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Epik High Is Here To Stay In “Rosario”
-Tablo
Read our full review & album commentary here!
Epik High Is Here… and so is everyone else, apparently! The legendary hip-hop trio (Tablo, Mithra Jin, and DJ Tukutz) released the first part of their 10th full-length studio album Epic High Is Here with a star-studded list of features including CL, Zico, G Soul, Nucksal, Changmo, Miso, B.I. and others. Their first release since 2019’s Sleepless In______ , the group is back with their unique brand of bitter realism with an underlying message of confidence. Although this release is great to listen to purely for an auditory experience, this is one of those albums that I would highly recommend looking up the lyrics in order to get the most out of the clever wordplay and references happening.
The first title track “Rosario”, features 2NE1’s CL and Zico and makes you feel like taking on your enemies in a slow-motion montage. The title is Spanish for ‘rosary beads’, calling out those who act like they are some sort of sinless saint as they both idolize and criticize others and notes the hypocrisy of saying prayers and shedding tears when those same people are the ones who try to harm others with their words.
“I’m hoping that anyone who hears this song can feel for a moment like a living legend. Like they’re the greatest. And take a confident step forward in life. That’s what this song is for.”
‘Epik High Is Here Documentary’ on YouTube
Overview: If I wasn’t afraid of needles and pain, I’d get the lyrics of this album tattooed.
New Releases And Comebacks:
- Chungha released her newest pre-release “X” for her upcoming first full-length studio album “Querencia” and it’s larger than life- literally. Besides being the only idol to pull off a King Kong concept in my recent memory, this is a glimpse at the softer, more elegant chapter of the several parts promised in her February release. The lyrics talk of someone who is unwilling to stick with you through the tough times, and misses out on the amazing person you become. Moral of the story: if someone hurts you, just step on them and move on.
- CRAVITY released their third mini album Season 3. Hideout: Be Our Voice with the heavy bass racer-themed title track “My Turn”. With lyrics written by WJSN (Cosmic Girl) leader Exy, it just goes to show that sometimes you just gotta Vroom Vroom Vroom Skrrrt.
- AB6IX released their repackaged album Salute: A New Hope led by the optimistic youth anthem “STAY YOUNG”. It’s like the pastel colored hipster younger brother of their previous comeback “SALUTE“.
- ONEUS released their first full studio album Devil with title track “No Diggity”. After my initial disappointment that I was not going to ‘like the way you work it’ like the 90s song of the same name, it’s not a bad song. I’ve previously criticized ONEUS tracks for trying to do too much and sounding disjointed, but this track has a nice progression and build up all the way through and gives me major 2nd generation K-pop boy group vibes.
- Cherry Bullet released their first EP album Cherry Rush and a music video for the track “Love So Sweet”. The song is subtle catchy without being too annoyingly sweet, and I’m glad they focused on the cute choreography for the MV.
- TVXQ‘s U-KNOW Yunho released his second solo mini album Noir, and to match the title released an action movie homage cinematic music video for the title track “Thank U”.
- Berry Good released their 4th EP album Undying Love and a MV for title track “Time For Me.”
- Saturday released a music video for the song “Only You” from their single album of the same name.
Top Headlines:
- BLACKPINK‘s Rosé released a teaser for her long-awaited solo debut! She will perform the track for the first time at the group’s upcoming online concert “THE SHOW” on January 31.
- Teen Top‘s Ricky enlisted in the military on January 18. After he finishes basic training, the artist will serve in the military band.
- GOT7‘s Youngjae officially signed with Sublime Artist Agency (also home to Rain, EXID‘s Hani, and others). Fellow group member Jackson Wang, founder of his own record label Team Wang, signed an agreement with the company as well. The news follows after all seven members left JYP Entertainment after the expiration of their contract. *puts on sunglasses for the inevitable glow up that will happen now that they are all free*
TOO
- Rookie group TOO‘s future continues to be uncertain as the disagreement between their management companies continue. Debuted through the Mnet competition show World Klass, CJ ENM’s subsidiary label Stone Music Entertainment originally partnered with n.CH Entertainment to manage the group. Last week, the news broke that CJ ENM had suddenly terminated their contract with n.CH Entertainment. n.CH released a statement confirming the news and pleading for the release of the group’s delayed 3rd album, even offering to continue to manage the group without financial compensation for two years. Although a long-term contract was never signed there was a written understanding that after the short-term agreement was up, a formal contract would be signed. But due to ‘internal restructuring’, CJ ENM suddenly pulled out of the agreement and pressured n.CH to give up management rights. Basically after n.CH Entertainment, which is a much smaller company, paid for, trained, and promoted TOO for all this time, CJ ENM wants them to themselves. CJ ENM put out an official statement this week, but I’m glad that n.CH acted quickly and wasn’t afraid to bring the receipts for their treatment. Hopefully once the dust settles, TOO will be able to continue promoting after all the hard work that they have put in to debut.
- After announcing upcoming Mnet competition show Kingdom participants Stray Kids, The Boyz, and ATEEZ via this exciting MAMA performance, several other groups have been speculated to complete the lineup. So far MONSTA X has declined the offer and iKON, BTOB, and SF9 are currently in talks. TVXQ has already been confirmed to host. The reality show is set to air in April.
- Fan community platform UNIVERSE has released teasers, posters, and synopsis for two of its upcoming original series. Kang Daniel will star as the alien-fighting Secret Agent K in AGENT BLACKJACK K (watch the trailer here). MONSTA X will be time-travelers racing against the clock to stop a devastating exploding before it even happens in AREA 51: THE CODE (watch the teaser here). Both series will have 10 episodes and will release weekly. The platform currently has 11 artists: MONSTA X, Kang Daniel, THE BOYZ, Park Ji Hoon, CIX, ASTRO, AB6IX, ATEEZ, (G)I-DLE, WJSN, and IZ*ONE. You can learn more and pre-register for the app here.
- A new trailer has been released for Red Velvet‘s Irene and Shin Seung Ho (How To Buy A Friend)’s upcoming coming-of-age film “Double Patty”. Irene stars as a hardworking aspiring anchorwoman who meets a former Korean wrestling athlete. The film is set to premiere in February.
K-Drama Corner:
Jisoo; Kim So Hyun 
Kim Rae Won; Lee Da Hee 
Song Yu Jung 
Moon Ga Young; Kim Seon Ho
- Teasers and posters have been released for Kim So Hyun (Love Alarm; Tale of Nokdu) and Jisoo‘s (My First First Love; Strong Woman Do Bong Soon) upcoming historical romance drama River Where The Moon Rises. The drama is a retelling of the classic Korean tale of the ambitious Princess Pyeonggang whose love story with On Dal changes the course of history. (Read a summary of the folktale here.) River Where The Moon Rises premieres February 15 on KBS 2TV. You can watch the teasers here and here.
- Oooh, this sounds interesting: Moon Ga Young (True Beauty; Find Me In Your Memory) and Kim Seon Ho ( Start-Up; Catch The Ghost) are in talks to reunite for upcoming tvN mystery-romance drama Link. The drama centers around an unlucky woman who finds out that she has unknowingly been sharing all of her emotions with a man who lives across from her. The pair previously worked together in Welcome To Waikiki 2. The drama will have the same producer/director team as the 2015 mystery romance I Remember You.
- New posters and teasers have been released featuring the main leads of upcoming tvN drama L.U.C.A.: The Beginning. Kim Rae Won (Doctors; The Black Knight) stars as a mysterious figure being chased for his special abilities who can’t remember his past and the only person who can save him is a violent crimes detective, played by Lee Da Hee (Search: WWW; The Beauty Inside), who is searching for answers about her parents’ death. L.U.C.A. premieres February 1. Watch the newest trailer here.
- In sad news, actress Song Yu Jung passed away on January 23 at the age of 26. Her projects included Golden Rainbow; School 2017; and the music video fro iKON‘s “Goodbye Road.”
- Netflix released a new trailer for its upcoming sci-fi film Space Sweepers. The film stars Song Joon Ki (Descendants Of The Sun; Arthdal Chronicles), Kim Tae Ri (Mr. Sunshine), and Jin Seon Kyung (Kingdom) as a misfit crew of scavengers who stumble upon a humanoid weapon of mass destruction. I assume space hijinks ensue. After a series of postponed releases, Space Sweepers will premiere via Netflix on February 5.
- Currently Watching:
- Run On: The shoes of Shin Se Kyung and Im Si Wan must be worn out because their characters keep running through my mind. *rimshot* Bad pickup lines aside, I didn’t expect to fall in love with this quirky drama so much. It’s my favorite type of storyline- completely character driven- so things happen because of our characters and their motivations instead of simply happening to them. Our leads have some trauma and have to face some rather unhealthy coping mechanisms, but I love that they recognize that and do their best to communicate with each other honestly- even when it’s talking about how they struggle to communicate honestly. At first I was a bit bored by the secondary couple and didn’t see how they connected to the main story line, but they do serve as a nice foil to the main leads and I like the age and power reversals in their dynamic. And let’s be honest, I’m a sucker for well-written banter. That being said, we’re getting into the eleventh hour where K-dramas throw in conflict just to hurt us. I am way too emotionally invested in our adorkable main couple for them not to get a happy ending. If they break up, I will throw running shoes at somebody.
- True Beauty: Okey-dokey Yo! I’ve been reading the webtoon of this for years, so I was excited to finally watch its drama version. It does change a lot of things, to the point where I’d say this is more inspired by the original plot rather than being a strict adaptation. But I honestly think that works better, and they’ve managed to add a little bit more depth to many of the characters in the process. I already knew Moon Ga Young was going to be great in the role, but I’m really impressed with newbie Hwang In Yeop and how much ASTRO’s Cha Eun Woo improved his acting. (Not that he was terrible, but for much of My ID Is Gangnam Beauty, his character literally was supposed to look like the straight face emoji. 😐) I’m several episodes behind, but so far it’s hilarious (with a heavy helping of second-hand embarrassment) and I can’t wait to see more of the bromance develop.
What were your favorite releases and headlines this week? Let us know in the comments!