Hay Omona! Come and get to know Alexandra Reid, RaNia's new member

[kwikimart.livejournal.com]

Agency DR Music has announced that the girl group RANIA has recruited a black member named Alexandra to group.

Alexandra, age 21, is a rapper hailing from the U.S. Her father is white and her mother is black. She was born in Kansas and has lived in New York and Texas. She was part of the American record label Def Jam (housing Kanye West, Ludacris, and Justin Beiber, among others currently) starting from when she was 15 years old. Alexandra was preparing to debut with the help of her manager Scott (who formerly managed Rihanna and currently manages Bruno Mars, according to DR Music), when she came to know RANIA and signed on to become an official member.

Alexandra also starred in Jamie Foxx‘s “You Changed Me” music video, and she is said to boast top rapping skills. In regards to her composition skills, she has worked with Alex Dakid,who has worked with Eminem, and JR Rotem, who has worked with Britney Spears.

According to DR Music, Alexandra became interested in K-pop through YouTube and decided to come to Korea and be part of the K-pop scene through this opportunity with RANIA.

Because of visa issues, Alexandra was only able to join the group in Korea last month, but is currently preparing hard to promote with the group and is looking forward to going on TV.

Viewers will be able to start seeing Alexandra performing November 5, through RANIA’s “Demonstrate” comeback on “M!Countdown.”

RANIA has also recruited new members Seulji and Hyemi to the group for its first comeback in about two years.

From Rania & her new record label

Thank you for having me, Seoul.🙏☺️ I am honored and delighted to learn and immerse myself in your culture!

— Alexandra Reid (@thealexreid) November 4, 2015

저희 마지막 멤버를 소개합니다.
그녀의 이름은 알렉산드라입니다. 많은 응원 부탁드립니다.
Introducing our final member .her name is Alex.!... https://t.co/w2Xm7OX19N

— DR Music Official (@DRMUSIC_RANIA) November 4, 2015

Netizens say....

1. [+1,475, -43] What is such a pretty girl doing in a Korean girl group??? She's going to own everyone else...

2. [+857, -18] She's pretty...!!!!!

3. [+641, -14] I wonder what Michelle Lee is up to lately

4. [+566, -114] She's probably a nugu in America so she's trying for a career here. If she was doing well, what would she be joining Rania for?

6. [+136, -4] A girl who shot a MV with Chris Brown is in Korea to be a girl group member? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ She's insane

7. [+117, -4] Should've stuck with America, why the Korean market of all places...

8. [+93, -1] Why a Korean girl group? I think she'll regret it... should've stayed in America...

9. [+89, -2] All of the female rappers are going to get owned by her ㅋㅋㅋ

10. [+45, -1] Rania has always been a multiethnic group! They had a foreign producer for their debut track too, quite provocative at the time

14. [+32, -3] This is like a future pop star working part time as a Korean girl group briefly

15. [+27, -0] Judging her face alone, she looks like she could be a top level international model~~


Her instagram if you're interested in more pretty

PICS: Alex Reid, Rania's new freaking beautiful African-American member
ALEXANDRA'S TWEET
DR MUSIC'S TWITTER
ALEXANDRA'S SOUNDCLOUD
NETIZEN BUZZ: Rania declares comeback with their first black member (via NAVER 'Girl group Rania is the first Korean girl group with a black member')

TYFYT OMONA

XOXO

Comments

[miwa201.livejournal.com]

she's beautiful! i hope things go well for her, i hope there won't be any messiness. keep jay park/rapmon/zico away from her plz. how is her korean tho?

and, yes, as usual #justiceformichellelee

[obscureauthor.livejournal.com]

Yes yes and OMFG yes!

[fabulousdoll.livejournal.com]

OP, the link to her instagram is to a naver article.

Her beauty makes me ashamed to look at the mirror.
Reading some of those comments... what is the obsesion of some people with America? That's not everyone final goal.
Well, I hope she gets a warm welcome.

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

Like America is the end all be all amazing...

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

This will be really interesting.
She's is very beautiful.
So no talk of her language skills.
Welcome to the MADNESS ALEX!

[kwikimart.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking about some comments I've seen on other places and while I completely agree that she should definitely learn some Korean...I think we can all name a couple of Kpop groups where some of the members aren't fluent in Korean or struggle with it but are still otherwise fine. People tend to see it as cute with them, I don't know why it bothers some people so much if she's not fluent.
If she's willing to learn and work hard then I don't see the issue.

Second thing; Chad Future was an entitled white man that thought he could 'save' Kpop, she is a girl that auditioned and got a job, I don't understand why people are making a false equivalency between the two. If anything I'm more worried about her, I hope she's not just a gimmick.

Third and final thing: some people are really mad that 'Westerns are coming and taking over, Kpop is for Koreans' etc which is like..well, fine, then tell your biases to stop taking so much from black people's culture, language and style and we won't need to be included! It is important that Kpop exists as a musical space for Korean people, I would never say black people should take it over, what I will always so tho is that it can stand to be more inclusive. Why are black people good enough to heavily influence so much of it but not be included?
America also needs to do FAR better in this regard since it really treats black people in music like trash.

Anyway, I can imagine things are only going to get more messy. She's very lucky she's so good-looking lol coz I think that will help matters.
That's it.

[obscureauthor.livejournal.com]

You have raised some relevant points. Honestly I am glad there is this new advent of multi ethnic groups, because as kpop is gaining global traction they need to learn that itis not a one way street. I would like to think most commentors writing passive aggressive BS is just jealous of her superior looks. Of course it helps she is pretty, isn't that how kpop works. I am just hoping that this opens their eyes also to different kinds of women rather than the usual fair/Skinny/Petite idea of beauty.

[obscureauthor.livejournal.com]

She looks fucking gorgeous. TBH I haven't stanned a girlgroup in a while and I hope these goddesses slay!

[rennehollic.livejournal.com]

she's breath taking and I hope she is happy in the long run with her choice. Rania is one of my favorite girl groups and it pains me how underrated they are, so maybe, with this member and her talento people will pay the attention the girls desserve
1. [+1,475, -43] What is such a pretty girl doing in a Korean girl group??? She's going to own everyone else...

ouch!

for some reason I don't want her to understand Korean at all because if she gets way too much hate, she won't understand a word and won't affect her. or maybe she's stronger than I think and even if she understands she won't care at all

[sra-interesante.livejournal.com]

based on previous mixed idols experience i hope she gets a good response from korean fans ..... seems they're really concerned about her korean skills

she could break some myths and educate korean audience about black culture

alexandra fighting !!

[mlmello.livejournal.com]

I'm already nervous about the reactions/comments that she will have to deal with. but damn, girl, you're so beautiful. <3

well, rania is getting the attention that they needed to not end the group. so her addition is more about noise marketing than anything, unfortunately. I hope she gets this opportunity to shine. I think korean industry is more open to foreigners now so maybe she can score some points if she has an outgoing/funny personality.

my only wish for now is that she has a good relationship with the other members. she will definitely need support because it won't be easy.

[gathyou.livejournal.com]

Good luck to her!
The preview from that song... sounds really promising so far ! Damn I'm so glad that Rania is coming back. I don't think I have ever been that much surprised by a debut song while following kpop. Let them have their big impact now, please

[byeolbyeol.livejournal.com]

minus everything that's already been said, one thing i'm really worried about: that the company is just using her to draw in attention to the group considering:

a) they've been gone for so long that most people were convinced they'd disbanded.

b) they drew in a lot of attention with their debut song because, like some people said in the first post, more mature / sexier concepts weren't as common back then (ala stellar, ect.) and it was pretty much like having a bucket of ice water poured over everyone's head when comparing to other concepts at that time. (i remember they debuted around the time i started listening to korean pop and they got so much shit / were constantly compared to concepts that other rookie groups that year like a pink and dal shabet were bringing forth) (that was long winded) and they had a niche from that / did well but their hiatus killed said niche and if they tried it again they'd either get lost in the abyss or criticized further.

so, i'm like..., is there a catch here? if things don't go how the company want them to are they going to cut her loose and act like she'd never joined to begin with? b/c that'd be completely cruel and unfair to her. i just don't trust this company, lmao.

[leopolitan.livejournal.com]

their company is shady af. you just have to look at how many girls have left over the years and how teddy riley departed and later spoke of them to know something is fucked with the management. plus there was that whole failed american advancement, and their partnership with a spanish company that leaked their music without their permission lol. their history is just a huge ass mess and i hope alex doesnt get taken advantage of bc of the language barrier

[gray-fairy.livejournal.com]

She's stunningly pretty.

[kwikimart.livejournal.com]

OT but it's my post so idc lol; can someone prettify my icon please? Like give the guy a rainbow and some hearts, something twee.
It always looks funny when I'm in the posts going 'OMG MY SONS ARE PRECIOUS DARLINGS' then I have this dead serious icon lol

[yohan94.livejournal.com]

lmao i can't w you

[yohan94.livejournal.com]

i would have been way more excited about this if she spoke korean bc otherwise wheres the fun she cant go on variety, can't speak in interviews it'll be awks
im still curious to see how it works out

[mya13.livejournal.com]

how is she gonna drag zico?
tbh she can drag him in english i'm sure he understands swear words since that's probably the only english he cares about to seem so bad ass!

[ironicmustache.livejournal.com]

so will all the raps be in english or will she learn korean ones?

i'm interested to see how this plays out, with all the other foreigners coming to korea for awhile before debut to train, but it seems like she just got stuck in there? i wonder how long she'll last tbh.

as for the teaser video, it seems like she sticks out a lot. and not because she's a foreigner, but because she's styled completely differently from the other girls. i hope they fix that. it was really distracting to me ...

[ironicmustache.livejournal.com]

also i'm side-eying all the "omg she needs to go on uprs and educate trudey!!1" comments on other sites. that's not her job. i wish people wouldn't just stick hero labels on someone when they have given ZERO clues on what they even think.

idk i worry that i-fans will turn on her if she doesn't start calling out k-celebs. and i feel like she'll have a hard enough time with k-fans ...

[kwikimart.livejournal.com]

ITA
It's stressful enough what she's going into and the scrutiny she'll face, now she's supposed to do the job that other idols and Kpop fans should have been doing?
Why is it a black person's job to call out something blatantly racist like Truedy? So far it seems most of the other girls on UPRS2 have been handling that just fine, Alexandra just needs to worry about studying the language , getting along with her new bandmates and avoiding Jay Park/all of Korean hip-hop

[edanz-castle.livejournal.com]

9. [+89, -2] All of the female rappers are going to get owned by her ㅋㅋㅋ

Are they making these assumptions because she's black or because they've heard her rap????

Anyway, I wish her luck. I'l be rooting for her.

[kwikimart.livejournal.com]

Lmaoo I know, yes rap belongs to black people but that doesn't mean all black people are good at it
Y'all don't wanna hear my bars :/ they are so bad. So bad.

[goshipgurl.livejournal.com]

shes pretty but its hilarious how netizens are praising her already, like shes some kind of god. just wait for her first "scandal" to see their real faces.

edit: plus im not sure how to feel about this. she doesnt speak korean, she just came to korea like a month ago... how will she communicate with the members? with the press?
sadly i dont see her lasting very long.

[leopolitan.livejournal.com]

shes gorgeous af like for once my eyes wont be glued to di all the time

[unicornios.livejournal.com]

she's absolutely drop dead gorgeous but what

this is like fanfic lol

[kwikimart.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean! This is literally every sad fanfic writer (I mean bless them I know why they do it)'s dream come true. It's really funny!
And random!
Like...wth?!

[adenar.livejournal.com]

I am wary of how suddenly she's come up and what her agency have planned but for now i'm going to stay positive and just enjoy the ride.

[redgreendress.livejournal.com]

same. I'm always preparing for the worst lol but of course this could also be amazing

[kwikimart.livejournal.com]

This is epic of course but it's also really interesting reading the comments from Asian fans and what they think of Korea and Korean idol culture. Most of the comments about her are generally positive or curious but the ones about what she will potentially face when coming into Kpop are the ones I've found really intriguing.
Damn, what a time to be a Kpop stan! I'm so glad I got into it this year

[maebyfunke.livejournal.com]

i'm yelling @ you being all over your own post but ia when i read the comments in the post i was bracing myself for some really rude stuff but overall they're pretty good

[kwaiirosesilent.livejournal.com]

Call me cynical but this leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I'm happy for her and all, but I don't think she realizes how toxic the industry is regarding mental and physical well being. Like, I srsly hope she is prepared for the chaos. Not to mention Korea in general has a long way to go with their treatment of Black people. That's just a whole other layer of possible damage. I worry she may be a gimmick and I guarantee there will be at least a few interviews centered on her race (and prob not in a good way).

...I wish her the best and will pray for her.

[suxaholic.livejournal.com]

I guess it's a smart way for their management to drum up some buzz for Rania but its going to get messy for SURE. I am just waiting for the she is pretty for being black comment or something of that nature.


I also disagree with some here. She should learn Korean if she is going to be active in SK just like any other foreign born idol why should she be exempt? knowing Korean is very much needed for an idol for them to be able to do their job properly.

[katzenlibrary.livejournal.com]

Definitely agree with this. Japanese, Chinese, etc. members also have to learn Korean, so it seems natural that she'd be expected to learn it too. Even if she's not great at the language, it still makes sense that she'd have to try.

[rm-casablancas.livejournal.com]

There was this French girl who joined a nugu group two years ago.

Sadly, I don't think this girl will last.

[sethelaezekiel.livejournal.com]

i was excited for this but after seeing some of the criticisms from e asians i think they're rightfully upset bc kpop is an asian space so now im like :/

[kwikimart.livejournal.com]

Okay then why aren't they mad at all the other 'international' members of groups? It's Kpop, not Thai pop, not Jpop (altho that exists lol) so then by that rule, there should only be Koreans involved.
If it's just for E Asians then why do their faves stay in cornrows, tan make up, rapping, singing R&B, doing The Whip (among other dances we've invented), using AAVE, outright stating that various black artists inspire them and they want to make music for a global audience etc?
Like...I completely respect criticisms of the Kpop industry and how it treats Korean idols and audiences but why are people suddenly worried it's no longer going to be Korean friendly because a black girl has joined?

Those are my questions anyway but otherwise, I'd really appreciate it if you shared the links you've seen where E Asian people are critical.