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Olivia Rodrigo's Journey: One Year Since her First Album Release

May 27, 2022

It’s been one year since the young pop-star, Olivia Rodrigo, released her first music album “Sour”. Since her debut, Olivia Rodrigo has won 3 Grammy Awards and named Women of the Year in 2022.

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Doja Cat Overwhelmed With Fame Took To Twitter To Quit Music Career

March 31, 2022

​​After a cancelled performance at the Asuncionico festival in Paraguay Doja cat received backlash from fans claiming the singer neglected them outside of her hotel. After the many complaints from...

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With T.O.P.'s Departure from YG due to mental health struggles, is this the End of Big Bang?

April 11, 2022

After a long 4 year’s K-pop group Big Bang makes a comeback to the music scene with the song “Still Life.” This song has become another banger from the group reminding fans of the music they once...

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Broadway’s KPOP To Premiere Late 2022

April 6, 2022

The first theatre production highlighting the global takeover of the K-Pop industry will be making its Broadway debut later this year, with its opening night scheduled for November 20, while...

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Ed Sheeran Slams “Damaging” Lawsuits Against Songwriters Amidst Copyright Case Victory

April 6, 2022

Over the past month, singer Ed Sheeran has been battling a copyright trial, accusing him of plagiarizing his 2017 hit song, “Shape of You” the song’s resemblance to their song, “Oh Why” Sami Chokri...

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Silk Sonic’s “Leave The Door Open” Wins Record of The Year at the 2022 Grammys

April 5, 2022

If you’ve been on social media for the past few months, odds are you’ve probably heard of the iconic viral hit, “Leave The Door Open” by Silk Sonic on just about every corner of the internet.

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5 Upcoming K-Pop Debuts To Watch For 2022

April 2, 2022

Debut: April 2022 After having competed on the reality survival show, “My Teenage Girl”, the seven-member group CLASS:y was formed, signing a seven-year contract with label, M25. The group was...

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Here’s What You Need To Know About Queendom 2

April 1, 2022

Queendom returned for its long awaited second season (hosted by Girls Generation’s Tayeon) and here’s all you need to know: Queendom is a South Korean reality-survival show in which six girl groups...

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Bobby Shmurda Is Finally Out Of His Epic Deal

April 7, 2022

Bobby Shmurda has finally been released from his deal with Epic Records following his own plea for his release on social media stating, “I did six years in jail trying to get off this label before...

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BIGBANG Make History With “Still Life” Comeback After 4-Year Hiatus

April 5, 2022

Alas, BIGBANG have finally made their long-awaited return to the spotlight with their new single, “Still Life” – a heartfelt ballad about the perils of growing up and learning from your past. As...

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Jack Harlow Samples Fergie’s “Glamorous” in Viral TikTok Snippet

April 5, 2022

Last week, Louisville heartthrob Jack Harlow dropped a 13 second snippet of a new song he’d been working on that samples Fergie’s hit, “Glamorous” and it immediately went viral on TikTok within...

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J-Pop group XGalX debut’s breaking social norms with song “Tippy Toes”

March 18, 2022

After month’s of anticipation Japanese Girl group XGalX debute with new single “Tippy Toes”. The group consists of 7 young empowered women named Jurin, Harvey, Hinata, Chisa, Maya, Juria and Co...

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Show Me The Money: South Korea’s No. 1 Rap Competition

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AllKpop

Show Me The Money (SMTM), a rap competition show from South Korea, has been airing on television since 2012. It has turned into one of the most popular and successful shows in the Korean music business, allowing young rappers a platform to showcase their talent and launch their careers. The program has had a significant role in influencing the Korean hip-hop scene and making the music more widely known.

Rappers battle against one another in SMTM's several rounds with the aim of taking home the grand prize of cash and the opportunity to sign with a major record label. Intense rap battles, catchy beats, and excellent production value have made the show gain a lot of attention in South Korea and globally. Rappers including Jay Park, San E, Simon D, and LOCO, among others, have appeared on the program over the years and served as judges, mentors, and producers for the competitors.

AllKpop

SMTM offers a platform for amateurs to the Korean music industry, which is one of its most important advantages of being in the show. Many aspiring rappers who are just getting started can find it difficult to gain attention or recognition, but SMTM presents a special chance for them to demonstrate their abilities in front of a big audience. The program also offers advice and mentoring from seasoned rappers, assisting amateurs in honing their abilities and creating their own distinctive style.

SMTM has helped the Korean hip-hop scene expand and evolve. The program significantly contributed to the genre's exposure to a larger audience and its emergence as a respectable musical style. The competition has also promoted the discovery of fresh talent and the experimentation with unique aesthetics, bringing in a more vibrant and diversified hip-hop culture in Korea other than K-pop.

Bandwagon Asia

Besides helping new coming rappers, SMTM has given experienced rappers the chance to advance their careers. Many former competitors went on to succeed in the Korean music industry, and some even rose to prominence in the international hip-hop scene. For instance, Gray, a well-known rapper and producer who won the fourth season of SMTM, has since produced songs for well-known performers like Lee Hi and IU in addition to producing his own successful albums.

In the most recent season aired, rapper Lee Young-ji won and became the first female winner of the show out of 30,000 applications in one season. She was able to be a part of the winning production team with Jay Park and Slom. It seems likely that SMTM will continue to play a significant role in determining the direction of Korean hip-hop as the country's music business expands fast. The success of the show has also inspired other countries like Vietnam and Thailand to create their own version of the show. 

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