#his rapping? great tbh and flowed really well

[vikugnavikugna]

tagged by @ariapmdeol, I love tag games, ty for the tag

shuffle your on repeat playlist and list the first 10 songs, then tag 10 people (I feel like this is a really bad time to do this considering the Kojey Raidcal brainrot, but we'll see)

No Confusion - Ezra Collective (ft. Kojey Radical) - well, as I said, the Kojey addiction is real. Love the beat in this one, the jazzy tune in the background is real good. Great vibes. The lyrics are simple but catchy, they work real great here

Bad After We - Shy Fx (ft. Kojey Radical & Ghetts) - yup, another one. Funnily, my favorite verse of this one's not Kojey's - I just really like the delivery on that "Came from the bottom of the swamp (Bouh kai)" line. Good shit

Can't Go Back - Kojey Radical - I'm not doing this on purpose, y'know. Probably my favorite of his tbh. The flow is insane, the beat is breathtaking, has some real nice lyrics. Love the trump solo. Unreal song.

Sindhu Sesh - Patrick Karneigh Junior - KILL A MAN FOR THE PAYCHECK. PUT A POLE IN HIS BACK, GAY SEX.

Phases - Solomon (ft. Kojey Radical) - back to this, aye. It's pretty good, I like Kojey's verse the most by far. Not to say I don't enjoy the rest, he just comes in at a very good time to interrupt the slow singing with a more aggresive rap at a faster time signature and it ties the whole thing together real nice imo

Cashmere Tears - Kojey Radical - it's good. I definitely like the intro the least, especially with how long it takes, but the first verse is REALLY nice, definitely redeems him. "Emotional type, emotional light/Emotion in motion ocean is colder at night" has real good flow.

Hustle - Sons of Kemet (ft. Kojey Radical) - brilliant song. Unlike anything I ever heard. Truly perfect. "You could test my spirit, just not today/I got demons on my back and a lot on my plate/Someone tell 'em back, back, I got something to say/First they love you, then they hate you, then it's part of the game" is a BANGER verse.

Like What - Joey Valence & Brae - from the beautiful minds behind Punk Tactics, woe, another banger. It feels fresh af, despite some recognizable influences from ye older rap (when I first found them through Punk Tactics I assumed they were some hidden gem from the 90s, not a song released last year(?), which is the greatest compliment I could honestly give them)

Stepney Tale - Athletic Progression (ft. Isatta Shariff) - not nearly popular enough, fucking slaps so hard. I am absolutely in love with Isatta Sheriff fr, mad flow and a great lyricist. Obv the Athletic Progression lads are great too, incredibly chill composition, I'm just too enamored with Isatta.

Water - Kojey Radical (ft. Mahalia, Swindle) - good one to end on. I talked a lot about Kojey already so Imma just say that Mahalia's absolutely spectacular in this as well, I love her verse and think it should have been longer

I swear I listen to other music too. This is just a very specific time for me. I have a veried music taste, I swear.

10 people is a lot of peeps to tag but I'll try to best. This is your problem now: @heyitschartic (because I already KNOW you listen to good music and this is my devilish ploy to get more of it from you), @fractalmeadows (likewise, motherfucker), @victoriadallonfan (we never talked abt music but I like bothering you), @larky-lark (ditto), @clarissa39 (ditto ditto), @henghost (ditto ditto ditto), @that-one-empty-skull (ditto x4)

[channieroo]

Me: yes i love 3rachas entire discography they dont have a single bad song

Also me: knows the exact time stamp of when chan starts his part in cypher pt1

[domjaehyun]

johnny's rap would be great if they ever release 80s-90s r&b esque songs.

i feel like i need . to know like what kind of vibes you’re talking abt like … do you have a group/artist or song in mind? bc the only songs/artists i can think of are like . exclusively singing/singers like my brain has blanked and i can’t think of any r&b songs from that time period w rap parts in them? that’s obvi not to say that they don’t exist i just can’t recall any atm djfjsjd my mom didn’t listen to rly any music with rap in it when i was growing up and by the time i started listening to my own music, i sought out more modern rap/hip-hop/r&b !!!

also i’m so sorry to the potentially offended johfam for what i’m abt to say but . r&b, especially older r&b, i feel like requires a Lot Of Soul. it takes Heart and like . Emotion, y’know? like i feel like that style of rapping would require, like, some level of expressiveness, emotion, etc. and honestly i don’t rly think i could see johnny—or Any Member of NCT 127 for that matter—doing that style of rapping,,, like at all.

(under the cut is a detailed breakdown of nct 127’s rapping “styles” ig… it’s long as fuck… also i mention EXO in here, too)

did i color code this? yes, bc i’m on adderall. here’s the legend/color key :)

idol names from nct are bolded in blue

idol names from other groups are bolded & italicized in blue

factors i considered when evaluating their rapping styles are in purple

song names are in green

jaehyun has the like timbre i think? like the vocal depth and the kinda soothing voice, but i don’t think he has the . intonation… like i think when he speaks, (again, speaking abt english bc that’s the only language i can assess) he speaks Very Well like very proper w like . practically perfect diction and stuff and i feel like he’d require like . some more coaching on how to loosen up a bit when it comes to his expressiveness? i think he might get in his head at times and be more concerned abt like being on beat and on key (which of course is super important) but i don’t know,,, if he feels comfortable enough in his rapping? to be able to just let it flow? and like Deliver the words w emotion? bc i’m thinking once more abt … dancing in the rain and how . that went . to me . djfjdkfkd

mark, to me, doesn’t rly have the timbre but i don’t think that would immediately count him out !! however i think he might have the best idea of how to deliver the words like how maybe to let the emotion come through at times? but tbh i think that his diction might trip him up a bit? like i think that his way of speaking might sound more heavy-handed in a song like that? (for example think abt like . code switching… most ppl i know that code switch can Turn Off the AAVE and even alter their pronunciation of some things, but i don’t think mark’s ever needed to do that, so i don’t know if he knows how) thinking abt better days by superm and how it’s a very beautiful song but i remember thinking that smth abt mark’s part was like Just A Teensy Bit Off to me? like i think it rly was part of the way he pronounced some of the words/his syllables? idk jsfjskkd again this is my opinion!!! mark’s style(s) of rap seem to fit hip-hop/rap more than it does r&b, in my opinion!

johnny, to me, doesn’t really seem like he’d fit that kind of vibe? again, pls let me know like what songs/artists you had in mind!! so far i’ve evaluated, like, in terms of expressiveness, timbre, and diction!! to me, his diction does Not Seem like it fits the vibe djfjjdkdkd and that’s coupled with his expressiveness i think bc he basically sounds like he’s reading off a teleprompter in the kind of… semi-stilted way where it seems like he doesn’t know what’s coming next 😭😭😭 JOHFAM, I APOLOGIZE FR FR I DON’T SAY THIS W MALICE !! i think his timbre may be subjective bc i personally . am not too crazy abt his speaking/rapping voice so i feel like ppl who like his talking voice might have a diff opinion!!

honestly, it wouldn’t rly feel fair to me to evaluate taeyong on a song like this bc he . doesn’t speak english yknow? and given that diction is something i’m considering, (it’s not abt Proper Pronunciation, it’s just the way the words are said in general) i don’t think it’d be fair for me as a native english speaker to critique taeyong, someone who doesn’t speak english fluently, on things like his diction / pronunciation !! in terms of his, like, expressiveness,,,,, i don’t rly know? i don’t believe i’ve heard much like . emotional variety in his parts, tbh? which isn’t his fault rly bc SM isn’t rly like . giving him opportunities to do parts in songs where his delivery can be emotionally varied (unless we count lightbulb and i’m SO sorry but i cannot stand that song i can’t 😭😭😭) so idk abt expressiveness either… i will say that his timbre Does Not Fit The Vibes To Me…At All djfjdkfkd like he has a very . kinda like. gruff, nasally (not always a bad thing) approach ?? there isn’t usually much like . variance there i don’t think :/ BUT long flight!! his song long flight !! when he sang in long flight he sounded SO nice and pleasant and i rly love that song!! but like… that’s singing, so i don’t think that rap wise he could pull it off? i just don’t think he has that like . soulful, emotive kind of expressive way of speaking/rapping that i imagine when i think of this genre?

i’m not going into the rappers in other units bc you only mentioned johnny who’s in 127 so i just did 127 members that rap djfjdkfkd but yeah !!! i feel like SM doesn’t have as much of an investment in Developing or Honing any of their skills? (speaking abt 127 “rappers” which i quoted bc i’m including johnny and jaehyun, neither of whom, to me, actually fulfill the title of like “rapper”) like their team is just kinda like “this is what works and what’s been working so let’s just do that” to some extent? like yeah the music itself is more experimental but the actual delivery and cadence and stuff that never rly seems to vary to me djfjsjd and when . it has . i rly didn’t like it 😭😭😭

so i don’t consider it like a personal failing on any of their parts rly i think that SM is maybe inadvertently steering them into One Trick Pony territory? which i would hate to see happen djfjsjd i think that mark def seems to be the most like eager to learn and try new stuff, followed by jaehyun i think, then taeyong, then johnny !! which tbh is def a downfall of having a group with So Many Members like there are only so many coaches and stuff and only so much time so i fear that they (LSM & the SM production team, by extension) have spread themselves too thin by trying to go too big too fast ?? like maybe make sure all… your current members are taken care of and are developing well… before adding new ones… bc like the last thing you want is for ppl to start viewing NCT as like . stagnant? ig? predictable? and again i think they double down on their experimental noise music vibes (which i LOVE) to combat this, but i don’t know if they’re aware that it might start appearing to some ppl as though they’re just like . distracting ppl with shiny bells & whistles :/ while they’re actually just kinda doing the same thing but w a slight variation? ig? like do we always need raps from gruff, nasal taeyong, “edgy,” kinda badass mark, sexy whisper-rapper jaehyun, and johnny? (i’m SO sorry i rly couldn’t find words to sum up johnny’s rapping that didn’t sound mean i’m SORRY sjfjsjd)

like tbh??? say what y’all want abt him, but i fw chanyeol’s rapping HEAVY (chanyeol is from exo in case you aren’t aware!) like: promise, baby don’t cry, obsession, lotto, monster—he has a very versatile range of deliveries!!! promise as a song . is so beautiful but i’m being deadass when i say that i actually started tearing up in public when i heard chanyeol’s rap in that song. he rly does seem to have a very good concept of what vibes to bring to the table for certain songs and if he doesn’t and the production team was helping, then he seems to take direction incredibly well!!!! but again, i think that has a lot to do with the fact that . they were working with Way Fewer Members bc he was in EXO-K with only 6 members obvi and then even when they joined EXO-K and EXO-M, there were 10 members and it kept 😭 going 😭 down 😭 and weren’t trying to do so many different things i don’t think? also, quite honestly? EXO vocalists are like. p much elite to me in the KPOP music industry, like baekhyun, kyungsoo, chen, and junmyeon (give that man his credits, damn it!! he has a beautiful voice), and i rly don’t think that they required as much attention/one-on-one coaching as maybe like . some NCT members (i am not using “some” to be deliberately vague in a shady way, i rly just am not thinking of any specific members at the moment) who are definitely very talented but are Younger and Less Experienced than the EXOs, y’know?

so like thinking abt it like that: when chanyeol was in EXO-K, out of the 6 members, like 3 of them def didn’t need v much guidance bc they’re Vocalists and they’d prob come in, kill the damn thing, and leave sjfjdjdj so i feel like it was chanyeol, sehun, and kai that prob got more individualized attention and also if i’m not wrong, sehun & kai are also like main dancers and at least one of ‘em is the visual/center, right? like sehun was a dancer/visual (?)/rapper, kai was a dancer/visual (?)/rapper/vocalist (?) and while chanyeol has a lovely, warm voice, they weren’t always doing very much with it, so i feel like they kinda steered him to rapping and bc he was their like . Main Rapper, they most likely gave him a lot more attention!! i also think that chanyeol probably very much wanted to improve!! like, he seems like that kind of person and he’s very musically inclined, so i bet he was def more proactive in seeking out guidance which, again, was def easier back then because SM didn’t have so many ppl to manage (in the group) i don’t think!! therefore, the production team/coaches probably Had More Time to work with chanyeol if he’d needed it back then as opposed to the time that each member of NCT might get/want now, yknow?

also this is slightly related but also not. it def might be controversial but. i will say it anyway. not every song . needs a rap . 🧍🏽‍♀️ when i first heard focus, i LOST my fucking mind !!! everything abt the vocals and the music was INCREDIBLE AND THEN. and then they started rapping . i do not believe . that song needed a rap . i think they maybe wanted to recreate or emulate smth like faded in my last song? but they . didn’t do that djfjdkfkd i just heard the rappers coming in and sat in place like “that just seems unnecessary” like . you don’t have to play every card all the time djfjdkfkd just like no longer doesn’t have any rap parts in it!! they could have done that!! just an r&b song!! if they were worried abt the members who were rapping (p sure they were johnny taeyong and mark) not getting enough lines or smth, toss ‘em on a harmony!! like i was so . HhHhHhHh i was pretty bummed abt it sjfjsjdjd like yeah i still listen to it and it slaps still but it could have slapped More if they’d kept it a strictly vocal song i think :p

also speaking of faded in my last song, i think the amount of rapping in there was Excellent i think it was a perfect amount !!! not to mention i remember specifically getting chanyeol vibes from lucas’s part so . that was excellent i love faded in my last song with all my heart and soul it’s one of my top favorite nct songs!!!!

those are my thoughts sjfjsjdjsjdsj and if, for some reason, someone wants me to do smth like this post for like . a diff unit, like wayv or dream, or maybe do smth similar for unit vocalists? i could try and do that ig!!

as a parting gift, here is my summary of my rankings for which 127 “rapper” might best embody the song genre anonnie suggested!

expressiveness: mark, most likely

timbre: jaehyun

diction: …not rly any of them tbh but the closest would have to be mark i think!!

overall: mark (who could def benefit from guidance for this type of song from people who Actually Know What They’re Talking About)

[maximura]

It’s honestly so nice to know that I’m not alone in feeling disappointed with bts new/for awhile stuff. I remember when they first debuted. Their musical growth through the years has been great, but it’s weirdly validating to read that I’m not the only one who feels like they’ve sold out. Tbh, I also feel like when they came out with dynamite I haven’t been super interested in following their music. I also agree with the anon that said the fandom played a factor in distance. Maybe I’ll get hate for this, but I never considered or even wanted to be an army. In the earlier days, yeah I’d definitely tell someone I was a fan if they asked. For so long though, it feels scary/army are generally cultish/out of line/blind to their own toxicity.

However, I’d say in general it seems that “stanning” and fandoms (even kpop in general perhaps) has become less about music for music sake and more on how many views, how many awards, etc etc. Maybe it’s an oldish view (literally age) because I started kpop as a Big Bang/2NE1/Shinee/Kara/Infinite/block b/etc fan, and many of the people I met and know have felt similar things and more distanced from fandoms too. I really enjoy listening to various kpop groups, but I feel like it’s hard to follow, keep up, and be what’s considered “true fan/Stan”. Also, with the new groups thatve come out like enhyphen, aespa, (idk others) I feel so out of touch!

Any recommendations for new groups and songs to listen to? Also sorry I’m on mobile and idk shit about formatting. I’m also doing this anon because I don’t want direct hate. You’re a braver person than me

I'm not brave. I just don't care what people think.

I understand what you are going through and you are definitely not alone. I find that it's a lot of us older fans who feel like this because we have all that history behind us.

Do I have recommendations? I always have recommendations dude. Most of them are in my KPOP BIASES AS posts. But here is what I 100% recommend right now (if you haven't already listened to them):

1) Lovesong by TXT. I went from being disappointed to being obsessed. I literally play this every single day because it is so cathartic. I want more of this in KPOP. I linked to the original studio version but I love the Band Version, live versions and there's also a fucking amazing Rap Remix version.

2) Drunk Dazed by Enhypen. They are worth your time. If only for this era and this song. I really love their Relay dance to this and their live stages. I have never bought a song so fast. I don't think it had even finished playing and I purchased it already. That chorus is just insane. Mayhaps I adopted Niki. Mayhaps. What about it.....

3) Lazy by Woosung. Proving that being chill doesn't mean being slack with good writing and composition. This song is just so perfect to vibe with. His voice is just magical. It's a crime that this isn't bigger than it is.

4) Advice by Taemin. Not new but I'm biased. I have to bring him into everything ok. His albums are no-skip albums for me. I love the piano on this and the really unusual delivery of his verses. He's so next level, man. He's doing things nobody thinks to do.

6) Anti Romantic by TXT. This is really impressive and beautiful. There should just never be any auto tune /post production treatment on their voices. I like the raw imperfections, it gives their music another edge to it.

7) Driver's Licence by Woojin and Gaho. Not a new song but this is one of the best covers I have ever heard in KPOP. The vocal control and talent and level of skill it took to deliver this performance is beyond my comprehension. It makes a lot of things look amateur in comparison but that's just my personal opinion.

8) Given-Taken by Enhypen. I couldn't decide between this or Fever but I think Given-Taken has a better chorus. I also weirdly prefer it in Japanese. It just flows better. The Japanese MV is also miles better because I think the aesthetic and lighting fits the song really well.

[dancefloors]

hi beck! i know this is kind of asking a lot haha but i got to listen to some really amazing albums because of you and so i was wondering if you had like, a top 10 favourite albums of all time list? i know it's a lot of thinking and work so it's totally cool if you don't want to bother but yeah like i said i really trust your opinions so :) hope you're doing well!

HI. it's no problem I love talking abt music :))) I will say though this is not ones I think are like 'greatest of all time' necessarily but they're my personal favorites that I think are well crafted and revisit a lot. (also will be leaving taylor/harry/lorde out of this since I assume you've prob listened to them if U follow me :)). HOPE UR DOING WELL TOO 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩

blond - frank ocean: really beautiful and narratively cohesive contemporary r&b album. I know channel orange is the tighter choice for frank but personally I love the themes of young love lost and duality on this one.

my beautiful dark twisted fantasy - kanye: staple modern rap album tbh. 808s is also a great piece of work but the self awareness and grand imagery cut with tongue in cheek entendres on this album... so quintessential kanye. and has GREAT features n production

art angels - grimes: yeah I know. it slaps though

OK computer - radiohead: as a radioheadhead this is a classic piece of alt britrock. I know I sound insufferable but it's one of my favorite melancholy albums.

this is happening - LCD soundsystem: I really love how this album works together an intersection for electronica, dance pop, and 80s rock kind of production in a really fun way :) it's really clean and never boring

rtj4 - run the jewels: this might be recency bias but rtj4 might top the list for me. incredibly solid politicsl hip hop album that feels sonically fresh and classic at the same time. also has one of my favorite closing tracks

norman fucking rockwell - lana del rey: I'm going to regret putting this on here but the amount I revisit this album is insane. it feels timeless! she might have better works but the way NFR feels like a sort of climax in the narrative of her discography, where 'lana del rey' the persona and 'elizabeth grant' meet and come to terms with each other on this light psychedelic pop rock record.. sort of unparalleled in my mind.

hot fuss - the killers: honestly a simple classic!!!! 2000s post punk that makes me feel fruity and desperate and teenage all at the same time.

funeral - arcade fire: for me it's like an indie rock album for a second coming of age. for when you feel like you're too old to be considered young. I love to listen to it and feel dramatic.

the dark side of the moon - pink floyd: another 70s psychedelic rock piece but the thematic cohesion and lyrical cynicism and flow-on track transitions really make this such an atmospheric album for me.

bonus one bc I love to cheat: to pimp a buttery - kendrick lamar: quite possibly the greatest album of all time, within it's genre and on the whole. it's simply not on the list bc I'm terrible and I don't listen to it as often

[fenristsukigami]

So the Third Zenkaiger Mini Album...

As with all of the others, it goes ZENRYOKU ZENKAI the whole way through, with LOTS of bangers!

I do have some thoughts on some of them tho.

Firstly, "NEVER GIVE UP! Super ZenkaiOh Juran". It is a pretty good song, and Yukio Yamagata does give a good performance like he's done for previous Sentai songs. But I feel like he puts a bit too much into the "growl" of his voice as he sings. I mean, I like when you can just feel a bit of a "growl" from a song's vocalist for a small portion (think, say, some of the parts of Ado's "Usseewa"). But this growl is there for like. THE WHOLE SONG. And it's neato, but it does give it a weird feeling IMO.

Next, "Nitoryu! Super TwokaiOh". A pretty bangin' song the whole way through, and it gives off the pirate vibes that Twokaizer's pretty much alwasy been aiming for, tho in a slightly different way. Like, Kaizoku no Uta was the classic sea shanty, base TwokaiOh's theme was the high-energy battle/duel theme. And this? This feels like the perfect theme for a big pirate adventure! There were some parts did take a little bit of getting used to tbh, but otherwise pretty much the entire thing was a good jam from start to finish.

Next up, "Chō Zenkai Gattai! ZenKaijuOh". First thing to note: IT'S FRIGGIN MASAAKI ENDOH. THIS IS GUARANTEED THE GOOD SHIT! In all seriousness, this song is just great all over. Has the perfect energy for ZenKaijuOh, being a giant dinosaur mecha, and not one that can change into a humanoid form. Just one big giant robo t-rex with rocket launchers, a DRILL TAIL, LASER CANNONS, and the like. The arrangement just gives off the perfect vibes for the big lad, and Masaaki Endoh was the best choice to do the vocals. I could easily tell from thinking back on other songs he did vocals for (YOU WILL CHANT HIS NAME) that it would turn out great, and lo and behold, it did.

Last but certainly not least, "STACY THOUGHT". Stacy's theme. His insert, that his actor, Ryo Sekoguchi, sang. Look, I know that I just basically restated the obvious there, but it's just that I... I don't know how to put my feelings for this song into words. It's just. That. AMAZING!

Seriously, the fact that it switches between a slower pace, LITERAL RAP, and a decently fast but still sorta moderate pace, all at a good level to where it flows so easily and so well just is amazing! It somehow gives off the perfect energy for Stacy despite the fact that you wouldn't think it at first. And plus, Ryo Sekoguchi has had experience doing vocals stuff before; turns out he's the stage actor for Ramuda Amemura in the stage plays for the Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- franchise, so the rapping portion most likely was pretty easy for him to handle!

Hell, now that I think about it, it's funny. This song has energy that would also work pretty well for Kaito I feel. And Ryo originally auditioned for the role of Kaito, then eventually was cast as Stacy. Just feels like it comes full circle, in a way (especially thanks to the body swap episode).

But yeah, these songs are pretty much all bangers, can't wait till we get the fourth mini album. Cause I am intrigued at what Secchan and Yacchan's inserts will be like, and really excited for the Zenryoku ZenkaiOh theme!

[carebearbliss]

Stray Kids as your boyfriend

Chan: the considerate/selfless boyfriend

Honestly, is there anything he wouldn’t be willing to do for you?

His personality is just made out of 100% boyfriend material

Would probably give you the world if he could (his heart is as big as the moon let’s be honest here)

And with that, would probably automatically give you a couple of his sweaters before you even asked for them (or tried to steal them)

Would regularly check up on you, both mentally as well as physically, to make sure you’re okay

The type to care more about you than he would for himself, goes out of his way to make sure you know that you are loved

One word: C U D D L E S 

So so so gentle with you, wouldn’t want to do anything to hurt you ever

Sings you to sleep over the phone when you can’t fall asleep

Midnight conversations about the most innocent/most random of things, like how fluffy marshmallows are or how soft your hair is

Minho: the playful/sarcastic boyfriend

His presence alone is enough to make you feel comfortable

The type that will always be there for you and quietly stand by your side

Would help you out with practical tasks without you asking

Lots of sarcastic bantering and back-and-forth teasing, which probably includes playful insults as a normal way of conversating

Very patient and understanding

A very good listener, he would be the type to remember random things about you or ask in-depth questions to get to know you better

Lots of movie dates at home, incl. a pillow fortress and plenty of snacks

Surprisingly funny and confident/daring at times, which makes you either cringe or blush honestly

Has these random moments in which he says something flirtatious suddenly and catches you off-guard

Weird dance battles shall and will ensue

Also midnight conversations, but mostly about the weirdest existential topics like how aliens would look like if they existed or whether clones exist

Changin: the chill boyfriend

Would never yell or raise his voice to his girlfriend, ever

Treats you like a Princess with a capital letter P

But at the same time you’re also his homegirl y’know what I mean?

Recommends his favorite songs to you, occasionally makes you a playlist as well

Chilling at each other’s place, just listening to music, catching up and talking about your interests or what happened during the day

Talks brags about you constantly to his members

Very proud to have you as his girlfriend and wouldn’t be afraid to let you know either (if you didn’t already)

Secretly acts kinda cute at times, especially when he’s excited and you two are having fun

Lots of time spent in the recording studio, with you listening to and evaluating his rapping and the lyrics he has written

Very protective of you, looks out for you even from a distance just to make sure everything is safe and okay

Hyunjin: the caring boyfriend

Can be quite shy at the beginning, but wants to make sure you feel at ease and so asks a lot of questions

Conversations about how your day was, talking about your concerns and comforting you through his kind, sincere words

Hugs and snuggles, and lots of ‘em

Listens attentively to whatever you have to say, remembers little details about you and brings them up occasionally

Tries his hardest to understand you and be empathic towards your circumstances and struggles

The type to smile at you shyly after holding your hand or kissing you (for the first time)

Blushes easily but that doesn’t stop him from initiating PDA

When he’s having a hard time, you’re the first person he would go to for comfort and a listening ear

Lowkey clingy but mostly when you two are alone together

Entire albums on both of your phones full of cute pictures of each other to look through when you’re apart and missing one another

Han: the enthusiastic boyfriend

Lives to make you smile every second you’re spending time with him

Tries out all his pickup lines on you just cause he can

Lowkey says flirtatious stuff just to make you blush, but if you retaliate with a flirtatious line of your own, he’ll get shy

Tbh he’d flirt with you all the time, even if you guys are already in a rocksolid relationship

Proudly proclaims to his members that he has the best girlfriend

Dramatically supportive of you every step of the way

The type to randomly show up at your house with a cake and some balloons to celebrate you passing your exams (or any other occasion, honestly)

Always tries to be his happiest around you

Likes to be close to you, doesn’t necessarily have to be PDA, just likes to be near you as much as possible

Loves to see you eating well, also loves spoiling you with food for that matter 

Felix: the best friend boyfriend

Weird and out-of-control dance battles all. the. time.

A lot of your free time is spent doing silly dances with him or copying memes/making TikTok videos, just goofing around casually

Laughs at all of your jokes, even the ones that ain’t that funny

If you compliment him, even on the tiniest of things, it’ll make his day for a whole week

Finds everything you do to be absolutely adorable

It doesn’t matter where you are or what you two are doing, when you’re together it’s just going to be a good time and y’all know it

Always amazed at how great of a person you are, genuinely looks up to you

Just a general appreciation for having you by his side to comfort and support him when he needs it

Lots of casual snuggle sessions while you’re just chilling

Crazy sing-offs just to see who can sing the loudest/highest

Inside jokes are a must you hear me

Treasures any gift you ever give him like it’s basically his most valuable possession

Seungmin: the sweet boyfriend 

This guy is honestly such a sweetheart, periodt

Not a big fan of PDA, but still likes to hold your hand when you’re walking next to each other

You’re the first person he goes to when he has some exciting/good news to share

Basically, you’re his best friend, and he’s yours :)

Very go-with-the-flow, open to trying out whatever it is you want to do (unless it’s highkey dangerous)

Very gentle & gentlemanly, always takes you into consideration to make sure you don’t feel uncomfortable

When you’re sad, comforts you with lots of comfort food and Disney marathons

Compliments you and says the sweetest things to you just to make you smile

Rarely ever says no to anything you ask of him

Calls you up or texts you out of the blue just to ask you how your day was, then actually listens attentively to anything you have to say

Likes to take lots of pictures of you when you’re on a date

Day6 concert dates y e s

Jeongin: the good/kind boyfriend

Treats you like he’d treat his good friends, but including occasional blushing, internal panicking and shyly looking away when you stare at him for too long

Tries really hard to be a good boyfriend to you, tries to pay attention to your interests and what you have to say

You can’t help but develop a soft spot for him (like the rest of Stray Kids)

Sometimes you make him really nervous, but he’d still randomly initiate PDA like holding your hands 

Ruffles your hair every time you do something that he finds to be adorable, which is kind of always?

Randomly boops your nose then gives you a huge smile

Just really happy when he sees you, like a small pup whose owner just got home y’know?

Melts into a puddle when you compliment him

Doesn’t really care about what you guys are doing, as long as you’re together

The type to watch kdramas just to figure out what kind of romantic gestures he can surprise you with

Then shows up at your doorstep with flowers he picked along the way and a cute card

[hoochy-coo]

Am I the only one that doesn’t see Megan thee Stallion and Cardi as artists? As much as Nicki is problematic I think she’s definitely an artist. These new rap girls are just not giving. They are more entertainers than artists. Honestly the men aren’t doing much either. You hear one verse you’ve heard them all

I def don’t think you’re the only one. Cardi is def one note but Meg’s got a bunch of flows, she and her team just hasn’t figured out how to do an era that’s not preoccupied with sexuality and being a “bad bitch.” I think her label recognises that that’s selling atm so they’re going to ride it until the wheels fall off lol. Nicki proved that she can rap about anything and everything by the time she got to ‘Pinkprint’

I hate to say it but I think men in rap have been delivering this year! Vince put out a great EP, Isaiah rode like 20 different beats effortlessly and was introspective, Tyler’s album was also really good and showed that he knows how to tell a story, and J.Cole tried out many different hooks on his project that came out earlier this year. With Drake dropping this Friday and Baby Keem as well as Kendrick expecting to come out with their own projects later this year, I think 2021 has been a really good for male rape tbh

[xiaolindude]

SENSES AND OTHER ODDLY SPECIFIC HEADCANONS

1. WHAT DOES YOUR MUSE SMELL LIKE: the eye of a storm. the truth of the matter is that he often smells like sweat, just because he’s so damn active. if he isn’t training (or reading scrolls n stuff) then he’s probably playing futebol or surfing or something else that’s active, so yes, he perspires quite a bit! he usually has two showers a day, though. he doesn’t wear cologne unless it’s a very special occasion, but he does use scented body wash (i imagine it’s something like sandalwood. subtle and earthy/natural). when he’s not sweaty, he smells... clean, mostly. a little hint of grass since he spends much of his time outdoors, a little like old parchment (bc of the scrolls), sometimes like patchouli or whatever other incense he’s been around that day... it varies! 

2. WHAT DO YOUR MUSE’S HANDS FEEL LIKE:  it depends on his age. as a teenager, he canonically has ‘soft hands for a boy’ (thanks dojo...). he takes care of himself, probably moisturises daily. but with his job (in pretty much every verse), some wear is inevitable, and by the time he’s an adult, he definitely has a few calluses and scars on his hand, making them rougher. he also has pretty big hands, and they’re always warm. he’s a very good hand-holder. 

3. WHAT DOES YOUR MUSE USUALLY EAT IN A DAY:  this is so dependent on the verse that it’s hard to answer tbh. he has a bit of a sweet tooth but not a huge one, and he’s not particularly into junk food tbh. not to say he wouldn’t love a nice greasy pizza, but his diet doesn’t suck. he’s also mostly vegetarian (slightly verse/timeline dependent). also, how he eats his food depends on the verse. for example, in futebol au, he wouldn’t eat pizza with his hands, he’d eat it with a knife and fork (this is more of a brazilian habit). but in verses where he’s been out of brazil for several years (e.g. bodyguard, shoku etc), he’ll be chill about eating it with his hands. so yes, very verse dependent! 

4. DOES YOUR MUSE HAVE A GOOD SINGING VOICE: he’s not bad. nothing show-stopping, but he has quite a nice voice - if he got up to do karaoke, people would be pretty impressed. he can hold a tune. he’s also better when he’s singing in portuguese bc it just flows a little more naturally, given that it’s his first language and the one he’s best at. he can also rap well! he has a great sense of rhythm and finds it easy to keep up. 

5. DOES YOUR MUSE HAVE ANY BAD HABITS OR NERVOUS TICS: ya he’s human. sleeps in whenever he can, swears, annoys people for the fun of it, procrastinates chores as much as possible (he will literally put off doing laundry until he has no clean clothes left) etc etc etc. and some nervous tics would be tapping his foot, pulling at his clothing and drumming his fingers.

6: WHAT DOES YOUR MUSE USUALLY LOOK LIKE/WEAR: he usually looks... idk, fine? not like a slob but again, nothing special. he wears whatever is comfy and doesn’t often wear much other than a t-shirt or hoodie with either shorts or cargo pants. he prefers loose clothing that gives him a wide range of movement. his hair is perpetually messy, but he is at least clean and looks as if he makes some effort. there are also verses where he’s consistently more well put-together (futebol au, for example, because he’s in the public eye)

7. IS YOUR MUSE AFFECTIONATE? HOW MUCH? HOW SO: he is and he isn’t! he’s physically affectionate with basically anyone, which is partially a culture thing and partially a rai thing - he is quick to start touching people in simple ways, like a hand on their back, arm around their shoulder, that sort of thing. just friendly touch. he’s not super affectionate with his friends unless they’re very very special to him - sometimes he’ll hold hands with friends, he’ll hug his friends, he might even take naps with them and stuff. and he’s very affectionate with his S.O. always has an arm around them or is holding their hand, always wants kisses. he doesn’t really have any issue with pda, either (sort of within reason)

8. WHAT POSITION DOES YOUR MUSE SLEEP IN: on his side, one hand tucked under the pillow. occasionally he’ll roll onto his back or stomach for a while during the night but generally he likes to sleep on his side. he finds it hard to actually fall asleep if he’s on his back

9: COULD YOU HEAR YOUR MUSE IN THE HALLWAY FROM ANOTHER ROOM: i dont get this question bc it depends on how thin the walls are ahsdkshfd but generally? nah, not if he doesn’t want to be heard. boy can be very very quiet when he needs to be, especially in shoku, bodguard and villain au

TAGGED BY: @shesdaylight

TAGGING: it’s late and i’m too lazy to tag, steal it!! 

[yoongirk]

Goodbye & I Love You All ;;

Okay, I don’t know how to start this off so I’m just going to jump right into it.

First I just want to start off by saying thank you to the rkmods for everything y’all ever did for rookies, all of the hard work you did over the years to make this rp amazing! I wasn’t here as soon as rookies opened (I joined in like 2015 or 2016 I think????) but I was here for a little while back then before I had to leave due to having my daughter back in 2017 because I had to focus on being a mom at the time and couldn’t balance rping with that though either way I still thought about rookies even while I was away. I remember when I first brought Bora in, she was such a mess at the time but she started to change because of all the great people she met in her life at the time. Hell, I even had Jinhwan, Kei.... I believe even Seungkwan at one time... Rookies was and always will be like a second family to me, it’s where I met so many great people and made so many great friends that I love and will never forget, some of which I still talk to even when I had taken a break from rping.

Once I got my real life shit sorted out and started getting back into the rp community and all, Rookies was still on my mind and in the end I rejoined a few months ago with Yoongi and even tried to bring back Bora as well, though rl got in the way again and they had to both be let go....again. This time I tried with Yoongi for my 3rd time and even though I was slow with getting back with others (thanks to work aldkfjldfkj) and even slow with doing the few replies I had, I was starting to slowly get back into the flow with what was going on here. I’m sorry towards those that literally waited FOREVER for me to even reply to dm’s this time but I had some health issues and because of that I just didn’t have the motivation to really even do anything. I literally forced myself to even get on and do a single post for not only Yoongi but also my other muses in other rp’s as well because again I was going through so much over the past few weeks that made it impossible for me to even really get that needed motivation to do things.

If I hadn’t had to leave a few years ago Bora would have probably still been in Royal Entertainment as the self-proclaimed ‘Rap Queen’. lol She was honestly one of my favorite muses tbh because she had so much character development that happened, from being closed off, to opening up and even finding a bit of romance for a short while, to becoming a public trainee at the time (even though she screwed up on that before she had been announced because that’s just how she was orz), even to her opening up to more people other than her small group of friends she had. She was always the more ‘tomboy’ type who legit called males who were older than her ‘hyung’ rather than ‘oppa’ because she hated that word the most and thought it was cringy. lol

I had so many plans for Yoongi this time around though, I wanted to have him as this fuckboy who eventually down the line changed once he met more people but now that it’s all coming to an end (I’m legit crying rn while typing all of this) we’ll just say that this is exactly what happened with him. He’ll probably continue his YouTube/TikTok career.

I want to also thank all of the people I met in the past and even now who were so kind towards me, who put up with my dumb self and just were super sweet. I really will miss rookies so much no matter how much time passes. This was my very first ever tumblr rp I ever joined and honestly if it weren’t for rookies I probably would have never actually done tumblr rping at all actually. I love each and everyone of you, even those I never got the chance to even speak with, and I hope that we can all somehow still keep in contact with one another despite rookies closing down! <3 If anyone would like to chat you can always reach me on twitter (@EmDoesRP)!

Hopefully we’ll get to meet somewhere else in the future, some of you are already in other rps that I’m currently in, and we can interact then! <3 <3

[photolover82]

The Masked Singer Season 5 Episode 5 Recap: Group B Finals ft a plot twist (Commentary & Guesses)

Hi everyone! Welcome (or welcome back) to Ana’s Masked Singer recap, where I, Ana, recap every episode of The Masked Singer. So, this week, we are back to Group B with yet another wildcard and it is the last time we are gonna see the groups on their own since after Group A’s final, we got the Super Eight (yup, it’s 8 this time... much better still than last season’s format). Anyways, let’s get into it (this is gonna be super repetitive from last week guess wise but I am gonna try to keep it interesting and fresh for you guys, don’t you worry):

Alright, so usually I would save the wildcard for the end as like a surprise, but since the wildcard got eliminated, let’s introduce (and say goodbye to at the same time) to the:

Bulldog!! 🐶

Commentary: Ok, he sang Candy Girl by New Edition (which is really funny and ironic for a whole other thing, I’ll explain in a moment I swear) and um how do I say this nicely?... he’s a great dancer, but the singing is, what Randy Jackson would say, “a no from me dawg.” (Get it? Dawg.. bc the bullDOG... oh ok I will stop now). Anyways, yeah no, he was not good, I kind of expected this to happen honestly, so I am not surprised nor disappointed by any means. However, the person under this mask kinda did surprise me lol... even tho I kind of saw this coming.

He was revealed to be, in the biggest plot twist of the century, no voting, just Neicy Nash picking it:

*SURPRISE SHAWTY*

Nick Cannon, our very own host and Ken’s “daddy*”

*which is ironic because he legit just announced he was gonna have another baby

Ok, ok, did I get this right on my own? Nope, but Twitter helped me out so thank you Twitter. I did officially guess him before he was unmasked (but that’s because I had no other guesses sooo can I really count this a win? Hmmm... TBD... you guys let me know). Anyways, BOOM PLOT TWIST BABY, he’s back! Just in case you guys didn’t know (I don’t really talk about the judges or the host here because I watch for the contestants not for them and it would make this already long blog longer and we don’t want that): Nick had COVID so he couldn’t host the first few episodes of the show, but now he’s better and BOOM he’s the host again... Neicy Nash was taking over for him and now he’s back! So yeah this was just a transition for him to be back on the show, but like imma be honest: he might have been married to Mariah Carey but he don’t got any pipes like her, but he’s a good host so he should stick to that.

Anyways, NEXTTTT, let’s talk about the remaining 4 (which are legit the same freaking ones from last week):

1. Black Swan 🖤🦢

Commentary: So she sang Whitney Houston's How Will I Know and I swear she gets better and better each week like she murdered this song, it was absolutely amazing, my favorite performance of the night hands down. I really love Black Swan, she has one of the best voices on the show and I think either her or Robopine could win the entire season tbh.

I think this has to be (tripling down/final answer/insert buzzer sound here):

Jojo

Reasoning/Clues:

10-10-10= She has appeared on multiple singing competition shows (she did a lot of those shows as a kid), she was on America’s Most Talented Kids and was a guest judge on celebrity X Factor

Montana= get this... if you are around my age, this will surprise you. Did you guys know that Jojo was the original person that the producers of Hannah Montana wanted to play Hannah but she turned it down because she wanted to focus on her music

In her physical clue, she talks about a female singer who passed away at a young age that she was friends with= she was referring to fellow R&B singer Aaliyah

2. Crab 🦀

Commentary: He sang Give it to Me Baby by Rick James and it was a very strong performance, it almost took me aback the song choice. I didn’t expect him to go that hard in the beginning, the hip thrusts were a bit uncomfortable for me and he can’t dance for shit (I am sure it’s because he’s a bit older, not faulting him by any means), but it was really strong vocally speaking. He did actually loose his breathe and started hyperventilating under the mask and had to take a break to cool down (literally, because he was burning up under there), which honestly I hope he’s ok, I am not sure if he’s gonna last that long because of that hyperventilating (remember Mickey Rourke?), but tbh it would have been so unfair for him to go because he did an amazing job and I enjoyed his performance. He got soul.... crab’s got soul.

This has got to be (doubling down, like omg even the picture matches w the body type and everything, I am onto something here):

Bobby Brown

Reasoning/Clues:

Mom kept him in the straight and narrow and taught him how to cook= well, he has spoke about how his mother has gotten him away from the gangs and trouble around his neighborhood and into cooking (he even has a food line, hence the Mac and cheese), which also made him take up singing and thus his band New Edition (remember how I said Nick singing Candygirl by New Edition was ironic? Well this is why... because crab is Bobby Brown aka one of the members.... also Black Swan sang his ex wife’s song so yeah this can’t get any more ironic) was formed

Big Ben= Initals, BB aka Bobby Brown and also he had a show in 2005 called Being Bobby Brown and one of the episodes “Bobby Does London” he goes to London

Ribs= he has a line of BBQ sauces and seasonings called Bobby Brown Foods

3. Piglet 🐷

Commentary: This time, he went a bit softer with the song choice which I feel compliments his voice better, with 7 Years by Lukas Graham, which made Jenny, who apparently hasn’t listened to this song before (wtf Jenny, this song was all over the radio in like 2017 and you are like a radio host hun), cry. I mean it was really amazing and ballads actually suit him a lot more than super upbeat songs like last week’s Andy Grammar song and I really enjoyed it, I’ve heard that song a million times so no I didn’t cry but I still loved it. I do think Piglet will go super far, my guess is he will make it to semifinals.

I am a 100%, tripling down sure that this is:

Nick Lachey

Reasoning/Clues:

Genie Lamp= He did a cover of Aladdin’s A Whole New World with his ex Jessica Simpson on Disney Mania 3

The “spider” who made him a family man= referring to Vanessa Lachey, it was supposed to be this whole Charlotte’s Web thing not really referring anything specific about her that she’s a spider, she could have been another pig for all we care

Dog Tags= in the physical clue, there are 3 dog tags, which he has been seen wearing (you can Google those pics) and they represent his 3 kids which his wife gave him before they had their third kid, Phoenix (btw there’s a P on the bottom dog tag shown)

4. Chameleon

Commentary: Ok so he rapped again but this time the song was Hip Hop by Dead Prez (which I have felt like I have heard but I have no idea where) and I usually hate rappers on this show, but like he’s legit. What I mean by that is like he’s an actual rapper (well Bow Wow was too... but Bow Wow only went as far as he did because of his dancing, Chameleon is just pure rap talent) and his flow is insane. I am not a rap fan whatsoever but I can appreciate good rapping and that was good rapping, actually it was great rapping. Sure, he’s the weakest link of the four but he’s also the coolest one could argue.

Mark my words, this is as I said the last 2 types, again tripling down:

Wiz Khalifa

Reasoning/Clues:

His little Chameleon/lizard= he has an 8 year old son named Sebastian (he also says Cam in the package which is his real name... by him I mean Wiz.... his real name is Cameron)

Martial Arts= the dude likes Martial Arts and has been trained in it and Jiu Jitsu, he has mentioned it in interviews, has been spotted training in gyms, it’s no secret at this point that he likes that stuff

Hot wings= he has a wings place called HotBox by Wiz and he was also on Hot Ones (for those unfamiliar, it’s a YouTube show where celebs eat 10 super spicy chicken wings while answering questions) idk if that counts but I am also gonna say it

So that’s it, guys! I hope you enjoyed! Follow me on Twitter because I do live tweet the show, it’s the same username as here @photolover82 and I do some of these in video form on Tik Tok too if you wanna follow, it’s photolover820 (close enough lol). So yeah, see you guys in the next one! Byeeee! 👋🏼👋🏼

[bisexualhobi]

since you're talking about ranking hobi verses, what are your top 5?? i'm so curious!

OMG I LOVE THIS ASK thank you so much for sending this ask leah 😭💓 

tbh this was really fucking hard, like REALLY. but ok so my criteria was A) i tried to be objective, like personal taste aside and not letting the hype control my choices kshfkgjh B) i tried to include a lil variety so it’s songs that are very different between each other and let you see the range hoseok has and C) i made a distinction between a GOOD song and a good hoseok verse so while one song as a whole might be amazing, if his verse isn’t outstanding it’s not here.... alright let’s goooo 😼😼😼

5. Dis-ease/Hip hop phile (tie)

ok so this had to be a tie. Dis-ease speaks for itself, it’s amazing and this verse alone saved 2020, but I had to include Hiphop phile in here. It’s got a really great flow, and he raps out of pocket in the first bars which is incredibly hard to pull off well. In a live performance you can really appreciate how well he performs this verse

4. Boy meets evil

this song wouldn’t have worked with any other member. not joon, not yoongi. this is a verse that has everything the people who hype tear and ddaeng want. it’s got the delivery, the feeling, the flow. i still remember the first time i heard it

3. UGH!

this goes here because the truth is it goes hard as fuck. his delivery is raw, his rhyme scheme is amazing, and ngl the mots on:e performance helped a lot. it’s two different styles packed into one, because hoseok is what? VERSATILE!

2. Second grade/Cypher pt 2 (tie)

another tie! oops. Second grade is legendary, because tbh hoseok raps it like muscle memory. the thing about hoseok is he raps in a really distinctive way and this showcases all the reasons why only he can rap the verses he writes. it’s not better or worse than other rap styles, but it’s very unique and Second grade is a perfect example. And for cypher pt 2 i know a lot of people prefer pt 3 but.... lbr, pt 3 hoseok is comfortable. the beat is dragging along and it’s very easy to do that type of flow. pt 2 on the other hand, is really hard to pull off, it’s fresh, it’s different from the rest of the song, and the lyrics are raw as shit

1. 1 Verse

The way the top song is not even an official song.... but yeah. sorry. this song is 1:50 seconds long and IT’S THE BLUEPRINT. this is hoseok going all in, on top of his game. this is the hoseok print. this is what they mean when people say hoseok is a rapper that sticks to his own personal style and makes it work. he might not be RM, he might not be Agust D, but he doesn’t need to be!! the lyrics, the rhyme, the beat, his cadence, flow and intonation work SO well together. there’s no other song that could take the top spot.

Honorable mentions: Ma City, Baseline, Autumn Leaves. If this were a top 10 best hoseok verses of all time, these three would be there. 

[changbin-froggy-jimin]

BTS and Ateez for the kpop group game ! 💜

Ateez:

My first bias: Hongjoong <3 it was the mullet <3

My current bias: Hongjoong <3 still sexy without the mullet <3

Favorite Song: Win, I love this one!! In another life I would have probably said HALA HALA but I’ve listened to it too much lol, but honestly minus celebration the whole Fever 2 album is AMAZING def worth a listen, or several!

Favorite MV: Say My Name/HALA HALA

OTP: ... umm, I don’t really ship any Idols in general, but I tend to like the Seonghwa/Hongjoong dynamics, there was just something about that one time that Seonghwa was like “why aren’t you ever home anymore I miss you” “you want me home more?” “Yes” “then I’ll come home more often” and that other time Hongjoong said something like “you returned to where you should have always been” (with him) when talking about Seonghwa spending to much time with Wooyoung and San... it’s just very funny to me lol (these ‘quotes’ might be a bit off as I don’t remember exactly what was said but that was the gist of both conversations I believe!)

Best smile: Yunho honestly! He’s such an underrated member of Ateez!! He’s my second favorite and needs more love because I love him lol, a big big puppy baby whom I love and adore

Fave Coreo: HALA HALA!!! ITS SO COOL!!

Fave era: Visuals: Say My Name, Music: Zero: Fever part 2

Merch?: I have a T-Shirt I got at hot topic and a Zero: Fever part 2 album!

Seen em live?: Nope.... but I would have if I could have! Would definitely love to go once we finally can!

Favorite voice: Def Mingi, his voice is what attracted me to the group, I LOVE the deep voice trend in kpop, Mingi, like Felix (Stray Kids) and Leedo (Oneus), really scratch that itch for me!!

Favorite dancer: San I guess?? Dancing isn’t really my thing as you know lol

BTS:

My first bias: Namjoon (I think Namjoon is a lot of English speakers first bias because of his English skills, and honestly he still has a huge place in my heart as you know! Plus he BIG SEXY) (I think of mic drop Namjoon and my brain implodes)

My current bias: Jimin, I just love his softness, I really love the members that take care of the rest and Jimin plays personal therapist (it’s the libra in him I get it you know?) to all, so I really appreciate this as it’s a very important thing for me (it’s probably my libra moon lol) but that’s what got me at first, then when I was getting into them I saw he struggled and no one was really helping him and he was like trying to do better and honestly it broke my heart so I full adopted the baby because he needed care and protection and actives my Aquarius sun and the ‘leave no man behind’ and ‘help/root for the underdog’ complex we have, so anyways, I love him for his softness and his fighting spirit because I want him to do well and succeed but also he’s a mess and sharp witted and a cheater at games (another trait I tend to like??????? Like that’s on me so????) he makes me laugh and I love to see him do well and win at things because he deserves it!! He’s also really motivated and a go-getter which is v sexy to me!! When things are tough he always works hard to fix them and do his best and honestly is there anything better than that? To me no, to my friend who says I put to much emphasis on work ethic? Yes. Also Jimin is big sexy, this is an undeniable fact

Favorite Song: Dionysus (like have you seen the MMA 2019 performance??? There’s no coming back from that) the song is just such a bop and one of the big ones that got me fully into them and kpop as a whole!! Good memories and a great song!!

Favorite MV: I’m a blood sweat and tears whore, could watch that mv any time anywhere babey

OTP: again, don’t really tend to genuinely ship anyone, but I really like a good YoonMin dynamic, love the way Yoongi roots for Jimin, and pushes him in small ways to be better, I think Jimin is pretty oblivious to this though??? And like Jimin needs so much audible praise and gentle care that I think Yoongi for him is very hard to understand even though I think Jimin is very much Yoongi’s favorite member, like maybe it’s because I’m super empathetic, but I always think of like two moments for them, the first is when Jimin was helping Yoongi makes those like 300 presents for his fans and Jimin stayed all day to help him out, Jimin was being Jimin so he was constantly asking if Yoongi appreciated him being there, and Yoongi being Yoongi didn’t say much to assure him, but like you could FEEL the happiness radiating off of Yoongi but like it hurt Jimin to not be directly praised? It’s just a big mess I love it, it’s horrendously painful to watch,

Then there’s the whole ‘Yoongi told me to be the project manager’ or whatever the job was called for their album, Like Yoongi wasn’t giving out advice to everyone... just Jimin (or at least the way in which I understand it), because I genuinely believe Jimin is his favorite and he’s pushing him to grow into a confident and capable person but like... I don’t think Jimin connected the ‘Yoongi is caring for me in his own unique way that isn’t words of affirmation’ dots... it’s a train wreck but I love it lol (plus also Yoongi saying he prefers Jimin’s voice?? When I think Jimin heard for so long that Kookie sings better?? He just loves that boy so much!!) anyways I digress, I just really love their dynamic and it’s my favorite to watch, I know I’ve talked about their dynamic before but honestly I could go on and on and on about it haha, I’m so glad they’re friends you know? Not only so I can watch them, but because Jimin’s selfless help will always be given to Yoongi without question, and because Yoongi will always push Jimin to be better... ok I’m done now for real this time lol

Best smile: Jungkook, his little bunny smile absolutely sends me to the moon it’s so cute!! (Jimin’s is a very close second!)

Fave Coreo: Lie for sure!

Fave era: The storyline era with the acronym I always forget!! I think it spanned a couple of eras in the entirety but I loved it!! But also just like straight up Wings era!

Merch?: I have more BT21 one stuff than I think I have BTS stuff tbh haha, but I have all versions of MOS:7 I have some love yourself versions from a friend, and my army membership box I got to purchase the concert tickets we bought but never got to use :{

Seen em live?: was supposed to last year 😢

Favorite voice: Yoongi, love the way he raps, it’s a really aggressive and sexy flow, definitely my type, as someone who stans and loves rappers most, Yoongi will always have a major place in my heart, no one really compares on a talent scale for me, and his solo stuff is some of the sexiest you could ever imagine/hear, love it!!

Favorite dancer: Not super surprising I think but it’s totally Jimin!! Anytime I watch that man perform Lie I die lol, the way that man moves is a crime

[cbspams]

Ahhhhh, hm.

Kingdom spoilers below

For round 3 (1) the 3v3 teams: Ateez/SKZ/BTOB (Team 1) vs TBZ/iKON/SF9 (Team 2)

NGL I kind of expected Ateez/SKZ since Woobin friendship and also Changbin being one of the most noted rappers in Kingdom for his track of flow and ability to just. Go so fast. Words literally on fire from friction lmao. And between vocalists Jongho, Eunkwang and Seumgin/(technically) Han they've got a strong vocal team as well. They also have San and Minho for dance but BTOB isn't really known for dance so that might be a weak spot?

I'm actually really excited for a TBZ/iKON/SF9 collab tho, like these three groups despite not ranking high in the different rounds, have shown a lot of amazing colors and performances. All three groups have solid dancers in Juyeon/Q, Donghyuk and Taeyang at the least and for vocalists I can definitely see Sangyeon/Kevin/New, Jinhwan/Junhoe, and Inseong managing something cool though I haven't really been fully exposed to their capabilities yet I think? They haven't had a lot of really strong vocal moments that stood out to me so I think Team 1 might have the advantage there. Rap line between Sunwoo, Zuho and Bobby are going to lay some FIRE as they're really prone to reading flow differently than other rappers (see Sunwoo in O Sole Mio and Bobby in Inception).

I think what's going to be really fun is seeing how these teams can mesh their ideas together. ATEEZ is good at picking a theme and sticking to it, while SKZ has pretty powerful performance value and BTOB is obviously really strong in technical performance aspects.

TBZ are great concept builders and stunt executers, iKON has some of the best arrangements and SF9 has their strengths in acting and individual performance. TBH I think TBZ/iKON and SF9 are going to have the easier time blending styles because TBZ especially have proven themselves to be so flexible, stretching across different genres, and SF9 as well has some more diversity to their abilities. That could mesh easily with iKON's iconic (lol) hip hop-esque style though they've also more than proved they can do fun lyrical performances with Love Scenario.

Team 1's groups, while versatile still stick to well known sides of their performances. ATEEZ tends to favor really aggressive and powerful styles, like in Say My Name, Pirate King, HALA HALA. They do have some softer songs sprinkled throughout but all MVs are for their hard songs which are more well known and likely what they'll choose to do? I genuinely don't know much about BTOB but after a quick search it really does seem like ballads and strong sentimental vocal performances are more their style, which really is a 180 twist from ATEEZ. SKZ could become the team binder between the oldest and youngest groups, as SKZ has clearly traversed a lot of genre barriers between Miroh's unconventional lyric set up, Side Effect's electro, Blueprint's cheerful pop and Ex's sweet sentimentality. I think it'll be up to SKZ to kind of bridge any potential gaps that come from ATEEZ/BTOB branching out and exploring.

[therealniclion]

How I Found happiness this year?

Good Evning/Day/Morning Lion Familyyy, I hope everyone is safe and doing great..So Today I was thinking of sharing with you something so precious and special that I was looking for a long time, but never found until 2020! Even tho this year have been a lil bit of a rock to me, but trust me when I say “This year I had less downs than all the past years”.

My whole life I was looking for happiness in so many places and people, like for example... friendships and relationships. I tried to work so hard to fit in the wrong box with the wrong people, I never had the chance to reality check or reflect on myself I was so worried and stressed about my dreams, goals, and plans I used to overthink a lot about what my life would look like five years from now.

But the question is... how do we really find happiness? Friendships? Relationships? Money? Luxury? The society? Hmmm... That’s a very tricky question to ask for most individuals, specially for the old me who used to be so lost and insecure lol. I don’t have a boyfriend, I don’t own luxury but let me tell about all this happiness, now that’s some HAP lol!

It all started from March when I decided to X out anything and anyone that does not serves me both mentally and friendly! And tbh I don’t even know how the spiritual world approached me, but I believe that things happens for a reason. The Covid-19 pandemic have been both a blessing and a curse for us in general. Let’s start with the bad thing first then the best and positive can come after.

Why a curse?

So June was the month where I decided to make my comeback to the music industry with my first single in two years Vendetta, but one week before that I got a phone call from my mother telling me she got tested positive for corona, that was the hardest and the only worst downs I had in my life I thought it was over and that everything I was working on was pointless because I do it all for my mama, and the next generations to come!! I didn’t even wanted to release Vendetta because everything was dark for me and I was so hurt and heartbroken. I couldn’t stop the song release because it was already sent to the streaming platforms that time, so I told myself it’s already done so I’m just gonna release the song and keep on praying for my mom 3 weeks later... she called me, and told me that she got her health back and everything went okay that’s when I knew being positive and strong for her was the right thing for me to do, and I started to be happy again.

Why a blessing?

Ever since I started meditating i started to seek more knowledge, and wisdom thru documentaries and books. I don’t know how I became so wise and intelligent within a short period of time like... gurl how? I found out that meditation by itself will lead you to so many places and things in life for example. Why is there’s so much hate, war, and poverty in this world? How are we really connected to the nature, universe, other humans, and even animals? (As above so below, as within so without, as the soul so the universe), how can we find our happiness? The biggest thing I have learned was from my favorite spiritual documentary ever Inner Worlds, Outter Worlds. There’s some quotes that says “Everything that happens in this world is not social, political, or economical. It’s lack of consciousness, awareness, enlightenment, and self education” and “We create more problems by overthinking” sheet them quotes hit me hard like a motherfucker, like brooo why you gotta do home gurl like that? I also got inspired by one of the greatest people that have existed in this world... he is the one and only Lord Siddharata Gautama aka “The Buddha”. He was that prince that had it all from Diamonds, Golds, women, money absolutely everything the outer world could imagine having, but he left it all behind to experience Samsara “Suffering, Struggling, or being dead before dying” he starved himself, and did a lot of sad stuff to himself, he tried to educate himself from other gurus but nothing worked until... he meditated under a tree while eating a grain of rice for seven days that was when he finally experienced Nirvana “Enlightenment or heaven” it’s just so inspirational how he left everything and became something beyond his father’s status HE BECAME A GOD! That story by itself shows you that if you leave something so great you will achieve something greater.

After meditating and watching spiritual documentaries I realized that I’m not even a human being, none of us are humans if we only knew our true selves this world would’ve been a much better place. We are literally divinity taking a spiritual form everything we seek is already within us, so I stopped worrying about my future, past, what people think of me, and started to appreciate the little things I have in my life, from house, food in my table, knowing my family in Africa is eating and living good, to me still being alive. I started living in the moment and rather accepting what I can’t change but work on it instead of complain all the time and do nothing about it.

I made sure that every negative part of me is being cleared out, I focused on being optimistic and positive about my dreams and goals (Baby we talkin’ about the Law Of Attraction In here ya feel meee?) life is like a echo what you put out there comes right to you, think positive and positive will happen to you. So when I started letting go of my worries and achieving my goals fast, everything I wanted started chasing me instead of me chasing it let’s take my music for example I used to force the rap flow in me but now it comes to me naturally why? Because I let go of overthinking and forcing it nothing comes by force I had to learn that I gotta enjoy every moment about my music journey and that’s how it hits different.

When it comes to the haters... well this year was just filled with love and great feedbacks, but I programmed my mind very well if I see a hater I’ll just Ignore em because the same five minutes I debate to prove that I’m great on, are the same five minutes I could’ve been doing something productive on. I don’t prove anybody anything now I just let my music and influence speak by itself. Shock em like I’m Jefferson Pierce baby.

In the end happiness for me does not come from friendships, MEN, or fake flexing my happiness comes from me appreciating the smallest things in life I’m still alive, my loved ones “Including you Lion Family” are still alive too, we eating food, we drinking water, we sleeping good, we laughing about everything and nothing, I don’t stress or overthink our goals and dreams will be spoken into reality one day, but first we must suffer and struggle so when we’re having, doing, and being it all one day we already know how to be humble and be relatable to others and keep on that good, and positive energy with everything and everyone because everything and everyone is nothing but us we are connected. Happiness starts with you and not thru other things or people! Change, happiness, love, just everything start with nothing and nobody but you!

-Who looks outside dreams, who looks inside awakes!

-Until next time Family.

~With all love

~Your soul sister, Nic Lion

[maximura]

MVNALYSIS: GOD’S MENU by STRAY KIDS

Hello friends, seeing as 2020 is going down in flames anyways, there seems like no better time than to start my MV Analysis series, MVNALYSIS. Storytelling and cinematography are both important but the technical aspect is definitely more interesting to me. If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you’d know how often I yell about a good lighting scheme so this is just an extension of that.

There have been some great MVs this year but the one that really lit my fuse and prompted me to do this is God’s Menu by Stray Kids. If you haven’t seen it yet, go watch it first then come back. This is very long so if you’re not really interested in the technical aspects of music videos then I would definitely recommend scrolling past. 

1) The Cyberpunk-Anime Intro tracking shot. That flourescent-neon title card reminds me of cyberpunk aesthetic, especially if you’ve seen the trailer for Cyberpunk 2077. I really love title cards because they remind me of old movies and cartoons. To throw it up so nonchanlantly immediately sets the vibe and subconsciously triggers your mind to think about when you last saw something like that, be it a video game or anime or a movie. They use it a lot more often than other groups and I never noticed until I went back to watch a few of their videos for this post. 

The Intro to God’s Menu is both a sonic and visual assault. It’s so fcking good that I am almost sad I will never get to watch it again for the first time. 

That tracking shot for Changbin is just beautiful perfection because it has three levels of depth and a very controlled use of blocking. The deepest level is the chaos in the background, the main level is Changbin and the most superficial level is the one closest to the camera, with the marching band player. Interestingly, the movement and speed of each level progresses in descending order: the background is crazy busy, Changbin is moving through at a controlled pace and the marching band player is almost still, like a sign post to reiterate the depth of field. 

There are a few really famous and amazing tracking shots, so I’m just going to link them here if you are interested in camera work: Atonement (legendary tbh), 1917 (deserved the cinematography Oscar), Ava Adore (you can see the track they used for the whole video) and the Baby Driver introduction has one of the best tracking shots but I won’t link to it out of respect for people who might be triggered. 

Sometimes you watch something and you don’t know why it’s so cool. Well, this is why it’s so cool. This is why some MVs are so interesting to re-watch and why others have no re-watch value at all. 

2) Transitions and editing. Oh boy. The fcking transitions. Sometimes people think of them like a cheap trick in the vein of a horror movie jump scare but when you see a good transition, 'cheap’ should be the last word you think of. All the transitions are worth mentioning: Changbin seemingly changing the frame with his hand, Han’s mid-choreo transition and Hyunjin’s forced perspective to mimic the spotlight. I suppose they are are little flashy and tricked-out but it doesn’t change how cool they look. The video editer deserves all the credit for this one. 

It’s seems obvious but I can’t ignore the stop-motion DuDuDuDu editing either. It does exactly what the music does in that moment: it’s jarring and abrupt and literally like shots fired and bleeding red. Sometimes literal interpretations are cringey and don’t work but sometimes they work so well you wish everyone was on this level. 

A more subtle transition is one that I don’t see a lot of people talking about but it’s when the music shifts from the heavy rap to the smoother vocals. The first time it happens we went from the dark enclosed confines of Han’s kitchen rap to vast open air of the cars racing. The smooth flow of the vocals is echoed in the smooth silent roll of the car tires and then the smooth choreo from Bangchan with that bright God ray lens flare. It’s just like a smooth smooth smooth flow of water after total chaos and that’s exactly what the music is trying to do: the rap is a spicy meal, the vocals are a glass of cool water. Seriously, this MV is so well thought out and well planned. It’s like the director actually listened to the track. What a crazy notion, heh. 

3) Robot Camera. If you’re not sure which part I mean, it’s basically during Han’s rap, Felix’s 5 Star Michelin part and the subtle camera tilt for the group choreo. You can see it in action in their ‘Making Of’ video. You’ve probably seen this used before, most notably on Jungkook for DNA but I think it was made really popular in music MVs when Kendrick Lamar did it for Humble. Everyone is using it now but I still love it. No human can film with that precision and it’s seriously cool use of tech. I like that they didn’t overuse it though because it would’ve felt too repetitive. Restraint? In Kpop? Hell really has frozen over today. 

4) The colour and lighting. It’s generally really well lit and coloured but the most remarkable thing to point out here is that God’s Menu has only four sets. It feels like it has some meat and depth to it because they used those four sets to their full capacities. In contrast, I think I counted 9 sets for GOT7′s ‘Not By The Moon’ and let’s be honest, they were all kind of wasted. 

The scrapyard set is used four times with four different lighting schemes and you barely notice how repetitive it is because they all look so different. The garage scene is my favourite example of good depth of field because they’re in a tiny confined area for choreo but it doesn’t actually feel tiny or confined because of the huge open grandstand in the background. 

Also. It’s rad how the video goes from day to night. I didn’t even notice until the third or fourth re-watch. 

5) Kendrick Lamar. I just wanted to spend a little time on this point because I hear and see his influence on God’s Menu. Obviously, Kendrick doesn’t have a patent or copyright on use of RoboCams but the main backing track is very Humble-esque and the DuDuDu reminds me of old KL. It’s a little grating tbh but the producer at least showed some restraint with it. Any more of the DDD part and it would’ve been too obnoxious to listen to. 

6) Styling. I really love these black outfits because they look like a cross between a karate uniform/dobok and black chef aprons. I wasn’t really sure why they went with the racetrack imagery but there is something about this entire MV that reminds me of anime/manga...and then I remembered that Initial D existed. If you’ve never heard of Initial D until now? You’re welcome. 

Oh and Hyunjin’s hair. Damm. 

7) Bias: Okay, I’m Australian and I used to live in Sydney so part of me has always been invested in Chris and Felix. But. I have to be straight with you all, that tag-team of Changbin and Han is insane. Insane, I tell you! I wish I could hear that rap intro again for the very first time. It’s like when I heard Mingi’s rap in Wonderland for the first time. Some things are just inexplicable. 

8) Conclusion: This is one of the best MVs JYPE has ever made and it’s not even story driven. The modern tech and insane editing is truly next level and I hope people appreciate the work that went into it instead of just seeing it as another flashy kpop video with no substance just because it’s not “deep and meaningful”.