Hello, honey bees who have a taste for the best honey, aka K-POP. It is time for another installment of your favorite THP feature – our K-POP HOTSPOT. Where are our Autumn enjoyers at? That’s right: September is here, and we are about to leave the summer heat behind. But before we do, let’s look at what August had in store for us. So, of course, a lot happened this last month, from debuts to comebacks and more, so this K-POP roundup is packed as usual! Before diving in, make sure to check out the comebacks we have already covered, such as NCT Jaehyun, JEON SOMI, XG, aespa, STAYC, VANNER, RIIZE, and BLACKPINK!
Before we have some very juicy music for you to dive into, we have some tour news! Not only did Everglow make their comeback after almost 2 years this month, but they announced their US tour! Stay tuned to the girls’ official Twitter for more news, and stay tuned to this very article for our thoughts on their latest comeback.
Besides an exciting tour, we are ready to celebrate a long-awaited return in September. Hwasa will finally treat our ears again under a new company and with a body-positive digital single. The teaser photos have us more than excited already. September 6th, please come faster! Following Hwasa is one of our fave groups, EPEX, who will be giving us their 6th EP during the upcoming month. Sadly, we don’t have a date for it yet, but we’ll have our ears and wallets ready.
Okay, we are done. Now, let’s get into many more amazing comebacks and debuts from August!
THE WIND
Just three months after their debut, The Wind is back with their first single album, Ready: Summer Vacation. And just as we expected, we’re obsessed with their sound! These boys know how to have fun in every music video, and their title track, ‘We Go,’ is no exception. We even got a music video for their b-side track, ‘Summer Vacation.’ The Wind’s vocals brighten our days, and they deserve the world!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WIND:
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE
XIKERS
While we’re on the topic of first comebacks, we need to talk about Xikers‘ second EP, House of Tricky: How to Play! Their title track, ‘Do or Die,’ is officially our new rock anthem, and ‘Homeboy’ and ‘Koong’ are such bangers! These boys are shaping up to be a versatile group with a good mix of heavy-hitting and chill songs on this EP. Xikers ate this comeback up, and we’re not skipping any songs!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT XIKERS:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
KWON EUNBI
Who else fell in love with Kwon Eunbi all over again? Every time she releases something, it’s a bop, no exceptions. That’s the conclusion we came to after hearing her latest work. If you haven’t been streaming ‘The Flash’ yet, then what did you do in August? It’s not just the title track; her whole single album is a refreshing summer gem. Is it suitable for other seasons? One way to find out: time to keep listening. Who’s joining us?
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KWON EUNBI:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
MAMAMOO+
A queenly duo made our month even more fun and exciting. When it comes to these ladies, they always have a lot to give, be it as a group, solo, or unit. MAMAMOO+ are in the spotlight this time, and we all know their vocals are top-tier. We had so much fun with ‘dangdang.’ If you watched the music video, you’d remember the cute little ending that features their intro track and the fluffy bunny hats. We’d follow these TWO RABBITS down the hole with a fun dance step and a smile!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MAMAMOO+:
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NINE.i
NINE.i are back with their third mini-album, New Mind! ‘Turn it Off’ is a super catchy title track about turning off your negative thoughts and enjoying the moment. The music video gives off a funky, futuristic feel that makes it so fun to watch! NINE.i’s b-sides are superior, and they’ve given us another solid EP. Our favorite tracks are the all-English R&B track, ‘Highschool Love,’ and the party songs ‘Like Crazy’ and ‘Power Up!’
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NINE.i:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
BBGIRLS
August gave us so much good music from the ladies of K-Pop that we were stunned. BBGIRLS made the list with ‘ONE MORE TIME,’ their first release after rebranding under a new name. So, in a way, it’s a debut? A new beginning? Whatever you want to call it, we’re here for it. ‘ONE MORE TIME’ gives us this exquisite feeling from its melody to the girls’ superb voices. It’s a track that needs to be on every K-Pop fan’s playlist.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BBGIRLS:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
LIMELIGHT
Limelight is back with another bop! Their new single, ‘Madeleine,’ has the best summer vibes, and the chorus has us breaking the replay button! The melody is even more addictive, especially since Limelight blessed us with the instrumental version. And the acapella version? How many groups do you know that record acapella versions of all their songs? This trio will never fail to amaze us with their angelic vocals.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LIMELIGHT:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
U-KNOW
Everyone, stop what you’re doing! Our first-gen king, U-KNOW, is back with his third mini-album, Reality Show! And if you haven’t listened to it yet, you should do that now. This EP is everything: groovy, creative, reflective, and an incredible concept. He knows how to make art, and we can hear how much care and effort went into making each track. There is no outdoing the doer, and U-KNOW reminds us of what an icon he is with this comeback!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT U-KNOW:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
THE BOYZ
There is something magical about The Boyz and their summer concepts… This summer, once again, The Boyz are back with ‘LIP GLOSS’ – and needless to say, it’s been the soundtrack of our summer along with the entirety of Christmas in August. This release is even more exciting because it’s the first part of their second full-length album, Phantasy. We already have incredible songs, including a brand new unit with ‘Passion Fruit,’ and we can’t wait for what else they have in store for us for the remaining two parts!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOYZ:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | MEMBERS’ TWITTER | YOUTUBE
JO YURI
We don’t know how she does it, but Jo Yuri can’t release a bad song ever. Her new EP, Love All, has no skips! The title track, ‘TAXI,’ is a feel-good bop with an adorable music video and choreography to match! We’re also obsessed with the incredible and edgy B-side track, ‘Bitter Taste!’ Jo Yuri switches it up at the end of the EP with ‘Bruise,’ a beautiful ballad that touches our hearts. This may be our favorite Jo Yuri comeback yet!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JO YURI:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
TAN
It seems like TAN came back just to treat us this August! This group makes us like them even more with ‘HEARTBEAT’ as it reminds us of the good old K-Pop days. TAN has nailed the second-gen boy group sound and brought it to 2023. The entire mini-album, TAN MADE, is a no-skips album, and we recommend you listen to it, especially ‘Violet’ and ‘New Days.’
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TAN:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
SF9 HWIYOUNG
Hwiyoung of SF9 has officially debuted as a solo artist! And ‘Drive5’ really blew us away. It’s raw, emotional, and so, so real. His vocals and rap verses are one of a kind. This song has a chokehold on us, and it’s perfect for long, late-night drives. It’s hard to believe that ‘Drive5’ is only his debut! We’re more than excited to hear more of Hwiyoung’s unique sound. Hwiyoung’s new single deserves all the hype!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HWIYOUNG:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
DKB
DKB took an old K-pop tradition and repacked their latest mini album, We Love You! And with two new title songs to it, voila, you have the perfect summer comeback! We have been loving ‘All Yours’ during the last bits of summer heat. DKB really got that old-school R&B sound down to a T, and we love it!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DKB:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
TRIPLES LOVELUTION
Tell us you weren’t obsessed with tripleS LOVElution’s debut album, ↀ, from the first listen. Because we know we were! The title track, ‘Girls’ Capitalism,’ is SO good and fresh, and we can’t get enough of the “la la la la la la la la heart” part! This unit’s debut has no business being this addictive, but we’re not mad about it. If you ask us, every B-side deserves its own video and stage. We’re beyond impressed with the quality of tripleS!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TRIPLES:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
LUCY
Lucy could never fail us, and their new release, Fever, is proof of it! This fourth mini-album is everything we love about them, and they still manage to take it to another level. ‘HAZE’ is a title track full of hope and inspiration, with incredible instrumentals and mind-blowing vocals – everything we love about Lucy. But of course, the b-sides are not to be missed either; each song is so unique and striking in its own way. If you haven’t listened to Fever, you’re missing out on real music!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LUCY:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
LEO
Leo has debuted as a solo artist under 131 Label, and we’re living for it! His debut single, ‘One Look,’ is about falling in love with someone at first sight. It has a bangin’ instrumental that we can easily vibe with. Leo’s vocals are amazing, and we’re hooked. ‘One Look’ has been on repeat since it dropped. We’re so proud of Leo for getting a fresh start and not giving up!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LEO:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER
EXO CHEN
August is really THAT month because EXO‘s Chen has blessed us with his first-ever Japanese mini-album, Polaris! The title track ‘Light of My Life’ feels like a warm embrace, and Chen’s voice never fails to make us emotional. ‘Free World’ is a mood booster with a rock feel for those mornings when you need extra motivation. ‘Mirage of Flower’ is a sultry R&B track with an otherworldly electric guitar solo. His musical style is one of our favorites, and we love this entire EP!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHEN:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
TWICE JIHYO
JIHYO SOLO JIHYO SOLO!! TWICE‘s Jihyo has made her solo debut with Zone, and we can’t describe how amazing it is from start to finish. ‘Killin’ Me Good’ is a killer title track about all the new feelings one person can bring out of you. And her collaborations with 24kGoldn and Heize are better than we imagined. Every song puts Jihyo’s powerful and versatile vocals front and center, especially ‘Closer’ and ‘Nightmare.’ Her solo debut was well worth the wait; we simply can’t stop listening.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JIHYO:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
EVERGLOW
This is not a drill: Everglow is back! After a year and eight months since their last comeback, Everglow has dropped their fourth single album, All My Girls. Their title track, ‘Slay,’ had our jaws on the floor, and the choreography slaps! Both B-side tracks are just as high quality. ‘Oh Ma Ma God’ and ‘Make Me Feel’ could’ve easily been title tracks. Everglow slayed so hard with this comeback. They never miss!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EVERGLOW:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
AKMU
Speaking of long-awaited comebacks, our fave duo, AKMU, is back with a new single album, Love Lee! (We love the wordplay with their last name, by the way.) The title track, ‘Love Lee,’ is the cutest song about being so in love with someone that every day is a good day. The music video concept is just as lovely! (See what we did there?) ‘Fry’s Dream’ has the same charm and energy. And it belongs in a lighthearted romance drama OST!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AKMU:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
SNSD HYO
It’s no secret that our love for HYO runs ‘Deep,‘ so you can picture how excited we were to find out she’d be coming back with ‘Picture’ this summer! This digital single gives us all the bold confidence we know and adore from HYO. And it’s definitely gonna be our anthem for the rest of the summer. Need a little self-esteem boost? ‘Picture’ is right there. Feeling sad and want something to cheer you up? Turn on ‘Picture.’ Happy and wanna dance around your room? ‘Picture’ is the perfect soundtrack! “Everything is clear now” – this is the summer of HYO.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HYO:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
MUSTB
Let’s feel the ‘Rush’ with MUSTB and their newest single. Do you need some high energy and motivation? If you put ‘Rush’ on, you will kill it with your comeback! Summer body is out, and your autumn body is in! However you feel most comfortable, let’s make it work with ‘Rush.’
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MUSTB:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
YERIN
We love seeing the GFRIEND girls thrive, and Yerin came back with her second mini-album this month. ‘Bambambam’ doesn’t only remind us of Bambam and how much we love him. No, it gives us the well-loved retro synth trend. Yerin carries this song with skills and makes it a fun summer bop.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YERIN:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
SEVENTEEN
27 SONGS? HELLO?? Seventeen has just gifted us with Always Yours, a Japanese compilation album with two new Japanese songs and the Japanese versions of many of our fave tracks. They spoil us! The music video visuals for the title track, ‘Ima -Even if the world ends tomorrow-,’ warms our hearts. ‘Sara Sara’ has us on the verge of tears with its gentle lyrics. And even if the world does end tomorrow, we’d still be listening to this album. Seventeen is our home, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SEVENTEEN:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
IKON
We weren’t expecting iKON to return with new music so soon, but we are NOT complaining! iKON dropped their special single album, Panorama, with two songs that embody the summer. ‘T.T.M’ has a chill and beautiful melody that we’d replay on a lazy afternoon or late at night. The relaxing title track, ‘Panorama,’ gets an eight-minute drama version that we couldn’t take our eyes off! The acting talent jumped out, and everyone looked like they had so much fun. We’re manifesting iKON acting more in the future!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IKON:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
SECRET NUMBER
Secret Number are starlets in the sky to us, and ‘Starlight’ is the perfect soundtrack for late summer evenings with your friends. And the music video visuals are popping with the space concept! These girlies never miss. We are just sad to see them so incredibly slept on!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SECRET NUMBER:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
TIOT
If ‘Unbeatable’ is only a pre-debut title track, what should we expect when TIOT actually debuts? We’re blown away by their sound and talent already. Can we pretend this is their debut? No? Then we’ll have to find a way to pass the time until they do. We’re counting every minute until we get an official date to be ready to hype the boys up all over again. Until then, we’ll be listening non-stop to Frame the Blueprint: Prelude to Possibilities and re-watching the video for ‘Unbeatable.’ We are invested!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TIOT:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
NCT 2023
NCT is back as a full group with Golden Age, and they didn’t disappoint once again! Being the group’s fourth full-length album, the members proved again that this Neo-like genre is only something they can handle beautifully. From 2000s hip-hop style to beautiful ballads, the album has everything you look for in an NCT album. We can proudly say that our NEOs showcased their various talents in just a single album as they always do, and we are sure of one thing: only NCT can do such an album.
Golden Age as an album is different from previous full-member comebacks of NCT. This time, there are no fixed unit songs in the album, and we don’t complain at all because, thanks to this decision, we got to see different combinations for each track. So far, we already got two music videos. The first one is ‘Golden Age,’ in which we got to hear all of the members (you know it’s an NCT classic, we love it) and the title track, ‘Baggy Jeans,’ by our legendary ‘7th Sense’ unit. But it doesn’t stop there; it never does with NCT. We also will be able to watch track videos for ‘The Bat,’ ‘Kangaroo,’ ‘Alley Oop,’ and ‘PADO.’ These were all great choices, and we have no idea how they knew those songs would be fan favorites. This album was definitely a great way to end the summer, and we appreciate the members’ hard work putting on such a beautiful album despite their busy schedules.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NCT 2023:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
ONEWE
ONEWE is back with their second special album, XOXO, and we couldn’t feel more grateful than this! They dropped two new songs: ‘Salty Boy’ and ‘Omnipresent,’ along with the much-needed instrumental versions of each! ‘Salty Boy’ has a classic rock sound paired with a fun, retro-style music video. ‘Omnipresent’ is a passionate rock song with hard-hitting lyrics and even harder-hitting drum solos. Even with two members in the military, ONEWE continues to release banger after banger!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ONEWE:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
CIGNATURE
cignature is back with their fourth mini-album, Us in the Summer! And just as we expected, this is one of our favorite albums of this summer. The title track, ‘Smooth Sailing,’ is a sweet and upbeat song about being in love and feeling like everything’s right with the world. Each of their B-sides is high quality, and we can’t pick which one we like most! Whatever you do, don’t sleep on cignature!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CIGNATURE:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
PENTAGON
Pentagon just released their sixth Japanese mini-album, PADO, and it’s a vibe! The title track, ‘PADO (wave to me),’ has the perfect vibe for the end of summer. And we’re obsessed with the production of this song; the beats are so addictive! They have such a wide range of genres in this Japanese EP, and we can’t stop listening.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PENTAGON:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
H1-KEY
H1-KEY is back with their second mini-album, Seoul Dreaming! Their title track, ‘SEOUL (Such a Beautiful City),’ is an ode to their favorite city, and songs about Seoul will always be a hit for us, no matter what. The pre-release track, ‘Time to Shine,’ fits these girls’ signature sound so well. The music video visuals for both songs are top-tier! ‘Magical Dream’ is another one of our favorites from this EP. H1-KEY has such a dreamy sound, and this comeback is one for the books!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT H1-KEY:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
B.I.G
Almost two years since their last comeback, B.I.G is back with a beautiful new single, ‘Want!’ Leave it to them to drop the most beautiful ballad of the summer. ‘Want’ is a meaningful track about memories of an ex-lover and wanting to love again. Their vocals never disappoint. We’ve missed seeing them in our playlists, so we’ll replay this single every hour of every day.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT B.I.G:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
BAEKHO
Baekho is back with a brand new solo single! ‘Elevator’ is a sensual song about a secret rendezvous between lovers in an elevator. We’re glad to see Baekho getting more creative freedom as a solo artist. Our jaws dropped when we first read the lyrics! Baekho served everything in the performance video. And his matching outfits with his dance partner are the icing on the cake!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT BAEKHO:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
How did we make it through this month of bangers without collapsing, right? Are we ready for September’s comebacks to come at us in full force? Of course! What was your favorite comeback of August? Which one are you most excited about in September? Let us know in the comments below, or tweet us @TheHoneyPOP!
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