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The Broadway ‘KPOP’ Show Announced Its Sudden Closing, And Its Cast And Crew Are Reacting

If you’re one to lurk through Twitter trends, then you may have seen or come across the ‘#SaveKPOPBroadway’ hashtag floating around.

The trending hashtag originated from the heartbreaking news on the abrupt closing of KPOP the Broadway musical made on Tuesday evening (December 6). Since then, the cast — consisting of in real life K-pop stars Kevin Woo (former U-KISS), Min (former Miss A), Luna (former f(x)), Bohyung (former SPICA) — and crew, alongside the K-pop and Asian-American Pacific Islander community, have expressed their passion and determination to keep the show alive through their respective social platforms.

Our show is so important to stay on Broadway!” Kevin Woo, who plays a member of fictional boy group F8, tweets. “It brings more diverse, newer, and younger audiences to live theatre. We NEED this to continue to open doors for so many more talented AAPI artists to come. This show needs to be seen by many more audiences.”

Since Tuesday’s announcement, the show’s curtain calls have been filled with love and emotions from the audience as cast members express their never-ending gratitude towards the audience present.

“Growing up as an Asian theatre kid, you never think a show like this could exist,” Amy Keum says. “But it does. And it’s here! It deserves more.”

KPOP has become a vital part in not only showing the different dynamics of K-pop and the spectacle behind it, but bringing representation and diversity in the Broadway space, pushing boundaries and making history for the Asian and Asian-American communities alike.

Created by Korean-American writer and producer Jason Kim, with music by the first female Asian composer on Broadway Helen Park, KPOP is the first Broadway production that showcases Korean culture and K-pop. The musical’s casting and storytelling are a complete standout as it conveys what being a part of the K-pop industry is like from the perspective of both Korean and Korean-American K-pop stars who are either part of a girl group, boy group, or solo.

Just like how the premise of the musical is about K-pop solidifying its role as a global phenomenon through showcasing various K-pop acts making it out west, KPOP the musical itself, though short-lived, has already cemented history on its own in the hearts of many to those who’ve come across it.

The musical officially opened its Broadway doors on November 27 and has held 44 preview performances prior to and 17 regular shows to date.

KPOP will hold its final show on Sunday, December 11 at Circle in the Square on Broadway. All tickets for the upcoming shows are reportedly sold out, but eager attendees can be on the lookout on the musical’s official site.

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NMIXX’s Jinni Leaves The Group And Terminates Contract With JYP Entertainment

In a year where departures and disbandments are happening left and right in the industry, another shocking leave has left the K-pop community speechless.

Today (December 9), JYP Entertainment has announced the departure of NMIXX member Jinni. Though no further details were given, the statement released on the K-pop group‘s official bulletin board mentioned the termination of her exclusive contract with the company and her leave was due to personal reasons.

Check out JYP Entertainment’s official statement, with translations provided by Soompi, below:

“Hello, this is JYP Entertainment.

Jinni, who has been a member of NMIXX up until now, will be leaving the group due to personal circumstances, and her exclusive contract has been terminated.

We apologize for giving many fans cause for concern with this sudden news.

As a result, we are letting you know that NMIXX will be carrying out all of their future scheduled activities as a six-member group.

We ask that you give lots of encouragement to Jinni, who will be walking a new path, and we also ask that NSWER [NMIXX’s fans] give their warm support to the six members who will continue to grow and race towards their dreams.

Once again, we apologize to the fans who have given [NMIXX] so much support.

Thank you.”

NMIXX made their debut earlier this year (February 2, 2022) originally as a seven-member ensemble consisting of members, Lily, Haewon, Sullyoon, Bae, Jiwoo, Kyujin, and Jinni. The group has successfully released two EPs — AD MARE and ENTWURF — both of which are available on all streaming platforms. And just a few weeks ago, NMIXX released their Christmas-themed single “Funky Glitter Christmas.”

The young JYP girl group will now continue with six members.

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SZA Flips A Radiohead Classic On Her ‘SOS’ Cut, ‘Special’

It may be a while before we hear SZA’s remix to Lizzo’s “Special,” but her new album, SOS, features a song of her own called “Special.”

On “Special,” SZA looks back not-so-fondly on lost love. She recalls the many things she changed about herself in order to please this person.

The song opens with a sweet, simple strum of a guitar, as she recalls comparing herself to a “girl from the Gucci store” who “never wore any makeup and owns couture.”

As the song reaches the song’s chorus, SZA sings, “I wish I was special / I gave all my special / away to a loser / Now I’m just a loser.”

Though there’s no direct or clear sample, the song sounds similar to Radiohead‘s “Creep,” notably the song’s pre-chorus, on which, Thom Yorke sings, “I wish I was special / You’re so f*ckin’ special.”

Both songs are somewhat self-deprecating in nature, but SZA is aware that the song’s subject wasn’t worth her time. Lyrics like “regret that I changed me / I hate that you made me / just like you” show SZA’s reaching a coming-of-age in her early 30s, moving on from the insecurities she lamented in her debut album, CTRL.

Check out “Special” above.

SOS is out now via RCA Records and Top Dawg Entertainment. Stream it here.

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NLE Choppa Indulges In His Opulence On His New Single, ‘I Like’

Over the course of the past year, NLE Choppa has put out several bangers. From the Rose Royce-sampling “Do It Again,” to “Ice Spice,” which features his shouting out the namesake Bronx rapper, Choppa is proving to have the Midas touch in the booth. On his newest single, “I Like,” Choppa reaps the fruits of his labor.

On the song’s chorus, the Memphis rapper lists off several of the things that bring him joy, including, “cars that go vroom vroom,” “money that go ching-ching,” and “diamonds that go bling bling.”

The accompanying video sees Choppa throwing a very wild house party, complete with a basketball throwdown, champagne popping, and twerking by the swimming pool.

Back in January, Choppa spoke with The Breakfast Club about meditation and how its helped him in his spiritual journey.

“I feel like when you blow up, you get introduced to drugs, jewelry, money, sex. Everything that you want, but nothing you need. And I just realized, internally it was something I needed deeper than that, that my soul was happy with.” Choppa said. “I was at my lowest.”

This week, he took to Twitter announcing a big milestone he’s reached in his transformation.

“At my final stage of detachment,” Choppa said. “Proud to say this some of y’all last year knowing me, EVER.”

Check out the video for “I Like” above.

NLE Choppa is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

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Dove Cameron Channels Massive ‘Charlie’s Angels’ Energy On Her New Song ‘Girl Like Me’

Dove Cameron is back with another pop banger in the form of “Girl Like Me.” Produced by Evan Blair, the sultry fast-paced anthem proves she isn’t playing around. By the time the electric guitar enters after the first chorus, if you weren’t already hooked, you will be.

“Handsome, there ain’t nothing sexy ’bout a tantrum / And I’m not even here I’m just a phantom / I know I’m putting you on the spot / What do you think, you’re ready or not?” Cameron sings in the second verse.

“You’ve never met a girl like me before,” she notes on the chorus.

Cameron first teased the song in March on TikTok, creating anticipation among fans. According to Genius, it also interpolates Edwyn Collins’ “A Girl Like You.” She was first inspired by the song after hearing it in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.

“I was like, ‘Oh my god, it would be so fun to cover on tour.’ And we were like, ‘What if we just flip the narrative? What if we just said, ‘You’ve ever met a girl like me before’?” Cameron told People Magazine.

On the heels of her massive 2022 hit, “Boyfriend,” and other singles, “Bad Idea” and “Breakfast,” it appears Cameron might be gearing up for a debut studio album. From what we’ve heard so far, it certainly won’t disappoint — even if it’s completely new songs.

Listen to Dove Cameron’s new song “Girl Like Me” above.

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Lil Tecca Realizes He’s The ‘Blessing’ On His New Single

Back with another hit, Lil Tecca has dropped his new single, “Blessing.” On his punchy new synth-and-bass-heavy track, Tecca is searching for people on his level — both romantically and within his circle.

“I’m the blessing, so who ’bout to bless me now? / She wan’ cuff and arrest me now,” Tecca raps on the song’s chorus.

He continues, saying, “All that extra sh*t really gon’ stress me out / Put some Chrome on my chest piece now.”

On the song’s final verse, he examines the loyalty of some of the people around him, and makes note of lessons he’s learned over the years.

“Had to learn that some people can’t sit with us / Never lied when I said that you let me down / Never lied when you let me down / Gossipin’, then you can’t be ’round,” he raps.

Skilled with his pen, as well as Auto-Tune effects, Tecca has several hits under his belt. While one might imagine he faces a lot of pressure to follow up his smashes with even more smashes, Tecca revealed in an interview with XXL that the pressure all went away after the release of his 2019 hit, “Ransom.”

“You get the most pressure when you do this for your first time ’cause everyone is looking at you like, ‘Can he do it again?’ But even before I had “Ransom,” I already been dropped buzzing songs… And it’s two years later now, so how can I still feel pressure from two years ago, a year ago? I’m doing me,” he said. “If I let anything give me pressure, I’m just letting a bunch of random people eat me up on some brainwashing shit. That’s dead.”

Check out “Blessing” above.

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Polo G Reminisces About Him Giving ‘My All’ On His Highly-Anticipated New Song

After giving fans a preview earlier this year, Polo G has dropped his anticipated new song, “My All.” By the time the catchy beat drops, it compliments the rhymes nicely. “You need to desperately wake up,” he notes on the chorus. “When it was time to dance, could always count on you to be my plus one.” Struggling with trust issues and women, Polo G decides he just wants to live in the moment as the melody fades out.

“I hate that I was too deep in so young,” Polo G ponders on the final lyric.

His new track follows his previously-released singles “Bag Talk” and “Distraction” from this year. The rapper already has his sights on 2023, though, as all three songs will be included on his forthcoming album. Despite not having an official release date or title out yet, fans should still definitely keep an eye (and an ear) out for what the Chicago performer has planned next.

“I know I’m registering with people and helping them get through their sh*t,” Polo told Complex last summer, speaking to the motivational aspects of his music. “It’s a good feeling, because I get those messages, like, ‘Oh, you got me through a rough time.’ I really know how that be.”

Polo G’s “My All” is out now. Listen to it above.

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YG And Lil Wayne Reminisce Over Friendships Past On Their New Song, ‘Miss My Dawgs’

A little over two months after dropping his sixth studio album, I Got Issues, YG has shared a new single. On “Miss My Dawgs,” the Compton rapper reminisces on friendships that have come and gone over the years.

“Man, I miss my dawgs / The ones I pick up for, ain’t never missed a call / Plottin’ to get it poppin’, we had plans to get it all / Wishin’ you was here, dawg, to ride these foreign cars,” raps YG on the song’s chorus.

In the first verse, he recalls the loyalty of his friends and elaborates on what makes someone genuine, saying, “My dawg is one who ride for me / They wouldn’t try me for a body, they gon’ slide for free / Wherever I be steppin’, they on side of me / Bros over hoes, built off loyalty and honesty.”

Lil Wayne joins in with a verse, which is seemingly unrelated to his own song, “I Miss My Dawgs” from his 2004 album, Tha Carter. On his verse, he makes several dog-related analogies to his own loyal pack.

In the song’s accompanying video, clips of YG and Wayne with their friends and family at various points in their lives.

Check out the “Miss My Dawgs” video above.

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Blxst And Larry June Tell Their Haters To ‘Keep Calling’ On The Carefree New Collaboration

Blxst released his new collaboration with Larry June called “Keep Calling” The free-spirited song finds Blxst opening with his verse as June supports him through some ad-lib style background vocals. “I just touched down, threw a surprise party for pops,” Blxst sings. “I ain’t even checkin’ the scoreboard, I stop / Double up on this world tour, then drop again / While you lookin for a block to spend.”

“Long as we got respect, we ain’t gotta be friends,” he continues. “They keep on callin’ / I keep on ballin’… Baby, my diamonds still hittin’ / They flawless.”

From there, June takes the lead on the second verse while still carrying the pacing over the hypnotic beat. “Rose gold piece and a diamond special / Pulled up in a Porsche playing My Confession,” he adds.

The duo appears just as carefree as their lyricism in the music video. Directed by Direct Dev and Blu, Blxst and Larry June pose in (and around) a car with a pretty girl, with the ocean view behind them all. They also hang out together on a basketball court, as a retro film filter gets overlayed during parts of the video.

Listen to Blxst and Larry June’s new song “Keep Calling” above.

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SZA Questions If A Breakup Was The Right Choice On ‘Nobody Gets Me’

SZA‘s new album has everyone in their feels. On her debut album, CTRL, SZA faces the insecurities and uncertainties that come with growing up. SOS sees a more mature version of the R&B songstress who has made the conscious choice to let go of things that weren’t serving her. On one of the album’s standout tracks, SZA has second thoughts about parting ways from someone.

On “Nobody Gets Me,” SZA details memories of a past relationship, including tumultuous vacations, wild sexcapades, and an almost marriage. Though it seems like she was the one who made the choice to end the relationship, the song features her wondering if she made the right choice.

“It’s too late I don’t want to lose / What’s left of you / How am I suppose to tell you / I don’t wanna see you with anyone but me / Nobody gets me like you / How I’m supposed to let you go / Only like myself when I’m with you / Nobody gets me, you do,” she sings on the song’s chorus.

It’s a message that is poignantly specific, but painfully relatable.

Check out “Nobody Gets Me” above.

SOS is out now via Top Dawg Entertainment and RCA Records. Stream it here.