Pop Base: Jennie Talks About Her Controversy, aespa & SEVENTEEN's Unexpected Collabs, and More

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JENNIE Talks About Her Indoor-Smoking Controversy

A month ago, BLACKPINK’s Jennie was seen smoking indoors during one of her schedules. After the video surfaced, netizens quickly demanded an apology, which Jennie delivered.

In a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she commented on the incident, saying, "What can I do? If Koreans think it’s wrong, I’ve got to make up for it. I understand why people are upset. It’s cultural, it’s historical, it’s time. And I can’t go against time."

Whether or not you believe idols should apologize for every small mistake, Jennie's response highlights the immense pressure they face to satisfy the public.

SEVENTEEN & aespa’s Unexpected Collabs

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It’s no surprise that SEVENTEEN has been making waves globally. After breaking record after record, rumors of a SEVENTEEN x DJ Khaled collaboration are circulating. While the collab hasn’t been confirmed yet, DJ Khaled recently started following SEVENTEEN on Instagram and met with members Woozi, Mingyu, and Vernon on September 21. In a video shared by DJ Khaled on his Instagram, he is seen asking the members, "Are you ready for tomorrow?"—leaving fans curious about what might happen on September 22.

SEVENTEEN is not the only one who is having a collaboration with unexpected artists. In fact, Grimes also participated in the remix for aespa's "Armageddon." We as K-Pop listeners are often complaining about how every song has 50 remixes. But to be honest, the aespa x Grimes “Araggeddon” remix is definitely something that will change everyone’s mind about remixes because it is just THAT good!!!

The More You Know:

• Lisa wasn’t exaggerating when she sang, "Every city that I go is my city." She’s been dominating the world lately. After her historic performance at the 2024 MTV Awards, making her the first-ever K-pop artist to do so. Lisa is now set to make history again as the headliner for the 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

• While most K-pop companies are stuck in a minimalistic trend, SM's merch is winning over even non-SM fans. The lightstick lip balms and aespa’s AirPods covers make it hard to resist spending money.

• "Synchro U" is a new Korean music show where participants cover songs using generative AI, and the judges have to guess which covers are sung by real singers and which are AI-generated. SEVENTEEN’s Hoshi and aespa’s Karina are part of the judging panel, which has definitely helped the show gain popularity. They are also one of the reasons why the show has achieved the highest viewership ratings for entertainment programs since its debut in Korea.

• SEVENTEEN’s vice leader, Jeonghan, is set to enlist in the military on September 26, 2024. As he wraps up his work, he attended his last public event on September 20 for "Speculum," an eyewear brand, at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. At the end of the event, he bowed to his fans and said, "I'm sorry to say goodbye," followed by, "Thank you, CARAT. I'll return healthy."

• While Jeonghan is set to enlist soon, leaving CARATs heartbroken, ARMYs couldn’t be happier as everyone's hope, J-Hope, is returning after completing his military service next month. With two members back in action, the 2025 promise no longer feels so far away.

2024 MAMA Awards Line-Up

The 2024 MAMA Awards are scheduled for November 21 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California, and on November 22 and 23 at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka, Japan. The first lineup has been announced and includes:

• &TEAM

• BOYNEXTDOOR

• EL7Z UP

• ENHYPEN

• (G)I-DLE

• Kep1er

• LE SSERAFIM

• SEVENTEEN

• Tomorrow X Together

Our Favorite Songs From Last Week

First up is TXT Yeonjun's mixtape "GGUM," which has stuck in our heads like a "GGUM." Seriously, how can a song be so addictive? Yeonjun has already proven himself as a great singer and shines in TXT's discography, but he's especially known for his unmatched dance skills. Thankfully, he got to showcase those skills in the music video for his mixtape. The song blends punk and hip-hop, the two genres that come to mind when you think of Yeonjun.

Next is the sassy queen of K-Pop, Mamamoo's Hwasa. The female icon released her second mini album, "O," leaving everyone in awe. The album reflects her bold, brave, and sassy persona. It's filled with one great song after another, but "NA" was definitely our favorite. The song emphasizes self-confidence and not needing anyone else — a theme Hwasa likes to share in her music often.

Lastly, FiftyFifty's "SOS," the title track from their album "Love Tune," felt like a breath of fresh air. The light, bright music paired with equally magical vocals gives listeners a nostalgic feeling. The song also has an English version, which is preferably easier to sing along to. While the debate about whether it is ethical to support the new FiftyFifty lineup is still ongoing, one thing cannot be denied: the new members' vocals are on par with the original lineup. Based on their musical talent alone, they deserve a fair shot at success.

This Week's Comeback Schedule

September 21, 2024

• NAM WOO HYUN: 3rd Digital Single “너의 남자 (Boyfriend)”

• LENA: “Blame The Summer”

• Kassy: DNA Lover OST Part.6 “Caged”

September 23, 2024

• KANG DANIEL: 5th Mini Album “ACT”

• KEY (SHINee): 3rd Mini Album “Pleasure Shop”

• QWER: 2nd Mini Album “Algorithm’s Blossom”

• POW: Pre-Released Single

September 24, 2024

• NCT WISH: Pre-Release “Dunk Shot”

• ONLEE: 2nd Mini Album “Turn ON”

• Ailee: “The Boss”

• The Next Story: Track “I Miss You feat. Baby Blue”

September 25, 2024

• XODIAC: 2nd Mini Album “SOME DAY”

• SUPER JUNIOR D&E: 6th Mini Album “INEVITABLE”

• GEMINI: EP “In Too Deep”

• WayV: Japan 1st Mini Album “The Highest”

September 26, 2024

• HYO (Girls’ Generation): Single “Retro Romance”

• Dragon Pony: Debut EP “Pop Up”

• JUNGSOOMIN: 2nd EP “20”

September 27, 2024

• Hawon: Track “Prayer”

• New-L: 1st Mini Album “Libre”

— Javeria Yousuf

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