Top 5 K-Pop Artists to Watch in 2014

[miwa201.livejournal.com]

It's not easy to predict who's going to breakout in K-pop. Backed by one of South Korea's top record labels, twelve-member boy band EXO finally broke big time with "Growl," that helped them compete with established K-pop acts' YouTube views and single sales in America, after more than a year after their debut single. Meanwhile, a silly newcomer girl group named Crayon Pop nabbed the ninth-biggest song of the K-Pop Hot 100 last year thanks to viral hit, "Bar Bar Bar" less than a year after debuting. But based on fan anticipation, past single performance, YouTube views and industry talk, K-Town has selected the five acts who appear best equipped to make a splash on the K-pop scene this year.

GOT7

On Jan.15, JYP Entertainment (home to Wonder Girls, 2PM, miss A) unveiled their newest act, seven-member boy band GOT7. The multiracial group -- made of B, Jr., Mark, Jackson, Youngjae, BamBam and Yugyeo -- proved to be a YouTube force to be reckoned with as the music video for their debut track, "Girls Girls Girls," amassed more than one million views two days after its release. GOT7 is aiming for global stardom with members speaking multiple languages (English, Korean, Chinese and Thai), martial arts-inspired choreography topped off by their catchy, accessible Southern hip-hop sound heard in "Girls Girls Girls."



Henry

With safe-yet-addictive pop singles "Trap" and "I Love You," Canada-bred Henry Lau stepped into the solo spotlight after five years as a member of Super Junior's Chinese splinter group, Super Junior-M. Combining the super support of Super Junior fans plus charismatic Henry's multilingual appeal (he's fluent in English, Korean and Mandarin), he's an easy-to-spot star.

The 24-year-old is also the first male soloist from South Korean super label SM Entertainment in 13 years. Last year, SM successfully propelled boy band EXO to top-tier status. Along with a strong track record for each of its artists (e.g. TVXQ!, Girls' Generation, Super Junior, f(x)), K-Town expects they are adequately investing in the solo singer's 2014.

WINNER

While WINNER has yet to make to make their official debut, they've already been on an emotional roller coaster with their fans. The quintet is the result of a reality-survivor TV show, "Who Is Next: WIN," where South Korean record label YG Entertainment (PSY, BIGBANG, 2NE1) pitted two potential boy bands against one another for viewers to vote to a proper K-pop debut. With their official first single said to be coming by the end of February, WINNER has managed to rack up accolades like opening for BIGBANG's Japanese tour, snagging a clothing endorsement and appearing on U.S.-based music channel, Fuse.

Beenzino

Beenzino is already a well-known name in the underground hip-hop world, thanks to the release of his widely acclaimed album "24:27" in 2012. His fluid rapping, witty wordplay and an ear for beats has helped the 26-year-old cement a reputation as one of the nation's finest rappers, notably without any major-label backing or TV promotions.

Ladies' Code

Since their March 2013 debut, the female quintet dropped three singles -- "Bad Girl," "Hate You" and "Pretty Pretty" -- each gaining more YouTube views than the previous. Blending modern electro-pop and classic throwback elements, plus the girls' powerful vocals (member Sojung rivals the likes of fellow diva newcomer Lee Hi), it shouldn't be long till the group finds a track to cement themselves among other top girl groups hanging out in the Top 10 of the K-Pop Hot 100.



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jypentertainment;smtown;ygentertainment;BubbleFeetMusicChannel;Ladies'Code

Comments

[miuratenshi.livejournal.com]

Yay for GOT7 being mentioned! ♥

[pikapika217.livejournal.com]

So Henry left the group? I though he was just doing a solo project/single. interesting

YASS to Slaydies Code! I'm ready for them to fill the void that Wonder Girls' has left in my heart.

[kaninasan.livejournal.com]

i don't think he left

[lllucia.livejournal.com]

where r the girl groups cmon billboard cmon

[frequency.livejournal.com]

yes to zino and ladies' code
i have no comment on the rest

[aneeleniffum.livejournal.com]

Well... Kiss&Cry has the potential to be big!

[jojibear.livejournal.com]

+1

[eatcereal.livejournal.com]

I approve of most groups/soloists on this list.

[uguukawaii.livejournal.com]

henry and ladies code are cool but lol otherwise

[ckino (from livejournal.com)]

if I am part of WINNER I will shit my pant because the anticipation for their debut is pretty high. I hope their debut single will deliver if not, they will flop so hard. I am nervous for them.

[turtles-tszx.livejournal.com]

The anticipation for them is high, im not a fan of them but i hope they do well!! I cant wait for this year gayo, seeing exo,got7 and winner is like seeing wonsoka all over again..

[hipployta.livejournal.com]

Wait...when did Henry become fluent in Mandarin?

Isn't Beenzino in a plagarism controversy right now?

Ya'll just put GOT7 and Winner on here because they are the new debuts of the Big3 LOL

[lazmy.livejournal.com]

i thought he was always fluent in mandarin? idk

mochi domination 2k14 lets do this

[lazmy.livejournal.com]

[blinkmyday.livejournal.com]

Here for Beenzino and Winner.

[sra-interesante.livejournal.com]

yes to everything about henry

super support, great concept lol

[lazmy.livejournal.com]

-kisses back like the crazed henry stan that i am-

[uglypricetag.livejournal.com]

wtf? zino isn't part of kpop

[parkjsun.livejournal.com]

There goes another western media outlet interpreting KPop to mean all Korean music. What else is new though?

[vvipforseungri.livejournal.com]

lots of love to bbs winner and henry, even though henry's solo was basic i loved it anyway! ladies code continue to be amazing, got7 are meh and how is beenzino kpop???

[zuluuluz.livejournal.com]

winner better come in strong and slay left & right

[coldhives.livejournal.com]

They will, unless YG screws them over.

[xblackchristmas.livejournal.com]

you would think that risae would give ladies code more popular in the beginning.. but guess not that many people watched them

wow @ the henry fact and SM's history of solos

[hpn88.livejournal.com]

I currently stan 2/7 (mark and Jr.) of Got7 so I can get behind this
And Henry!! He's honestly the squishiest thing ever. I luff him

[hipployta.livejournal.com]

Your GOT7 bias taste is flaw free...I'm there for Jr but I've got an eye on Mark and BamBam too

[merylsteep.livejournal.com]

Only here for my Winner babies!

[missaoki.livejournal.com]

Me too, love your icon! <3

[turtles-tszx.livejournal.com]

Got7 <3

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

LADIES' CODE

[antrea.livejournal.com]

Where the hell is Bangtan

but yes Ladies' Code yes

[torontok.livejournal.com]

I actually approve of most people.
HF Henry and his GOT7 lookalike BamBam

[hyeena.livejournal.com]

here for got7 and kinda for henry too... my friends made me watch supershow4 recently and I thought he was qt

y'all betta watch out for bangtan too

[gray-fairy.livejournal.com]

I agree about bts. surprising that they're not in this list when they have been one of the most succesful rookies of 2013.

[kinagyo.livejournal.com]

Yay for Henry and Got7 ^^

[gray-fairy.livejournal.com]

Multiracial? More like multiethnic since all are Asians.

[mjspice.livejournal.com]

This tbh.