#Elements of Hip Hop Awards 2020

[mykpopwire]

media release: NCT DREAM RETURNS TO SINGAPORE TO PERFORM FOR TWO NIGHTS

Live Nation Singapore is thrilled to announce that the popular K-pop group, NCT DREAM, will be bringing their highly anticipated 3rd world tour to Singapore this coming June! Following their sold-out show last year, the group is returning to Singapore for a two-night extravaganza on 29th and 30th June 2024 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. NCT DREAM is a South Korean boy group formed in 2016 under SM Entertainment, comprising of MARK, RENJUN, JENO, HAECHAN, JAEMIN, CHENLE and JISUNG. NCT DREAM’s musical style embodies the vibrant energy of youth. Their songs, primarily pop, seamlessly blend elements of R&B, hip-hop, and dance music. They are known for their bright and upbeat sound, often incorporating powerful vocals, catchy hooks, and intricate rap verses. Their songs often explore themes relevant to teenagers and young adults like love, friendship, self-discovery, and chasing dreams. Beyond the music, NCT DREAM’s stage presence shines through with their synchronized and energetic performances, as they are widely known for their sharp choreography, often featuring intricate formations and powerful moves. NCT DREAM has seen impressive commercial success since their debut. Their 2019 EP, “We Boom”, became a massive hit in Korea, landing them in the top 10 for physical sales and earning them various music awards. Their 2020 EP, “Reload”, achieved impressive pre-orders, and their success skyrocketed with the release of their first studio album, “Hot Sauce” in 2021. It became the best-selling album on the Gaon Chart in the first half of 2021 and was named Best Album at the 31st Seoul Music Awards. Thereafter, NCT DREAM continued to receive tremendous success and recognition with each music release, dominating domestic and international charts as well as clinching prestigious awards. Their youthful and relatable music also garnered international recognition, as they were the first Asian act to be featured three times on Billboard’s “21 Under 21” list and were included on Time’s “25 Most Influential Teens” list, solidifying their impact on the K-Pop scene.

2024 NCT DREAM WORLD TOUR <THE DREAM SHOW 3 : DREAM( )SCAPE> in SINGAPORE with LOTTE DUTY FREE will take place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on 29 June (Sat) & 30 June (Sun) 2024. Fans who have signed up for “NCTzen DREAM” Membership (GL) Pre-Sale on Weverse will be able to grab their tickets first on 2 May (Thu), 12pm to 11:59pm. Visit livenation.sg/nctdream2024 for more information. Live Nation members can secure tickets during the Live Nation presale on 3 May (Fri), 12pm to 11:59pm. Visit livenation.sg for free membership signup and presale access. Tickets for the general public will go on sale on 4 May (Sat), from 12pm onwards via www.ticketmaster.sg.

*photos courtesy of Live Nation Singapore

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[thebxsocialite]

Honoring Hip Hop Legends at the 2020 Elements of Hip Hop Awards It was a full house at Beatstro last night as Windows of Hip Hop in conjunction with the Borough President's Office honored hip hop legends and pioneers Londell McMillian, Sal Abbatiello, Ralph McDaniels, and Slick Rick.

[genav0s]

–— ⠀*⠀⠀:⠀⠀AVOS⠀!⠀⠀[ . . . ]⠀⠀is a fictional boy group under apricus culture. formed through the survival show, GENERATION: AVOS, the group made their official debut on january 9, 2014 with a lineup of five members.

the group experienced immediate success with the release of their debut project led by the title track, blues of sentiments. their rise to success is usually attributed to their status as a self-producing group. part of their massive appeal to the public is the members' extensive involvement with all creative elements of the group's releases.

though the group has experienced steady success as their company's best-selling boy group since their 2nd gen predecessors nyx, they've also managed to retain a reputation for being surrounded by drama. while a majority of their scandals are simply speculations made viral by netizens, some of their biggest scandals are usually the result of the members' free reign over their social media & creative releases and very limited media training prior to their debut.

regardless, the group's continuously climbing success has allowed the company to overlook their pr disasters, even awarding them a sub-label as a 'thank you' gift for renewing their contracts in 2021.

﹙ &. ﹚    SECTION ONE    :    basics

GROUP NAME: avos

COMPANY: apricus culture (2014 - 2021) & studio avos (2021 - present)

DEBUT DATE: january 9, 2014

DEBUT SINGLE: blues of sentiments

DEBUT ALBUM: sentimental

GENRE: hip-hop, r&b, future bass, new jack swing, bossa nova, pop-r&b

GREETING: "your generation, we are avos."

FANDOM NAME: a-love

FANDOM COLOR: muse misery (#bdd6e6)

﹙ &. ﹚    SECTION TWO    :    members

AHN SANGHYUK: leader, main dancer, lead vocalist ('92)

CARTER KIM: main dancer, lead vocalist, center ('93)

MOON 'IAN' WONKYUNG: main vocalist, sub rapper, visual ('94)

SEONG 'ROMEO' JIOH: main rapper, face of the group ('94)

EUN HWASEONG: lead rapper, sub vocalist ('95)

﹙ &. ﹚    SECTION THREE    :    disc.

SENTIMENTAL: debut mini-album (2014)

NOSTALGIC NIGHT: second mini-album (2014)

ADORE: repacked album (2014)

PERFECTION: second full-length album (2015)

STORIES OF AN ETERNAL HEARTBREAK: third mini-album (2015)

DEEP END: fourth mini-album (2016)

FAULTLINES: third full-length album (2016)

V: fifth mini-album (2017)

NEMESIS: sixth mini-album (2017)

RHAMNUSIA: seventh mini-album (2017)

AION: fourth full-length album (2017)

in: RETROSPECT: eighth mini-album (2018)

in: INTROSPECT: ninth mini-album (2018)

in: HEALING: tenth mini-album (2018)

HELLO: english single (2018)

BLIND: english single (2018)

CAPSLOCK: fifth full-length album (2019)

SHE LEFT BEFORE DAWN: eleventh mini-album (2019)

*HER: sixth full-length album (2020)

LOVE/LOVED: seventh full-length album (2022)

[yehet-me-up]

New to EXO? Start Here 🌌

➸ For the complete EXO overview, including their full discography, individual members’ posts, and sub-unit information, please view the EXO Support Masterlist ✨

The band was formed by SM Entertainment in 2011 and debuted on April 8th, 2012. Their music - released and performed in Korean, Mandarin, and Japanese - primarily incorporates pop, hip-hop, and R&B, including elements of electronic dance music genres such as house and trap. As of May 8th, 2021 EXO had exceeded 17,500,000 total combined album sales (group, solo, sub-unit) according to the Gaon music chart, making them one of the best-selling music groups of the century. 

EXO have been described as "the biggest boy band in the world.” They have also been labelled "Kings of K-Pop" by international outlets including Vogue, Metro, PageOne and South Korean outlets such as OBS, as well as "Nation's pick" and "Global pick" by South Korean media, especially following their performance at the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang. 

They are considered a prominent force in the Hallyu Wave, which refers to the rise and spread of Korean pop culture around the world. In April 2018, Forbes described EXO as one of the two artists worldwide (alongside fellow K-pop band BTS) that dominate social media, even exceeding the reach of American artists such as Beyonce, Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift, with mentions on Twitter in the millions.

EXO have inspired numerous other groups and soloists, and started several global trends, with their unique musical style, choreography, and personality. Producer Harvey Mason Jr. ("Overdose", "Moonlight", "Diamond", "Sign", "24/7") commented: "We listen to their material ... and try and go one step further. We try and do things that are fresh and original, but still sound like EXO. They can sing, they can dance, they have the energy ... It's like a painter having every color to paint with."

In addition to creating music, online content, and record-breaking concert tours, the members are also incredibly popular and well-respected in film, television, and musical acting, fashion, and brand endorsements. EXO has two sub-units: EXO-CBX (Chen, Baekhyun, Xiumin) and EXO-SC (Sehun, Chanyeol). There are currently nine active members: Kim Minseok (Xiumin), Kim Junmyeon (Suho), Zhang Yixing (Lay), Byun Baekhyun, Kim Jongdae (Chen), Park Chanyeol, Doh Kyungsoo (D.O.), Kim Jongin (Kai), and Oh Sehun.

➸ With the release of their debut studio album in 2013, EXO became the first South Korean artist in 12 years to sell over one million copies of an album; the previous artist to reach this milestone was g.o.d, in 2001.  ➸ "Power" recorded the all-time highest score on M Countdown with 11,000 points, which made EXO the first artists to achieve a perfect score after the show's calculation system changes were implemented in June 2015. ➸ Following the release of their fifth studio album, Don't Mess Up My Tempo, EXO became the first South Korean artist who debuted in the 21st century to sell 10 million albums cumulatively.  ➸ In 2021, Exo became "sextuple million sellers", meaning the band has sold over one million copies apiece for six different albums. ➸ “Monster" became EXO’s first number one on the Billboard World Digital Songs chart in 2016. ➸ EXO ranked second on the Billboard Social 50 Year-End Chart from 2018 through 2020. ➸ The band have won over 100 music program awards cumulatively, becoming the second act to do so after their label-mates Girls' Generation. ➸ They have received 23 Daesang ("grand prize") awards from various year-end award shows. These wins include six from the Mnet Asian Music Awards, a feat that was recorded in the 2018 Guinness World Records book.

Originally debuted as two separate halves of the group - EXO-K for Korean activities and EXO-M for activities in China (in Mandarin) - they combined into a singular EXO for the release of their third EP Overdose in 2014, following the departure of EXO-M members Kris, Luhan, and Tao. These three artists’ lawsuits to leave their contracts stated that SM Entertainment, “disregarded [their] health; maintained unfair profit distributions; restricted [their] freedom; and treated [them] like a product rather than a person.” I will refrain from adding my personal thoughts on the matter (but know I’m yelling it internally 🙂)

On June 13, 2017, SM Entertainment announced Lay would not be participating in activities for the group's upcoming album due to conflicting schedules with his solo activities (also due to political tensions between China and South Korea during this time). Lay did not return to active participation in EXO until 2021 with Don’t Fight The Feeling, although he contributed vocals to the Chinese version of their song "Tempo" in 2018. While Lay’s contract with SM has ended after 10 years, on April 8th, 2022, he is still an active member of EXO and will continue to be part of any group activities in the future.

Three of the members have completed their mandatory military service, three are currently active, and two have yet to enlist (Lay, as a Chinese citizen, is exempt). We anticipate the group’s complete reunion eagerly in the next few years. Thank you for supporting EXO 💕

I polled folks on what their favorite EXO songs are, to make sure that I’m sharing the most loved, most representative tracks for new people discovering the wonders of loving EXO 🌟 All songs are available on YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify. Most of them have AMAZING music videos to enjoy as well :)

Top tracks for new folks that summarize EXO:

1. Growl 2. Love Me Right 3. Obsession 4. White Noise 5. Monster 6. Transformer 7. The Eve 8. Call Me Baby 9. Tempo 10. Lucky One  11. Love Shot 12. Lotto *Also check out this live acoustic melody... just- you’ll thank me

Best of the rest!

Best Slow Jam/R&B songs: 1. Tell Me What is Love 2. Oasis 3. Fall 4. Runaway 5. One and Only 6. She’s Dreaming 7. Lady Luck Best ‘Wow, I’m emo now, thanks” Songs: 1. Promise 2. Cosmic Railway 3. Baby Don’t Cry 4. My Answer 5. Sing For You 6. Lights Out 7. Universe 8. Heaven

Best Rude™️ and Sexy songs: 1. Sweet Lies 2. Playboy 3. Artificial Love 4. My Lady 5. Thunder 6. Exodus 7. Ooh La La La 8. 24/7

Best Upbeat/Fun songs: 1. Power 2. Don’t Fight The Feeling 3. Tender Love 4. Coming Over 5. Paradise 6. Tactix Best Hip Hop/Rap songs: 1. Twenty Four 2. Diamond 3. The Star 4. Overdose 5. Heart Attack 6. Run This 7. Damage 

Most Unique songs: 1. Ko Ko Bop 2. Wolf (extended/live version) 3. Jekyll 4. Chill 5. MAMA 6. Cloud 9 7. Butterfly Effect 8. Going Crazy

Top Underrated songs: 1. Bad Dream 2. Electric Kiss 3. El Dorado 4. Gravity 5. Lightsaber 6. Trauma 7. Lovin’ You Mo’ 8. Hurt

[straykidsupdate]

Stray Kids Are Breaking Records, Breaking Eardrums and Breaking Limits (INTERVIEW)

A Stray Kids track a day keeps the stress away. Though one can argue the K-pop group's energetic brand of "noise music" could possibly heighten tension, their bass-bumping, get-the-crowd-jumping songs are encouraging, vital points to Stray Kids' calling: to be the voices of their generation.

As showcased on their fiery 2019 hip-pop hit "MIROH," or 2020's heavy-hitting "God's Menu," Stray Kids — often abbreviated as SKZ — are unrelenting in their journey of self-expression and their determination to push themselves, and their fans, to their full potential. A prime example? Their second studio album, NOEASY, released Aug. 23.

Source: Pop Crush

The 14-track project, the majority of which was produced by sub-unit 3RACHA (Bang Chan, Changbin and Han), exhibits Stray Kids' ability to bring the noise no matter the tempo. NOEASY starts off strong with five in-your-face tracks that blend EDM and hip-hop elements (lead single "Thunderous," "Cheese," supporting single "Domino," "The View" and "SSICK"), while the later part of the album experiments with different genres and styles, from jazz-pop to rock.

Just three years into their career — they formed in 2018 — members Bang Chan, Lee Know, Changbin, Hyunjin, HAN, Felix, Seungmin and I.N. already carry dozens of award nominations and wins under their belt, and boast chart-topping hits in both physical and digital sales. Even before the release of their second album, the group already set a new record by becoming the first artist under JYP Entertainment to reach 1 million pre-orders.

We recently caught up with the members to talk about NOEASY, the adorable SKZOO version of "Thunderous" and why touring is their first and foremost priority.

Congratulations on your second album! A studio album takes lots of work, so how does it feel to have this out there in the world now?

Changbin: We really put our everything into preparing this album and we're really confident in it, so I’m really happy that STAY can finally listen to it!

Lee Know: We couldn’t wait to put this out because there are so many really, really good songs on it, so it feels great to finally release this album.

Hyunjin: Somehow a year has already passed, and we’re so thankful to our STAY who have waited for us. The entire album is good, so we hope STAY really enjoy it.

NOEASY has already achieved the title of being the best-selling album in JYP Entertainment in history. Any thoughts on that? What other records would you guys like to break?

Bang Chan: That title was achievable all thanks to STAY! If it weren't for STAY, we wouldn’t have been able to have even gotten this far. Stray Kids are known as “the kids that enjoy breaking things." We break objects, break eardrums and break limits, so breaking another record wouldn’t be so bad. Of course, we’ll need the help from STAY!

I.N: I hope we grow even more with the next album, so much so that people will describe us as artists who are constantly improving.

What were your first impressions of the title track?

HAN: When we listened to the final product, it made me really happy that the track sounded really fresh, the lyrics were very witty and full of spirit and it clearly embodied Stray Kids’ distinct color. I wanted to hurry and work on the performance and share the song with someone!

Felix: The song is really unique and I believe that we were the only team to make it impactful.

Seungmin: One day, upon arriving at home, 3RACHA immediately played the song for me. The moment I heard it, it felt electrifying, and I really wanted it to be a title track. That’s why I voiced a lot of my opinion, too.

3RACHA (Bang Chan, Changbin and Han), you guys have made a name for yourself and were heavily involved in this second album just like past releases. What was it like with this project?

Bang Chan: Just like any other project that we’ve worked on, we just had fun. We experimented with a lot of different styles and tried our best to widen our musical spectrum.

Changbin: We knew there would be a lot of expectations as this would be a full album, so we really put a lot of effort into the process.

HAN: The process was a lot of fun. We’d ask ourselves, “What should we attempt? What should we try next?” And we looked forward to what we’d come up with while working on this album.

How was it different this time?

Bang Chan: The “let’s just have fun” part hasn’t changed at all, but the biggest difference would be the genres of music and the ways we recorded the songs.

Changbin: Perhaps because our second full album is the first album we’re releasing after [television competition] Kingdom, there was a bit of pressure to meet people’s expectations. When pondering what everyone would be expecting of us, we thought they’d definitely be looking forward to something new in true Stray Kids’ fashion. I think that’s the part that we contemplated a lot.

HAN: I think, compared to before, we had a little more fun while working on this album. There was no time crunch, and we worked with the thought of making music that best fits who we are today, so I think the end result came out really well.

What would you say were the key highlights for the album?

Bang Chan: One thing that I hope people will notice is the improvement of all the members’ recording skills. We put a lot of effort into all the songs.

Changbin: The album includes unit songs in which all of our members took part during the creative process.

HAN: I hope people look forward to Stray Kids’ distinct musical color, our wit and how much we’ve matured.

When you guys came up with NOEASY as the title, how did you define it in your own terms?

Bang Chan: This might sound cheesy, but life itself is pretty “no easy." Everyone goes through obstacles, everyone has their own downs and lows, but I feel like it depends on how “noisy” you’re going to be to overcome those hardships.

HAN: NOEASY is trying to convey that things may be hard, but we’re going to break through that difficulty with our sound! I think the best way to explain it is that even if things are tough, as long as we have the sound of Stray Kids and the sound of STAY, we can overcome anything.

You spoiled your fans with so much pre-release content, which would you say were your favorites and why?

Lee Know: The SKZOO teaser was the most memorable. I would say the cuteness amidst the power was the key point.

Hyunjin: The trailer video was a little embarrassing to film, but after seeing it all come together, it looked so cool that I hope we get to do it again next time!

Seungmin: We worked on unit songs that were included on this album, and the Song Camp teaser videos that showed the creative process behind those unit songs were really good! I think our STAY really enjoyed them, so I hope we can do that type of content again.

About the SKZOO version of the “Thunderous” video: Whose idea was it?

Felix: As we prepared for our comeback, we wanted to impress and entertain our fans with something fun and unique, so we all came to one conclusion which was wearing our costumes for “Thunderous."

Your music has become incredibly encouraging and has touched many STAY around the world. What would you say is your ultimate message as Stray Kids?

Bang Chan: At one point in their lives, people will have a moment where they feel astray from the road that they’ve chosen, and I would like those people to know that they’re not the only ones that feel that way. So, whenever you need someone to keep you company, just know that Stray Kids are here to get you back on track.

You guys pretty much owned 2020 with hit after hit, including “God’s Menu” and “Back Door." How has it been working and releasing music in the midst of the pandemic?

Changbin: There was a lot more time being spent at home, but I didn’t want to waste that time, and instead used it to consistently work on new music. I hope people listen to our songs and gain strength during this challenging time.

Seungmin: To be honest, I was really bummed we couldn’t get to meet our STAY in person, but I think we promoted our album hoping that STAY could feel our love through videos, our music and their hearts even from afar. I’m grateful because I think our sincerity was relayed despite not being able to see each other in person. We spent our time working really hard even in the unseen!

When the pandemic is over and everything’s okay, what’s the first thing you want to do?

Bang Chan: World tour, first priority!

Lee Know: The very first thing I want to do is have a fan meeting with STAY.

Changbin: Definitely an in-person concert.

Hyunjin: I want to go on a world tour to hurry and meet our STAY all over the world and experience new cultures in different countries! I also want to perform for our STAY in-person at Korean music shows.

HAN: A concert! I want to hurry and have a concert so we can vibe with STAY and sing together in the same place. I miss this so much and can’t wait until we can do this again.

Felix: World tour!

Seungmin: I would say the first that comes to mind is a concert with STAY where we can finally greet them and have fun together!

I.N: I want to do a world tour.

Congratulations on your third anniversary! Do you guys have any wishes, individually or as a group?

Bang Chan: Individually, I just wish for everyone to be safe and happy. As a team, I wish that we can reach places that haven’t been reached before with the help from STAY.

Lee Know: I really want to be able to let STAY experience our performances visually and physically in real life as soon as possible.

Changbin: I want to make music and perform as Stray Kids for a long time.

Hyunjin: I’m sad that we can’t right now, but I would really like for this time of coronavirus to pass so we’re able to make many more memories with STAY. I really miss the fan meetings, concerts and world tours.

HAN: I want to mature more and continue growing in my music and just as a person. I would like to make even better music so that I can continue to touch STAY’s hearts and give them joy.

Felix: Individually, I hope to make a lot of memories and give a lot of hope and happiness to the STAY all around the world to the best of my ability. As a team, we really want to go on a world tour to meet our STAY as soon as possible.

Seungmin: I want to show our fans an even more improved version of ourselves. My wish is to show STAY that we’ll never go backwards!

I.N: I would like to continue improving and be described as an artist of consistent growth. I want to become an artist that’s a good influence on people.

What’s something you would like people to know about SKZ if they haven’t given them a chance yet?

Lee Know: We’ve got backbone. Once you fall for us, it’s hard to get out.

Hyunjin: I hope that after listening to our diverse music and watching our extravagant performances, people will notice us a little more.

Anything else you’d like to say? Speak now or forever hold your peace!

HAN: STAY, thank you for always giving us positive energy. We feel bad because it seems like we’re always just on the receiving end, but we’ll work hard to reciprocate what you’ve given to us! We’re always so thankful for you, and we miss you so much. We love you, and please continue to watch over us.

[kpoptimeout]

Top 10 Most Underrated K-pop Songs of 2021 (Idol Edition)

2021 was somehow worse than 2020. But oh boy, at least the music was good.

And it took us a good while to decide on these lists.

Continuing with the K-Pop Timeout Tradition (see 2020 Ver) of listing the Top 10 Most Underrated K-Pop Songs because all the other sites are just bothered with the Top 10 that pretty much everyone will have heard of/have fan wars over, below are our top 10 picks of songs that did not rank high but deserves your attention!

Like last year we have a separate post for Top 10 underrated non-idol tracks in 2021 and a list for the Top 10 K-Dramas in 2021 in our opinion, which will drop in the coming days of this month.

Some of the artists have escaped the list in recent years to stardom (like THE BOYZ, SF9, VICTON and OH MY GIRL), so hopefully, it happens again!

This is in alphabetic order and NOT in the order of awesomeness because all of them are awesome.

BDC “Moonlight”

More K-Pop groups are experimenting with electro-pop elements in their music in recent years but few have been able to blend it well enough - with many such attempts making the song sound like another generic American or European electro-pop song. BDC does a great job here in making the song still fit the K-Pop song structure and formula. If you like the bright and hopeful sound of early SHINee and INFINITE songs with a modern twist, you would love "MOONLIGHT" by BDC.

E’LAST “Dark Dream”

Dramatic orchestral sounds were once staple in K-Pop but have been replaced by a love for hip-hop and electronic sounds in recent years. E'LAST is one of the few new groups that are still trying to go for this sound. If you enjoy the dramatic and over-the-top orchestral instrumentals in 2nd gen K-Pop, you would love E'LAST's "Dark Dream"!

fromis_9 “WE GO”

fromis_9 has a strong following overseas but seems to never truly take-off in South Korea, which is really strange, since they have a bright girl group sound that usually does well domestically. Hence, it made absolutely no sense that "WE GO", which continues their energetic sound and dropped in summer of all times did not make them a household name in South Korea. The music video is also one of the most innovatively produced MVs of K-Pop this year. With the girls moving under PLEDIS now, who knows if we will even see them again...T_T So if you like interesting MV editing choices and girl groups with up-beat music like Oh My Girl and WEKI MEKI, go check out fromis_9's "WE GO"!

LUNARSOLAR “DADADA”

Debuting with little fanfare in 2020, LUNARSOLAR returns in this confident, yet somewhat quirky and catchy bop - reminiscent of the also very underrated ELRIS. This song is probably the most underrated on this list as it did not even crack 1 million by December 2021 even though the song was released in April 2021. If you like fun and hype girl group music l which sounds like K/DA, Oh My Girl and Red Velvet music had a child, this song is for you!

OnlyOneof “libidO”

Okay, many international fans know this song and this song did get talked about in South Korea. But people seem to be mainly hung up on the boy's love and homoerotic themes of the MV instead of what a musical and performative masterpiece this song is. The breathy singing, the sexy Vogue style bassline and subdued guitar riffs blended well with the dark alternative pop sound and is a perfect successor to the line of sexy underrated tracks previously featured on this blog's annual lists (SF9's "Now or Never" and KNK's "Sunset"). The choreography also works perfectly with this song and has wise simple use of props. If you like experimental music and provocative choreography, you would love this song.

ONF “Ugly Dance”

ONF has received a lot more love after Road to Kingdom last year but they really should have swept music show awards with "Ugly Dance" and they did not. Continuing with their electronic sound, this track is a perfect balance of their more experimental past songs ("We Must Love" and "Why" ) and their brighter and poppier performances ("COMPLETE" and "BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL"), truly exemplifying their ON and OFF concepts as well as the two extreme sides of K-Pop today. If you love a song that combines poppier sounds and darker electronic and hip-hop elements like various NCT U and NCT 127 songs, you would enjoy "Ugly Dance"!

Pink Fantasy “Poison”

Debuting in 2018 and experiencing various member and style changes, Pink Fantasy has dived into the niche of rock-influenced female idols in "Poison" and nailed the vocals and performance, exuding confidence and attitude in the MV. They do not seem to have much international or domestic attention, with the song barely scratching 1 million views as of December 2021. If you love DREAMCATCHER, you cannot miss out on this spectacular song worthy of being an anime opening theme!

Pixy “Addicted”

Pixy further pushes the agenda for more dark concept girl groups, as they conduct the performance for this whole song like they are part of some ancient dark magic ritual. They seem to have balanced the rock and horror side of DREAMCATCHER with the edgy experimental hip-hop side of (G)IDLE. Hence, if you enjoy music of these two groups, you should certainly check this song out!

Rocket Punch “Ring Ring”

"Ring Ring" is easily one of the most underrated retro-concept K-Pop songs of the year. The 80s dance sound is perfectly executed while maintaining the K-Pop song structure, creating a memorable banger that should have helped Woollim's youngest girl group hit jackpot. Yet for some strange reason, they remain relatively unknown to international and domestic audiences. If you enjoy K-Pop attempts at 1980s sounds like Wonder Girls' "I Feel You", Yubin's "Lady" and SNUPER's "Platonic Love", you would really like this song!

Woo Jin Young from D1CE “Happy Birthday”

Woo Jin Young's rap abilities have been long recognised on MIXNINE back in 2017 but likely due to the unpopularity of the show in South Korea, his talents and those of his group D1CE remain relatively unknown. It is disappointing that an amazing hip-hop performance in "Happy Birthday" failed to bring him and D1CE more attention. If you are a fan of BIG BANG's G-Dragon, iKON's Bobby and E'DAWN, you would really vibe to this track!

Special Mentions of Underrated Debuts:

KINGDOM "Excalibur"

With one of the most unique debut concepts for a boy group in a while, this group bases each comeback on different historical monarchs from around the world. Debuting with "Excalibur" based the legends on King Arthur, followed by "KARMA" based on mythical Chinese king Chiyou, and then "Dark Crown" based on the exploits of Ivan the Terrible, one cannot help but anticipate their tracks to come.

ICHILLIN' "GOT'YA"

There are many strong female rookie debuts this year that got a lot of attention. Hence, we would like to bring attention to ICHILLIN' as the group is balanced and has one of the most catchy debuts of the year - once you hear it the chorus will not leave your mind. They remind me very much of WEKI MEKI and woo!ah! during their debuts and I wish these girls from a small label all the best!

What are your personal picks for most underrated K-Pop tracks of 2021?

[independentartistbuzz]

INTERNATIONAL PHENOMENON LAY ZHANG RELEASES “JIU”

The global pop star, LAY (Lay Zhang) has delighted his army of fans with his newest single release, “JIU”, available now on all streaming platforms. The occasion today is the 10th anniversary of Lay Zhang’s debut. The artist commemorates these years when he worked with his EXO brothers with this song. He wrote the song to celebrate this milestone as a toast to his brothers, and his fans hoping to see a better future. Listen in here:

https://open.spotify.com/track/7iWEo1YPXrWELXh4pD9S6w?si=0248c99fc2bc4e55

Over the past few years, LAY has dropped a series of hit songs and an album in 2020, shooting the talented musician to worldwide fame as a solo artist. Known for his charismatic personality and hypnotizing voice, “JIU” falls nothing short of the high expectations that have been set by both himself and followers. LAY’s most recent release was a global collaboration with American hip-hop artist 24kGoldn on the single “Dawn to Dusk,” which received over 2 million streams on Spotify alone. Opening up with short yet heartfelt conversations between him and his former members from EXO, a South-Korean mega-band, “JIU” instantly sets a tone of nostalgia and reminiscence. Each sincere conversation and member’s sincere call of his name is a representation of love and care LAY and his brothers so strongly share with each other. LAY’s pure and mesmerizing voice along with the R&B tune in the background continue the reminiscing theme with simple drum beats and soothing flow. With elegant, symbolic lyrics, LAY cleverly plays with the word “JIU” to draw a connection between wine and eternity. Centered around the concept of time and eternity, this story is a serenade of one’s life journey, eternal love, and perpetuity. The song is produced by LAY and is noticeable with his lyrical R&B melody. The lyrics such as “I have a glass of wine/Toast to our passion forever” is a testament to the profound impact of friendship between the EXO brothers and hits the heart of fans. LAY has been on a whirlwind the last two years after joining forces with Steve Aoki and will.i.am for the 2020 hit cross-cultural collaboration Love You More, reaching #1 on the QQ Music China chart. He then released a string of hits with an album, an EP and solo singles overseas further propelling his international star power. He has been and continues to be a household name in Asia. He is one of the most beloved stars in the region with a loyal and highly engaged 51 million followers on Weibo and over 13.9 million followers on Instagram. As a solo artist, LAY’s career has skyrocketed from tremendous success becoming the highest-ranked Mandopop star on Billboard 200 chart and the first Chinese artist to enter the iTunes Top 60 in the US with his third solo album NAMANANA. Outside of music, he is a powerhouse in the acting world of TV and film, hosted multiple top-rated reality shows in Asia and is one of the most awarded artists in China. In 2020, LAY released the hit album LIT and its title track of the same name. The digital album made over 30 million yuan in just 7 minutes 19 seconds after its release on QQ Music in China. In 2021, he released an EP EAST that featured his renowned “M-POP” style telling a story of LAY's spiritual growth in his career using oriental elements and symbolic identities.

[felicia-cat-hardy]

20 Asian American Musicians To Add To Your Playlist Now

Over the past several years, the K-pop industry in the U.S. has grown exponentially. The fan enthusiasm behind bands like BTS has drawn parallels to The Beatles, and so many K-pop groups have received the same passionate reception. The attention is well-deserved, but Asian artists represent a multitude of musical genres (even just within the K-pop industry) — a fact that should not be overlooked. Whether you're a fan of indie rock, R&B, hip-hop, or dance music, you won't want to sleep on these Asian American musicians.

Asian artists have recently received some long-deserved recognition in the entertainment industry, primarily in film. In 2020, Bong Joon-ho's Parasite won big at the Oscars. The following year, Youn Yuh-Jung won the award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Minari, which also scored The Walking Dead alum Steven Yeun a nomination for Best Actor. However, there's still plenty of work to be done within the music landscape to ensure equal representation is achieved.

BTS, most notably, has seen unprecedented success in the U.S. Still, despite being invited to attend the last three Grammys, they've yet to take home an award, highlighting the discrepancy between their immense success and the Recording Academy's willingness to acknowledge it. Additionally, Asian artists have a harder time landing record deals. As American Idol alumni Paul Kim explained to The New York Times, he was blatantly told by industry execs he would have been signed to a label faster had he not been Asian.

By streaming these artists, you're not only supporting them and their art, but you're subsequently showing industry insiders just how valuable they are. Consider this list sonic proof Asian artists are making exceptional, diverse music that can't be boxed into one genre or sound. Each of these artists prides themselves on breaking boundaries and creating their own rules. You may have heard of a few, but many have been flying under the radar for far too long. Your ears will thank you soon enough.

Melissa Polinar

Polinar got her start in the late 2000s when viral YouTube covers paved the way for success. While artists like Justin Bieber and Lennon & Maisy were sharing music covers, Polinar focused on posting her original music — and her soulful vocals were a hit. In 2019, the Filipino-American songwriter actually re-recorded one of the songs that propelled her career forward, "Try," on its 10-year anniversary.

Eric Nam

Born and raised in Atlanta, Nam moved to Korea to pursue music because he felt he had a better chance of succeeding there. “Even if you look at American Idol, or X-Factor, or The Voice or anything, it was always difficult to see an Asian or an Asian-American make it to a certain point,” Nam told TIME in November 2019. Today, Nam is a highly visible and respected name in the K-pop industry. While he's very proud of his K-pop success, he considers himself a pop singer first. He hopes to grow his success stateside and told TIME, "I want people to hear my music and say, 'I don’t know who this person is,' and I could be Black, white, Latino, Asian — it doesn’t matter, but it’s just a great pop song."

Clinton Kane

Kane's got every making of a great singer-songwriter, and his lyricism will make a fan out of loyal Ed Sheeran or Sam Smith listeners. The Filipino-American singer's impressive vocal range captivates, and his emotion-driven lyrics will melt your heart. One of his more popular tracks, "Chicken Tendies," has upwards of 2 million views and is a must-add to your heartbreak playlist.

Jhené Aiko

As a mixed-race Japanese, Creole, Dominican, and European woman, Aiko has proudly championed her diverse roots throughout her accomplished career. The R&B singer is a six-time Grammy-nominated artist and is well respected within the industry for her philanthropic endeavors. She launched the WAYS foundation in 2017, an organization dedicated to helping cancer patients and their families.

Steve Aoki

Steve Aoki is hardly a newcomer to the EDM scene, but as one of the most prominent DJs in the industry, and one of the biggest Japanese DJs ever, it would be a crime to leave him off this list. Aoki even has his own record label and, in 2016, Netflix released I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, a documentary about his career.

Karen O

As the lead singer for the rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Karen O has solidified her spot as a rock music legend. Not only is the Korean-American singer's discography with the band a must-listen for any rock music fan, but her 2019 album with Danger Mouse, Lux Prima, earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Performance.

H.E.R.

Hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area, H.E.R. (aka Gabi Wilson) has become one of the most prominent names in R&B. At just 23 years old, the singer-songwriter already has four Grammy wins and 13 nominations. Along the way, she's never shied away from praising her Filipino mother and Black father, Agnes and Kenny Wilson, for giving her the unique perspectives that propelled her musical success.

Toro Y Moi

Toro Y Moi is actually one person (Chaz Bear) and he's become the unofficial king of chillwave. Born to a Filipino mother, the South Carolina native later relocated to California to further his music career. If you need some chill vibes on your playlist, Bear's got you covered.

Ruby Ibarra

Ibarra is a Filipino-American rapper from San Lorenzo, California who also dabbles in spoken word poetry. Her music is meaningful in more ways than one. A number of her songs touch upon her experience as an Asian American woman. In April 2021, she released a powerful song and video called "Gold" with Ella Jay Basco, which exposed the harmful effects of the skin whitening industry.

Ella Jay Basco

You may recognize Basco from her appearance in Birds of Prey, but her music is not to be slept on because it's making major waves. Her song "Gold" with Ruby Ibarra highlights her Filipino heritage. As she told People, "From top to bottom, we wanted to make sure that our Asian-American community was represented with this project."

Mitski

Meet your new favorite alt-rock queen. Mitski's dreamy melodies appeal to the indie-rock crowd more than anything, and, if you're a sucker for a sad bop, this Japanese-American songstress has plenty of those stacked up.

Yaeji

Yaeji was born in Flushing, Queens in 1993 and grew up between the U.S. and Korea. Since she moved around so much as a kid, she found friendship on the internet, where she first connected with the bossa nova, jazz, and Korean indie music that drove much of the Korean DIY scene. She soon returned to the States to attend college, where she discovered a love for producing and DJing. Now, she meticulously blends hip-hop elements with her house-driven sound for a listening experience that is unlike anything else.

Hayley Kiyoko

Kiyoko has been given the nickname Lesbian Jesus since she’s so outspoken about LGBTQ+ representation in the music industry. The Japanese-American singer is a true trailblazer and her pop music genius has landed her hits with Kehlani, MAX, and AJR.

Jay Park

Park is an industry heavyweight. The Seattle native got his start in the K-pop industry as part of the band 2PM, but he went solo in 2009. Today, not only does the star have dozens of hits under his belt, but he has two record labels of his own that specialize in R&B and hip-hop music: AOMG and H1ghr. Park uses his superstar status to give others the spotlight, and he's put his support behind other artists like GOT7's JAY B and Yugyeom, and Raz Simone. Whether you're a self-proclaimed K-pop stan, or you're just recently getting acquainted with the genre, Park's discography is required listening.

Jin Au-Yeung

Born and raised in North Miami Beach, Florida, the Chinese-American rapper, aka MC Jin, has some seriously impressive accolades under his belt. After becoming popular among his musical peers for his epic freestyles, he was signed to Ruff Ryders in 2002 at just 19 years old, becoming the first Asian American solo rapper to be signed to a major record label in the U.S. He's since parted ways with the label and now travels back and forth between the U.S. and Hong Kong, seeing success in both places. In May 2021, the rapper released a single called "Stop the Hatred" with Wyclef Jean to raise awareness about hate crimes toward Asian Americans amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Olivia Rodrigo

Rodrigo needs no introduction, but I'll do it anyway: This Filipino-American actress-turned-singer-songwriter's mega-hit debut single "drivers license" was unavoidable in January 2021. Its heartbreakingly relatable lyrics about a crush moving on with someone else struck listeners to their core and immediately soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also went viral on TikTok, before making its way into a Saturday Night Live sketch. Rodrigo's songwriting skills have fans likening her to industry heavyweights like Taylor Swift, so it's no surprise her debut album, Sour, is one of the most highly-anticipated albums of summer 2021.

Run River North

Run River North is not just one musician, but three. The band formerly known as Monsters Calling Home is an indie rock band from Los Angeles. The group has an eclectic sound that draws inspiration from each member: Daniel Chae, Alex Hwang, and Sally Kang.

ZHU

When ZHU first entered the electronic music scene, he used an alias and remained anonymous. By 2014, the artist also known as Steven Zhu was ready to share his identity with the world. ZHU got his start in San Francisco, California, but has made his mark on the EDM scene globally.

Darren Criss

Criss rose to fame starring on the television series Glee and he's since proven himself to be a true triple threat. His work can be seen across TV, film, and music. In September of 2018, Criss became the first Filipino-American to win an Emmy in the lead actor category for his portrayal of Andrew Cunanan in FX's The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. He’s also got several full-fledged EPs under his belt.

Amber Liu

Amber Liu (also known mononymously as Amber) is of Taiwanese descent and grew up in Los Angeles. She made a big splash when debuting as a member of the K-pop girl group f(x) in September 2009, but has since gone solo. Her 2019 solo track "Other People" racked up millions of streams, and she’s gearing up to drop her first album of 2021, called y?, very soon. In the meantime, she’s continuing to grow her superstar following on social media, where she has 5 million Instagram followers and over 2.3 million on Twitter.

Get Relationship Advice Here

[bendoesblogs]

Slowthai: A Lost Soul On His Way Back

Tyrone Frampton better known by his stage name as Slowthai, is a British rapper from Northampton. Frampton rose to fame through his gritty and rough instrumentals and politically charged lyrics - most notably around Brexit, Theresa May and is very vocal on the harmful effects of toxic masculinity. Slowthai has always been a fairly controversial figure. In 2019, Frampton’s album ‘Nothing Great About Britain’ was nominated for the Mercury Prize, during his ceremony performance, he held a fake severed head of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on stage. But more on his controversy later.

Slowthai’s music has been described as fusing grime and hip-hop together. There are also obvious elements of the punk genre in the way in which he creates his music, and carries himself, you could mistake him for the lead singer in a punk band. In a 2019 article for the BBC, Kev Geoghegan described his as “either a grime MC making punk music or a punk making rap music.” Whilst his music is often rowdy enough to make you jump out of your seat, he also has shown he has an obvious soft side. He cares a lot about women, as evident in his song of praise titled ‘Ladies’ in which he is grateful for everything women do. The more mellow song ‘Toaster’ shows how Frampton has the ability to open up and communicate through lyrics how he can often be misunderstood and confused. 

His musical talent is undeniable, attracting attention and collaborations from the likes of Daman Albarn of Blur and Gorrillaz, and two huge hits with Mura Masa, their single “Deal Wiv It’ placed number one in NME’s Top 50 songs of 2019, with NME also awarding the duo best collaboration. 

The musical talent and his charismatic aura propelled him to win the Hero of the Year award at the NME Awards, although what happened next transitioned Frampton into villain of the night. Upon collecting the award, Slowthai dropped his microphone into the crowd, which was then launched right back at him along with a drink. Katherine Ryan, host for the night attempted to diffuse the situation, but instead found herself being sexually harassed. Frampton shouted to her: “She wants me to tend to her flowers, you aint ever had anyone play with you like I could.” Ryan said Slowthai “didn’t make me uncomfortable”, and that the Northampton rapper has since apologised to Ryan.

Following this altercation, Slowthai went off the grid. Presumably through the acknowledgement of his wrong-doing. Slowthai himself, and the media were very critical of his actions, and rightfully so. But, later in 2020 in an interview with the NME, Slowthai explained: “For the way I acted, I’m remorseful. I’m learning every single day, and I’m never going to stop learning. I know that it’s never something that will come across from me ever again. I was just playing into a joke, and people took it how they took it.” Which perhaps explains why Ryan was relatively unfazed by the situation.

Slowthai returned later in 2020 with a fiery single titled ‘Enemy’ featuring The 1975′s Matty Healing stating: “Everyone send your thoughts to Slowthai, fuck knows where he is but God bless the boy.” as he reintroduced himself back to the music scene. Since then he has collaborated with Kenny Beats on the song ‘MAGIC’, and Disclosure with the summer anthem ‘My High’.

Capable of self-destruction? Yes. Misunderstood? Yes. But talented? Undeniably. That is the enigma of Slowthai. He has learnt from his wrong doings and hopefully can return to his title of hero of the year once more.

[ozis-paradise]

ØZI for Tatler

published july 3rd, 2020

[translated by me, proofread by @baobeejun]

Free like water, a born star! From Irene Yeh's son to the new king of popular music, the dazzling star you need to know: ØZI!

Bright red highlighted hair, equally red earpieces hanging around his neck. The boy with eye-catching tattoos is sitting on the make-up chair, skipping his feet while eating breakfast and he exudes a rebellious and free, yet delicate and pure atmosphere. Soon after his debut, he was shortlisted for six Golden Melody Awards last year and won Best New Artist. At the mention of his name, everyone will exclaime admiration and excitement, ØZI seems to have become a synonym of "cool" and "red" among the younger generation.

"I think I'm too rational, 100% rational, I should also be a little sentimental." This cool-looking artist was told by his agent that "his temper is very good, he most likely won't look angry." Isn't it a little unexpected for a rational rapper to be so talkative? Doesn't he also like to drink beverages with either honey or strawberry? Everytime ØZI gives a new answer, people have to reconstruct the imagine they already had in mind of him, contrasting to his appearance there is a vibrant and rich soul ready to stir trouble (in a "catching peoples attention" kinda way). Speaking of his definition of freedom, ØZI jokes "Freedom means that my agent won't call me, no work, blocking my agent's calls!" But in fact, the interpretation of freedom in his heart is somewhat aloof and mature: "Because society has a lot of rules, as far as I can tell, no-one is free; from family, love to friendship, they all have their own rules. But freedom comes from inner stability, it should be "like water", just then you're free. When it is placed in different containers, it becomes it's shape, it can adapt to every environment; to me, this state is freedom, because you can be free from restrictions and confined space."

When asked if he's free now, he mutters "Not necessarily, sometimes I get stuck when my inspiration runs out. It's been a little better lately, it wasn't like water in the second half of last year, instead it was more like ice cubes!" Last year was too busy to think, it was described by ØZI "like the mind is drying out". And because of his plans to go to the United States to relax at the beginning of this year - he didn't expect the immediate outbreak to happen - he got more time to produce, "I'm free now, I'm simply water now!", he smiles.

Living in a prominent family of performing artists - his mother Ye Ailing is an all-round entertainer, his father Chen Wenbin is a well-known photographer - ØZI's creative path can be said to be expected. Because his parents are both in the industry, he grew up in a musical environment ever since he was a child. But when it comes to his own creations, in fact, ØZI liked to draw as a kid. In Junior High, he liked to make and arrange music, in High School he began to write melodies, lyrics, from drawings to producing movies, "creations" of change because as a child, he liked to be "original" about this. He had six Music Videos, all on his iPhone. "At first, my dad said that there were a lot of problems with my Music Videos, so I was trying hard to improve, I learned about lighting and so on, just to prove that my Music Videos can look good, I wanted to get his approval!"

The requirement of children of celebrities is a blessing but it's hard to hold a grasp of it, it's difficult to excuse mistakes. The music world describes it as "to be born a Super Saiyan (means something like "Second-Generation-Star" because he's the son of famous parents). ØZI explains: "I was just lucky to be born into a musical family, I have enough space to be understood and supported. My dad knows what it's like to be a creator, my mom knows what it's like to be a performer. So I had the chance to train to become a Super Saiyan." It's a double edged sword, everyone was paying close attention when ØZI was nominated at the Golden Melody Awards. "After the rookie award, in addition to putting myself under a lot of pressure, I didn't change any of my creative motives and I'm very expressive. So if you don't get rewarded, you get mad at yourself." Maybe stress occasionally hinders his creative work, but at the same time, it's also a sign of determination to succeed and break through the golden sunken ship.

ØZI's first well-known Chinese song "Title" is about not being bind by anything, about wanting to have more freedom, more creative freedom for everyone. He's been making music for his "mission to internationalize Chinese Music" from the very beginning. "The internationalisation is something that not everyone can do, we listen to music from Latin America, Hip-Hop, K-Pop, it's all because of their atmosphere. For me, every artist has their own way of interpretating their culture. It's very important to let everyone know "Oh, that's C-Pop!"" And the new plans of ØZI will be followed by the release of some singles, a new album will also be released this year. He also revealed that he's working on three different projects at the same time now, experimental and core concept types. There's even a project that's "looking for the next stage of ØZI" trying to give his music a new image. "There will be a lot of music you have never heard from ØZI before, some experimental music, I can't reveal much!"

He's 100% rational when it comes to his family, but his sentimental tone betrayed him; when he talks about music, he becomes serious. Introducing his new tattoo is as exciting as being a little boy. His soul is free, but "ØZI" still has a lot of unavoidable restrictions.

"ØZI is the character I created, he's the embodiment of self-confidence, he has to be perfect. The self-confidence this character needs will be infused into my spirit, but this is only one part of it", he says slowly. With his high and straight nose bridge and the fine and smooth line of his chin, ØZI looks somewhat like his mother Ye Ailing; but he has taken off the label of being a celebrity's child, that used to stick on him tightly, a long time ago already. He's ØZI, free like water, a born star.

TATLER discusses with ØZI

What do you do to pass the time that make a perfect holiday?

Go to the beach of an uninhabited island alone or with a group of friends, lie on the beach and drink cocktails, read a book, maybe listen to music, sleep.

What do you like to do the most when you don't have to work?

Playing video games, eating, getting a massage, sleeping, watching Netflix.

If you could have one drink with an idol, who would it be?

Canadian Rapper/Singer Drake! So I can understand his logic of running his OVO Empire and see if I can absorb it and apply it on my own label.

Your motto?

The tattoo on my leg, it's a famous quote from "Batman: The Dark Knight Rises": "Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up."

Who is your life idol? Why?

Christopher Nolan, the director of "Inception"! Actually, everyone who gives me inspiration for a period of time is my idol.

What would you recommend to watch on Netflix?

I actually watch anything, from serious "13th" to pure entertaining "Too Hot To Handle", I want to absorb different elements.

Please define freedom in one sentence?

Be like Water!

Which abroad city do you want to visit first after the ban gets lifted?

Greece! I went there for the first time when I was shooting the MV to "Paradise Island", and I thought I have to come back when I get the chance to! It has a peaceful charm between the island and the city, it has their own ancient culture and beach parties, everyone is very relaxed and the atmosphere is very cool.

Favourite drink?

Apple Milk or Honey Water, I like the Honey or Strawberry kind.

When your mood is low, what do you do to cheer up?

Playing video games, hanging out with friends, working out.

What games have you been playing lately?

The remake of Final Fantasy 7, the graphics have changed very beautifully.

[doomonfilm]

Review : All Day and a Night (2020)

You’d think that a pandemic would have been enough to knock 2020 way down the list of memorable years, but leave it to America to continue with its national past-time, the racist and unjust treatment of minorities.  Many companies, as a response, made attempts to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, and Netflix did so by showcasing a number of films either made by Black directors or focusing on race-related issues.  Of the many films rolled out at that time, one caught my eye specifically : All Day and a Night.      

After shooting drug dealer Malcolm (Stephen Barrington) and his lady in cold blood (and in front of their daughter), aspiring rapper and street muscle Jahkor (Ashton Sanders) is facing a lifetime prison bid.  Despite many people questioning his motivations for the seemingly senseless act, Jahkor stays silent as he undergoes the trial process and prepares for prison.  Upon arrival to prison, he is reunited with his estranged father JD (Jeffery Wright), but due to their strained relationship and rocky history, not to mention Jahkor’s pressing concerns of retaliation, the reunion is timid at best.  With nothing but time in his foreseeable future, Jahkor takes a personal inventory of his life and all of the factors that led him to his current resigned fate.

All Day and a Night hones in on the ripple effect of pain in the black community, showing how the unhealthy transference of pain and frustration through violence and exploitation has become the sad, institutionalized norm rather than the exception to the rule.  As a result, many black communities serve as fodder for the pipeline to mass incarceration, as the opportunities many try to take advantage of to survive are often illegal.  With the temptations of evil on all sides, and often present for the entirety of some people’s life span, it is not an unfamiliar scenario to see short-sighted individuals living in a manner fueled by temporary gains.  Joe Robert Cole is clearly aware of all of this, and uses this reality as a way to shape his story about being trapped in a cycle… as eloquently stated in the film, he captures how “crazy (it is) to have nothing to give and want to give everything”.  It is interesting how he chooses to make Jahkor an inspiring rapper as well, specifically because he uses the vulnerability of hip-hop as a trigger for tension in the standoffish world of gangsters and drug dealers, rather than an actual manner of breaking out of the hood cycle.

In terms of themes, Cole locks in on the phenomena of generational trauma, directly displaying how the doomed lifestyle is often handed down by a mixture of nature and nurture that traces back to slavery.  The conditioning of the mind and soul that comes with nonstop exposure to violence and poverty is found in Jahkor, who starts as a young, weak and innocent boy who learns to harbor his rage and fear for the purpose of channeling it into hyper-focused violence against anyone who questions his character or threatens his livelihood and the people he loves.  Paradoxically, Jahkor also seems to have a strong set of standards, but is unable to exact them due to the savagery of the world he lives in.  The trauma of Black men fighting a war at home is displayed, and with the presence of LaMark, examined in a manner that shows how many Black men are unable to win no matter which side of the game they land on, which in turn has left an absence or inability to perform in the realms of family and community responsibilities.  The predatory nature of America from all sides is a present element in the story as well, with the film serving as a parable of how appeals to kindness and loyalty often fall on deaf ears in these areas.

The look of the film could be described as “high contrast darkness”, with rich colors attempting to emerge from the general visual muddiness that represents the world of the film.  The pacing is deliberate, still and stirring, making us wait for Jahkor to validate his actions and choices as the film rolls out his recollections of his life experiences.  The strong but subtle cinematic score punctuates the weight of the drama, and is used in place of hip-hop songs and beats used for score.  That being said, tons of Oakland culture shines through and through, including occasional songs popping up from legends connected to the city.  Most importantly, the film opts for attempting to give respect to people trapped in these bad situations, rather than glorifying the negative aspects of this struggling population while propping up trope-like heroes, antiheroes and villains.    

As previously mentioned, All Day and a Night is a film all about dramatic weight, and Ashton Sanders carries it like a seasoned professional, portraying the strain of every burden while managing to stay a vibrant on-screen presence… he likely won’t be getting any award nominations next season, but he certainly deserves them.  Jeffrey Wright and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II both get to play wonderfully against type, leaning wholly into all of the macho posturing and aggressive energy they can muster before crossing the line into satire, and maintaining beautiful harmony the entire time.  Isaiah John brings a similar intensity, but keeps the innocence of lost youth tethered to it, which results in a brooding energy with all of the potential to blow up dramatically.  Christopher Meyer brings a nobility to the table meant to offset the posturing present in the rest of the cast.  Kelly Jenrette manifests the struggles of trying to raise a family in a world of madness, channeling her pain into a sort of shielding judgement to fend off hurt, while Regina Taylor attempts to bring wisdom into a mix of reckless energy.  Supporting appearances by James Earl, Rolanda D. Bell, Andrea Lynn Elsworth, Stephen Barrington, Shakira Ja’nai Paye and Gretchen Klein round things out.

All Day and a Night wisely stays away from glorification of the hood and the lifestyle that Jahkor lives, opting instead to stand as more of a “truth of the matter” presentation of events.  While the story that is told is not a unique one, or one that is new to the world of film, it is one worth telling nonetheless, and luckily, Joe Robert Cole tells it extremely well.

[benthemusicalbeard]

11 Mar 2020

What ho music fans! Apologies this is a week late, a bit of bad planning on the part of yours truly. It won’t (might) happen again....! Again I have parked the soundtrack posting as there are still songs I have enjoyed recently I wish to share with anyone who cares to listen. Let us begin!

First up and we have American rapper Action Bronson. Hailing from New York he is up there with one of the most random acts I’ve been introduced to of late. A hip-hop artist who likes to rap about food and his favourite sports teams, a style of music I’m not generally a fan of but lyrics I could certainly get on board with! He has released five albums to date and has been present on endless collaborations, both as a featured artist and as a guest appearance. The album the song is taken from is the 2015 release ‘Mr Wonderful’ and contains a few of his most popular and most streamed songs, namely ‘Baby Blue’, ‘Actin Crazy’ and ‘Easy Rider’ and also contains songs co-written with Mark Ronson and Zane Lowe amongst many others. The album is not your average hip-hop album because as well as using samples and loops it contains a real band on many of the songs, the sleeve notes for the album contains a long list of talented musicians and vocalists. Other than the song being shared give the smooth listening ‘Terry’ and ‘A Light In The Addict’ a listen. 

Action Bronson - City Boy Blues - https://youtu.be/HCpwIbfqoSw

Secondly this week and an act who I’ve known about for a number of years but never taken the time to explore. That artist is Simon Green AKA Bonobo, described as a key figure in the down-tempo electronica scene of the early 2000′s. He originates from good old Blighty but is now based in Los Angeles and his style of music relies heavily on soothing samples and beats culminating into songs which are pretty difficult not to enjoy. He has released six albums so far, the latest in 2017 being the biggest commercial success of his career and having given it a listen this week it registers about a 8.7 on the Eggleshaw ambient-o-meter. The highlight for me is the track ‘Kerala’ which samples an uptempo electronica beat but brings it back down with a glorious harp loop and harmonic backing vocals, well worth a listen. I wanted to start at the beginning of the discography and got as far as one of my favourite titled albums of all time, Bonobo’s second album, the 2003 release ‘Dial M for Monkey’ which contains the song I’m sharing. This album makes me understand why Bonobo is considered important in the down-tempo genre. Fans of Zero 7, Royksopp, Air etc will definitely enjoy this album. It’s a brilliant album for both having on in the background but also if you do give it the full attention it won’t disappoint and contains many good elements, the tracks ‘Noctuary’ and ‘Pick Up’ being my favourites.

Bonobo - Flutter - https://youtu.be/C2pG8EtH6CM

Last up this week and a track which is my ultimate ‘OMG / I’d forgotten about’ track which I heard for the first time in years on BBC 6 Music, to which I owe a huge thank you! The song I was reacquainted with was ‘For Lovers’ by Wolfman, real name Peter Wolfe, and featuring vocals from Pete Doherty. The song was originally written in the mid 1990′s by Wolfe who recorded a demo of the track with a friend. Wolfe and Doherty met in 2001 and shared a passion for music and drugs so were always bound to hit it off. In 2003 they re-recorded a version of ‘For Lovers’, which was produced by Jake Fior, and the song not only reached a high of number seven in the singles charts was also nominated for an Ivor Novello Award for songwriting. I remember the song being one of the anthems of my first year at University. Every student bar played it, every mate of mine at Uni loved the track and every mixtape of songs from the year contained it. The story of Doherty was already established having burst onto the scene around the turn of the century with The Libertines, and had later success with Babyshambles but the only info on Wolfe after ‘For Lovers’ relates to a few song writing credits for Libertines & Babyshambles as well as some time spent at Her Majesty’s pleasure for drug related offences surrounding the overdose of film maker Robin Whitehead who was found dead in Wolfe’s flat. The song remains though as a underrated love song, describing the intentions of two lovers to run away with each other. I listen to it and I’m transformed to a time in 2004, a time where I’m probably late for a lecture as was often the way.....

Wolfman feat. Pete Doherty - For Lovers - https://youtu.be/oLY0eUtVlXo

Thanks for reading this far. I shall endeavour to remember to post again in two weeks! Enjoy the songs and there is hopefully something in there that you will listen to again and again.

[checkoutafrica]

New Music – ZENGEH – Teeah ft Sarkodie

Exactly a year after her surprise soulful Afro-Jazz debut single ‘Save Me’, which caused a stir in the UK Afrobeats landscape, and following the release of the critically acclaimed house track ‘So Good’ and the neo-soul slow burner ‘Space & Time’ earlier this year, East London singer and songwriter TEEAH is back with her brand new single titled ‘ZENGEH’ featuring the recently crowned 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards ‘Best International Flow’ winner SARKODIE.

Taken from her forthcoming untitled debut EP, which is due for release in early 2020, and produced by her longtime collaborator Delirious, who has previously worked with the likes of Tinie Tempah, Lady Leshurr, and Stylo G, ‘Zengeh’ offers another layer to Teeah’s artistry that we haven’t yet seen on her previous singles. The soulful Afro-fusion track sees Teeahin her sultry element, highlighted by her captivating vocal performance and sweltering lyrics, while Sarkodie is consummate as ever, delivering one of his best guest appearances of the year. Born in London of Bajan and Southern African heritage, Teeahbegan singing at the age of 10, before going on to perform backing vocals for Hugh Masekela, Amy Winehouse, Mel B, Fred Hammondand Misha Paris, among others, performing at Love Box Festival, Royal Festival Hall, Channel 4, and X Factor UK, to mention a few. Over the years, she put her music career on hold for a more behind-the-scenes role in events and PR, but fast-forward to 2019, and Teeahis now ready to share her exciting talent and music with the world.

Speak about the inspiration for ‘Zengeh’, Teeahsays, “I love ‘love’ and that’s what I try to explore with ‘Zengeh’. In its purest form, love is a connection that can be physical yet passionate. The world can sometimes miss the true feeling of love because these days, it’s all rushed rather than enjoyed. ‘Zen-Geh’ – the word alone is passionate enough, and I want listeners to feel passionate about passion when they are listening to it, in all in cultural expression through sound and rhythm”.

TEEAH PRESS IMAGES: https://smarturl.it/TeeahPressPhotos CONNECT WITH TEEAHInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/officialteeahTwitter:https://www.twitter.com/officialteeahWebsite:http://www.officialteeah.com

The post New Music – ZENGEH – Teeah ft Sarkodie appeared first on CheckoutAfrica.

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[nahasarcade]

Kendrick lamar untitled unmastered rar

Soon after, Lamar decided to no longer go by the stage name of K.Dot and opted to use his birth name. Īfter receiving a co-sign from Lil Wayne, Lamar released his third mixtape in 2009, titled C4, which was heavily themed around Wayne's album Tha Carter III. Under the moniker K.Dot, Lamar was also featured on The Game's songs "The Cypha" and "Cali Niggaz". Throughout 20, Lamar would appear alongside other up-and-coming West Coast rappers, such as Jay Rock and Ya Boy, as opening acts for veteran West Coast rapper The Game. He began recording material with the label and subsequently released a 26-track mixtape two years later, titled Training Day (2005). The mixtape led to Lamar securing a recording contract with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), a newly founded indie record label based in Carson, California. The mixtape was released under Konkrete Jungle Muzik and garnered local recognition for Lamar. In 2004, at the age of 16, Lamar released his first full-length project, a mixtape titled Youngest Head Nigga in Charge (Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year), under the pseudonym K.Dot. As a teenager, he graduated from Centennial High School in Compton, where he was a straight-A student. He has admitted to being quiet and shy in school, his mother even confirming he was a " loner" until the age of seven. As a child, Lamar attended McNair Elementary and Vanguard Learning Center in the Compton Unified School District. Dre filming the music video for their hit single " California Love", which proved to be a significant moment in his life. In 1995, at the age of eight, Lamar witnessed his idols Tupac Shakur and Dr. He grew up on welfare and in Section 8 housing. His first name was given to him by his mother in honor of American singer-songwriter Eddie Kendricks of The Temptations. Although not in a gang himself, he grew up around gang members, with his closest friends being Westside Piru Bloods and his father, Kenny Duckworth, being a Gangster Disciple. Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born in Compton, California on June 17, 1987, the son of a couple from Chicago. 2.5 2017–2020: Damn, Black Panther soundtrack and hiatus.2.4 2014–2016: To Pimp a Butterfly and Untitled Unmastered.2.3 2012–2013: Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and controversies.Three of his studio albums have been listed in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2020). In 2015, he received the California State Senate's Generational Icon Award. Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016. In 2012, MTV named him the Hottest MC in the Game on their annual list. Lamar has received many accolades over the course of his career, including 14 Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, six Billboard Music Awards, a Brit Award, 11 MTV Video Music Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, and an Academy Award nomination. In 2018, he wrote and produced 14 songs for the soundtrack to the superhero film Black Panther. He released his fourth album, Damn (2017) its lead single " Humble" topped the US Billboard Hot 100, while the album became the first non-classical and non-jazz album to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music. It was followed by Untitled Unmastered (2016), a collection of unreleased demos that originated during the recording sessions for To Pimp a Butterfly. It became his first number one album on the Billboard 200. His third album To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) incorporated elements of funk, soul, jazz, and spoken word. It would go on to be certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Lamar's major-label debut album, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, was released in 2012. By that time, he had amassed a large online following and collaborated with several prominent hip hop artists. The following year, he independently released his first studio album, Section.80, which included his first single " HiiiPoWeR". He began to gain recognition in 2010 after his first retail release, Overly Dedicated. (Hub City Threat Minor of the Year) that garnered local attention and led to his signing with indie record label Top Dawg Entertainment. Raised in Compton, California, Lamar embarked on his musical career as a teenager under the stage name K.Dot, releasing a mixtape titled Y.H.N.I.C. Aside from his solo career, he is also known as a member of the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy alongside his Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) label-mates Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and Schoolboy Q. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Since his mainstream debut in 2012 with Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, Lamar has been regarded as one of the most influential rappers of his generation. Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer.

[chenxisun]

Jay Chou's first album

I think it's really necessary for me to introduce this album Jay, which is the first album of musician Jay Chou. Its appearance broke the long-term stagnation of Chinese music. In China, many musicians comment on Jay Chou in this way: his songs, fast songs, improve their own height, but slow songs are responsible for improving their popularity. This album with the same name as Jay Chou perfectly demonstrates this, the whole album reflects Jay Chou's super high level of music production. He used a lot of R&B and hip-hop in his composition, and he combined these two elements together，it is very wholesome. When you hear the songs in the album for the first time, most people will be attracted by his melody, and many people will exclaim that such a strange and unique melody，but when you check the release time of these songs, I think you will be even more surprised. It is true that this album was released on November 7, 2020. It was unprecedented in China at that time that an album 22 years ago could have such a powerful composition and unique singing style. For example, there is a song called "The Clock in the Opposite Direction", which is a song from the album. The overall rhythm of this song is relatively light. Listen carefully, and you will really feel like you are going back in time，and coupled with his lyrics' The clock shuttling through time ', this artistic conception is unique. Jay Chou once said on a program that my music is to cross the times. Indeed, this album, released 20 years ago, is still playing horribly. On the playlist of apple music, there are 50 Chinese music, of which Jay Chou accounts for up to 40. Such a legendary album must have won a very high award. After the release of this album, he won the 12th Golden Melody Award. This result is a great surprise to many musicians, because it is an achievement that they may not be able to achieve after many years of hard work, but it was achieved by a child who has just been a novice for a year. Up to now, I believe that Jay Chou's era continues.

[prismmarketingco]

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Jamaican-Nigerian recording Artiste Heph B continues to solidify his name within the global AfroDancehall community. Exuding a sound that brings together African and the Caribbean diaspora elements, The "Linkupbwoy" hitmaker career continues to rise steadily. Many of his previous offerings have become fan favourites. He aims to further elevate his career by releasing a new album titled Amarii. Officially unveiled November 4, the 14-track compilation brings together several genres, including Afrobeat, Dancehall, Pop, Reggae and Hip Hop. Heph B showcases his vocal versatility on tracks ranging from high energy to dance-ready, conscious offerings to love ballads. His unique flow, songwriting, and delivery exhibit to the world why he's an award-winning entertainer that continues to transcend to greater heights. Among his many accolades are 'Best AfroDancehall Artiste' (2019) at the Music Love Awards in Los Angeles, California and 'Best Dancehall/Pop Artiste' (2020) at the HONORS Awards in Houston, Texas. For 2021 he has been nominated for 'Best Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year (Best Feeling) and 'Best Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year' in Ghana. Other nominees vying for the coveted awards are Burna Boy, Stone Bwoy, Shatta Wale, Pato Ranking, Souljah, Star Zee, Jupitar and Samini. A rollout for the album commenced earlier this year with two releases, "Omo Ton Soh" and "Hide". The latter is the lead single that quickly found favour with fans, building much anticipation for the project. The album, jam-packed with hits, features guest appearances from Jamaican entertainers Qraig Voicemail and newcomer Lavisch, alongside several African stars. With attention now focused on the Caribbean, Heph B intends to make it an impactful 2022. Meanwhile, the album recently charted at No.14 on the US World Album chart while 'Hide' occupied the No.1 spot on the South African Reggae Chart and No.4 in the UK World Chart. Released on the Da Anointed Records imprint and distributed by Distrokid, the compilation features production credits from creatives in Nigeria, United Kingdon and Jamaica. Amarii is now available for purchase and streaming on all digital platforms. (at Kingston, Jamaica) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYWiMG0h_oz/?utm_medium=tumblr