Black Nut lyrics -- sexual harassment or just hip-hop?

Rapper Black Nut has come under fire for the lyrics of his rap song “Too Real,” which contains sexually explicit lyrics directed at female rapper KittiB.　The song has become a highly controversial issue on social media since its release April 30. 　Many netizens heaped criticism on the incendiary rapper, who has received flak in the past for his outrageous lyrics and actions. 　KittiB, who appeared on the female rap competition program “Unpretty Rapstar 2” last year, posted on Instagram on Saturda

PerformanceMay 9, 2017

BTS to attend 2017 Billboard Music Awards

Nominated as top social media artists, BTS will walk the red carpet of the 2017 Billboard Music Awards.  BTS (Big Hit Entertainment)The group‘s agency Big Hit Entertainment said Tuesday that the group was invited to the ceremony that takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 21. The seven-member boy band was nominated as a Top Social Media Artist by Billboard in April, recognized as one of the most influential and active artists on social media sites. Fellow nominees include Justin B

EntertainmentMay 9, 2017

MC the Max’s Isu to drop new solo album on May 16

Isu of MC the Max is set to return with a new solo album, “Inhale,” on May 16, according to agency 325 E&C, Monday. Isu (Isu‘s Facebook page)The singer recently released a short promotional video of the upcoming album via his official social media account. The black-and-white video featured a lyrical piano melody played by Isu himself.The upcoming album marks the singer’s first solo album since his 2008 solo album “I Am.” The singer received a suspended indictment for buying sex from a minor in

PerformanceMay 8, 2017

[Election 2017] Making election coverage entertaining

As the nation goes to the polls to elect its 12th president following 60 days of frenzied campaigning, TV networks are in a ratings battle of their own for the historical vote count.Broadcasters are scrambling to attract viewers to their election night coverage stretching from Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning, combining high-tech features and entertaining illustrations.All three of Korea’s largest broadcasters -- KBS, MBC and SBS -- are leaning heavily on computer graphics for this year’s

TelevisionMay 8, 2017

[Next Wave] How actress Jeong Ha-dam roamed the streets

The Korea Herald is introducing Korean singers, musicians and actors poised to join the next wave of top stars in a twice monthly series. - Ed. While preparing to portray a homeless girl in the 2014 indie film “Wild Flower,” actress Jeong Ha-dam spent several days ambling around whichever odd Seoul neighborhoods her feet would take her. Park Suk-young, the director of “Wild Flower” and two more films spotlighting Jeong, had asked the actress to put on a face that seemed “young, but weath

FilmMay 8, 2017

Stellar cast confirmed for cyclist hero movie

The casting of Rain, Kang So-ra, Lee Bum-soo and Min Hyo-rin for an upcoming period flick has been confirmed.The film, which is based on the true story of Uhm Bok-dong, a cyclist active during the Japanese colonial era, is directed by Kim Yoo-seong. Rain (Jung Ji-hoon) who has appeared in American thrillers such as “Ninja Assassin” (2009) returns to the big screen to play the role of the bicycle hero. The character falls into cycling by accident, but through endless training rises to victory. Ra

FilmMay 8, 2017

T-ara album delayed as 2 decide to bolt amid contract terminations

 Idol group T-ara has delayed the release of a new album as its management agency failed to persuade two members -- whose contracts expire next week -- to promote the record together with their remaining teammates, according to the company Monday. T-ara (MBK Entertainment)“Boram and Soyeon’s contract expires on May 15. We had planned to release an album and hold a concert to mark the eight years of the six-member lineup, but failed to reach an agreement with the two members,” MBK Entertainment s

PerformanceMay 8, 2017

FT Island embarks on Japan tour

FT Island kicked off its Japan tour, entitled “FT Island Arena Tour 2017-United Shadows,” in Aichi, Saturday, according to agency FNC Entertainment.  FT Island (FNC Entertainment)The agency said Saturday that after the Aichi concert, the group will visit Osaka on May 12 and hold concerts in Tokyo on June 1 and 2.At the concert, the five-member group will mainly perform tracks from “United Shadows,” its seventh Japanese album released April 12. The album consists of 11 tunes, with lead track “Sha

PerformanceMay 7, 2017

Shin Hye-sung celebrates 12 years of solo career

Shin Hye-sung celebrated 12 years of his solo singing career with a fan meeting Saturday at Kyung Hee University Grand Peace Palace in Seoul. Some 3,000 fans attended the event, according to the agency Liveworks Company. The show kicked off with “Mirror,” a track from “Love of May,” the singer’s first solo album released in 2005.Songs like “Buen Camino (Good Path),” “A Song for You” and “Don’t Leave” followed. Shin Hye-sung performs at a fan meeting at Kyung Hee University on Saturday. (Livework

PerformanceMay 7, 2017

Original productions of hit musicals to land in Seoul

Smash hit musicals with Broadway casts have been landing in Korea to the excitement of musical lovers. Friday marks the final opening for online sales of tickets for “Dreamgirls,” being staged at Charlotte Theater in Jamsil-dong, southern Seoul. Produced jointly by local OD Company and Lotte Entertainment, the cast includes Broadway actors including Bre Jackson, Brit West and Candice Marie Woods.The Broadway musical, first produced in 1981, won six Tony Awards and was later adapted into a motion

PerformanceMay 7, 2017

Psy’s upcoming album to feature YG artists

K-pop star Psy’s upcoming eighth album will feature notable artists from the singer’s agency YG Entertainment.  Psy (YG Entertainment)The track list for Psy’s new album, “4X2=8,” unveiled Sunday, showed Big Bang’s G-Dragon and Taeyang, Tablo of Epik High, iKON’s B.I and Bobby and actress Lee Sung-kyung, all from YG Entertainment, participating in the album. “Only YG artists have worked with Psy this time, while the singer’s seventh album in 2015 featured artists from other agencies such as Zion.

PerformanceMay 7, 2017

[Around the Hotels] Promotions and packages

Sri Lankan food fest at Millennium Seoul HiltonMillennium Seoul Hilton’s flagship buffet restaurant Cafe 395 will host a Sri Lankan food festival from May 17 to 26 in cooperation with the Sri Lankan Embassy in Seoul. Chef Selliah Karuppan from Colombo Hilton in Sri Lanka will fly to Seoul for the event, which will feature authentic Sri Lankan dishes, including a prawn salad, sting hopper pillaw, beans tempered, egg and plain hoppers with condiments, pumpkin custard and bibikkan. Cafe 395 will al

FoodMay 5, 2017

[Home Cooking] Egg fried rice (gyeran bokkeumbap)

This egg fried rice is flavored with lots of scallions. It’s a quick and easy way to whip up a light meal and use up leftover rice and eggs.The key to this recipe is the oil flavored with scallions that’s used to cook the eggs and fry the rice. It gives this simple dish a nice flavor.To keep the eggs soft, first make scrambled eggs that are a bit runny, remove from the pan, fry the rice, and then add the eggs back to the pan to combine with the rice at the end. The eggs remain nice and fluffy th

FoodMay 5, 2017

Hip-hop artist Swizz Beatz to judge preliminary round of ‘Show Me the Money’ in New York

American rapper and producer Swizz Beatz was set to judge the preliminary round of season six of Mnet’s hip-hop competition “Show Me the Money” in New York on Saturday, according to Mnet. Swizz Beatz is joining the preliminary audition as a special judge at Brooklyn Studios.  Swizz Beatz (Yonhap)The global rapper, who is married to singer Alicia Keys, has produced songs for artists such as Madonna, Britney Spears, Eminem, Lady Gaga, Kanye West and Beyonce. He received a Grammy Award for “Best Ra

PerformanceMay 5, 2017

[Eye Plus] Children tell us what happiness is

When flowers are in full bloom, trees are green and spring is in the air, children show us happiness comes from little things. On one sunny day of early May that is the beginning of spring, family theme park Seoul Children’s Grand Park, located in the Gwangjin district of eastern Seoul, was full of children having fun with their parents. Many of them looked happy and laughed out loud, simply running on the grass or smelling the scents of flowers. Some screamed out of excitement on a ride rotatin

CultureMay 5, 2017

[Eye] ‘Arirang’ travels the world

After the Iron Curtain fell in 1991, Koreans were free to travel to formerly forbidden countries such as China.The following year, 29-year-old Jin Yong-sun traveled to China looking for traces of “Arirang” in the foreign land.There it was. Deep within the vast continent were remnants of the Korean folk song carried by Koreans relocated there throughout history. Joyful and beautiful, yet there is a hint of longing and tragedy in the unofficial national anthem of Korea.“Tracking down the history (

CultureMay 5, 2017

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

The Sheriff in Town(Korea)Opened May 3Crime, comedy. Directed by Kim Hyung-jooDae-ho (Lee Sung-min) is a former detective who was fired for his overly aggressive investigative techniques and now lives as a nosy security guard in his hometown in Gijang County. Jong-jin (Cho Jin-woong), a successful businessman, enters the peaceful area to build a beach resort when drugs begin circulating around in the nearby Haeundae area. Suspicious of Jong-jin, who has won over the townspeople’s hearts, Dae-ho

FilmMay 5, 2017

[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights around Korea

Icheon Ceramic FestivalIcheon Ceramic Festival introduces visitors to celadon, white porcelain, buncheongware and other premium Korean ceramics along with various hands-on programs.This includes uncovering ceramics and painting on ceramics, the most popular programs. The area is also well-known for hot springs that Joseon kings often visited.The festival is held in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province.Admission and all programs are free of charge. Visit www.ceramic.or.kr for information in Korean or Englis

TravelMay 5, 2017

BoA to release live performance of ‘Spring Rain’

BoA on Friday was to release a live performance of her new song “Spring Rain” at 6 p.m. According to S.M. Entertainment, BoA’s song was to be released via it SM Town Channels on Naver TV and YouTube. “This video will allow fans to experience firsthand BoA’s singing skills and her mellow voice, and will feature a different charm compared to music videos,” the agency said.  BoA (S.M. Entertainment)The song, released on April 28, is a rhythm and blues number written by local artist Kenzie. He has w

PerformanceMay 5, 2017

“Enough is enough!” K-pop star hits back at online trolls

Singer Baek Ye-rin said she will be able to “deal with” the malicious comments and online rumors against her, on the heels of her agency vowing legal actions against such acts.“I can’t press actions against them (commenters) immediately, but it will be possible soon. I will be able to deal with the issue of people posting malicious speculation and rumors via internet communities,” she said via a message posted to her Instagram page.JYP Entertainment previously said it was mulling legal actions a

PerformanceMay 5, 2017