April has been a roller coaster of emotions with heart-wrenching twists and turns from notable k-dramas, especially the highly rated ‘Queen of Tears’ K-drama. May is here and it’s time to start bingeing on the most anticipated K-dramas this month. Here are some must-watch K-dramas this May.
1. The Midnight Romance in Hagwon
May is about to get hot and spicy with this highly anticipated rom-com drama starring Jung Ryeo Won and Wi Ha Joon. ‘The Midnight Romance in Hagwon’ drama has created a buzz in the K-drama scene with alluring teasers. Expected to premiere on 11th May 2024, this rom-com highlights the highs and lows of a secret love between a former student and a teacher.
2. Connection
The legendary Ji Sung will hit tvN screens again this May with the ‘Connection’ k-drama. Set to premiere on 24th May 2024, is a crime investigation thriller depicting the deep roots and catastrophic damages of drugs amidst desperate survival measures that are neutralized by forces beyond one’s capability.
3. Crash
Set to premiere on ENA on 14th May 2024, ‘Crash’ is another crime investigation drama to watch out for. Starring Lee Min Ki, Kwak Sun Young, and Heo Sung Tae, this comedy crime drama seeks to reveal the root behind a series of neglected traffic crimes that contribute to the country’s unending lawlessness.
4. Dare To Love Me
Based on Naver Webtoon of the same name by Sun Woo, ‘Dare To Love Me’ k-drama is an upcoming romance comedy series. Starring Kim Myung Soo and Lee Yoo Young, this drama is set to hit the screens on 13th May 2024. ‘Dare To Love Me’ k-drama tells the story of the unmatchable; a philosophical arrogant chaebol and a determined yet underprivileged designer-in-the-making.
5. Frankly Speaking
South Korean cable network jTBC has kept the global K-drama fans in chaotic anticipation with emotion-wrecking teasers of the upcoming ‘Frankly Speaking’ K-drama. Set to premiere on 1st May, including on NETFLIX, this romance comedy series is a must-watch. Loaded with legendary stars including Go Kyung Pyo, Kang Han Na, and Joo Jong Hyul, this series centers on the struggles to maintain a broadcasting career amidst an unexpected disorder that robs him of the ability to control what comes out of his lips.
—-Makena Mwenda
#KDramasToWatchThisMay #2024MayKDramasToWatch #Connection #Crash #FranklySpeaking #kcrushkdramasuggestions #kcrush #DareToLoveMe #TheMidnightRomanceinHagwon #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #kfashion #kpop #webtoon #kcrushamerica #kdramaactors #kdramaactresses #SouthKorea #JTBC #Netflix #GoKyungPyo #KangHanNa #JooJongHyul #KimMyungSoo #LeeYooYoung #LeeMinKi KwakSunYoung, #HeoSungTae #tvN #JiSung #JungRyeoWon #WiHaJoon #romcom #comedy #melodrama #chaebol #crimeinvestigationdrama
D’FESTA LA Brings the Best of K-Pop to the US LOS ANGELES, CA – D’FESTA LA, an immersive and interactive K-pop exhibition originally held in Korea and Japan, is now coming to the US. The exhibition will be held at The Source OC in Buena Park, CA, from June 21st to August 18th and is set to feature official and exclusive content featuring nine K-pop groups including BTS, Twice, Enhypen, Tomorrow x Together, Stray Kids, NCT Dream, NCT 127, Seventeen, and Nu’est.
D’FESTA LA will feature three parts: THE EXHIBITION, THE MOVIE, and THE EXPERIENCE. THE EXHIBITION is an immersive and interactive photo exhibition featuring never-before-seen photos from the nine groups. Some stand-out segments include the “COLOR PORTRAITS” which will showcase individual color photos from each group, along with autographed messages from the artists. The “MEMORY ROOM” showcases photos dating back to 10 years ago, and the “DIARY ROOM & PHOTO ZONE,” will display diary pages designed and written by the artists themselves.
THE MOVIE is an original story and performances packed into a 45-minute feature film featuring all nine groups. Partnering with CGV Cinemas, fans will enjoy cutting-edge sound and immersive viewing experience. THE MOVIE will also include behind-the-scenes content and interviews.
THE EXPERIENCE will allow fans to step on the same virtual stage that the artists performed on during THE MOVIE. “BE TOGETHER” is a photo-taking zone featuring life-size concept photos of each artist. Fans can also leave heartfelt messages to their favorite artist in the “THE MESSAGE TO ARTIST” space, take pictures with their favorite artist in the “THE ARTIST PIC” zone, and purchase exclusive D’FESTA merch. A special cafe with drinks and cup sleeves will allow fans to wind down and experience “THE GACHA,” a unique K-POP Gacha experience.
Tickets for the exhibition are available now here. Fans are encouraged to book early before it sells out. For more information on D’FESTA visit the official website here.
D’FESTA is a K-pop exhibition that originated in South Korea in 2019. The exhibition was created to provide an immersive and interactive experience for K-pop fans, featuring exclusive content from some of the biggest names in the industry. After a successful run in Korea and Japan, D’FESTA is now expanding to the US, with the upcoming D’FESTA LA exhibition.
#DFESTA #KPOP #KPOPExhibitioninLA #LosAngelesKPOPExhibition #kcrush #SouthKorea #Japan #TheGACHA #TheArtistPIC #kcrushamerica #kculture #korean #kfashion #kmusic #USExpo #kpop #kcrushnews #CGVCinemas #phototakingarea #officialcontent #exclusivekpopcontent #kpopidols #TheSourceOCinBuenaParkCA #June21sttoAugust18th #kcrushtopasianentertainmentmagazine #BuenaParkCalifornia #DFESTALAExhibition
Japanese four-piece rock band I Don’t Like Mondays. have released new song ‘New York, New York’, their first new release of 2024.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of I Don’t Like Mondays.’s major-label debut. 2024 is already off to a great start: The band’s first tour of China sold out the day it went on sale, and they wrote ‘LOVE TRIGGER’, the 10th single by Snow Man, which sold a million copies within its first two days on sale.
‘New York, New York’ is the first song marking the 10th anniversary of I Don’t Like Mondays., and is based on the UK sound that is central to the band members’ roots, depicting the feelings of a heartbroken, melancholic man. From the demo production stage, the band members and their team all agreed that this should be their first release for this landmark anniversary.
Also, vocalist YU spent his high school years in New York and still makes regular visits, holding the city close to his heart. As a result, the lyrics are filled with yearning, and the jacket artwork is a photo that YU himself took in New York.
In addition to their tour of China earlier this year, in 2023 I Don’t Like Mondays. performed at festivals and solo concerts in five countries around Europe, South America and Asia.
The new single embodies the world-class J-pop music the band have created since their debut, and is the perfect song to start off their 10th anniversary year.
To further commemorate their first decade in music, the band will perform in 13 cities across Japan on the Island Tour from April 30, followed by a tour of Asia titled ‘FOCUS’ ASIA TOUR in fall. This will be the band’s first full-scale tour of Asia, with 10 performances in eight cities.
Global interest in I Don’t Like Mondays. intensified in 2022 with the release of ‘PAINT’, their theme song for the anime series ‘ONE PIECE’, which became the second-longest running theme song in the history of the series.
■ Release information
Title: ‘New York, New York’
Release date: Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Download and streaming links: https://idlms.lnk.to/newyork_newyork
■ I Don’t Like Mondays.
Official website: https://idlms.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/idontlikemondaysofficial
Music: https://avex.lnk.to/idlms
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/idlms.official
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/IDLMs_OFFICIAL
TiKTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@idlms_official
#IDontLikeMondays #newrelease #newmusic #rockband #Jrock #PaintOnePiece #NewYorkNewYork #JapaneseRockBand #kcrushnews #Aprilnewmusic #kcrushamerica #LoveTrigger #10thAnniversary #IDontLikeMondaysNewYorkNewYork
Japanese boyband Da-iCE released their latest song ‘I wonder’ on Wednesday, April 17.
The lyrics to this new song were written by members Taiki Kudo and Sota Hanamura, with Hanamura also composing. The song incorporates the vibe of a drama series, focusing on the dual themes of “love” and “finding yourself” and comparing them to colors, from vivid ones to black and white, and all the layered combinations in between.
At 21:00 Japan Standard Time on the same date, a performance video for ‘I wonder’ was also released as a YouTube Premiere. The choreography was devised by Hanamura in collaboration with Sungo (avex ROYALBRATS). The video’s simple and stylish composition shows the members of Da-iCE dancing gracefully in a space with no decoration except for the lighting, allowing you to truly focus on the group’s incredible dance performance.
▼ ‘I wonder’ performance video
Release information
‘I wonder’
Digital release Wednesday, April 17
About Da-iCE
Da-iCE are a five-piece boyband with twin vocalists who boast an impressive four-octave singing range.
The members are vocalists Yudai Ohno and Sota Hanamura, and performers Taiki Kudo, Toru Iwaoka and Hayate Wada. Released in November 2020, their song ‘CITRUS’ became the first song by a Japanese male dance and vocal group to surpass 100 million streams, and won an award at the prestigious 63rd Japan Record Awards in 2021. Their song ‘Star Mine’, which was also featured on the album ‘SCENE’ released last year, has become a long-running hit, with over 600 million plays on TikTok.
Further information
Website | Instagram | X | YouTube | TikTok
#DaiCE #Japaneseboygroup #JPop #kcrush #fivepieceboyband #YudaiOhno #SotaHanamura #TaikiKudo #ToruIwaoka #HayateWade #CITRUS #100millionstreams #kcrushamerica #StarMine #SCENE #Awards #JPopgroup #IWonder #newrelease #newmusic #newsingle #Hanamurain Sungo #avexROYALBRATS
ATEEZ was the first K-pop boy group to perform at Coachella, making amazing strides for K-pop in the States. When interviewed by Entertainment Tonight, ATEEZ commented that the performance felt like walking on clouds. They were so blown away by the audience’s response to the music and how loud the crowd sang back their songs. “It was a dream come true,” Hongjoon said. They talked about how nervous they were before walking on stage, but “we were fly once we were on stage” San said. People at Coachella commented that they could hear Atiny singing along from quite a distance! So the fans truly did show up and show out.
Yeosang noted of the performance, “Usually, before I go on stage, I drink a little bit of water, but Coachella is like a sandstorm, and my throat would get hot, so I drank half a bottle of water before coming onstage. This was something that surprised me.”
The setlist itself would not only impress Atiny, but those who had never heard ATEEZ before. When planning the songs, they noticed that most music festivals focus on rock or EDM. The strength of ATEEZ is that their songs are a mix of both! Because of this, they brought a live band with them, whilst maintaining some EDM vibes. The remix of some songs made the performances fresh and tailored to that specific audience.
Something fans might be tickled to know is that Mingi was spotted in the crowd at Coachella watching other performances! He was interacting with people and seemed like a regular concertgoer. You can find footage of him on TikTok, just casually hanging out with other attendees.
During their final performance at Coachella, Hongjoon held up a fan with “Golden Hour” written on it. This was an announcement for their upcoming EP, Golden Hour: Part 1, set to drop May 31st! Be on the lookout for more sneak peeks for this release!
—-Ellie Boyd
#ATEEZ #Coachella #Hongjoon #GoldenHour #ATEEZMay312024 #kcrushnews #kpop #ATEEZupdate #Atiny #ATEEZfandomAtiny #Yeosang #ATEEZmembers #koreanboygroupatCoachella #Hongjoon #EntertainmentTonight #EDM #dreamcometrue #kfashion #Asiangroup #newmusicbyATEEZ #kcrushamerica #ATEEZnews #KoreanPop #kcrushrecap #ATEEZupcomingtour #GoldenHourPart1 #ATEEZperformsatCoachella2024
The Dallas stop had so much energy, that it felt like we were in a club instead of a concert for Bang Yongguk. The set list that he picked were very good choices and I was happy to hear some never before songs live. But like I said, the energy was more energized than the last time he performed last year and he did bring the energy again. You could see that he put a lot of passion into his performance.
So, you know I have to shout out Echo Lounge for hosting Bang Yongguk’s Concert again. Everyone of the staff members were very nice and helpful to the fans and media crews as well. They made sure again everyone was hydrated. The Crew in Bang Yongguk’s Tour staff were also very nice and helpful before, during and after the concert, they made sure that everyone got their Meet and Greet wristband before and after the concert. I also enjoyed the translator as well, she seemed to also be having fun as well.
Okay! Now to the concert experience and artist performance. Let’s just say Bang Yongguk did bring the house down with the tracklist and the DJ also did a great job warming up the crowd before Bang Yongguk came on stage. The remixes the DJ was playing were awesome and made the crowd dance from the dance floor to the balcony and were bobbing their heads. It was pretty cool to hear a remixed song that said “I’m from Texas” in the DJ mixes.
The first song, “OFF,” was a very good choice because he came out on stage with so much energy that the fans were jumping up and down. The fans were singing along and matching his energy in his performance. This was the first time hearing this song live and it is one of my friend and I’s favorite songs on his EP.2 album. The bass for the song was very bombing like it could shake the whole building down.
Xie Xie, the second song and the fans were screaming out at the top of their lungs when the chorus came on. He did an awesome job hyping up his fans and the dance moves were cool too; it got the fans to dance along with him. It was very nice to hear that one live as well from his very first solo album of the same name as the artist, Bang Yongguk. Like I talked about the bass in “OFF” this one had a lot more powerful bass. The first and second songs were great choices to hype up the fans. To get them jumping up and down, singing their heart out and just matching the energy that he was giving from the start.
Ride or Die and IXLU are the next songs on the setlist. They both were great songs to keep the energy up in the Echo Lounge. In “Ride or Die” the fans were singing “I got my eyes on you” while pointing at the person they are with or at Bang Yongguk himself. Everyone was swaying side to side to this song while bobbing their heads side to side. The fans were really feeling this song especially “IXLU” Everyone was singing this song word for word, while jumping up and down like they were really dancing hard on this song. While for Bang he did great on performing those two songs and doing his own dances for them, you can tell that his fans were also giving him energy through his performance as well. When the song ended the fans were screaming and wooing afterwards to show their excitement and enjoyment for that song.
The next songs were “Ride and Numb”, everyone was still bobbing their heads and waving their BAP lightsticks in the air. It’s always great to see the lightsticks in the crowd of fans. Bang Yongguk also had a surprise during “Ride”, it was a little remix version of the song and it was super cool to hear it plus very well executed. Also, the DJ was being a great hype man for Bang, I like their dynamic duo ship. “Numb” seemed to be a fan favorite because when the fans were getting a cool remix reveal that was teasing the song before the DJ revealed it to the fans. They were all jumping up and down for joy, really excited to hear this one. Which not going lie, also one of my favorites from the new album.
The two intermissions were really funny and nice, because he was telling his fans that he was happy to be back in Dallas and see his fans again. Which caused his fans to scream out how much they love him so much and how cute he is as well. Then he goes into telling them that he loves the energy in the house better than last year. He spoke about how he found the meaning of life and it’s because of his fans’ support and love for him and his music. He also interacted with his fans about what their favorite songs are from his latest album and there were a lot of responses for a lot of different songs. There was a fan that shouted out saying ‘thank you for making them’ which was thanking him for making the music and expressing his thoughts and feelings into his music. It really shows how much he loves making music and expressing himself through it. He gave his fans a challenge to find happiness somewhere, that brings them joy and comfort. It was very exciting to see him speak Spanish, showing off his bilingual abilities.
Okay there are songs that I was really hype to hear live for the first time, they were Hikikomori, Am 4:44, and Journey. Let’s start off with ‘Journey’, this is one of the best songs to listen to on a long road trip or writing a story, but like I said it was awesome to hear it for the first time in person and everyone else was swaying to the music enjoying the smooth acoustic guitar in the music. Bang Yongguk looked like he was also enjoying the vibe. Now ‘Hikikomori’ he sang his heart out on this one, which is understandable because it was sort of about his experience in the K-Pop industry. The fans were enjoying the performance, even singing along and matching his energy. I also like how he transitioned to his next song after that one which was ‘Am 4:44’. This one is great to hear live as well, he also sang his heart out in this one too, which makes sense because this is the first song he produced while being under his old company back in the day. His fans clapped for him because they felt the passion and remembered what this song meant to them as well as Bang Yongguk. They were feeling those two songs, but all three song performances were amazing and it was great to hear them.
These four songs, Buss it Down, Movimento, UFO and Yamazaki made the last bit of the concert like a club and him splashing water on his fans again like last year during ‘Yamazaki’ chorus, plus his energy was hyping up the fans making his fans dancing around, bobbing their heads and swaying their hands in the air. The remix on some parts of the song was really fun. He did great on playing these songs after the other because each song was keeping everyone moving even when they heard ‘Buss it Down’ everyone was screaming with joy and started jumping up and down on this song, which this song made the crowd grow closer to the stage, but somehow everyone had space to dance around and he was also throwing some moves down on stage too that got his fans to cheer for him louder. His DJ was the best hype train for him as well during this song, but this is where it felt like a club instead of a concert. ‘Movimento’ was also a great song to hear live and kept you moving. Everyone moved along with him as he showed off some dance moves.
He started wearing a cowboy hat during the last two songs, which the fans were sad to hear were coming to the end of his concert. He did come back for the encore though to perform three more songs, one song, ‘Ya’ he did pour water on himself, it made the fans scream. The other song was a remix, I believe for ‘Buss it down’ because he performed it again, but this time it sounded like the DJ was mixing multiple of his songs at once. It did mix well, the only reason I could tell it was a mix of his songs is because I heard I believe ‘Bad’ playing in the background. This made his fans moving and enjoying the vibe he was giving out to them with his remixes and performance. He even seemed to be enjoying these remixes of his song as well. But Bang Yongguk ended with ‘Orange Drive’. He came down from the stage to interact with the fans and you know how he said “I love me” in the lyrics well he changed it and said “I love you” to his fans it was really adorable to see and also cool on how they did it because they did a transition on muffling out that part for him to shout “I love you” to his fans, it was a great way of interacting with his fans. And again one of the top songs I like to listen to on repeat so I was super happy to hear this song live again.
This concert was super hype, bumping and a lot of love. You can tell that Bang Yongguk was super enjoying himself and that the fans were also having fun watching him perform and just vibing with him as well. I had a blast myself and cannot wait for many more to come of his future concerts and to hear any new songs to come out. Thank you again MyMusicTaste, YYEntertainment and Echo Lounge for having us there and experiencing this wonderful performance.
All image credits: Beau Seigfreid
Authored by: Breya
#BangYongguk #BangYonggukBAP #BAPBABY #kcrushcoverage #kcrushconcertpress #BAP #kpop #koreanBangYongguk #Dallaslegoftour2024 #koreanpop #kcrushamerica #kpopmusic #kpoptour #BangofBAP #DallaswelcomesBangYongguk #BangYonggukUSTour #koreansinger #kpopidol #leaderofBAP #YYEntertainment #OrangeDrive #Movimento #Yamazaki #AM444 #Numb #Hikikomori #BAPLightstick #kpoplightsticks #Yongguk #USTour #kfashion #kmusic #kcrushpress #Ride
ARMY are divided over a recent video from the South Korean military. The video specifically featured the 2nd Army Corps in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province where V is clearly seen in tactical gear and with weapons. Many would label this as pro-military propoganda.
Some ARMY commented how proud they were of V. “Captain Korea” and “V” trended on social media in a positive response to the video’s release. One ARMY commented, “Kim Taehyung is in the hardest unit in the military, having the highest IQ and athleticism needed for the job while wearing the coolest uniform. PROUD OF YOU CAPTAIN TAEHYUNG.”
However, soon the applause was disrupted by disgruntled fans. One fan wrote, “‘So proud of him’ and ‘he’s so cool’–it’s just military propoganda and forced conscription. Are y’all insane? What exactly are you proud of?”
Some called the video hypocrisy of BTS’ “love myself” campaign for UNICEF and their anti-violence speeches at the UN. However, others spoke up on behalf of the members, sharing some of the history of South Korea. Fans defended it as Korea is a nation that has been war-prone and the conscription is a way to keep their freedom. Additionally, BTS chose to enter the military though they were given exceptions due to their global stardom. They chose to go into the military service anyway.
What do you think? Should BTS be involved in pro-military videos or let their involvement speak for itself? Obviously, this is something each member chose to do and is related to their personal belief, but do they have a duty to stay away from controversy due to their worldwide fandom?
Should fans accept BTS for who they are at every level, or is protest like this a sign of genuine care and concern?
—-Ellie Boyd
#V #VofBTS #military #Korea #promilitary #militaryvideo #kcrush #2ndArmyCorpsinChuncheonGangwonProvince #kpop #koreanmilitary #BTSARMY #ARMYforBTS #BTSFandom #KimTaeyung #kcrushamerica #militaryfashion #kpopnews #koreansinger #newsstory #BTSindividualmemberV #kcrushnews
KPOP Club Night is attracting so many new friends and music lovers to their events across North America. To them it has been such a wild ride meeting everyone! There are 28 shows for sale right now at kpopclubnight.com including an accidental afterparty in Atlanta! Lock in your tickets now, the prices generally go up before show day!
DJ YUKA K & KPOP CLUB NIGHT 2024 SCHEDULE SPRING SUMMER AND BEYOND
4.26 Calgary (18+) – https://www.eventbee.com/v/kpop-club-night-in-calgary-april-26-at-the-rec-room-deerfoot/event?eid=275415614 DISCOUNT CODE: MAGENTIC
4.27 Edmonton (18+) – https://www.eventbee.com/v/kpop-club-night-in-edmonton-april-27-at-temple-ballroom/event?eid=225713511 DISCOUNT CODE: MAGENTIC
5.03 Nashville (18+) https://www.eventbee.com/v/kpop-club-night-in-nashville-may-3-at-vinyl-lounge/event?eid=225613721 DISCOUNT CODE: MAGENTIC
5.04 Phoenix (18+) https://concerts.livenation.com/kpop-club-night-phoenix-arizona-05-04-2024/event/19006055E3B53E81
5.10 Austin (18+) https://prod-nts-api.seeticketsusa.us/v1.0.0/promote/YWZmOlNUVVMtNTg4NDg4OjQ=/clickthru
5.11 Houston (18+) https://www.eventbee.com/v/kpop-club-night-in-houston-may-11/event?eid=245712103 DISCOUNT CODE: MAGENTIC
5.17 Toronto (19+) https://www.eventbee.com/v/kpop-club-night-in-toronto-may-17-at-the-rec-room-roundhouse/event?eid=256918163 DISCOUNT CODE: MAGENTIC
5.18 Cleveland (21+) https://www.eventbee.com/v/kpop-club-night-in-cleveland-may-18-at-the-velvet-dog/event?eid=266919203 DISCOUNT CODE: MAGENTIC
5.24 Detroit (18+) https://www.eventbee.com/v/kpop-club-night-in-detroit-may-24-at-el-club/event?eid=234712563 DISCOUNT CODE: MAGENTIC
5.31 Kansas City MO (18+) https://www.eventbee.com/v/kpop-club-night-in-kansas-city-may-31-at-the-truman/event?eid=255119054 DISCOUNT CODE: MAGENTIC
6.01 Atlanta (18+) https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0E006041F84E59A6
6.07 Dallas (18+) https://www.prekindle.com/event/38251-kpop-club-night-with-dj-yuka-k-dallas
6.08 Salt Lake City (18+) https://www.tixr.com/e/91688
6.14 Los Angeles (18+) https://kpopclubnightla.eventbrite.com/
6.15 Minneapolis (18+) https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0600608BDED47E28
6.21 Orlando (18+) https://www.tixr.com/groups/celineorlando/events/kpop-club-night-in-orlando-with-dj-yuka-95732
6.22 Miami (18+) https://www.eventbee.com/v/kpop-club-night-in-miami-june-22-at-mad-live/event?eid=236413332 DISCOUNT CODE: MAGENTIC
6.28 Washington DC (18+) https://www.ticketweb.com/event/k-pop-club-night-howard-theatre-tickets/13656663?pl=howardtheatre&refid=artist
7.05 Winnipeg (18+) https://www.ticketweb.ca/event/kpop-club-night-exchange-event-centre-tickets/13401394?pl=ExchangeEventCentre
7.06 Montreal (18+) https://lepointdevente.com/billets/xd0240706001
7.13 Chicago (21+) https://www.eventbee.com/v/kpop-club-night-in-chicago-july-13-at-distro-music-hall/event?eid=266316294 DISCOUNT CODE: MAGENTIC (valid until MAY 4)
7.19 Louisville KY (18+) https://www.ticketmaster.com/kpop-club-night-louisville-kentucky-07-19-2024/event/1600606FADB34BFD
7.20 New York (18+) https://www.axs.com/events/544876/kpop-club-night-tickets?skin=websterhall Cheap early bird tickets on sale now for the next few days only!
7.26 Sacramento (21+) https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/50255972/kpop-club-nightwith-dj-yuka-k-sacramento-harlows
7.27 Honolulu (18+) – venue TBA – tickets on sale soon
8.03 San Francisco (21+) – The Grand – Tickets on sale soon
8.10 Philadelphia (21+) – WOW – Tickets on sale soon
9.06 Columbus (18+) – https://www.eventbee.com/v/kpop-club-night-in-columbus-sept-6-at-skullys/event?eid=246616111 DISCOUNT CODE: MAGENTIC
9.21 St. Louis MO (18+) – https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0600608AB9863DF9
9.28 Denver (18+) – https://app.showslinger.com/e/kpop-hermans
12.7 Albuquerque (18+) – Electric Playhouse – Tickets on sale June 1
FOLLOW AND TAG
Make sure to follow and tag them in your posts and stories!
Kpop Club Night http://instagram.com/kpopclubnight
DJ Yuka K http://instagram.com/djyuka
Make requests a week before the show at http://tiktok.com/@kpopclubnight
Listen to past mixes at http://mixcloud.com/kpopclubnight
All tickets on sale now at http://kpopclubnight.com
See you on the dance-floor!
There’s a new K-beauty trend going around, but it has mostly negative comments surrounding it. Korea’s beauty culture isn’t shy about plastic surgery and face-altering measures in order to achieve the desired aesthetic. People travel all over the world to get beauty procedures done here. But has K-beauty gone too far this time?
Pupil enlarging surgeries have officially come into the spotlight, also known as “Eye-ring surgery.” Individuals who desire to have the effects of large pupil contact lenses, but permanently, are opting into this trend. The larger pupil effect isn’t a stranger to the K-pop world, with many stars seen sporting these contacts.
The surgery itself is promoted as “simple.” A circular silicone ring is inserted around the pupil to enlarge it. It doesn’t actually involve the pupil itself, but the surrounding area. One clinic claimed it was developed after seven years of research.
An X user posted about the procedure and it accumulated many comments. Here are some of the popular ones:
“South Korean plastic surgeons doing this need to be removed for crimes against humanity.”
“I would do it!”
“WonYoung already got dibs booking that first appointment.”
“Heck no, that looks like a tattoo on the white of your eye! Wearing a circle lens would be safer than this.”
“That sounds scary.”
Korea’s no newbie when it comes to surgery on the eyes. Epicanthoplasty is popular because it makes the eyes appear more open. It involves removing the epicanthal fold–this is the skin at the eye’s inner corner. Double eyelid surgery is also well-known, as it seems to be the most popular eye procedure.
Does this new pupil surgery fit right in or do you believe that this goes too far? Would you consider having this done?
—-Ellie Boyd
#KBeautyTrend #KbeautyTrendGoesViral #Kbeauty #Epicanthoplasty #epicanthalfold #kcrush #doubleeyelid #kpop #koreanbeautytrend #newbeautytrend #viraltrends #wearingacirclelens #circularsiliconering #pupil #ktrend #kfashion #koreanplasticsurgeons #beautywithplasticsurgery #pupilenlargementsurgery #eyeringsurgery #kcrushamerica
Coming off the heels of his third EP, the K-pop superstar will kick off the tour in Seoul and visit 18 cities across Europe, North America and Asia
MONSTA X’s dynamic rapper and vocalist, I.M, embarks on his new journey as a solo artist by announcing dates for his ‘Off The Beat’ World Tour. The soloist will ignite the world with his first ever solo headlining tour that will kick off in Seoul before proceeding to showcasing storytelling performances for fans in major European cities, followed by a North American tour leg, before ending in Asia. As the sole member of MONSTA X to embark on a global solo adventure, the K-pop star is poised to captivate the audiences with his charisma, explosive energy, and genre-defying artistry.
Fueling the anticipation, I.M has dropped the latest music video from his third EP, “Off The Beat,” making this his second release of 2024. Earlier in April, he released the body of work with six new tracks, ‘LURE,’ ‘Bust it,’ ‘X0,’ ‘Skyline,’ ‘MMI,’ and ‘nbdy.’ While each song embodies a unique story, this extended playlist is all about being his genuine self and reflects the theme of ‘not following the regular path,’ and practicing ‘unconventionalism.’ The record-breaking artist delves deeper into uncharted territory with this new release, infusing his raw talent as a producer, singer-songwriter, and rapper with the genuine spirit of his avant-garde persona.
Beyond the stage, I.M remains stylish and iconic by straddling the worlds of both music and fashion. From collaborations with Versace and Swarovski, to turning heads at Polo Ralph Lauren and BOSS, I.M is a trendsetter, trailblazer, and fashion icon. This tour presents a new opportunity to witness I.M’s bold style, both musically and on stage.
Get ready to witness I.M embark on his first ever solo tour showcasing his distinctive storytelling live in 18 cities across the world. For more information on tour dates and tickets, please visit I.M’s social media channels on Instagram and Twitter. The general public can buy tickets starting from April 29 at 10 am PDT and 8 am EDT with presale taking place on April 26 at the same time for those with the presale code.
2024 Off The Beat World Tour Dates:
All dates and cities below are subject to change.
KOREA
May 25-26 Seoul
EUROPE
July 26 London, UK
July 28 Paris, FR
Aug. 1 Cologne, GE
Aug. 3 Berlin, GE
UNITED STATES
Aug. 8 Boston, MA
Aug. 10 New York, NY
Aug. 15 Toronto, ON
Aug. 17 Chicago, IL
Aug. 23 Houston, TX
Aug. 25 Dallas, TX
Aug. 27 Vancouver, BC
Aug. 29 San Francisco, CA
Aug. 31 Los Angeles, CA
ASIA
Sept. 19 Taipei
Sept. 22 Tokyo
Sept. 24 Bangkok
Sept. 29 Macau
(Credit: Sony Music Entertainment Korea Inc)
ABOUT I.M
I.M (Im Chang-Kyun) is a member and the lead rapper of the Korean boy group, MONSTA X, who debuted in 2015. Even as the youngest member of the group, I.M has shown his talent and potential as a soloist through numerous mixtapes and solo EPs, where he contributed to the composing, arranging, and writing of the lyrics. His solo debut EP “DUALITY”, released in February 2021, has gained massive success with five tracks ranking in Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales Chart, reaching 8.5 million views on YouTube for his lead track, “God Damn”, music video and holds over 15.9 million streams on Spotify. While remaining a part of MONSTA X, I.M is currently focusing more on his solo career. With the second EP “OVERDRIVE” released under Sony Music Entertainment Korea in June 2023, he showed a wider range of skills with a style change in his music compared to his work with MONSTA X. This EP ranked first in 14 countries on the iTunes Global Chart and achieved over 1 million streams within 24 hours of the release, which led to this extended playlist to place on the Melon Hall of Fame. The album carefully sets out the musical worldview pursued by I.M as a soloist through deep, sophisticated sounds and delicate melodies. I.M has been showing great success and growth as he continues to reveal a more unique side of him as well as connects with his fans through his latest albums and singles, such as his debut EP “Duality,” his last album “Overdrive,” and his latest single “Slowly.” All five songs in the “Duality” album charted on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales Chart and has about 45 million all time global streams.
Connect with I.M on Instagram |Twitter |Facebook | Spotify | YouTube
#IM #2024InternationalTour #kcrushannouncement #OffTheBeatIMTour #musictour #kpop #MonstaX #solotour #IMChangKyun #kcrushamerica #worldtourannouncement #kpoptour #leadsingerMonstaX #18citytour #krapper #kmusic #kculture #koreansinger #IMofMonstaX
KCrush ‘In Flames’ Interview with Actresses Ramesha Nawal and Bakhtawar Mazhar
Carolyn Hinds
Freelance Critic, Journalist & Podcaster
African American Film Critics Association Member, Tomatometer-Approved Critic
Co-Host & Producer So Here’s What Happened! Podcast
Bylines at http://Authory.com/CarolynHinds
Twitter & Instagram: @CarrieCnh12
Based on his 2018 short film Dia, 2023’s feature adaptation stars Ramesha Nawal who for her first lead and film role, gives an extremely impressive performance as Mariam, a young college student who’s foray into romance and first love turns into a nightmare following a tragic accident. Unable to cope with the trauma which brings to mind memories of past incidents that haunt her, Miram withdraws into herself and away from her mother Fariha, played eloquently by Bakhtawar Mazhar.
As Mariam becomes aware of the danger men pose to her safety and peace of mind, Fariha herself is learning how to stand on her feet for the first time after living under the controlling guidance of her late father and husband.
Though mother and daughter seem to be fighting their own personal battles and demons, they’re ultimately fighting the same dark spectre of patriarchy. This system that though intangible in a sense, has very tangible effects on their lives and relationship with each other. Khan does an extremely impressive job of depicting this system as the horror that it is for women and young girls to live under.
While he may have set the events of In Flames in Karachi, Pakistan, Zarrar understands that the system is the same the world over. It doesn’t matter the city, language, or culture, patriarchy is present everywhere and exists as a looming presence that can take physical form in men who claim to be heroes but turn out to be a woman’s worst nightmare.
Doing an excellent job of building the film’s tense and disconcerting atmosphere were cinematographer Aigul Nrubulatova, editor Craig Scorgie, and composer Kalaisan Kalaichelvan.
In my interview with Zarrar we spoke about the danger men who want to be feminist allies can end up being a hindrance to women, building the sense of trepidation Miram experiences, and the trauma she and Farriha must work their way through. And during my conversation with Ramesha and Bakhtawar, we spoke about the ladies’ own perspectives on their characters, growing up and living in patriarchal societies, and mothers and daughters growing together to be their own personal heroes.
In Flames world premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, and showed at various film festivals around the world including the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, and Regent Park Film Festival, and on April 12th, 2024 had its North American theatrical release.
Carolyn Hinds
Freelance Critic, Journalist & Podcaster
African American Film Critics Association Member, Tomatometer-Approved Critic
Co-Host & Producer So Here’s What Happened! Podcast
Bylines at http://Authory.com/CarolynHinds
Twitter & Instagram: @CarrieCnh12
#InFlames #ZarrarKahn #RameshaNawal #BakhtawarMazhar #kcrushinterview #kcrush #CannesFilmFestival #cinematographerAigulNrubulatova #KarachiPakistan #interview #composerKalaisanKalaichelvan #CanadianPakistanifilmmakerZarrarKahn #actress #producer #kcrushamerica #kcrushmedia #TorontoReelAsianInternationalFilmFestival #kcrushfilminterview
Adapted from Fawzia’s own stage 2012 play of the same title, the film stars Amrit Kaur as Azra queer Pakistani-Canadian woman whose disconnect from the traditional Muslim beliefs, and aspirations of being a filmmaker creates a rift between her and her mother Miriam played by Nimra Bucha.
With the expert editing of Simone Smither, The Queen of My Dreams seamlessly transitions between 1999 Toronto, 1969 Kirachi, Pakistan, and 1989 Sydney, Nova Scotia to show how time, circumstance, and misunderstandings changed Miriam from a young woman full of confidence and charisma dreaming of travelling the world and meeting new people as an Air Hostess, to a woman who seem lost her spark in a life dedicated to religion and fear, then grief from the sudden loss of her husband Hassan (Hamza Haq).
In her youth, Miriam – played by Amrit – is all smiles and open to whatever life has in store for her. Her personality matches the bright bustling city streets of Karachi, a city going through its own metamorphosis due to political and religious unrest that would last into the 80s.
As young Miriam and Azra, Amrit does a brilliant job of playing two young women whose confidence away from their mothers, turns to frustration when her mother’s constant mentions of being prayer and religious dedication for Azra, and being a proper young lady worthy of a husband for Miriam comes of as condemnation of who they are as people.
With a script carefully balanced to give the audience time to fully understand these women and the circumstances that shaped who they are and could be, Fawzia displays a skill that writers can struggle with when it comes to stories with different timelines and complicated histories.
In my KCrush interview with Fawzia, we speak about The Queen of My Dream’s Bollywood inspiration in screen legend Sharmila Tagore, why mothers and daughters struggle to understand each other despite their similarities, and how women and girls are the most impacted during significant cultural changes.
The Queen of My Dreams, screened at Cannes Film Market before its official world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) where it was named in Canada’s Top Ten List, and had its theatrical release March 22nd.
It has been nominated in multiple categories including Best Lead Performance in a Drama film for Amrit, at the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards.
Carolyn Hinds
Freelance Critic, Journalist & Podcaster
African American Film Critics Association Member, Tomatometer-Approved Critic
Co-Host & Producer So Here’s What Happened! Podcast
Bylines at http://Authory.com/CarolynHinds
Twitter & Instagram: @CarrieCnh12
#QueenofMyDreams #kcrushinterview #FawziaMiza #writerdirectorFawziaMiza #kcrush #interview #nominated #BestLeadPerformanceinaDramafilmforAmrit #Bollywood #2024CanadianScreenAwards #SharmilaTagore #motherdaughterfilm #KirachiPakistan #SydneyNovaScotia #Canadian #kcrushamerica #TIFF #2023TorontoInternationalFilmFestival #HamzaHaq #AmritKaur
From the streets of Iwata City, Shizuoka to the world, GREEN KIDS takes the cultural stereotypes bull by its horns. This 6-member hip-hop group has become a voice of the people in its journey of pioneering a fresh and holistic perspective on identity matters in a world that unjustly labels people based on an ancient and archaic generational approach. KCrush America magazine had a conversation with GREEN KIDS to better understand their journey.
What’s the story behind’s the birth of GREEN KIDS and why the name “GREEN KIDS”?
Before the GREEN KIDS group was formed, they were separated by age into two “groups” in the apartment complex. One group had a Peruvian national, ACHA (the group leader), and the other had Flight-A, Swag-A, BARCO, and the only Japanese member, Crazy-K. Flight-A, Swag-A, and ACHA all went to the same elementary and junior high school, and as they grew older, they started playing together in the same complex, which brought them closer to one another. Around the same time, BARCO moved from the neighboring town of Fukuroi to the Higashishinmachi apartment complex. Crazy-K still lives at Asaba in Fukuroi City.
While we were all playing together, we started to get into music. “Since we’re all here, let’s make music together!” was something we mutually agreed on. ACHA and the members who are no longer with us decided on the group name “GREEN KIDS”, and everyone immediately agreed! As for the origin of the group name “GREEN KIDS”: We grew up in a public complex surrounded by rice fields and greenery. So we named the group “GREEN KIDS” in the hope that we would not forget our childlike spirit even as adults.
What is that core issue or message that GREEN KIDS sheds light on?
We write songs based on what we have actually seen and felt. In other words, we sing about the discrimination, poverty, and environmental differences we have experienced in Japan. As we sing, we represent the feelings of the many foreigners who are unable to express their feelings at school or at work, even though they are bullied and discriminated against. Discrimination and bullying isn’t limited to just Japan, being something that exists in all countries, but our songs appeal to the desire that we can eliminate it someday.
The Flight album has been creating ripples in the entertainment arena with tracks starting from “Start From Nothing”, to “SHAKE THAT ASS”, and other hits before wrapping up with the “Don’t Give Up” hit. What’s your lyrical creation process like?
The songs “Start From Nothing” and “Don’t Give Up” were created with the following thoughts in mind:
- We had absolutely nothing when we formed the group, so we started from scratch. Anyone can achieve something if they don’t give up.
- We know people who have committed suicide because they were bullied or tired of life. We hope that there may be one less victim like this.
We want to provide songs that can help those with negative thoughts become a little more positive. Flight-A often receives messages from people who listen to our songs.
“I’m listening to that song and will do my best today!”
“I look back on my life that I almost gave up on and try to be more positive.”
When we hear those kind of responses, it makes us happy that we wrote such a song! We want to continue to create songs that encourage people.
Who were your biggest musical influences while growing up?
When I was a kid at home, I used to listen to Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent. But by middle school, it was Anarchy and AK-69.
There have been a lot, but I’d say those two were the artists that inspired me the most.
You have had several live performances so far. What is the most embarrassing or funniest moment you’ve had on stage?
There are many funny things that happened, but if I had to pick just one: it would be a drunken member of the band sleeping behind the DJ booth. The most embarrassing incident was when I fell off the stage while singing into the audience along with the speakers, and the sound stopped😅.
You wrote two track songs (“Jailbreak” and “Don’t Give Up”) for the revolutionary “Familia” 2023 movie where even Flight-A was cast. How did all this opportunity unfold and how does it relate to your lives or career?
It all started when the film staff came to see our live performance in Tokyo. The lyrics had a lot in common with the movie, so we were invited to audition. But on the day of the audition, all the members were late. We all thought we failed, but Flight-A was the only one who passed the audition and got to appear in the movie.
If you could change one thing about the rap industry what would it be?
If we could change one thing, we would like to change people’s bad impressions of the rap industry. HIP HOP is amazing and we think music has the power to change the world. We want to continue to send music into the world where there are so many problems like poverty and discrimination.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced during your music career and how do you deal with them?
We have had bad experiences both in our life and in our music career! We’ve had people make fun of us and say things like, “You can’t make it!” and “You’re not good enough!”. Some people probably still think this way. But we don’t succumb to negative thinking when we hear it; we turn it into a positive force. Even when we have a bad day, we are able to stay positive thanks to the support of our friends who are always around us.
Your musical pieces, including “Great Party” and “Enjoy Life” are pumped with hypnotizing and energetic beats fused in complementary rap. Which member of GREEN KIDS is most likely to accidentally start a dance party in a library?
Flight-A and Swag-A are twins, and although they fight every day, they always go everywhere together! BARCO is the quietest and smartest, and is considered a bit eccentric by those around him. He is also probably the one who has played the most pranks among the members!
ACHA is the oldest of the rappers and the most calm and well-spoken. He was a key figure in creating GREEN KIDS.
DJ PIG is one year older than ACHA and is from the same hometown (Asaba) as Crazy-K. He used to be an EDM DJ, but he was invited by the members of GREEN KIDS to become GREEN KIDS’ exclusive DJ! He’s a real lady-killer.
Crazy-K is the only Japanese member of GREEN KIDS, but he is often mistaken for a foreigner. He’s probably the craziest out of all the members, but he cares for music and his friends more than anyone else! Although he may not be popular with women, he is loved by the people around him the most.
As your lives are constantly busy, how does each member take time to relax and enjoy time away from rehearsals and performances?
When I am not performing or working, I like going out for BBQs and drinks in my hometown. I also spend time with my family and meet up with friends and seniors that I don’t normally get to see! We often chat over drinks.
What advice would you give to other artists with similar backgrounds who are trying to find their place in the music industry?
No matter how bad the circumstances are–even if you don’t have family or your family is far away–it is important to have a dream. We know there can be a lot of hardships, but there are also a lot of fun things, so if you keep looking forward and keep working hard, you will surely see the light! It’s with this belief that we continue to fight on.
What does the future hold for GREEN KIDS?
We will be releasing our work on GREEN KIDS in May or June of this year. Also, stay tuned as we begin a national tour! We will be releasing new songs and music videos, so be sure to check them out!
Thank you GREEN KIDS for your time and for such a deep dive into helping our readers learn more about you.
—-Makena Mwenda
#GREENKIDS #JHipHop #JPop #Japanesesinginggroup #kcrushinterview #Jrap #FukuroiCity #ACHA #Flight-A #SwagA #BARCO #CrazyK #songwriters #kcrushamericamagazine #bullyinginJapane #discrimination #nonegativethinking #newmusicfromGREENKIDS #nationaltour2024 #DJPig #youcandoit #Japanesegroup #JailbreakGREENKIDS #DontGiveUpGREENKIDS #StartFromScratchGREENKIDS #GreatPartyGREENKIDS #EnjoyLifeGREENKIDS #Familiamovie #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #Asiannews #interview #IwataCityShizuoka
As she celebrates the 26th anniversary of her debut, Japanese pop superstar Ayumi Hamasaki has released the brand new single ‘BYE-BYE’. ‘BYE-BYE’ was written for the NHK series ‘Minna no Uta’, broadcast in April and May. As you’d expect from Hamasaki, the song’s immersive lyrics are dark and deep – generating tons of attention among her legions of fans. Along with the release of ‘BYE-BYE’, a music video was also released on Hamasaki’s official YouTube channel.
In a classroom in an apparently abandoned school, Hamasaki and 23 dancers perform intense choreography, especially during the chorus – and all of them, including Hamasaki, are dressed in school uniform. As soon as this explosive video was released on April 8, social media it up with fan comments, such as “ayu looks so cute in uniform!”, “I have to learn the choreography!” and “This song is the perfect start to her 26th anniversary!” 26 years have passed since the release of Ayumi Hamasaki’s debut single ‘poker face’ on April 8, 1998. As she enters her 27th year, ayu continues to evolve – don’t miss it.
About Ayumi Hamasaki
Ayumi Hamasaki made her debut on April 8, 1998, with the release of her single ‘poker face’. Her first album, ‘A Song for ××’, was released January 1, 1999, becoming a million seller. She received the Japan Record Award in 2001, 2002 and 2003 – an unprecedented three-year streak. She made history as Japan’s first ever solo artist and third group to sell over 50 million singles and albums. The worldview depicted in her self-written lyrics and expressed by her incredible singing voice pierce the hearts of all who listen, while her fashion sense and uncompromising approach to life have struck a chord with women across generations.
Further information
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
#AyumiHamasaki #JapanRecordAward #Japanesesinger #JPop #kcrush #kcrushamerica #pokerface #ByeBye #26thAnniversary #newsingle #selfwrittenlyrics #jfashion #japanesefashion #kcrushnews #NHKseriesMinnanoUta
“Crash Course in Romance” is a rom-com drama series highlighting the complexities of love and success amidst criticism from society and jealousy from the most unexpected individuals. Nam Haeng Seon is a side dish shop owner who strives to raise her differently-abled brother and supposed daughter, Nam Hae Yi. Choi Chi Yeol is a self-established iconic Maths teacher with a huge following across Korea. A trade of talents between Choi Chi Yeol’s teaching skills and Nam Haeng Seon’s cooking skills allows Nam Hae Yi to enter Choi Chi Yeol’s coveted Maths class which is the start of a roller coaster of heartaches fused with glimpses of joy and heart-flattering moments. Selfishness, jealousy, and obsession are highly eminent paving way to family breakouts and serial killings.
Nam Haeng Seon
Nam Haeng Seon is a side-dish shop owner who gave up her national handball player to take care of her brother and niece. Nam does all she can to ensure that her niece, whom everybody assumes to be her real daughter, a better life. in a bid to offer her supposed daughter the best education possible, Nam trades her cooking skill to a malnutritioned teacher which marks the beginning of an endless drama from her neighbors to other school parents and beyond.
Choi Chi Yeol
Choi Chi YeolChoi Chi Yeol is a self-made Maths tutor ranked among the best tutors nationally with only a few of the best students being accepted in every enrollment. Despite being a guru with numbers, Choi Chi Yeol has failed to master a proper eating habit which lands him in a hospital for malnutrition. With his demanding career on the line, Choi Chi Yeol has no option but to trade his tutoring skills in exchange for food from the only shop whose food blends with his body. This trade births numerous emotions amongst several individuals to the point of triggering psychopathic actions.
Nam Hae Yi
Nam Hae Yi is Nam Haeng Seon’s niece who was abandoned by her birth mother years ago. She works and studies hard to one day repay her aunt who had devoted her loving to take care of her. With most of her fellow smart classmates attending Choi Chi Yeol’s Maths class, Nam Hae Yi can only dream of being part of the class given it’s very expensive. A golden opportunity presents itself and Nam Hae Yi’s dream comes true only to be accompanied by heart-wrenching events, especially from those she held dearest.
Su Ah
Su Ah is Nam Hae Yi’s biggest nemesis in school. Her obsession with being the top student, which roots from her demanding mother, leads Su Ah to the jealousy path. She perceives Nam He Yi as her competition and gets overly agitated when she realizes that Na Hae Yi is Choi Chi Yeol’s private student. The ensuing events worsen Su Ah’s jealousy and resentment, out of privilege, which births heartaches in many people’s lives.
Ji Dong Hee
Ji Dong Hee is, and has been for the longest, Choi Chi Yeol’s manager at the tutoring school. He is Choi Chi Yeol’s best friend and confidant and is known for his easygoing personality and unwavering loyalty to Chi Yeol. Some episodes into the series, Dong Hee is confronted with some serious allegations that could wreck his friendship with Chi Yeol or risk Chi Yeol’s career and social status.
My thoughts
“Crash Course in Romance” is a light-hearted drama that sheds light on relatable issues in society including how power and influence intertwined in jealousy and resentment out of privilege can destroy so many lives. The drama also focuses on several characters, and not only the core actors, making the drama catchy and more interesting. The grueling search for the serial murderer also keeps viewers glued to the screen only to be dumbfounded upon knowing the murderer’s identity.
—-Makena Mwenda
#CrashCourseInRomance #kcrushmindmap #kdramamindmap #kactor #kactress #koreanactor #kdrama #JiDongHee #SuAh #NamHaeYi #ChoiChiYeol #NamHaengSeon #romcomkdrama #koreankdrama #kfashion #kpop #kcrushamerica #funkdrama #makemesmilekdrama #makemelaughkdrama #kcrush #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #kcrushonline #kcrushkdrama #CrashCourseInRomanceMindMapOnKCrush #findmindmap #mindmaponkcrushmagazine
Episode 3 continues with episode 2’s guest, Boogaloo Kin. This time the focus is on locking. There’s a great performance to RM’s song “Still Life” at the beginning of the episode. J-Hope exudes so much joy dancing with Boogaloo Kin in this scene. The colors are vibrant and match the overall mood. I really enjoyed the special effects in this performance as well, like the added animations and the groovy light-lined tile floor. Their outfits reflect their emotions, and it’s both energetic and wholesome. Overall, it’s a wonderful opening to the episode!
Locking is a dance style that originated in the 1970s in Los Angeles. It bears the name because the movements give a sensation of locking the body in a manner that reflects a lock, creating frozen moments within the dance. J-Hope was overjoyed to meet with a locking master, Lock Woong.
As all three dancers–J-Hope, Lock Woong, and Boogaloo Kin–warm up, there’s a palpable joy in the room. Hobi is laughing and practically a ray of sunshine. He is so stoked to be there!
Lock Woong was the DJ at J-Hope’s listening party, and met him soon after he debuted. Lock Woong comments that Hoseok is still the same, even after becoming a huge star. Even the way he thinks about dance is the same. This was touching to hear because in previous episodes, J-Hope mentioned that he felt like he lost that spark for dance. But in this episode, it’s evident that he can fan the flames of that passion again!
These three dance to “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang, with each dancer taking turns in the spotlight. It’s a great segment to see how each of them interprets locking in their own style.
The episode ends with a meal, just like the last. Here they discuss how Lock Woong learned to dance by watching videos. He then went on to college to major in dance, where he even learned some ballet! However, he was slow to join the street dance movement because people were often made fun of in the early 2000s for it. However, once Lock Woong got his hands on more media that involved locking, he saw that it was a dance style worth standing up for!
Lock Woong commented, “Locking, unlike other dance genres, is something you can do as a group. You can emit good and cheerful energy as you dance. I think that’s why I still like locking.” This was clearly proven in episode 3 with the amount of joy leaking from J-Hope in every dance!
Episode 4
This episode starts in Paris, where the focus is on house music and dance. J-Hope describes the music as something that gets him pumped up and makes him feel excited.
He meets up with Massangila Lumengo, whose dancer name is Yugson. He notes, “House is all about culture and freedom.” He goes on to say that house allows people from different places around the world to connect and share the same energy.
Hobi and Boogaloo Kin have a conversation in a cafe where J-Hope confesses, “Sometimes I ask myself if I’m really enjoying this. I mean, I love my work, and I love writing songs. So I continue to do it, but I’m not sure if I actually enjoy it. I feel a sort of disconnect from what I really like. Not just in dance, but in life as well.”
This was an interesting admission. Most would assume that he’s extremely fulfilled and has a rush from accomplishing his dreams of being a performer, but at the end of the day, he’s human like everyone else. These deep conversations really make the show engaging on a personal level. As much as J-Hope displays his talents, he also shows you that he’s normal too.
Their dancing in this episode is chill and smooth. It’s relaxing to watch! J-Hope doesn’t speak French and Yugson doesn’t speak Korean–but they both speak dance! It was great to see these worlds collide and see the joy in Hobi as he danced with this house professional. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
—-Ellie Boyd
#HopeOnTheStreet #HopeOnTheStreet3 #HopeOnTheStreet4 #kcrushreview #kcrushamerica #Yugson #Hobi #BTS #BTSARMY #MassangilaLumengo #streetdancing #bboying #hiphop #kpop #kmusic #Jhopedocumentary #Korea #LockWoong #BoogalooKin #locking #dancing #SugarHillGang #RappersDelight #kcrushtopentertainmentmagazine #kfashion #klife #Asian #koreanstreetwear #JHope #Jhopedancing #Houseisallaboutcultureandfreedom
BTS band is still a reigning champion despite the subsequent absence of some members on mandatory military service. Jin was the band’s first member to enlist in the military back in December 2022, and some other members have followed suit. But just as expected the band’s agency, BIG HIT Entertainment seemed to have fully prepared for this season, especially with new releases that have kept the band’s fans entertained all through. Despite the military enlistments, BTS still managed to make global headlines and milestones. Here are some of BTS band’s 2024 wins so far.
1. 1st Asia Star Entertainer Awards (ASEA)
BTS golden maknae, Jungkook, has yet again helped the iconic band maintain its reigning vibe. Jungkook won ASEA award’s Song of the Year award. The ASEA awards show collaborates with @star1 magazine and Newsen to appreciate global Asian and K-pop artists. Jungkook scooped the awards for his solo debut single “Seven”.
2. Topping Billboard 200 chart
BTS’s J-Hope has finally clinched a position among the top artists in the Billboard 200 chart. On April 7, J-Hope’s ‘HOPE ON THE STREET VOL.1’ album ranked No.5 in this coveted chart. Moreover, the album is Billboard 200 chart’s highest-ranking solo album. This is a huge milestone given J-Hope’s previous album, ‘Jack In The Box’, also ranked No.6 in the Billboard 200 chart for quite a while upon release.
3. Spotify’s fastest streamed Korean-language song
BTS’s Jimin has officially joined the Billions Club as of April 5. This is after the K-pop star’s solo debut track titled “Like Crazy” surpassed a billion streams on Spotify. Taking only 377 days to surpass the billion streams mark, “Like Crazy” has also broken history and clinched the “fastest Korean-language song in Spotify” title.
4. Gold certification in France
Jungkook’s “Seven” solo debut single has earned the made a ground-breaking record in France. On April 1, the debut single was certified gold in France after surpassing 15 million streams. This not only improved Jungkook’s rating but BTS group’s fame on a global level.
5. 1st Korean soloist to chart an album for 20 weeks.
BTS’s Jungkook has broken Billboard 200 chart’s record for longest-charting K-pop solo album. Jungkook’s ‘Golden’ album, released late last year, hit a record of 20 consecutive weeks in the Billboard 2000 chart with the “Standing Next To You” single. As of March 8, Jungkook became the 1st K-pop artist with three MVs of the same album hit 100 million streams each. All the 3 music videos, “Seven”, “3D”, and “Standing Next to You” gained over a million views making the ‘Golden’ album a hit.
6. Topping the UK’s official single chart
BTS’s V has been trending over the last few weeks for his “FRI(ENDs)” single. As of March 22, the single was charted at No.13 becoming the artist’s most highly rated single. Days before, the “FRI(ENDs)” single had topped several iTunes Charts across the world including in the US. V has so far won twice in Mnet’s MC Countdown shows and was named the 2nd best-selling song of the week in the US on March 26 after debuting in the Billboard 100 chart.
7. Ground-breaking YouTube views
BTS has over the years produced quality MVs that have had fans trickling in for more. On February 28, the band’s agency confirmed that the “Dynamite” single MV had clicked a whopping 1.8 billion views. The “Boy with Luv” MV follows behind with over 1.7 billion views followed by “IDOL” and “Fake LUV” both with over 1.2 billion views. The band’s “MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA” trailer featuring RM’s “Persona” solo track has already surpassed the 100 million views mark as of March 21. Suga’s “Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ THE MOVIE” trailer released on March 13 already has over 1 million views. The movie hit the IMAX and theatres worldwide on April 10 and 13.
8. Awards
In addition to Jungkook winning in the Asia Star Entertainer Awards for the ‘Golden’ album, the star also scooped the K-Pop Artist of the Year award and the Best Music Video award for the “Seven” single at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. In the same event, J-Hope clinched the Favorite on Screen award for his “J-Hope IN THE BOX” documentary while V took the Favorite Debut Album award for his ‘Layover’ album. Jungkook also took home the Male Artist of the Year award at the People’s Choice Awards.
—-Makena Mwenda
#BTS #Jungkook #jHope #iHeartRadioMusicAwards #RM #V #Suga #Jimin #Layoveralbum #MaleArtistoftheYear #PeoplesChoiceAwards #kcrush #kcrushamerica #kpop #kpopidolsinthemilitary #LikeCrazy #MapoftheSoulPersona #InTheBox #knews #kfashion #kcrushnews #BoyWithLuv #BTSWins #BTSAwardsApril2024 #bestmusicvideo #MnetMCCountdown #BTSARMY
Exciting news came in this week for Eric Nam and Avatar fans. Eric announced that he will be voicing an adult Aang in an upcoming animated film! Another big name that will star beside him is Dave Bautista, who is known for his role in Guardians of the Galaxy, though we don’t know his exact role in this film yet.
The plot details have yet to be released, but the working title is Aang: The Last Airbender. Paramount announced in June 2022 that they were planning to make three standalone Avatar animated films. This one, starring Eric, is slated to be released in 2025.
Some fans of the animated series disliked the live-action studio attempts. Because of this, OG Avatar fans will be pleased to know that Lauren Montgomery is directing the film. She worked on the original Avatar: The Last Airbender series. Additionally, the original series creators, Bryan Konietzko and Michael DiMartino, are listed as executive producers. Because of the project is in such good hands, there is an understandable excitement growing.
Fans of course would be on the edge of their seat awaiting news of who would voice Aang. Originally, this was done by child actor Zach Tyler Eisen. Though it would have been great to have him continue as an adult Aang, he stepped out of the spotlight. In The Legend of Kora, DB Sweeny voiced a much older version of Aang. Now the baton is passed to Eric Nam.
If you haven’t watched Avatar before, now is a great time to do so before these films start rolling out. You can watch this animated series on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Paramount+. It’s a classic that many describe as an easy binge. Additionally, you can catch the live-action version of Avatar: The Last Airbender on Netflix.
Who else would you love to see star in the three upcoming Avatar films?
—-Ellie Boyd
#EricNam #EricNamtostarinAvatar #Avatar #Netflix #AmazonPrime #ParamountPlus #kcrush #EricNamToVoiceAang #kcrushamerica #DaveBautistafromGaurdiansoftheGalaxy #kcrushnews #kpopidoltostarinAvatar #kpop #kmusic #voiceover #AvatarAnimatedFilm2025
30-year-old K-pop star Park Boram died on Thursday, April 11th. The police report notes that on Thursday evening, Park Boram was having a private night with friends, which included drinking. She reportedly went into the home’s bathroom around 10 pm and was there for some time. Out of concern, a friend went to check on her and found her unconscious, leaning over the sink.
She was rushed to the hospital, where some reports say she was in cardiac arrest. After several attempts to resuscitate her, she was pronounced dead at 11:17 pm. This is shocking news considering how young she was and that she was among friends at her time of death.
Park Boram had a bright future ahead. It was previously shared that she was working on an album to commemorate her 10th year in the K-pop industry. On April 3rd, she released a single titled, “I miss you.” A haunting legacy.
Park Boram has contributed so much in that short decade. She came into the spotlight as a TV singing competition star in the show Super Star K2. At just 17, she became one of the youngest finalists and finished in 8th place.
Her official debut was in August 2014, with her single “Beautiful” which featured ZICO. This hit scored her an Artist of the Year honor. The song lyrics are based on her experience of going to great lengths to be considered beautiful for her debut, something that resonated with many and made her an approachable star.
She was also well known for her contributions to several K-Drama OSTs, like the famous “Hyehwadong (or Sangmundong)” for Reply 1988. She has been a collaborator with respected artists like Eric Nam, and is well-known throughout the industry.
It is truly heartbreaking that such a talented star is now lost. However, her memory will continue to be a bright light in K-pop.
—-Ellie Boyd
#ParkBoram #ParkBoramDeath #ParkBoramDiesAtAge30 #Reply1988OSTParkBoram #whathappenedtoParkBoram #kcrush #ZICO #Beautiful #ArtistoftheYear #SuperStarK2 #ImissYouParkBoramSingleReleasedOnApril3 #kpop #officialdebutApril2014 #kdrama #kcrushamericamagazine #kcrushnews #condolencestoParkBoramsfamily #cardiacarrest
“Her Private Life” revolves around Sung Deok Mi and her struggles to balance her demanding double lives which she carries out with passion and perfection. By day, Sung Deok Mi is a talented museum chief curator, and by night a manager of a fansite that gives scoops on the famous Cha Shi An of the White Ocean boy band. Her private life as a fansite manager gets more complicated with the arrival of Ryan Gold, her new boss at the museum, and the inquisitive Kim Hyo Jin. Kim Hyo Jin owns a rival fansite blog that crumples Sung Deok Mi’s private life with the unfounded rumor that Sung Deok is dating Cha Shi An. The struggle to clear her name and that of her K-op idol crush, Cha Shi An, leads her into daring paths that forge her destiny.
Sung Deok Mi (Park Min Young)
Seng Deok Mi’s passion and talent as a museum curator balance with her passion for content creation inspired by her crush on Cha Shi An, a member of White Ocean boy band. Her curator work offers her a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with her dream crush. The opportunity turns into an ordeal after a rival fansite blogger fabricates rumors of Sung Deok Mi and Chai Shi An dating which not only threatens her blogging private life but also her curator career. The only option of warding off the false rumor is an unthinkable move with a being she has grown to detest for his demeaning character.
Ryan Gold (Kim Jae Wook)
Ryan Gold is a highly respected art curator known for his meticulous nature and sharp critiques. Just like Sung Deok Mi, Ryan Gold also harbors a secret side of his life which is his undying interest in pop culture. He keeps his obsession with K-pop idols, evident from a hidden collection of idol merchandise, a secret to maintain a professional image. Becoming Sung Deok Mi’s boss is a hurdle he has to overcome as both have strong personalities and a secret to hide.
Kim Hyo Jin (Kim Bo Ra)
Kim Hyo Jin also runs a fansite blog devoted to the talented Cha Shi An of the White Ocean boy band. She witnesses Sung Deok leaving Cha Shi An’s house with his coat on and spreads the rumor of the two dating, which also crushes Sung Deok’s fansite blog. In a bid to convince fans that she is right and that Sung Deok’s relationship rumors are true, Kim Hyo Jin uses her mother’s connection and becomes an intern at Cheum Museum of Art. Her investigative road becomes a destiny-defining alley that she never expected.
Nam Eun Gi (Ahn Bo Hyun)
Nam Eung Gi is a Judo Olympics silver medalist and Sung Deok’s adopted brother. Currently running his gym, Nam Eun Gi’s true feelings for Sung Deok Mi start overpowering him escalated by occasions where he is forced to be her shield and emotional support. Nam Eung Gi’s listening and attentive character sinks him into deeper troubles as he becomes Kim’s confidant.
My thoughts
“Her Private Life” is a heartwarming and engaging story revolving around the complexities of modern life and the balance between hobbies and careers. The well-rounded characters bring the story to life with top-notch acting skills keeping viewers glued to the end.
—-Makena Mwenda
#HerPrivateLife #MindMap #kcrush #ParkMinYoung #KimJaeWook #KimBoRa #koreanromcom #kdrama #kcrushcontent #kcrushamerica #kcrushamericamagazine #AhnBoHyun #kfashion #kpop #kactor #kactress #koreandrama #kpopfanstory