Keita Overjoyed as EVNNE Wins Music Shows With Hit Single ‘UGLY’

Good karma is finally smiling down on Japanese rapper Keita. After years of hard work and perseverance, he has achieved a well-deserved milestone in his career. He made first public appearance as a contestant on YG’s Treasure Box, the survival show that formed TREASURE. However, although he showed promise, Keita was eliminated in the second to last episode, which aired on January 11, 2019.

Keita’s journey took a turn when he left YG Entertainment to join the company of soloist Rain. He debuted as a member of CIIPHER on March 15, 2021, with their first mini-album, I Like You. Despite the members’ star power and talent, the seven-member group struggled to find an audience, failing to win on music shows. Their album sales peaked at 24,264 copies.

EVNNE (이븐) ‘UGLY’ Official MV

Determined to succeed, Keita joined Mnet’s survival show Boys Planet, where he was one of the few hopefuls who had already debuted. His charisma and skill earned him the respect of his fellow trainees and the support of the public. He consistently ranked high throughout the show, until the finale where he narrowly missed his chance to debut in ZEROBASEONE, ranking 12th.

Despite facing what was effectively his third setback, Keita’s resilience never wavered. On August 3, 2023, he was announced as a member of EVNNE, a group composed of former Boys Planet contestants. They made their debut on September 19, 2023, with the track “TROUBLE.”

[240131] Evnne – Ugly win on Show Champion #evnne #ugly #showchampion

Keita has truly made his mark

Finally, on January 31, 2024, EVNNE achieved their first-ever music show win. Their comeback track “UGLY” triumphed over four other songs to clinch the coveted Show Champion trophy. The competition for first place included CIX’s “Lovers or Enemies,” NMIXX’s “DASH,” RIIZE’s “Love 119,” and TWS’s “plot twist,” with EVNNE ultimately taking the win. 

Since then, EVNNE won their second music show trophy with “UGLY.” On February 2, EVNNE beat TWS to take first place on Music Bank. They earned a total of 6,734 points to secure their first win on a public music show.

(Interview) Winner’s Ceremony – EVNNE🏆 [Music Bank] | KBS WORLD TV 240202

Fans took to social media to congratulate the group, with a special outpouring of support for Keita. These victories were particularly poignant for him, as they symbolized the culmination of years of effort and passion. After all the challenges and setbacks, Keita has truly made his mark.

Congratulations to Keita and the other members of EVNNE on these remarkable achievements! – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: These wins have been a long time coming for Keita. Source: X/@GLOBALKEITA.