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Korean Artists RM And Balming Tiger To Drop Collab Next Month

Korean Artists RM And Balming Tiger To Drop Collab Next Month

BTS Army and alternative K-pop fans, get ready to mark your calendars. Rapper RM from the K-pop group BTS is collaborating with up-and-coming alternative group Balming Tiger on the track “SEXY NUKIM.” On Wednesday, BTS’s official Twitter account announced the collaboration. Immediately, fans began discussing what the song might sound like across social media platforms. Little information is known about the track, but based on the range of genres covered by both RM and Balming Tiger, listeners can expect an interesting blend of musical genres.

RM’s Hip-Hop Journey

Like his other rapline counterparts, Suga and J-Hope, RM, birth name Kim Namjoon, is no stranger to hip-hop or success. His released his self-titled mixtape in 2015. The mixtape made Spin Magazine’s “50 Best Hip Hop Albums of 2015.” RM shows homage to his influences on this mixtape as it contains samples from J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T, J. Dilla, and Run The Jewels.  For his second mixtape, he switched to a more lyrically introspective, lo-fi hip-hop sound with 2018’s, mono. The project, met with positive reviews, peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard 200. Two years after its release, the album peaked at No. 1 on iTunes in 101 countries—a record only topped by BTS member, V.

His other accomplishments include working with and receiving a seal of approval from rap icons Warren G and Wale. But BTS fans know Namjoon as a multifaceted artist inside and outside the studio. Last year, he became the youngest and second most credited artist in K-pop, according to the Korean Music Copyright Association. However, he is also well known in the art scene and was a featured guest on Intersections: The Art Basel Podcast. In addition to his “SEXY NUKIM” feature, the rapper’s debut photography book Me, Myself, and RM: Entirety is set to come out later this year. The rapper has been teasing the photo book all month via Instagram.

The Cross-Genre Appeal Of Balming Tiger

Balming Tiger’s music transcends genre. The group formed in 2018, and currently has 8 members. They are: rapper Omega Sapien, DJ Abyss, and singer-songwriters Mudd the Student, Wnjn, and Sogumm. Balming Tiger also has several directors including: San Yawn, Jan’Qui, and Lee Suho, and editor, Henson. In an interview with TMRW Magazine, Sogumm said they’re more of an art collective than a standard band. Omega Sapien said the hype around Korean media helped grow their fan base. They may not be the biggest act in the world, but their unique approach to music and visuals continues to draw people in.

Inspired by other Korean artists and collectives, Balming Tiger’s approach to music matches RM’s interest in hip-hop and art. Fans of both acts are sure to love the new song dropping next Thursday, September 1.

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Drake Becomes Most Shazamed Artist Of All Time

drake

Drake can now add the title of most Shazamed artist to his growing list of accomplishments. According to Apple, the Canadian rapper reached the milestone with over 350 million Shazams, including songs he’s featured on. His hit 2016 single “One Dance” is his most Shazamed song with 17 million Shazams.

Shazam launched in the UK in August 2002. The music-discovery app allows people to identify songs by texting 2580 and allowing the song to play. The app would then send a text with the song title and the artist behind it.

 

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History Of Shazam Milestones

To celebrate the service’s 20th anniversary, Shazam released a list of major milestones from the past two decades. Among the stats listed is the one naming Drizzy the artist with the most Shazams.

According to the list, Shazam has reached 70 billion song recognitions to date. The first song to ever be Shazamed was T-Rex’s “Jeepster” in 2002. Also, K-pop stars BTS have the fastest ever Shazamed song with the track reaching one million in 9 days. The most Shazamed song belongs to Tones and I’s “Dance Monkey” with 41 million.

Though Drake is now the most Shazamed artist, there are two Shazam records he doesn’t own. His mentor Lil Wayne was the first artist to hit both one million and 10 million Shazams. Wayne reached these marks in 2009 and 2011, respectively. Drake also doesn’t have the most Shazamed hip-hop song of all time, either. Instead, that honor goes to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ single “Can’t Hold Us” with Ray Dalton.

Drake’s Success Outside Of Shazam

The 6 God’s success from streaming has also reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart. After “One Dance” became his first No. 1 record, Drake has established himself as one of the most consistent hitmakers in the chart’s history.

Drizzy’s most recent feature came with DJ Khaled’s “Staying Alive,” also featuring Lil Baby. The track debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Drake 30 for his career. Per Billboard, the new milestone broke a 55 year old record set by The Beatles for most Top 5 hits.

Written by Olan Bryant

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Beyonce’s New Album ‘Renaissance’ Tops Charts

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Beyonce’s long-anticipated album Renaissance made its debut on July 29. After one week, the numbers are in and they speak to the consistency of Queen Bey.

The Numbers For Beyonce’s Renaissance

The project debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200, becoming the biggest week for a female artist in 2022. As a result, the album earned 332,000 equivalent units. Of that number, 190,000 were traditional album sales while 138,000 came from SEA units. In total, the album was streamed nearly 180 million times on-demand.

Beyonce’s Renaissance is her seventh solo No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, and is the first project by a female artist this year to take the spot. Only Harry Styles’ Harry’s House had a bigger sales week when it gathered 521,500 equivalent album units in May.

Renaissance actually exceeded projections, which had predicted the album earning between 275,000 and 315,000 units. Those numbers were driven by the largest streaming week of Queen Bey’s career, which would have been enough to earn her the top spot.

Beyonce also had the third biggest traditional sales week for an artist this year, trailing only Harry’s House and BTS’s Proof. Ahead of the album’s release, Beyonce sold out four boxed set editions through her webstore. This accounted for 136,000 units, 0r 72 percent of the album sales for the debut week.

How Renaissance differs from Bey’s other projects

Unlike Bey’s last two solo albums, Renaissance wasn’t a surprise release. The project was announced in June, with its first single “Break My Soul” dropping on June 20. In comparison, her two previous albums were both digital exclusives, with physical releases following later.

Also, unlike her last two albums, Renaissance was not introduced with any official music videos. Lemonade debuted with its eponymous film, while Beyonce was accompanied by 18 music videos. As of August 7, only lyric videos have been released for Renaissance.

On September 16, Renaissance will be released on vinyl to all retailers, with expanded packaging and the standard album cover.

Written by Olan Bryant

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J-Hope And The Future Of BTS

BTS J-Hope: His First Solo Album, Future Of BTS
J-Hope reveals where BTS stands as a collective and his creative process for the album "Jack in the Box." Image Source: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

On July 15, BTS (“Bulletproof Boy Scouts” or “Bangtan Boys”) member J-Hope released his debut album, Jack in the Box. A total of 10 tracks make up this album, resulting in 22 minutes.

While BTS is currently active, Jin, J-Hope, Suga, RM, V, Jimin, and Jungkook announced on June 14 during their Bangtan Dinner Party that they would focus on solo projects. This does not imply that the group is disbanding permanently; it is merely a break in communication. Fans reacted differently to the news, resulting in J-Hope’s surprised reaction.  

In an interview with PICKCON, J-Hope also briefly explains what Jack in the Box songs is about. “Jack in the box is an album that I prepared to show you something new,” he said. “It’s filled with my honest thoughts, worries, passion, and aspirations.”

Furthermore, he recommended that listeners listen to the album chronologically from 1 to 10. This suggestion would facilitate the understanding of the album.

“Let’s listen to the first track, “INTRO,” “PANDORA’S BOX,” and “MORE,” J-Hope also said in the interview. “Pandora’s Box talks about J-Hope’s birth and the background of the album.”

BTS Member J-Hope Believes In Experimenting With Different Approaches

According to him, the pause is intended to allow all group members the opportunity to hone their skills individually. In this way, they will be able to reunite and work more efficiently.

Variety reports that J-Hope is the first member of BTS to release a solo album. Therefore, it appears that J-Hope was confident in his ability to showcase his project for the world to see. However, despite his involvement in group projects, the rapper claims he regularly thought about the kind of music he could offer as a solo artist.

Moreover, BTS’ sustainability, open-mindedness, and health will be enhanced by taking the time to work on different projects separately. In addition, to raise awareness about the 2030 World Expo, there will be a concert in Busan, South Korea, in October.

What is “Arson” About?

Click this link to direct you to J-Hope’s Instagram account regarding his 2nd single from Jack in the Box called “Arson.” The song is a reflection of J-Hope’s passion for music. The emotional depth that J-Hope communicates throughout the song as he learns that success comes with demands and fears is also a crucial component. Furthermore, this track deals with his dilemma regarding whether he wishes to extinguish the flame he started or continue to fan it and feed it. 

Listed below are some tweets regarding J-Hope’s new album. 

 

 

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Take A Peek Into J-Hope’s “Jack In A Box”: Album Review

“Jack In A Box” By J-Hope: Album Review
J-Hope. Image source: HYBE Labels on YouTube.

Korean rapper J-Hope gave fans a glimpse into his latest project, “Jack-In-A-Box.” The 10-track album dropped Jul 15, much to the delight of fans. The album not only lists the rapper’s accomplishments but also a record of his values and dreams. The entire album is chock-full of old-school hip-hop beats and references. In an interview with Rolling Stone, he explained that old-school hip-hop is essential because it’s what he would dance to. It’s J-Hope’s foundation as an artist.

The Record’s Highlights

The album starts off strong with “Pandora’s Box.” Arguably one of the best instrumentals on the album, Hope waxes poetic about the start and trajectory of his career. An early fan favorite, “= (Equal Sign),” is reminiscent of the Black Eyed Peas’ “Where Is The Love?”, particularly in the song’s hook. The song’s message is also similar, but the rapper talks about the importance of kindness despite differences instead of looking for love. The track “What If…” samples ODB’s “Shimmy Shimmy Ya,” a pleasant surprise for old-school hip-hop fans. The song unmasks the smiling rapper: what happens when he isn’t the happy-go-lucky person people need him to be? The album closes with a more hopeful, hip-hop fusion track, “Arson.” In the song, J-Hope brags about how he set the industry ablaze when he decided to make music and how he will always push himself to improve.

Hope switches flow throughout the album, which keeps the songs from melting into each other. Some tracks have a similar style of percussion and bass, but Hope’s cadence makes each track sound fresh. Each song’s lyrics parallel another song on the album, and some of them follow the theme from his 2018 EP, “Hope World.” Within the context of BTS, J-Hope, born Jung Hoseok, is the “sunshine” of the group. However, his solo songs have always been introspective and somewhat dark. With “Jack-In-The-Box,” the visuals match the lyrics and tone of the songs.

J-Hope Helps Set The Standard For Korean Hip-Hop

With the rising popularity of Korean pop, R&B, and rap in recent years, fans of those genres have often not seen eye-to-eye with Western hip-hop heads. Part of this is due to glaring examples of appropriation by non-black rappers. “Jack-In-A-Box” is an excellent example of what it means to appreciate a culture while incorporating your own voice. And he’s not the only rapper from BTS to do so. RM has collaborated with the artists like Warren G and Wale. He famously talked about a conversation with Warren G about what it means to be a proper rapper and hip-hop fan. Suga, also known as Agust D, has two hip-hop projects, the latter even more polished than the first.

Both Suga and Rm appeared in South Korea’s underground rap scene and received criticism from both rappers and K-pop fans. However, J-Hope had his challenges as well. He started out as a street dancer and had to learn to be a rapper after joining BTS. This project proves he made the right choice. While these three aren’t the only Korean artists to appreciate and participate in the culture (see Epik High and DPR Live), they are solid examples to follow.

The album came with accompanying visuals for “MORE” and “Arson.” You can watch “Arson,” which dropped on Jul 15, below.

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J-Hope Releases First Single “MORE” From His New “Jack In A Box” Album

J-Hope "MORE" Single From The Upcoming Album Is Out
J-Hope. Image source: Instagram/ J-Hope.

The popular Korean boy group BTS is in chapter two of their almost decade-long career. Following a brief break from group activities came the announcement that each member would be working on solo projects. Up first is rapper J-Hope. Earlier this summer, it was announced he’d make history as the first Korean act to headline a major American festival. Since then, his album Jack In A Box received a release date. 

The first single, “MORE,” dropped Friday, along with an accompanying music video. The track is a hip-hop, rock & fusion composition. It’s also reminiscent of bands like Seo Taiji and The Boys and Korn. The song features a retro hip-hop beat contrasted against grunge percussion and distorted vocals.

Hope revealed the album art for “Jack In A Box” via Instagram. The cover is a collaboration with KAWS. The album will release July 15, a little over two weeks before his debut at Lollapalooza. 

The rapper is replacing Doja Cat while she recovers from throat surgery. Because he usually presents as one of the sunnier members of BTS, Hope wants to show fans a darker side of himself. The official statement from BigHit Music said, “”Jack-in-a-Box” represents his aspirations to grow further and break the mold.”

 

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“MORE” Is Already A Success For J-Hope

The 28-year-old street dancer turned rapper has quite a few accomplishments under his belt as a member of BTS and as a solo artist. “MORE” adds just a few more to the list. The track debuted at No. 1 on the Worldwide iTunes Chart and currently has over 3 million views on YouTube.

Hope also scored No. 1s on the US, Peru, Egypt, and New Zealand charts. The video features J-Hope in a jumpsuit and jester’s hat, with heavy eye makeup. You can check out the MV below.

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Rapper J-Hope Makes History As First Korean Act To Headline Lollapalooza

Rapper J-Hope Makes History As First Korean Act To Headline Lollapalooza

Another member of Grammy-nominated K-pop group BTS is about to make history. J-Hope, one of the group’s three rappers, will be the first Korean act to take the main stage at a major American festival. He will headline the last day of the festival. Lollapalooza and J-Hope made the announcement Tuesday, June 7. In the Instagram post’s comments, the reactions were overwhelmingly positive. This is partially due to BTS’ large fan base, also known as ARMY. Some social media users, however, weren’t so keen on the news. “This is just horrid,” one of them said. Despite some negative comments, ARMY is likely to follow J-Hope wherever he goes, proving the rapper deserves his spot on the Lollapalooza stage.

 

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J-Hope, affectionately called Hobi by fans, made his own short but sweet Instagram post about the upcoming festival. “It’s a thrilling new challenge that I think will become a really memorable chapter in my musical history!” it reads. “I’m gonna give you guys a great show. Get ready to get crazyyyyyy!”

J-Hope’s Long Journey to Center Stage

J-Hope, who is from Kwangju, South Korea and whose real name is Jung Hoseok, has come a long way to international fame. He started out in a hip-hop dance crew, then debuted as a rapper and dancer with BTS in 2013. In addition to being part of a group that speaks at the United Nations and the White House, Hobi has quite a few accomplishments under his belt as a solo artist. According to Music Chart Archives, the rapper’s first mixtape Hope World peaked at no. 38 on the Billboard 200 in 2018. Six of the songs reached the World’s Digital Songs Chart, with “Daydream” debuting at no. 1. The following year, he became the first member of BTS to enter The Hot 100 after collaborating with Becky G on “Chicken Noodle Soup.” Hobi is also a philanthropist, donating to causes that help children affected economically by COVID-19 in South Korea and children facing violence in Tanzania. He’s also donated to Korean charities to help children with visual and hearing disabilities as well as low-income families.

Hobi’s HYBE labelmates Tomorrow x Together will make their US debut at Lollapalooza as well. Tickets for the festival are on sale now. The festival takes place from July 28 to July 31 at Grant Park in Chicago, IL.

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Snoop Dogg And BTS To Transcend Genre With New Collab

Snoop announces collaboration with k-pop group BTS

Hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg just confirmed an upcoming collab with K-pop superstars BTS. Snoop said in a red carpet interview, the rapper explained why he wants to work with the South Korean band.

“I make good music, they make good music.”

he said. He mentioned this project would help “bring their worlds together.”

Fans suspected a collab was on the way when Snoop revealed he received a request from the group to work together in an interview on the Mogul Talks podcast. At the time, the rapper was unsure if he would have the time to do it. He also didn’t know much about the group until he asked his nephew about them.

“I’ve been experiencing the K-pop experience for a long time. Come on now, it’s what I do.”

Snoop said in another interview.

The group has also been a fan of Snoop’s for a while. In their 2014 song “Hip-Hop Phile,” they referenced his album 1993 album, Doggystyle.

Snoop x BTS Isn’t That Surprising Of A Combo

This might seem like an unusual pairing until you look at the collaborators each artist worked with previously. Snoop has never shied away from experimentation. He has ventured into reggae before and has a long history on the western pop scene. He’s already collaborated with pop giants like Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake. Likewise, he worked with pop groups Big Time Rush and The Pussycat Dolls. Furthermore, this also isn’t the rapper’s first foray into the K-pop genre. In the past, he worked with groups Girls Generation, and 2NE1, as well as soloist PSY.

A Little On BTS

BTS has quite a few impressive musical endeavors as well. The band debuted in 2013, with their first few albums heavily influenced by Western rappers. Even though their sounds evolve with each era, they’ve never forgotten their roots. Over the years, BTS has collected collabs with Nicki Minaj, Wale, Warren G, Desiigner, and Becky G, and two collabs with the late rapper, Juice WRLD.  Last summer, they covered Diddy and Faith Evans’ “I’ll Be Missing You,” which they dedicated to anyone struggling during the pandemic. Just last year, the seven-member group collaborated with Megan Thee Stallion on a remix of their Grammy-nominated hit “Butter.” Between BTS’ three rappers, RM, Suga, and J-Hope, there are at least five albums and mixtapes between them.

Both BTS and Snoop have never shied away from experimenting with different genres. There isn’t much information out about the collab, but Snoop said it’s “official like a referee with a whistle.” Regardless of the genre, fans of both definitely have something to look forward to.

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The Big Winners At The 2021 American Music Awards

The 2021 American Music Awards (AMA’s) aired on Sunday, Nov. 21. The host of the night, Cardi B, kept the show alive with her futuristic fashion choices and endless wit. We run down some of your favorite artist wins of the night.

Photos from Cardi B's 2021 American Music Awards Looks - E! Online

The Winners!

Host Cardi B took home the award for “Favorite Hip Hop Song.” with “Up.”

Olivio Rodrigo reigned in the nomination category. She took home the “New Artist of the Year” award in one of the seven nominated categories.

American Music Awards 2021: Olivia Rodrigo Wins New Artist Award

The South Korean boy band BTS won big as well, taking home every award for the categories they were nominated in: Favorite Pop Duo or Group; Favorite Pop Song (“Butter”), and the coveted Artist of the Year award.

American Music Awards 2021 Winners List - Variety

Some of the biggest artists who took home wins but did not grace the awards show with their presence.

Megan Thee Stallion won big with three awards for Favorite Trending Song (Body), Favorite Female Hip Hop artist, and Favorite Hip Hop Album (Good News).

Drake, fresh off announcing an LA benefit concert alongside Kanye, won in the category of “Favorite Male Hip Hop Artist.”

Doja Cat was another huge winner of the night. She took home wins in the following categories; Favorite Female R&B Artist, Collaboration of the Year for “Kiss Me More” with SZA, and Favorite R&B Album for her most recent full-length, Planet Her.

American Music Awards 2021: Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Drake Among Winners

Lil Nax X snubbed his category; favorite music video for “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name).”

The Weeknd brought home the award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male. And Silk Sonic (the supergroup of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak) won “Favorite R&B song“ for “Leave the Door Open.” 

Finally, an awards show isn’t complete without Kanye West. The artist continues to expand in the gospel category with his win for “Favorite Gospel Artist.”

How are the AMA Winners Chosen?

Billboard tracks music streaming, album sales, song sales, radio airplay, and social engagement. Billboard’s data partner MRC Data, assists in tracking the data. Ultimately, fan interactions and voting lead to nominations and winners.

Check out your favorite celebrities as they hit the red carpet for the AMA’s.

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BTS Deliver Speech, Drop New Music Video at United Nations Event

More than 1 million people tuned in Monday to watch superstar K-Pop group BTS deliver a speech at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The group, known for catchy beats and a rabidly loyal fanbase, addressed the crowd as part of a sustainability event. 

The seven-member group spoke on a variety of issues, each taking turns at the podium in the Great Assembly Hall. BTS promoted vaccination, environmentalism and positivity in the face of an uncertain future. Band member J-Hope comparing their shots to a “ticket to meeting our fans waiting for us and being able to stand here before you today.” The group addressed their speech at young people. 

“There are still many pages left in this story about us, and I thought we shouldn’t talk like the ending’s already been written,” Kim Taeyhung said.   

South Korean President Moon Jae-in recently designated BTS as “special presidential envoy for future generations and culture” according to The New York Times. He accompanied the band to the United Nations. This is not the first time BTS have dipped their toes into the political world; in 2018, the band visited the U.N. with UNICEF to promote the “Generation Unlimited” campaign. 

Excitingly, the group had more than a speech prepared this time. BTS premiered a new music video for their hit single “Permission to Dance,” filmed at the U.N.’s New York headquarters. The video shows the band dancing along the aisles of an empty General Assembly hall, warbling the fitting message: “Don’t need to talk the talk, just walk the walk.”  

What did you think of BTS’ speech at the U.N? Interact with us on Twitter or Facebook @FMHipHop and let us know! 

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