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f(x): The Perfect Formula
f(x) debuted in 2009 under the SM Entertainment label. That same year, After School, 2NE1, and BEAST (B2ST) also were introduced to Kpop fans. f(x) has five members: Song Qian (Victoria), Amber...
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Fin.K.L
Fin.K.L. (Fine Killing Liberty) is a four-member female group managed by DSP Media. The original members were Annie Lee, Lee Jin, Ock Joo Hyun, and Sung Yu Ri. Before Fin.K.L debuted, Annie Lee left...
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Epik High: Epik Music
Epik High, consisting of Tablo, Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz, began their musical journey together in 2003 with Woollim Entertainment, releasing several successful albums. Their efforts helped make the...
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SHINee: It’s Another World
SHINee debuted in 2008 under the S.M. Entertainment label. During the same year, U-KISS, Davichi, and 2AM also debuted. SHINee has five members: Onew (Lee Jinki), Jonghyun (Kim Jonghyun), Key (Kim...
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2NE1: Music for Anyone
2NE1 burst onto the music scene in 2009 with their debut song Fire. The group’s name means “New Evolution of the 21st Century,” showing that they want to add their unique style to the existing pop...
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IU: Korea’s Little Sister
IU (Lee Ji Eun) is a female solo Kpop artist who is currently signed with Loen Entertainment. She debuted on September 24, 2008. Her career trajectory is one that reflects a slow and steady climb to...
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Park Hyo Shin: The Soulful Voice of K-pop
Park Hyo Shin is a solo artist who performs rhythm and blues and is well-known for his deep, rich and versatile baritone voice. Currently signed with Jellyfish Entertainment, Park often performs with...
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Miss A: A Touch of Class
Miss A is a four-member female group that was formed by famed producer Jin Young Park (JYP Entertainment. Predebut, the group was originally known in China as “Sisters,” and had five members....
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ZE:A: Idols of Empire
ZE:A (Children of Empire) is a nine member male group. Currently signed with the Star Empire Entertainment, group members include Kevin (Kim Ji Yeop), Kwanghee, (Hwang Kwang Hee), Siwan (Im Si Wan),...
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JYJ: Kings or Princes?
JYJ (originally known as Junsu/Jaejoong/Yoochun in Japan) includes members Junsu (Kim Junsu; Xiah), Yoochun (Park Yoochun; Micky), and Jaejoong (Kim Jaejoong; Hero). After performing for several years...
View ArticleWhat We’re Listening To: 015B, 잠시 길을 잃다 (feat. 신보경)[ Lost Temporarily feat....
It is notoriously difficult to find in-depth information about 015B in English. What Wikipedia and some other sites seem to agree on is that the group started out with four members and later became a...
View ArticleWhat We Are Listening To: “Destiny (우린 결국 다시 만날 운명이었지),” Mamamoo
Mamamoo is a girl group well known for its vocal talent, but the members also show themselves to be musically versatile. The group performed “Destiny (우린 결국 다시 만날 운명이었지)” for its finale on the music...
View ArticleWhat We Are Listening To: “Rising Sun” by TVXQ!
TVXQ! (also billed as Dong Bang Shin Ki/DBSK in Korean and Tohoshinki in Japanese) was a five member group from 2004 to 2010. In 2011, the group continued with two members (Jung Yunho – U-Know, and...
View ArticleWhat We Are Listening To: “You Don’t Know My Name” (Prod Mokyo), pH-1
pH-1 (Park Jun-Won, also known as Harry Park) is a Korean-American rapper on H1GHER Music Records, which also houses GroovyRoom and G.Soul. While people want to make harsh distinctions between K-pop...
View ArticleLet KPK Introduce You To…D’Angelo
Kaetrena Davis Kendrick, M.S.L.S. University of South Carolina Lancaster Song: “Aurora” Artist: Jonghyun (Kim Jonghyun) Album: 좋아 (She Is) Album Release Date: May 24, 2016...
View ArticleWhat We Are Listening To: “Girls” by Wheesung
Wheesung (Choi Wheesung) debuted with boy group A4 in 1999 and as a solo artist with YG Entertainment in 2000. Although his roots are in rock, he is known as a solid R&B artist. Wheesung also uses...
View ArticleWriting the Book I Wanted to Read – Soul in Seoul: African American Popular...
Soul in Seoul: African American Popular Music and K-pop (September 2020, University of Mississippi Press) is a scholarly book that examines the ways that Korean pop (“idols), R&B and mainstream...
View ArticleSoul in Seoul Playlist: g.o.d (Groove Overdose)
Veteran “idol” group g.o.d (Groove Overdose) is the first K-pop artist explored in-depth in Soul in Seoul: African American Popular Music and K-pop. When writing the book, I always knew that g.o.d...
View ArticleThe Once and Future Fandom: How Media Shapes Perceptions of K-pop Fans
Whether K-pop fans are praised political activists or denigrated as delusional enthusiasts, both characterizations reduce K-pop fans, especially Black fans, and fail to recognize their value beyond...
View ArticleKPK Talks K-pop with Emily Haydel!
KPK members Crystal Anderson and Kaetrena Davis Kendrick talk with Emily Haydel on the podcast Bleav in K-pop about scholarship and the landscape of K-pop. Take a listen!
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