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Jeon Somi Discusses New Friendship With BTS’ RM

Jeon Somi is opening up about her new friendship with a K-pop superstar. The “Dumb Dumb” singer reportedly discussed how she met BTS leader RM. In addition to that, Somi revealed some interesting details about how she and Kim Namjoon communicate.

Somi Reportedly Talks About New Friendship With RM of BTS

On September 4, an observant netizen took to an online community forum and shared an intriguing post titled, “Jeon Somi Reveals Friendship with BTS’s RM.” In their post, they included a screenshot of an article capturing a noteworthy moment from Somi’s recent fan sign event.

The article highlighted Jeon Somi’s revelation to her fans about her newfound friendship with RM of BTS. According to her, this connection had only recently blossomed, with their initial encounter occurring at G-Dragon’s exclusive ‘PEACEMINUSONE X Nike’ private dinner event. It’s worth noting that PEACEMINUSONE is G-Dragon’s renowned brand, sparking speculations that he might have played a pivotal role in introducing Jeon So Mi and RM to each other.

What piqued the curiosity of fans even more was Jeon Somi’s disclosure that she often engaged in conversations with RM in English. This linguistic connection added an extra layer of intrigue to their blossoming friendship. The revelation stirred excitement within both Somi’s and BTS’s fandoms, further cementing the dynamic nature of the K-pop industry’s interpersonal relationships.

Somi soared to nationwide recognition when she secured the coveted first position on the competitive reality show “Produce 101,” which led to her membership in the eleven-member project girl group, I.O.I. Following the disbandment of I.O.I, she inked a contract with YG Entertainment’s subsidiary, The Black Label. This pivotal move marked the commencement of her solo artist career, with her debut taking place on June 13, 2019. Recently, Jeon Somi signed with Universal Music Japan and is preparing for her Japanese debut.

Meanwhile, RM recently revealed he would “not be taking on any projects in the near future.” This is in connection with his approaching mandatory military service.

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G-Dragon Takes Epic Selfie With Fellow K-pop Legend PSY

In the dynamic realm of K-pop, few names radiate as brilliantly as G-Dragon and PSY. These two titans of the industry have enjoyed a dazzling reign, capturing the global music scene’s attention and acclaim. Therefore, the recent selfie shared by Kwon Jiyong, featuring himself alongside the iconic “Gangnam Style” singer, holds immense significance.

The King of K-Pop Poses With The King of YouTube in Epic New Selfie

The image, casually posted on G-Dragon’s Instagram story, swiftly ignited a social media frenzy, adding yet another layer to their colossal influence, both within and beyond the K-pop universe. Notably, G-Dragon cleverly captioned it as “Oppa, Hannam Style,” a wordplay that playfully swaps “Gangnam” from Psy’s hit song with “Hannam,” as both artists reside in Hannam-dong.

Their enthralling blend of exceptional musical talents, electric stage charisma, and unmatched performance prowess has catapulted G-Dragon and PSY to stratospheric stardom. The sight of them together in a single photograph is a true delight, showcasing the meeting of two unparalleled forces in the K-pop cosmos. This image encapsulates the convergence of their monumental careers, cementing their status as enduring icons of the genre.

xxxibgdrgn/Instagram

G-Dragon is widely recognized as the “King of K-pop.” In his role as the leader of BIGBANG, he has amassed a staggering collection of accolades, boasting seven Mnet Asian Music Awards, six Melon Music Awards, two Korean Music Awards, two Golden Disc Awards, and two MBC Entertainment Awards, to name just a few of his many honors. Notably, Kwon Jiyong holds the distinction of being the first and only solo artist to clinch the coveted Mnet Asian Music Award for Artist of the Year in 2013.

Meanwhile, PSY is known as the King of YouTube. This was coined after his music video for “Gangnam Style” exceeded one billion views. The MV became the first video to do so in the website’s history. Park Jae-sang performed under YG Entertainment from 2010 until 2018 before starting his own label P Nation in 2019.

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YG Entertainment Addresses BIGBANG’s G-Dragon Contract Renewal Negotiations

YG Entertainment is finally addressing the recent reports about G-Dragon’s contract expiration. The agency issued a statement regarding the issue and confirmed that they are negotiating with the BIGBANG leader.

YG Entertainment Confirms G-Dragon’s Contract Expiration, Renewal Negotiations In Progress

On June 5, several reports reveal that G-Dragon was omitted from YG Entertainment’s Quarterly Report. The table lists all of the agency’s talents in the “Major Contracts and R&D Activities” column. Kwon Jiyong’s omission from the list seemingly confirmed that the BIGBANG member’s contract had expired.

YG Entertainment immediately addressed the reports, claiming that the omission was due to a “system error.” Additionally, the company issued a new statement confirming that G-Dragon’s contract has expired.

It’s true that G-Dragon’s exclusive contract has expired,” a spokesperson for YG Entertainment said. They then added that Kwon Jiyong is in negotiations with the agency for a possible renewal.

“We are currently discussing various options including partial contracts for his activities in areas such as advertisements,” they said. “Should the artist wish to resume his promotions as a musician in the near future, we plan to negotiate a new contract with him and offer him the agency’s full support.”

If the renewal negotiations are successful, G-Dragon will be the last BIGBANG member to stay with YG Entertainment. Taeyang is currently signed with YG affiliate THE BLACK LABEL while Daesung signed a contract with R&D Company in April 2023.

Although they will no longer work under the same label, G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung are all expected to continue group activities as BIGBANG.

In related news, T.O.P recently confirmed his departure from the group. The BIGBANG rapper recently responded to a fan comment on his own Instagram post. Choi Seunghyun claimed that he left the group when his contract with YG Entertainment expired and he is currently working on a solo project.

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T.O.P Confirms BIGBANG Exit, Teases First Solo Project

T.O.P has confirmed that he is no longer a member of BIGBANG. The rapper addressed his departure from the supergroup and revealed he left back in 2022. In addition to that, Choi Seunghyun is currently working on his first solo project since leaving BIG BANG.

T.O.P Officially Announces His Departure From BIGBANG, Continues Teasing Solo Debut

T.O.P recently shared a post on his official Instagram account. The post features a video of the rapper playing the keyboards while the photo confirms he is “still working on my albums.”

It seemed like a typical T.O.P post until one fan asked an important question in the comments. “TOP DID YOU LEAVE BIGBANG?” they wrote. Interestingly, Choi Seunghyun replied to the comment with a firm confirmation.

I’ve already withdrawn,” he wrote. In a second reply, T.O.P explained that this isn’t a fresh update.

“I’ve already told you guys that I’m leaving and I’m now facing a new chapter in my life since last year,” he wrote.

Although T.O.P insists this isn’t a recent update, fans were shocked by his confirmation. Back in February 2022, YG Entertainment announced that Choi Seunghyun had terminated his exclusive contract with the agency. However, T.O.P was still expected to join BIGBANG in their group activities.

In April 2022, T.O.P reunited with G-Dragon, Taeyang, and Daesung for “Still Life”, BIGBANG’s first comeback in four years. It was also the group’s first project as a quartet since former member Seungri retired from the industry. It would also become T.O.P’s last project with BIG BANG.

For now, YG Entertainment has not made an official announcement about T.O.P’s departure from BIGBANG. Likewise, Choi Seunghyun has not yet shared further details about his first solo effort.

Moreover, BIG BANG has not yet confirmed their plans for their next comeback. Stay tuned for more updates on this story.

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BIGBANG’s Taeyang Reveals Inspiration For ‘Down to Earth’ Album

Taeyang is opening up about how ‘Down to Earth’ came to be. The BIGBANG vocalist is sharing the inspiration behind his latest album. Dong Youngbae also dropped the romantic teaser for the documentary following the album’s production.

Taeyang Discusses The Inspirations Behind His Latest EP ‘Down To Earth’

Taeyang recently spoke to Vogue Singapore where he spoke about the influences that led to ‘Down to Earth’. The ‘Wedding Dress’ singer pointed out that music from his childhood was a major inspiration.

“I am trying to express the music of the era I was most influenced by. Music in Korea from the ’80s to the ’90s is what I consider to be the golden era of Korean music,” he said.

Dong Youngbae also confirmed that he spent several years working on the EP. Even his military service influenced the album in its own way.

“I was mostly focused on my daily activities at the time and wasn’t able to listen to music nor gain any inspiration. Outside of my army duties, I was also going through some tough situations,” Taeyang said.

Despite all the trouble, he found inspiration in nature.

I started to feel solace and comfort through the beautiful sunsets. As this became something I looked forward to daily, I started to reflect and look at my life from a different perspective, and began running every day when the sun was setting,” Taeyang said.

“I felt that my situation in life was similar to the setting sun because the sunset doesn’t greet the morning, it greets the night. I saw myself in the sunset because I was facing a dark situation in my life too,” he added.

The most important inspiration in ‘Down to Earth’ is undoubtedly Taeyang’s better half. Actress Min Hyo Rin makes an appearance in the teaser for the documentary covering the album’s production. In the teaser, Taeyang serenades his lovely wife by singing the EP’s title track “Seed”. Min Hyorin also gets emotional as she listens to her husband’s song.

The ‘Down to Earth’ documentary will be released on May 12, 2023.

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Sandara Park Shows Off BIGBANG G-Dragon’s Limited-Edition Gift

Sandara Park got an awesome gift from her good friend G-Dragon. The 2NE1 member showed off the cool present she received from the BIGBANG leader. However, she also hilariously confirmed a major mistake in the limited-edition merchandise.

Sandara Park Pokes Fun At Major Error in G-Dragon’s Expensive Gift

Back in March, G-Dragon dropped some new merchandise in his ongoing PEACEMINUSONE x Nike partnership. The Nike Kwondo 1 takes inspiration from the BIGBANG leader’s legal name, taekwondo, and the brand’s “Just Do It” slogan.

Since the release, G-Dragon had sent Sandara Park a pair of Nike Kwondo 1 as well as related merchandise. Sandara recently snapped photos of the gifts from her favorite dongsaeng and shared them with her fans on her social media accounts.

Dara was clearly happy with the gifts and proudly showed off the presents. However, she soon realized that there was a huge error in the clothes. The present had been personalized with the 2NE1 member’s name embroidered on the sash. However, it actually reads “Sandari Park”.

Sandara Park immediately poked fun at her friend by sharing the mistake on her Instagram story. “Jiyong-ah … Sa … Sandari Park,” she wrote before adding the laughing emoji.

It’s great to see that the friendship between Dara and G-Dragon is still strong and they can easily laugh about little mistakes. With that in mind, both BLACKJACKs and VIPs were happy to see the cool interaction between the two.

In related news, G-Dragon also teased that he is preparing for a comeback.

“I’ve been wanting to tell you that I’m currently preparing for a project that makes my heart flutter in many ways. Although I can’t go into detail about the current status of the project… I can tell you that several things are underway. I’m working on it step by step,” Kwon Jiyong told Harper’s Bazaar in March.

Sandara Park recently confirmed she is working on new music and will release an album soon.

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BIGBANG’s Taeyang Dishes On BLACKPINK Lisa’s YG Audition

Taeyang says he always knew Lisa is going to be a star. The BIGBANG vocalist revealed that he was present when the BLACKPINK maknae auditioned for YG Entertainment. He then confirmed that his “Shooong!” collaborator was destined for greatness.

Taeyang Shares Details on Lisa’s Audition for YG Entertainment

Taeyang was recently a guest on SBS Power FM’s “Cultwo Show” where he promoted his latest album ‘Down To Earth’. During the interview, Dong Youngbae was praised for the success of “Shoong! (feat. LISA of BLACKPINK)”. The vocalist humbly thanked the host and credited Lalisa Manoban as well.

“Thankfully, I achieved good results by collaborating with Lisa, thank you for helping me,“ he said.

He then admitted that he was present when a young Lisa auditioned for their agency YG Entertainment.

“I didn’t intend to be there. When I was working in the studio, I heard that someone from Thailand came to audition,” Taeyang shared. “After finishing working, I went down and observed the audition.”

“I don’t remember exactly, but she was an elementary or middle school student back then. She came from Thailand alone, so I felt a little bitter,” he added. “I remember the song she sang, ‘Baby,’ by Justin Bieber. As soon as I heard Lisa sing I knew right away that this young lady would be big in the industry in the future.

The BIGBANG singer continued by expressing his joy that he got to collaborate with Lisa on his new album.

“I feel excited somehow because that girl is doing amazing, she really has a name in the industry,” Taeyang said. “I’m not just talking about her fame in Korea I mean globally. I’m glad to witness her success and see her succeed.”

Lisa and the rest of BLACKPINK recently headlined COACHELLA 2023 over two weekends. The group is also on the road for the BORN PINK World Tour which announced encore shows in North America.

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