footballfina 29,566 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Refresh Your Playlist with some of Korea's Most Promising Acts Earlier this month, YouTube revealed that Psy's crossover smash "Gangnam Style" was key in creating an international following for South Korea's music scene, growing Korean pop video viewership to about 30 million clicks a day. Even more impressive is that more than 95 percent of those eyes are coming from outside of Korea. But if you thought K-pop's widespread reach started and ended with "Gangnam Style," you'd be gravely mistaken. America's obsession with Korea's unforgiving bubblegum pop is growing. 2014 saw more stateside K-pop concerts and more Korean albums on the Billboard 200 chart than ever before, thanks to big releases by the likes of Girls' Generation, f(x) and 2NE1. Meanwhile, North America's annual K-pop festival KCON, where fans meet their favorite artists and attend panels and workshops on Korean culture, saw 43,000 attendees. K-pop's takeover isn't slowing down anytime soon, and a wave of newcomers are making big plays in hopes to establish themselves in the international market. Click through the gallery to check out the five you need to know now. #1 CL While CL has more than a half-decade in the K-pop scene, the 2NE1 star is only now embracing the solo spotlight, prepping her debut album in English due later this year. Standing behind her is an enviable crew to help her crossover: She is currently signed with super-manager Scooter Braun (who's responsible for Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande), has hit the studio with producers like Diplo, Skrillex, and Blood Diamonds, and is also BFFs with fashion king Jeremy Scott. The 24-year-old's ambitions extend past music too. "I want to represent Asian women," she told Billboard in 2012. "I want to break that typical Asian female stereotype. There's this standard where they're all calm. I want to tell the world that there are some badass Asian female girls." In a world where formidable females of all styles and colors are ruling the charts lately, it'd be an game-changer to see a talented Asian woman like CL to break stateside. #2 EXO With One Direction's unclear future, it wouldn't be a horrible idea to adopt EXO as your new boy band crush. Although they haven't really had any U.S. exposure, the guys recently earned the biggest sales week ever for a K-pop act with their latest album, Exodus, whose lead single "Call Me Baby" sounds like it was made by an updated *NSYNC. Each member boasts a different kind of talent, whether that's belting the big notes (look to members such as Suho, Baekhyun or D.O. for that), rap skills (se Chanyeol), acting (Chen), or just being overall really attractive (heyyy, Lay). #3 Red Velvet If you're searching for the new It Girls of K-pop, look no further. The five-piece perfectly embodies its name: Their "red" side sees the girls sing fun, electro-pop stompers like "Ice Cream Cake" and and their "velvet" side showcases their sensual R&B jams like and Not only do the girls boast a fresh image, but they're proving to be one of the most exciting performers on the scene, too. From incredible chair choreography to cardio-esque dance moves, the girls pull it all off flawlessly and somehow do it while looking 100 percent adorable. Consider us smitten. #4 BTS Once an underground genre in South Korea, the country's pop groups are finally going full-on hip hop. BTS is one of the most exciting boy bands to embrace this "new" edge. They're even paying homage to some of its forefathers: On their reality show American Hustle Life, BTS spent time in Los Angeles to study West Coast rap style and took lessons from hip hop veterans Coolio and Warren G. The band has quickly found a large, passionate following in both Korea and here in America. In fact, the guys are so in-demand, that after their upcoming New York show sold out, ticketholders started re-selling them at a minimum price of $1000. #5 Akdong Musician This super-cute brother-sister folk duo offer a change-up from the dance-pop goodness that most K-pop acts offer. Every track on their debut album Play was written by member Lee Chanhyuk, who was just 18 at the time. Not only were K-pop fans floored by their sweet harmonies, but Darren Criss also gave the duo his co-sign on Twitter and Billboard featured them on their annual 21 Under 21 list. If you're in the mood for some easy, breezy, feel-good music this spring, look no further. Source: http://www.nylon.com/articles/up-and-coming-k-pop-acts/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
we_dope 8 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 BTS â¤â¤â¤â¤â¤ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Senbonzakura 390 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Is BTS really coming to America I'm gonna have to go see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dvang 23,884 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 nice to see the appreciation for be natural & automatic choreo and their execution of it forever waiting to see the full choreo of automatic tho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camila Cabello 11,450 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 #RISEOFBANGTAN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imymetamong 824 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Get that love AKMU ♥ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WasteOfLife 600 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 LOL. But these five acts are already hugely famous. It's like saying we should know Katy Perry and Maroon 5. Like, if you don't already know them you're hopelessly out of the loop. Talk about doing no research whatsoever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indigo 16,433 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Each member boasts a different kind of talent, whether that's belting the big notes (look to members such as Suho, Baekhyun or D.O. for that), rap skills (se Chanyeol), acting (Chen), or just being overall really attractive (heyyy, Lay). Um Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Lipstick 510 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 What's nylon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loves 2,287 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 BTS and AKMU too <3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Universe 3,334 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 "new" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinctus 2,701 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Each member boasts a different kind of talent, whether that's belting the big notes (look to members such as Suho, Baekhyun or D.O. for that), rap skills (se Chanyeol), acting (Chen), or just being overall really attractive (heyyy, Lay). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnude 1,928 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 I thought this was going to be only about rookies but whatever, get that recognition BTS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loves 2,287 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 What's nylon? http://www.nylon.com/music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xingsass 1,356 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 AKMU and CL definitely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Lipstick 510 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 http://www.nylon.com/music Oohh, kind of like popdust then Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pocket Hyung 3,962 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Sure... 'new' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Preciousjannah 1,332 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Guess every single kpop fan know them Anything regarding Akmu is love so I approve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
its Hq 563 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 all of them are so promising in the future Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICETERO 9,070 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Y'all better appreciate Red Velvet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimin's GF 1,621 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 BTS They chose well, but they're not all really new Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyjay 4,315 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Western media looking for easy clicks from insecure kpop fans desperate for Western validation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICETERO 9,070 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Western media looking for easy clicks from insecure kpop fans desperate for Western validation. Not a lot of people care tbh I mean nylon don't even make proper research. They say Chen is acting and Suho sings high notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DOOLY 33,373 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Is BTS really coming to America I'm gonna have to go see. Yes they are, they will have shows in NYC, Chicago, LA and Dallas. Their NYC and LA shows are sold out already, not sure about Chicago and Dallas but i think they're sold out too, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mari~ 19,132 Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 A little bit of research won't hurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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