Less than a year since the group’s debut, rookie boy band Just B hopped onto the April music craze with its second EP, “Just Begun,” which is to be released Thursday evening. This marks a return from the sextet nearly six months after its previous work, “Just Beat,” released in October. It’s unusual for a rookie band to be away for months, since they must get their name out to the public. But it took the sextet six months to add value to their musical caree

K-pop April 14, 2022

Less than a year since the group’s debut, rookie boy band EPEX welcomed the spring season with the third EP, “Prelude of Anxiety Chapter 1. 21st Century Boys,” released Monday evening. This marks the band‘s return nearly five months after its previous work, “Bipolar Pt. 2 Prelude of Love,” released in October. In a press conference Monday, Wish said it is “an album that aims to talk about the younger generation and youth’s struggle with the oppr

K-pop April 11, 2022

The cherry blossom season has arrived, and rookie girl group Ive has returned with its second digital single, “Love Dive,” released Tuesday evening, to fill in the warm-weather playlist. This marks the sextet’s return in nearly four months since they last released its debut single, “Eleven,” last December. In a press conference Monday, Yujin described the band’s second single as an “album that has a dual meaning.” She said the term “dive&r

K-pop April 5, 2022

Boisterous sounds from machinery and the clash of folded steel in Mullae-dong, southwestern Seoul, welcome visitors who pass by the vicinity. Mullae-dong was once home to steel foundries during the 1970s. Also dubbed as the “place that can make everything,” the area housed around 1,700 iron plants to manufacture South Korea’s components. But the nondescript neighborhood was left empty as factories started to close their doors.  But the emptiness didn’t last long.

Culture April 2, 2022

As the cherry blossom season is a time of new beginnings, a handful of K-pop acts are vying to control domestic and international music charts with new releases. From heavyweights to up-and-coming bands, many artists are gearing up for a spin next month. Following is a list of musicians ready to showcase their new songs and meet fans at concerts.  1. Exo’s Suho - April 4　 Suho of boy band Exo will come out with his second solo album, “Grey Suit,” Monday evening. The si

K-pop March 30, 2022

With BTS set to hold four live concerts in front of fans in Las Vegas next month, Hybe, the K-pop powerhouse behind the boy band, is turning Sin City into BTS City through its The City project. The event will be held next month as part of the company‘s efforts to improve the fan experience for those traveling to the city for the live shows. BTS City will start welcoming visitors from Tuesday until April 17 and will take place at Allegiant Stadium, where the group will be performing, a

K-pop March 30, 2022

Less than a year since NCT Dream spiced up the summer season with seven different flavors of “Hot Sauce” by releasing its first LP, the boy band dropped its second LP, “Glitch Mode” on Monday evening. This marks the group’s return in nearly nine months since their previous work. In a press conference Monday, Mark described the album as “an album that has upgraded compared to when we released our first LP last year, and the album consists of a total of 11 tr

K-pop March 28, 2022

DeVita makes a strong first impression as she enters AOMG’s modest studio in Gangnam, southern Seoul, in a pair of sneakers and a green dress. With smoky eye makeup and her hair dyed bright red, her look for the day matched the rich, poignant songs she’s known for. But in person DeVita was down-to-earth and perky, speaking as if she was meeting a high school friend for the first time in a while. She’s confident about her new album, “American Gothic” -- “It

K-pop March 23, 2022

The parent company of Rolling Stone Korea, e.L.e Media, and South Korean carmaker CNP Motors announced that they had signed a pact with American vehicle company Alpha Motor Corporation on March 12. Global media company e.L.e Media has signed a memorandum of understanding with Alpha Motor Corporation to “promote mutually beneficial business directions,” the company said in a statement. The company, which deals with professional media content, noted that the signing is aimed at pr

Industry March 22, 2022

As the warming weather nears and the flames of love have arrived, K-pop sensation Red Velvet welcomed the spring season and scents of cherry blossoms by dropping the new mini album, “The ReVe Festival 2022 - Feel My Rhythm,” Monday evening. The group marks a return nearly seven months after the previous work. The band’s “The ReVe Festival 2022” is the latest addition of “The ReVe Festival” series. In 2019, the quintet dropped three parts of its “

K-pop March 21, 2022

After nearly two years away as a solo artist, Solar of Mamamoo returned with her first-ever EP, “Face,” on Wednesday evening. The singer-turned-soloist said it took her a while to drop a new album because she was initially “musically lost.” She felt she had done everything in terms of being experimental while sprinkling in whatever she liked for her solo debut “Spit it out.” But messages and support from her fans helped the musician overcome her fears ab

K-pop March 16, 2022

After nearly a year away from music and following a bandmate’s departure, girl group (G)I-dle is returning with its first LP on March 14. The band first floated the news at the end of last month by uploading an artwork on social media of a shooting target with the words, “I Never Die,” the name of its first studio album. Leading the nine-song package is “Tomboy,” and as a self-made group in the K-pop scene, Soyeon was once again listed as a producer for the titu

K-pop March 7, 2022

While many musicians find fame through chart-topping songs, Valo is one of the lucky few who have made it big in the industry taking a less conventional route. The DJ producer, whose name wasn't even listed on music platforms, burst onto the music scene when he started disc jockeying in Cakeshop, a club that is dubbed the home of Itaewon’s music. He earned his stripes by producing the runway soundtrack for fashion brand Xperimnt for Seoul Fashion Week and boy band Mirae’s teaser s

K-pop March 3, 2022

With more and more groups splashing onto the music scene here in the fourth generation of K-pop, rookie NMIXX is the latest to throw their hats into the ring. Produced by K-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment, which houses globetrotting acts like boy band Stray Kids, the septet entered the K-pop fray last week with an ambition to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Wonder Girls, MissA, Twice and Itzy. The seven members of the girl group -- Haewon, Sullyoon, Jinni, Bae, Jiwoo and Kyujin, al

K-pop March 1, 2022

The East-meets-street style of beats were once censored and unwelcomed here, but now, the blossoming genre is topping charts and has become a musical staple. Not only are the rapping styles leading trendsetters, but the genre has built its own culture to represent the nation. But unlike other entertainment companies, the hip-hop scene is made up of smaller labels that specialize only in the genre. Following is a look into nine hip-hop heavyweights that are making a splash on the global music

K-pop March 1, 2022