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"American Dream: 21 Savage's Solo Odyssey and the Big Drake Question"

January 13, 2024

Noteworthy is the absence of Drake, sparking questions about the collaboration that never materialized. While the album showcases collaborations with artists like Doja Cat and Lil Durk, Drake's....

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Jay-Z x D'Angelo's Collaboration on 'I Want You Forever' for 'The Book of Clarence' Soundtrack"

January 12, 2024

Breaking new ground, Jay-Z and D'Angelo have united for the first time, giving birth to the enchanting single, "I Want You Forever."

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BTS's Jung Kook Victorious as Artist of the Year at the 2024 Circle Chart Music Awards

January 10, 2024

In a triumphant moment that left the global music community buzzing with excitement, the multi-talented Jung Kook of BTS secured his place as the Artist of the Year at the Circle Chart Music Awards...

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Metallica - A Thrash Metal Band Like No Other

December 26, 2023

However, a few thrash metal bands broke through this barrier and became very popular. This article will discuss the history of one such band: Metallica, which is arguably...

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Sleep Token’s ‘New Era’ Unveiling of their wild new masks

December 22, 2023

In an enormous climax to their breakout year, Sleep Token, the anonymous alt-metal sensation, marked their journey with a massive headlining sold out show at the OVO Arena Wembley in London, U.K...

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Bad Omens ‘Just Pretend’: Ironic Parody to NO.1 Radio Rock Hit

December 21, 2023

Bad Omens' alt-metal breakout, "Just Pretend," has transcended its origins as an ironic parody to become a genuine No. 1 radio rock hit...

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Juice WRLD's Legacy Continues with Eminem Collaboration 'Lace It'

December 20, 2023

In tribute Eminem is featured on a new single called "Lace It," which is a moving homage to the late rapper Juice WRLD, whose 25th birthday was only two weeks ago...

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Elton John - A Musical Icon

December 20, 2023

In 1967, Elton John responded to an advertisement put out by Liberty Records and was asked to compose a song for a set of lyrics written by Bernie Taupin, another young musician...

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Timbaland Hails Kanye West as a Visionary

December 18, 2023

In a series of recent interviews, legendary music producer Timbaland has expressed profound admiration for fellow artist Kanye West, likening him to a "Greek god" and lauding him...

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Nicki Minaj Shatters Records with 'Pink Friday 2': A New Era in Hip-Hop

December 18, 2023

In an astounding display of musical dominance, Nicki Minaj's latest release, 'Pink Friday 2,' is reshaping the landscape of hip-hop and music charts worldwide...

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Artist of the Week: Jay Z - The Blueprint of Success

December 16, 2023

In a world where musical legends come and go, Jay Z stands as a towering figure, a testament to enduring talent and entrepreneurial genius...

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Embracing Parenthood with Megan Moon's 'Momma Me Time'

December 16, 2023

Megan Moon, the force behind her self-titled Youtube channel with almost 900,000 subscribers, takes us on a joyful ride in the rap song 'Momma Me Time...

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They're Not Real? The Rise in Virtual Kpop Groups

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Photo Source: News24

As virtual technology continues to evolve and we move towards the metaverse future, the K-pop industry has begun delving into all the possibilities. Virtual/ AI groups and performers are becoming increasingly popular and widespread in the K-pop industry. In this article, we’ll dive into a few virtual groups that have debuted in recent years.

AESPA

In November 2020, SM Entertainment debuted Aespa, the first K-pop group with their own AI avatars. The group debuted with the single “Black Mamba” and has released three albums since. Having popularized the metaverse concept in K-pop, the group consists of four members and their virtual counterparts (“aes”). These online avatars have been created from the data that the members have uploaded online, being the reflection of Aepsa.

ETERN!TY

Created by Pulse9’s technology, the group, consisting of 11 members, made their debut in March 2021 with their first single, “I’m Real.” The company started by generating female faces using Deep Real AI, based on the traits: cute, sexy, innocent, and intelligent. Based on fan votes, the winning characters were designed and have been projected onto the faces of actual girls. However, the voices of the members are the voices of the actual singers.

MAVE

MAVE is a four-member girl group, entirely composed of AI members, under Metaverse Entertainment. The group debuted with their single album, “Pandora’s Box” in January 2023. The group’s name means “make a new wave,” as it hopes to create a new wave of K-pop that includes virtual idols. The group is formed through a collaboration between Kakao, an internet company, and Netmarble, a mobile game company.

PLAVE

In March 2023, PLAVE made their debut under Kakao’s VLAST with the single album “Asterum.” Unlike other virtual artists, PLAVE uses computer graphics to create manhwa-style characters in place of the real bodies. Each track on their album was written and composed by the members themselves.

FE:VERSE

FE:VERSE is a virtual 5-member girl group formed by the winners of Kakao’s survival show, GIRL’S RE:VERSE. The group debuted with “CHO” in May 2023. Although the members are virtual, they are played by idols from other K-pop groups.