Ashlee Mitchell is a Gen-Z, U.S.-based freelance writer. Her work is largely focused on Asian and Black pop culture. She has written for outlets like Teen Vogue, i-D, Dazed, Nylon and others.
For the past year, BTS fans have been getting a taste of what each member has to offer musically as the group has been on hiatus. And now, it's Jimin's turn. Jimin's debut EP, FACE, arrived on March 24. The 6-song EP spans genres sonically, and is lyrically both intense and delicate — much like Jimin himself — detailing his…
TOMORROW X TOGETHER aren’t your typical K-pop act — they’re worldbuilders. The five-member group brings intentionality to every song and music video, creating stories that fans can easily get lost in. A tribute to their storytelling abilities, TXT are beginning the year with The Name Chapter: Temptation, a new EP inspired by the story of Peter Pan set for release…
After five years, the long wait for new SZA music is over: SOS is here. Released Dec. 9, SZA's sophomore album unveils how the singer has transformed over the years, packing in a generous 23 songs in the hour-plus run time. SOS includes singles "Shirt," "I Hate U" and "Good Days," while Don Toliver, Phoebe Bridgers, and Travis Scott make…
Like many of his BTS cohorts, RM has shown off his solo musical talents long before this year. His first mixtape RM came out in 2015, capturing the rapper's raw hip-hop roots. His second mixtape Mono was released to critical acclaim in 2018, when BTS were just scratching the surface of their worldwide domination. But this year took RM's solo…
When global hitmakers BTS announced they would focus on solo music back in June, it gave way to "BTS' Chapter 2." So far, this new era has seen a debut studio album from J-Hope, Jack in the Box — as well as a history-making Lollapalooza appearance — and a solo single from Jin, "The Astronaut." Next up, RM will show…
With six years and four full-length Korean albums under their belts, NCT-127 has made one thing very clear: their sound is unpredictable. The K-pop group — a sub-group of South Korean boyband NCT — often merges genres and instrumentation in innovative ways, and their latest album, 질주 (2 Baddies), is no exception. Released Sept. 16, the album, as the guys describe…
Since TWICE released their first EP in 2015, they have had a way of uplifting people through their music. The K-pop girl group has taken the world by storm with hit after hit — including"Fancy," "Feel Special," and "I Can't Stop Me" — and now, they're ready to enter a new era. On Aug. 26, TWICE will release their eleventh…
When the world was first introduced to Bella Poarch in 2020, she was a viral TikToker without anyone hearing her voice. Poarch's lip-syncing videos (and undeniable charisma) rapidly garnered a following that exceeds 90 million, making her TikTok's third most-followed star and the top Asian American influencer in the world. Now, Poarch is ready to take her success beyond TikTok…
Growing up, Indonesian singer NIKI didn't see many mainstream artists that she could relate to. But that didn't stop her from pursuing her dreams. Born Nicole Zefanya, NIKI taught herself to play guitar and write songs, eventually winning a contest to open for Taylor Swift at age 15. She first posted her music to YouTube in 2014, quickly garnering more…
Since 2015, the 13 members of SEVENTEEN have been singing and dancing their way into hearts around the world. And with the arrival of the K-pop group's new repackage album, SECTOR 17, the party continues. For S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, HOSHI, Wonwoo, WOOZI, DK, Mingyu, The8, Seungkwan, Vernon, and Dino, providing comfort and quality music for their fans — known…
Often nicknamed the "sunshine" of Korean septet BTS, rapper and dancer j-hope has officially shown us that it's possible to be a light without being limited to one emotion. His highly anticipated debut studio album, entitled Jack in the Box, dropped July 15. The project was teased to show a darker and more mature side of j-hope, and the end…
Since their debut in late 2020, ENHYPEN have been heralded as the next big thing in K-pop. Formed by Belift Lab — a joint venture between entertainment companies HYBE (home of BTS and TXT) and CJ ENM (KCON producer) — the guys have had a strong backing and big shoes to follow. But they've consistently lived up to the hype.…
Global hitmakers and South Korean sensations BTS recently announced a new chapter of their careers. Aptly titled "BTS' Chapter 2," it's an exciting time for the septet to better explore their own individual music tastes. And kicking off this new era is the group's rapper and dancer j-hope. So far, j-hope's solo discography includes 2018's acclaimed mixtape Hope World and…
When it comes to band mottos, Stray Kids' couldn't be more fitting: "Stray kids Everywhere All Around The World." The K-pop group's first 2022 EP, ODDINARY, sold over 1.6 million copies and topped album charts in the US, South Korea, Finland and Poland (and charted in the top 10 in several more countries). Now, they're taking their mantra literally with the…
BTS have catapulted to unprecedented levels of stardom in the two years since their last Korean release, BE. They became the first K-pop act to be nominated for a GRAMMY, broke countless chart and streaming records, and sold out stadiums across the globe. BTS has already proven there's nothing they can't do — hence, their anthology album, Proof, feels perfectly…
Since their debut in 2013, BTS has become the epitome of pop music phenomenon. They've been nominated for two GRAMMYs, they've charted four number 1 albums faster than any group since the Beatles, and have broken 25 Guinness World Records. And the South Korean group did it all while singing mostly in their native language, creating strides for other Asian…
Saweetie has been buzzing since her first single, "Icy Grl," went viral in 2018. But in the years since, the SoCal rapper has proven to be much more than a fleeting viral star. Born Diamonté Harper, Saweetie has been grinding nonstop — and it has paid off. Along with releasing multiple EPs, she's landed several Billboard Hot 100 hits (and…
Behind every successful K-pop act is a creative team helping compose their hit songs. Though more and more K-pop idols are becoming involved in their music creation, there are some contributors whose work on your favorite tracks simply can't go unrecognized. From R&B ballads to trap beats to electronic party anthems, the sonic possibilities are endless as genres continue to…
Thanks to the passion of their fandoms, their social media dominance, their addictive hooks and melodies, and their eye-catching visuals, K-pop groups are inescapable these days, and South Korea, the motherland of these global pop acts, has since become a key pop culture epicenter. Korean groups like BTS have gone on to break records previously held by icons like the Beatles and…
2020 was another massive year for BTS. The South Korean septet (RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook) were already a worldwide phenomenon before their first GRAMMY nomination: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 2021 GRAMMY Awards show for their chart-topping single, "Dynamite." Still, it was that song's unprecedented success that prompted the wider music world to pay attention. Not only…
