewing their contracts with JYP Entertainment. The decision made Ahgases worry that it would mean the group’s disbandment. However, the boys made it clear that GOT7 is “Forever Seven” and will continue to perform together.

Since then, the GOT7 members have signed with different companies and worked on solo projects. Jay B was the last member to choose a new company and signed with Jay Park’s H1ghr Music. Jaebeom then made his mark as a solo artist with the digital single “Switch It Up.”

https://youtu.be/D-kjUANWM9c

It’s clear Jay B is having the time of his life writing new music on his own. While speaking to MTV, the other half of JJ Project admitted he loves the artistic freedom of a solo artist.

“The freedom that I feel is that my ideas, my creativity, and my direction do not get lost in translation and doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. It doesn’t get overridden by other people’s opinions,” Jay B elaborated. “Now, my creativity is becoming more of a reality. It’s not that I have the freedom to do whatever I want with my music—that’s not it. It’s just that my ideas are being more prioritized here, and I feel like you see that in my songs.”

Being a solo Korean R&B artist means new fans but Jay B also wants to please Ahgases with his current sound. Jus2’s second member assures GOT7 fans that he hasn’t changed at all. 

“I want the fans to continue to see me and keep their love for me. Nothing’s going to change. Just look at me and take me for what I am and who I am. I’m still me,” he said.

https://youtu.be/cUAsTQUU3xk

Pleasing Ahgases means a GOT7 reunion. Jay B knows this and reveals that he and his fellow members are looking for ways to make it happen.

“I really want to let the fans know that every one of the seven members are trying extremely hard to continuously do good work and maintain the name of GOT7,” Jay B said. “Even today, we were talking and are still thinking of ways we can do something together so we can maintain the fandom and honor for GOT7. We’re always thinking of new ways to progress, but it’s challenging.”

Jay B, Mark, Jackson, Jinyoung, Youngjae, BamBam, and Yugyeom are all working on their own solo projects. However, fans can expect GOT7 to eventually work together again when the time is just right.

SOMO: FUME, Jay B’s first mini-album, is out now.

We know the drill: Fandoms cry, fandoms take to social media to express their undying deviation for their oppas, and alas, we see our beautiful men going bald or in crew cuts to fulfill their patriotic duty to the Republic of Korea by enlisting in the military. 

And for some of us, the wait will be over soon, the first half of 2022, to be exact. Here are some idols who are scheduled to return to idol life in the first six months of next year:

Jinwoo (WINNER)
Discharge: Jan. 1, 2022

Winner’s oldest member enlisted on April 2, 2020, seven days before the group’s last album with all four members, Remember, was released. In August the previous year, Jinu made his solo debut with Jinu’s Heyday, a single album with the lead single Call Anytime, which topped various music charts, including the iTunes charts in 13 countries. The second placer on the 2015 list of male idols with perfect facial ratios is seen to continue solo activities upon his discharge, carrying on with his appearances on web series, variety shows, and even stage productions which he successfully conducted until his enlistment. Unfortunately, Mino and Yoon have yet to start their military service, so Inseos may have to wait until 2024 for WINNER to return as a complete foursome.

Ken (VIXX)
Discharge: Jan. 15, 2022

As the main vocalist of the group known as the Concept Kings, Ken has had a busy career both as a member of VIXX and as a solo artist before enlisting. He has acted on musical theater and television and successfully released an EP entitled Greeting in May 2020, two months before starting his military training. STARLIGHTS have zero doubts that their husky-voiced vocalist will have an abundance of work offers once he finishes his military duties as an active-duty soldier with the army’s music corps in a little over five months. 

Zico (Block B)
Discharge: February 8, 2022

Block B leader, soloist rapper, and KOZ Music CEO Zico left us with a lot of songs to tide us through his absence before beginning his military conscription on July 30, 2020. He started that year with a bang, releasing the viral Any Song and its accompanying #AnySongChallenge on social media, which propelled it to the top of the charts. Weeks before he started serving as a public service worker, he released Random Box, an EP that included Summer Hate, featuring Rain, which peaked at #2 in Gaon charts. It is expected that he will release new music in February, still under his own label, which was acquired by HYBE Corporation (formerly BigHit Entertainment of BTS fame) late last year.  

Chunji (Teen Top)
Discharge: February 9, 2022

Teen Top holds the distinction as the only band in K-pop history to have celebrated its 10th anniversary as a group last year without any of its members starting their military enlistment yet. That’s because all of the members were still in their teens (as their group’s name implies) when they debuted in 2010. Chunji was the first to enlist on August 8 last year and is set to end his military service in February next year. A return to musicals may be in store for the group’s visual in February, or maybe a sub-unit with Neil and Changjo, his group mates who have yet to enlist. Besides—with Chunji’s looks and charisma—an acting career shouldn’t be a long shot.   

Suho and Chen (EXO)
Discharge: February 13, 2022 and late April to early May 2022

Suho and Chen are set to finish their military service in the first half of 2022: Suho is set to give EXOLs a Valentine’s treat as he is scheduled to be released on either February 12 or 13, while Chen is serving as an active-duty soldier until late April next year. Both missed their group’s Can’t Fight the Feeling comeback in 2020 and will surely make their presence felt in EXO’s 2022 releases. Both have debuted as solo artists, so they might have more solo releases next year. The group’s leader is also expected to accept more acting work while expecting the main vocal to do more OST work and, hopefully, introduce his family to the universe next year.   

Seph (KARD)
Discharge: April 16, 2022

Seph is the only member of the co-ed group KARD who has to enlist in the military, considering groupmate BM is an American citizen. With the group’s international success, having already staged a US tour after their Korean debut in 2017, J. Seph and his three members are expected to continue with international promotions while simultaneously strengthening their activities locally to dispel criticism against the group involving them allegedly favoring their international audience more than their Korean public.

And that’s only for the first months of the year! We’ll surely update you of more idols slated to return to us from July to the -ber months of 2022, so stay tuned!

Feature image: JINU – ‘또또또 (Feat.MINO)’ M/V. Photo: WINNER/YouTube