[Exclusive] YG Reveals perfect plans for their artists' comebacks

YG Entertainment will take the second half of this year by the storm. A variety of musicians cherished and polished by YG will release their all-time best albums in the second half, doing their best.

An YG insider said on August 30 to OSEN, “YG’s CEO YANG HYUN SUK is taking initiative for YG’s unprecedented success for the second half of this year, saying we should pour all our power and capabilities in the second half of this year, to carry out as many projects of YG artists as possible, for the sake of fans”. Before such plan was announced, YG led the debut of BLACKPINK, YG’s first new girl group in seven years, to a great success and announced solo album release by iKON’s member BOBBY, to draw keen attention. As BOBBY is one of the leading rappers of YG, his album is expected to contain genuine hip-hop.

After BLACKPINK and BOBBY, WINNER’s SONG MINHO who is famous for his flagship hip-hop soul, will also come back as a solo artist. Then, in fall, new albums of WINNER and iKON, the brother boy groups, are expected to be released. Then, “MADE” album of BIGBANG, YG’s leading artist, will be finally completed.

Furthermore, AKMU will release an album in this fall as suggested from early this year, and then PSY, EPIK HIGH, and LEE HI will also release their new songs within this year. With YG’s jewel box widely opening as such, global music fans will be able to enjoy a variety of YG music during the second half of this year.

Plus, Zion.T who has recently joined YG producer TEDDY’s new black label, as well as Hyuk Oh of EPIK HIGH’s label are likely to release new albums in the second half. As Zion.T and Hyuk Oh always sweep top places on charts, their new release is something that music fans always await for.

If new songs and albums of such bigshot YG artists are released one after another from this September until the end of this year, the music scene for the second half of 2016 will be dominated by YG. Naturally, music fans believe that a big sensation will be created by YG during that time.

YG artists are famous for their long-time work on new songs. That is why fans of YG artists sometimes say that you never know when they will actually release an album until the album is really put on the market. However, that is also the proof of how much YG artists work hard for their music to be presented to the public. 

Therefore, YG artists always present music with higher-than-expected quality. If only more than half of those YG artists release new songs in the second half, the music scene will be just hit hard by YG. 

# Sechs Kies’ first concert in 16 years

Sechs Kies will hold a concert on September 10 and 11 at Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul. That is Sechs Kies’ first concert in 16 years since the team’s breakup in 2000. Sechs Kies had originally been supposed to hold a concert in June, but after signing contract with YG, the team decided to postpone the concert, to have more time to raise the quality of the concert. In the concert whose tickets had been all sold out right after the ticket opening, Sechs Kies is highly likely to unveil their new songs. 

Sechs Kies members are going to YG’s recording studio every day these days. Despite their busy schedules of preparation for the concert and appearance in TV shows, Sechs Kies has been recording more than 20 songs to be performed at the concert from scratch. As Sechs Kies has not performed for more than 16 years, there were only one or two available accompanying music. No one had the accompanying music for Sechs Kies’ songs and YG does not use music for TV shows at concerts, in order to present perfect sound for concerts. So, Sechs Kies members had to sing and record those songs all over again. It demonstrates how much YG is caring for the quality of Sechs Kies’ concert.

# Solo BOBBY & iKON 

iKON’s member and rapper BOBBY unveiled the first teaser image for his solo comeback on August 29. The teaser image showed “COMING SOON” in large font, suggesting that BOBBY’s solo album will be released soon. BOBBY is the main rapper of iKON who debuted one year ago, as well as the winner of Mnet’s “Show Me the Money 3” show in 2014. BOBBY’s rap style with his flagship rough and tough voice always presents energetic performances. 

BOBBY is 20-years-old. He is a member of boy group iKON that holds Japan arena tour within only one year of their debut and now, he also releases his own solo album, rapidly evolving into an artist. He was 19-years-old when he won “Show Me the Money 3”. BOBBY’s solo album and performances to be unveiled two years after that are likely to be focusing on genuine hip-hop that best-displays BOBBY’s identity and appeals. Meanwhile, group iKON is also working on their new songs. 

# BLACKPINK, again

Is BLACKPINK, the hottest girl group of these days, going to hit the music scene hard once again? YG artists usually present more than two songs for their debut. BLACKPINK made debut only three weeks ago, but they are setting unprecedented records on charts, unlike usual rookie girl groups. BLACKPINK has been sweeping the charts of music-streaming websites for 15 days in a row, took No.1 in a TV music show within the shortest-ever period of time for a girl group, and their music videos have surpassed 20 million views. Just a “whistle” of these girls is creating sensation in the music scene. 

BLACKPINK has completed the formula that an YG rookie equals a monstrous rookie. Following the great success of WINNER who debuted in 2014 and iKON who debuted last year, BLACKPINK is also creating big sensation in the music scene. All those three idol groups took music charts by the storm upon their debut. These days, it is even hard for an idol group to make their debut song enter the chart. Therefore, BLACKPINK’s success on charts is all the more remarkable. 

# Hyuk Oh and CL 

Hyuk Oh drew big attention by presenting a sensational performance at SUMMER SONIC 2016, one of the leading music festivals in Japan. Hyuk Oh is holding a concert in Japan and then coming back to Korea to concentrate on their new album. Hyuk Oh was acclaimed by the audience for their performance at 2016 SUMMER SONIC FESTIVAL on August 20 and 21. Now, music fans are expressing bigger anticipation for Hyuk Oh’s comeback with new songs. 

Plus, CL (Lee Chae-lin)’s solo debut single is drawing big attention not only in Korea but also around the world. After establishing a base camp in the United States early last year and announcing her full-fledged debut in the country, CL has been collaborating with world-famous artists and the collaboration projects have been spotlighted by globally influential media outlets. That is why many people show rising anticipation and interest in CL’s first step in America’s music scene. 

# Solo SONG MINHO & WINNER

Along with BOBBY to release a solo album soon, WINNER’s member SONG MINHO is also to make a solo comeback soon. As the two have boasted great talent as the rappers of WINNER and iKON, as well as in “Show Me the Money” competition, fans have high expectations for their solo music. SONG MINHO has also contributed his solo song in WINNER’s album. Just like iKON and BOBBY, WINNER is also working on their new songs, in line with SONG MINHO’s solo comeback. 

Notably, since the time of SONG MINHO’s comeback and BOBBY’s solo comeback overlap, the competition between the two will draw much attention. The relationship between WINNER and iKON is so special, as they competed against each other in survival audition shows for debut. The two are even called “brother idol groups”. Coinciding solo comebacks of the main rappers of two idol boy groups that target fan base of similar age group is a very exceptional and unusual case in Korea’s music scene. The constructive competition between the two is expected to create a big synergy.  

Via: YG-Life