Un: SEEN Archives • K-POP LIFE

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.

EVNNE Kicks Off First Comeback With Fresh New Content

EVNNE has achieved notable success

Since their debut, EVNNE has achieved notable success. Their first EP Target: ME sold 243,747 copies within one week of its release. The members, all former contestants on the Mnet survival show Boys Planet, are active participants in the creative process. They helped write lyrics for the songs “Even More” and “Jukebox,” sharing feelings and personal messages with fans. Although they had only less than two months to prepare for their debut, their stints on Boys Planet gave them the tools they needed to succeed. And they did.

Aside from their stellar first-week sales, they earned nominations for Rookie of the Year at the Golden Disc Awards and the Seoul Music Awards in 2023. They also received nominations at the MAMA Awards for Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, Best New Male Artist, and Worldwide Fans’ Choice Top 10.

With the release of the scheduler, EVNNE is kicking off their comeback. Given their determination and talent, there’s no doubt that Un: SEEN will emulate the success of their first album. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: EVNNE hopes to continue their winning ways with the release of their sophomore EP. Source: X/@EVNNE_official.