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. We’re already at the end of November, which means the end of 2023 is almost upon us! And there have been so many amazing comebacks and debuts that we need to review with you all.
But before we dive in, make sure to check out the group releases we have already covered, such as Golden Child, ZEROBASEONE, Weeekly, OMEGA X, P1Harmony, Catch The Young, A.C.E., aespa, ENHYPEN, Stray Kids, &TEAM, Dreamcatcher, BABYMONSTER, and ONEPACT! And, of course, the iconic collab with Soyeon, Winter, and Liz.
We can’t forget about our lovely solo releases either! Check out our reviews for Jungkook, Soojin, THAMA, Bang Yedam, and Nam Woohyun.
THIS MONTH’S NEWS
Seventeen made history this month at the UNESCO Youth Forum on November 14. They presented a speech and performed five songs, including the English version of ‘Together,’ which we’ll need to be released immediately! This session with Seventeen was the first-ever session at the forum entirely dedicated to a musical artist!
It’s been a busy year for NCT DREAM, especially after finishing their huge THE DREAM SHOW2 : In A DREAM world tour. They recently teamed up with JVKE for an iconic remix of their new song, ‘Broken Melodies.’ As if we couldn’t love this track enough, JVKE’s verse made it even more sweet! NCT DREAM will also perform at iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball in Boston, Washington D.C., and Atlanta next month.
After weeks of following along to HYBE x Geffen Records’ The Debut: Dream Academy, we have the final members of the girl group KATSEYE. The six members include Daniela, Yoonchae, Lara, Sophia, Manon, and Megan! We’re so proud of these girls, and we can’t wait to keep up with them even more from here on out.
As you’ll see in this month’s hotspot, November is a month for long-awaited returns in K-Pop and K-Hip-Hop. And that includes HAON! He’s just released ‘Over You,’ his first solo release since 2019 and the prologue to his full-length album. We’re seeing more sides to HAON with this R&B ballad, and it’s enough to tide us over until his album comes out!
Okay, we think that’s everything so far. Now, let’s get into many more amazing comebacks and debuts in November’s K-POP HOTSPOT!
EPIK HIGH
Epik High does it again with their new single ‘Screen Time,’ an emotional ballad about constantly checking on an ex-lover long after you break up. They rap about staring at the phone in hopes of seeing their lover’s face again. Worrying about everything and feeling the pain of seeing them move on. And Hoshi’s feature on this track is the cherry on top! His soft, sweet voice in the chorus makes this ballad even more moving. We can’t stop listening!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EPIK HIGH:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM (TABLO) | TIKTOK | TWITTER (TABLO) | YOUTUBE
WAYV
WayV understood the assignment and made talking about young love a whole new concept. Like a whisper to a young heart that has lost a love in the past, the boys let us blame the mistakes of our youth on their lyrics. As they say, we may be too young, and the problem is that we don’t know it. On My Youth is an album full of emotions, good beats, and undoubtedly a style that marks a new era for WayV. It’s amazing!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WAYV:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
VIVIZ
VIVIZ, we love you forever! Their fourth mini-album, Versus, may be our favorite November comeback yet! The title track, ‘MANIAC,’ is a bop with a nostalgic instrumental that takes us back to our best summer days. Their choreography is killer, and we’re living for the TikTok dance challenges! We even got a performance video for their chill R&B b-side, ‘Untie!’ This EP has all good vibes and no skips!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VIVIZ:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
NINE.i
Only a few months since their last comeback, NINE.i is back with a brand-new single, ‘Neverland!’ They sing about escaping to their dream world, and their vocals do not disappoint. (But when do they ever?) We love the EDM sound of this track, and the music video visuals are IT! Everyone understood the assignment, and their looks were ethereal!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NINE.i:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
YOUNGJAE
GOT7’s Youngjae will never fail with his releases! And this one is extra special because Do It is Youngjae’s first full-length solo album, and he did not disappoint. The album includes the joyful and fun title track, ‘Do It,’ and the single we’ve had on replay since January, ‘Errr Day.’ On top of that, Youngjae has once again delivered some of the most beautiful ballads and some of the most wholesome, uplifting, and bright songs. Do It is another masterpiece in Youngjae’s incredible solo discography.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUNGJAE:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
GREATGUYS
Okay, we have to say it: we’re ‘DEEP IN LOVE’ with GreatGuys! That comeback? Too catchy to miss out on. We love the funky rhythm, the hold that addictive chorus has on us, and the whole fun vibe going on in this comeback. Have you checked it out? Trust us when we say this will be your next party song.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GREATGUYS:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
KISS OF LIFE
Kiss Of Life set the bar extremely high with their self-titled debut mini-album: ‘Shhh’ and its b-sides took the world by storm. Yet, these girls have matched and exceeded those expectations with their first comeback, Born to be XX. ‘Bad News’ is energetic, unique, captivating, so addictive, and already iconic – and the same thing can be said about the b-sides. If you loved their debut, you’ll love this even more. These girls are already stealing our hearts, and it’s only the beginning.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KISS OF LIFE:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
WHIB
This year’s debuts keep surprising us with talents and good music. Have you listened to our latest obsession, WHIB? The boys dropped ‘BANG!’ and our hearts were stolen immediately. This group has talent written all over it, and they have the music to prove they are on the right path. You may find familiar faces who participated in reality show contests or recognize the child actor in the group, but trust us when we say each member is one to look out for.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHIB:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
B.I
IDs, we’re really eating in November! First, we got ‘Loved’ at the end of last month, and then Hanbin dropped the full global single on us a couple of weeks later. And we were some of the lucky ones attending his Europe Tour, having heard all of the Love or Loved Pt. 2 album live before the release, so you bet we were hyped to get all the studio versions of the songs! ‘Alone’ remains our favorite because Hanbin’s full feelings can be heard through that one, but ‘S.O.S’ and ‘All Shoot Up’ are just as good! Hanbin’s artistry just shines through every song, and this global pop style suits him so well.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT B.I:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
KARD
So many shapes, colors, and expressions have been used to explain love, but a firework is as unique as KARD! Their latest single, ‘Fireworks,’ is perfect! We’re obsessed with everything from the Latin beats to the outstanding vocal talent of Jiwoo, Somin, J.Seph, and BM. KARD never misses. And they inspire us to shine bright with them and be fireworks together forever!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KARD:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
AMPERS&ONE
We’ve been singing ‘On And On’ by AMPERS&ONE since it came out! Have you checked out this new group yet? Their title track is an upbeat, lively piece, and it perfectly shows the members’ enthusiasm to be part of the K-Pop scene. We are so excited for them. We will catch you adding their music to your playlists, just like we did. You might stan them, too. 😉
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AMPERS&ONE:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
ONEWE GIUK
More and more incredible surprises are happening around ONEWE’s GIUK! He shows us that talent has no limits when it comes to him. After his so-good solo debut album, he is back with a new mini-album that has us buzzing! ‘Scratch’ is a new song about the feeling of living in a memory; it hurts but keeps us close to what is no longer there. Undeniably, GIUK is an artist who will make you fall with his charm, talent, and rock-and-roll style in his new EP, Rise Waves.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ONEWE:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
NTX
We have found the ‘Holy Grail,’ and it’s NTX’s Odd Hour! We don’t know what to do with ourselves over this comeback. The title song is packed with so much energy that we feel it transferring to us. And the B-sides, oh, the B-sides. There’s something for everyone there, from slow to upbeat, all while exploring various genres. You’ll have to check out the songs to pick your preferred style because NTX put their all into this. We’re still replaying, as we can’t decide on just one or even three favorite songs. It’s safe to say we’ll be switching them up every week.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NTX:
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
EASTSHINE
Is it just us, or did November feel packed with debuts? There is so much new talent to note, and here’s one more that you should check out! We present to you EASTSHINE! We’ve been hooked on ‘Double Down,’ especially that catchy chorus. We just can’t get enough of it. And the build-up to it? Just the right energy to flow smoothly into the next part. Okay, boys, we see you, and we are listening well.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EASTSHINE:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
NARSHA
Almost 13 years after her last solo release, Brown Eyed Girls’ Narsha is back with a new single, ‘Blush (feat. Babylon)!’ It’s been a long time coming, but we can never forget how sweet Narsha’s voice sounds. Her new song is a chill R&B track about a love that never fails to make you blush. The vibes are just magical, and ‘Blush’ is quickly becoming our favorite song to listen to while we unwind from the day!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT NARSHA:
TIKTOK | INSTAGRAM
DEAN
Speaking of long-awaited November comebacks, you know we had to include DEAN’s new single ‘DIE 4 YOU!’ Four years since his last single, DEAN is back with a track that immediately puts us in our feels. He sings about loving someone so much you’d die loving them. Even if it’s too late for their relationship to work, you’d still think about them in your final moments. Everything is a masterpiece, from his vocals to the melody. Welcome back, DEAN!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DEAN:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
RYEOWOOK
We bees have a theory that the sky sounds like when Super Junior’s Ryeowook sings. In his new single, ‘It’s Okay,’ he sings and wraps us in his comforting lyrics. It’s a song that expresses unconditional support despite life’s ups and downs. He’s a shoulder to lean on, a friend. You don’t have to do anything because he’ll be there for you no matter what. It’s a beautiful song with an even more beautiful video. We can’t stop singing!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RYEOWOOK:
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
24K+
New name, new members joining the lineup, and we now see the product of that rebranding. An infectiously bright comeback is what we got from 24K+. We’ll be streaming ‘Roller Coaster’ every chance we have, and we plan on extending that to the B-sides as well. Want a recommendation? Check out the whole EP. That’s all we’ll say.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT 24K+:
INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
MCND
Heads up, MCND did it again! Their ways of creating addictive music are beyond us. We always fall under their spell, but who can blame us with these bops? When we say we’re hooked on ODD-VENTURE, we mean the whole mini-album. If we had to pick a favorite besides the title track, we’d go with ‘Loosen Up.’ And who else saw that English version of ‘W.A.T.1?’ Honestly, we got so many songs on repeat through this comeback that our playlists are packed.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MCND:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
JESSICA JUNG
Six years since her last solo EP, Jessica Jung is back with her fourth mini-album, Beep Beep! As you can guess, it’s an absolute bop! The English and Korean versions of the title track, ‘Beep Beep,’ are brimming with nostalgic vibes, and we’re living for the fun music video. Jessica has the unique talent of taking us to our favorite memories with her voice. ‘Better Late Than Never’ and ‘Best Summer’ are top-tier b-sides!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT JESSICA JUNG:
INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE
PARK BOM
November has been a busy month for solo artists! Park Bom just released her latest single, ‘I (feat. DAWN).’ It’s a soothing track about connecting with your inner child, even if you might not feel comfortable enough to reach them. The moving music video captures the message beautifully. DAWN’s feature in the second verse is incredible, and we will never get tired of Park Bom’s soulful vocals!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PARK BOM:
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER
VIXX
Everyone, stop what you’re doing! VIXX is finally back with their fifth mini-album, CONTINUUM! And the concept kings did not disappoint with this no-skips EP. The title track, ‘Amnesia,’ is a heavy-hitting R&B track with the exact sound and vocals we’ve been missing from K-Pop for a long time. VIXX has so many solid b-sides that we can’t pick our favorite! It’s one of many November comebacks that have us in a chokehold.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VIXX:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
ROCKY
Singer-songwriter. Rapper. Composer. Actor. And now CEO. Only a few months after starting his One Fine Day Entertainment agency, Rocky made his official solo debut with ROCKYST. The title track, ‘LUCKY ROCKY,’ is a work of art with a groovy melody and a killer dance break. Rocky shows us just what a multifaceted artist he is with this no-skips debut EP!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ROCKY:
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
AESPA
It’s never too early to get into the holiday spirit! Especially not when aespa dropped their version of ‘Jingle Bell Rock.’ We love their spin on the classic holiday bop. And these girls really made that song their own! Their soothing vocals are perfect for any genre, but we already knew that. We’ll only be jamming to aespa’s ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ for the rest of the year!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AESPA:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
FANTASY BOYS
FANTASY BOYS are back already after only making their debut in September. The versatility these guys are showing already is one to look out for. We can’t decide which new track we like more: ‘Potential,’ which tickles our senses, or ‘Get it on,’ with its lively vibe. Both? Both. And wait, we get two versions of each song, one in Korean and one in English! The joy just doubled.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY BOYS:
INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
TAEYEON
Our queen Taeyeon is back with her fifth mini-album, To.X, and it’s another no-skips release! The title track, ‘To.X,’ is an emotional R&B track about being in a relationship with a selfish lover. It’s exhausting and frustrating when everything is about them all the time, and we felt that with her. Her b-sides follow a theme of being vulnerable in love with ‘Nightmare’ and ‘All For Nothing.’ There’s also the sweet ‘Melt Away’ and self-confident English track, ‘Fabulous!’ If anyone can make a vibe of any genre, it’s the legendary Taeyeon!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TAEYEON:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
SEVENTEEN DINO
Our beloved maknae DINO is out with his first-ever solo mixtape, ‘Wait!’ And we can’t stress enough how much we love this song. He sings about not wanting to hesitate regarding love; he’s all in. He doesn’t want to wait and reassures his beloved that they’re fated to be together. The choreography is everything, but we expected nothing less from DINO, the dancing machine! He really fed us with this track.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SEVENTEEN:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
ONLEE
We’ve got one more November solo release, and it’s dedicated to ONLEE (also known as Lee Seunghwan!) and his first mini-album, Switch ON! Only two months after his debut with ‘Be With You,’ he’s showing off his singing, rapping, and songwriting talents with this EP. His groovy title track, ‘stewardess girl,’ has an incredible melody and even more incredible high notes. We wouldn’t sleep on him if we were you!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ONLEE:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
ATBO
Again, we will never say it’s too early to be in the holiday spirit! ATBO has just dropped their first single, Must Have, which has the best holiday feel! The title track, ‘Must Have Love,’ is super catchy with the coziest music video. The b-sides ‘Mayday’ and ‘My Way’ are just as addictive, with the versatility of a seasoned group. We’re more than impressed by these boys; their refreshing sound makes us keep replaying their tracks.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ATBO:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
DKB
DKB is truly making 2023 their year! They’re back with their seventh mini-album, HIP, three months since their last comeback. The title track, ‘What The Hell,’ is a hip-hop banger with top-tier music video production! And we can already imagine how crazy their live performances for this song will be. Their b-sides are just as impressive, and our favorites are ‘Me, Me & You’ and ‘Slush.’
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DKB:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
What. A. Month. Our playlists keep growing with all new K-Pop songs! And are we ready for December’s K-POP HOTSPOT? Absolutely.
What was your favorite November comeback? Which ones are you most excited about in December? Let us know in the comments below, or tweet us @TheHoneyPOP!
Need more K-POP content? Don’t worry; we got you!
