Big Bang’s G-Dragon and Taeyang to be featured in CL’s music video
It is confirmed that Big Bang members G-Dragon and Taeyang will be featuring in CL’s (2NE1‘s leader) first solo music video that is due to be released on the 28th of May. YG Entertainment artists are known for their great bond and support for one another. This tradition can be seen in G-Dragon and Taeyang’s appearance in JinuSean’s music video for Phone Number back in 2004. Recently Se7en, Teddy and Taeyang also did a cameo in G-Dragon’s music video for MichiGO.
It is reported that the genre for CL’s solo song is not easily heard within the domestic music industry, which is the ‘Dougie’ genre with a dub step sound and will be of the latest style in the hip-hop genre. For years, the Korean music industry emphasizes girl groups with a cute or sexy concept. However, as a female rapper, CL’s concept is the opposite of what the industry usually promotes and there is a lot of anticipation from her upcoming solo debut.
CL’s solo debut will be concurrently going against strong female solo singers like Lee Hyori, Seo In Young and IVY. Despite the intense competition, CL was given confidence and extra boost from YG’s president, Yang Hyun Seok‘s words of encouragement: “Even if you’re last, enjoy the moment with all your heart.”
This will be CL’s first solo venture since debuting as the leader of 2NE1 back in 2009. It is expected that her debut will amaze and impact the music industry.
Source : News & Photo- OSEN , CLTheBaddestFemale
Hongdae – the street of art and indie culture
Hongdae (홍대), an abbreviation of Hongik Daehakgyo (meaning Hongik University (홍익대학교)), is also commonly known as Hongik University Street, or the Hongdae area. The area is a popular neighbourhood in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and is known for its indie music culture and youthful ambience.
Subway:
Hongik University Station (Seoul Subway Line 2, Airport Railroad)
For the interactive map, click here: smrt.co.kr
Accessory shops, cosmetic stores, gourmet eateries, clubs, lifestyle stores and unique cafes are what make this hotspot popular with local youths, young professionals, and increasing number of tourists who want to know and be infused with the young culture in the capital city. The area also lines up with street art festivals, cultural performances, open-air gigs and performances that draw the majority of the crowds.
There is this Hello Kitty-themed café, and what makes this café popular is not just its attractive pinky concept but also the fact that it offers free and fast WiFi!
In the area, there are plenty clubs to visit: M2, Via, Jokerred, Tool, NB, Q-VO, DD, Saab, Hooper, Ska, O.R, Myeongwolgwan, Evans, FF, WATERCOCK, Freebird, Soundholic, DGBD, Hole, Liveclub Ssam and Spot. Popular and lesser-known indie-rock bands alike can be found performing in these venues. With the increased number of brands that are springing up in the area around Hapjeong Station, more new talented indie bands are springing out to perform, making the street the most prominent indie scene in the city.
One of the most popular clubs in Hongdae is Freebird. The club offers live indie band performances; even Lunafly frequents this club to perform too!
One of the biggest Korean entertainment labels, YG Entertainment, is located just near the street. It attracts tourists who are also K-pop fans to stroll the street, hoping for a lucky moment that they may chance upon their favourite idols.
In 2007, a old coffee shop in Hongdae was actually remodelled to be used as the film set for the MBC drama The First Shop of Coffee Prince, starring Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun Hye. Thanks to the popularity of the drama, the exterior and interior of the shop have been totally overhauled to become one of the most visited places in Hongdae.
Inside the coffee shop, visitors can find a number of props that were used in the drama, including a painting by Han Yoo-joo (played by Chae Jung An). If you have been a fan of the drama, you will want to take this opportunity to stop by for a cup of coffee and reminisce the lovely drama scenes at the actual film set.
How to get there:
Take subway line 2 to Hongik University, and go out of Exit 4. Turn right at Seven Springs corner and pass the intersection. At the 3-way intersection, turn left. Walk about 100 meters on the road above the playground and walk towards the road on the right side. Walk about 500 meters until you find the coffee shop on the right.
[Directions provided by VisitKorea.or.kr]
Later in 2011, a cafe in Hongdae was also used as one of the filming locations in tvN drama Flower Boy Ramyun Shop starring Jung Il-woo.
In all, Hongdae offers more than just clubbing or shopping experience. It is a vibrant gem of art and indie culture in Seoul.
We will constantly update this article whenever we have further information, pictures and videos, so join us as we set to discover more of Hongdae.
Bookmark this page if you are planning to visit Seoul soon!
Check out our stories on K-indie music below:
For articles on indie music, click here
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YG Entertainment plans to expand into China
Last year was a marvelous year for record label and agency YG Entertainment as their labeled artist PSY’s Gangnam Style single went viral and Big Bang’s Alive 2012 World Tour was well received. Benefiting from its artists’ success and the popularity of K-Pop, YG has enjoyed a 36-percent increase in revenue to 106.55 billion in 2012.
Over the past year, PSY’s global phenomenon video becomes the most-viewed video on YouTube with over 1.58 billion views. Under the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, Gangnam Style was the third-best selling digital single in the world.
Besides PSY’s huge success, fellow labeled artist Big Bang made a world tour to 24 cities across the globe with an estimated total audience of 800,000. The overwhelming response to Big Bang’s concert in Guangzhou and Shanghai last year significantly boosted YG Entertainment’s confidence in making an expansion into the Chinese market.
According to YG Chief operating officer Simon Choi Sung-Jun, “It’ll be very hard to generate income from physical and digital downloads [on the mainland], so we are thinking of…things such as concerts and events that people can enjoy.” With future prospects of entering the market, YG plans to set up a firm, as well as collaborate with local partners, to engage a China-oriented strategy.
Mainland China fans are in for a real treat as YG plans to hold more events, thus increasing the possibility of meeting their idols.
Source : News - South China Morning Post ; Photo – Hellokpop media library
Mysterious 2NE1 website 2NE1loves and teaser unveiled
Recently, fans came across a teaser video of 2NE1 leader CL titled 2NE1 LOVES Vol.1 – CL LOVES on a brand new website 2NE1loves.com.
The teaser video was filmed in black and white with background music from 2NE1 track I’m Busy from their first album To Anyone. It features CL wearing a classy and yet edgy clothing. Besides that, the video also featured the fellow members of 2NE1, hinting that more teaser videos are to be anticipated by fans!
Furthermore, a staff member of MY Boon, Jae Hyuk Choi tweeted “2ne1loves.com Check Out 2NE1!! C.. CL.” and has left fans speculating the teaser is linked with a collaboration for a clothing brand. MY Boon is a fashion store in Seoul where fellow label mate G-Dragon has launched his own custom items line last year.
Check out the hot teasers for CL and Dara whilst waiting for the purpose to unveiled:
In addition, YG Entertainment posted a mysterious poster in YG-Life under the title Who’s Next? The poster consists of all the fellow YG Entertainment artists and group names along with a date: 2013.05.28.
Sources: News – YG Life , YGLadies, @dasentinel; Photo - 2NE1loves; Video – 2NE1loves Vimeo (1) (2)
The Smiths are at home with YG
On May 6, YG Entertainment welcomed Hollywood celebrities Will Smith and Jaden Smith at their headquarters. They just came from Taipei, Taiwan where they held their promotions for their movie After Earth.
The news of the Smiths’ arrival in Korea is not new but updates from fans spread like wildfire all over Twitter and photo-sharing sites about their visit to the YG building, which was later confirmed through photos by CL of 2NE1 and one of YG producers who goes by the name Choice.
The Smiths are scheduled to meet with Jay Park on the red carpet event for the movie who sang a self-written song for After Earth’s official soundtrack as requested personally by Will Smith.
They are also to appear in a collaboration project of General Idea, owned by Korean Bumsuk Choi and MSFTSrep (Misfits Republic) established by Jaden Smith in 2010. The event details can be found in the Seoulcialite website.
Sources:News – Seoulcialite Agency; Photos – chaelin_cl (2), choice37, fromyg, xxxibgdrgn
