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J-Hope And J. Cole Score Billboard No. 1 With “On The Street”

J-Hope And J. Cole Score Billboard No. 1 With "On The Street"
J-Hope and J. Cole. Image source: @uarmyhope, Instagram.

“All hail the mighty survivor of hell,” raps J. Cole in “On the Street,” a collaboration with rapper J-Hope of BTS. In early March, it was announced J. Cole and J-Hope would be collaborating, causing commotion amongst fans of both artists.

Since its release, “On the Street” has steadily climbed the Billboard charts. The track earned the no. 1 spot on the R&B/ Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales and the Rap Digital Songs Sales charts. Hope is now the second member of BTS to earn two no. 1 song on the latter chart, tying with bandmate and fellow rapper Suga. According to Billboard, this also marks J. Cole’s best charting song since 2021.

The song is a sentimental reminder of why both artists picked this genre. J-Hope laments that it’s the fans that have carried him to the top. In his verse, Cole explains that his talent is god-given and raps a vaguely existential verse about his future and whether or not he will continue rapping. The track ends with both artists harmonizing, and the video features a sweet moment between the two, meeting up on a rooftop in New York, overlooking the Manhattan Bridge.

An Idol Meets His Muse

As a rapper and K-pop idol in one of the biggest bands in the world, BTS, J-Hope is no stranger to praise or the Billboard charts for that matter. However, Hope saw this as an opportunity to pay homage to perhaps his greatest hip-hop influence, J. Cole. The pair met backstage when Hope headlined Lollapalooza. After J-Hope’s set, In a behind-the-scenes look at the music video, J-Hope expressed his feelings about making music with someone he respects so much.

“When I started listening to music, the first artist I listened to was J. Cole. Being able to work with J. Cole after 10 years as a fan, I’m so happy. It’s just all new, and I still can’t believe it.”

And the feeling is apparently mutual, as J. Cole was the one to reach out to the rapper after their initial meeting. Cole described working with Hope as a “blessing,” pleasing fans of both artists.

J-Hope chats it up with longtime inspiration, J. Cole at Lollapalooza 2022. Image source: @uarmyhope, Instagram.

It’s A Bittersweet Moment For Army

For those who may not know, South Korean men must serve mandatory military time. This is J-Hope’s, or Hobi as fans lovingly call him, way of saying goodbye for now before he returns as part of the pop sensation BTS in 2025.

Last year, the group’s oldest member Kim Seokjin began his service despite fans, or the army, half-joking about taking his place. And it’s likely when the other members go, they will be met with similar jokes, tears, and well wishes. Getting another Billboard hit for both artists not only further cements them as rap stars but is a full-circle moment for these artists to come together after years of mutual admiration.

You can also check out the video for the track below.

Written by Kimberly Stelly | Letterboxd | Instagram | Twitter

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At Least 149 Dead After Halloween Stampede in Seoul

Seoul Stampede On Halloween, At Least 149 Dead
A street in Seoul during the stampede. Image source: Sky News.

A fun celebration turned horrific Saturday night when a crowd surged into an alley, causing a stampede in Seoul, South Korea.

The Deadly Night in Seoul

149 people, mainly teens and young adults, died in a stampede in Seoul, South Korea, this Halloween weekend. The tragic incident occurred when a massive crowd was funneled into a small alleyway. As a result, people started dying.

Furthermore, 65 more people died in the panic in the Itaewon district following the surge. Amongst the injured, 19 are in critical condition. Meaning the body count could continue to rise. Choi Sung-beom, leader of the Yongsan Fire Station, confirmed these details in a briefing yesterday.

The disaster comes to a newly reopened South Korea since the last three Halloween celebrations didn’t take place due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

Eyewitnesses report that the crowd had become angry and anxious the farther the evening went. Around 10:20 pm, the deadly stampede occurred.

Witnesses Speak

“A number of people fell during a Halloween festival, and we have a large number of casualties,” Choi stated. He also noted that many victims were young women and those near the nightclub.

Moon Ju-young, a key eyewitness, told Reuters things were clearly getting out of hand in the alleys before the stampede began. “It was at least more than 10 times crowded than usual,” he commented. 

Several witnesses also said police had difficulty controlling the crowd and maintaining order.

Videos captured during the disaster show countless partygoers squeezed into the thin alleyway, crushed and likely unable to breathe. Additional footage displays police and paramedics trying to aid countless unconscious victims.

Fire department officials claim people attempted to escape into the alley when it was already filled to capacity. This caused those at the top of the slope to fall, creating a domino effect. A nearby building turned into a temporary morgue to accommodate the sudden large amount of bodies. According to witnesses, dozens of bodies came into the area for further identification by government officials.

Sending Prayers

“You would see big crowds at Christmas and fireworks … but this was several ten-folds bigger than any of that,” 21-year-old Park Jung-hoon told Reuters. Among South Korea’s districts, Itaewon is most popular with young people and foreigners due to its lively party scene. However, in recent years Itaewon businesses have been declining due to lingering fear of covid 19.

Two of the 149 confirmed dead were American tourists. The investigation to find the exact cause of the stampede is still ongoing at this time.

President Joe Biden released a statement sending his condolences Saturday (Oct 29). “Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in Seoul. We grieve with the people of the Republic of Korea,” the president stated. “And send our best wishes for a quick recovery to all those who were injured…The Alliance between our two countries has never been more vibrant or more vital – and the ties between our people are stronger than ever. The United States stands with the Republic of Korea during this tragic time.”

Written by Dreema Carrington

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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.

Written by Kimberly Stelly | Instagram | Twitter  | Tumblr

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