On March 28th, Brand New Stardom’s official Twitter announced, “Mid-April, EvoL will be debuting through an eight episode real variety show on MBC Music. Various footage from their debut preparations and working with Block B’s Kyung, who has produced their debut album, will air! The members of our next group, ‘Topp Dogg‘, will also make a guest appearance ^^.”

Fans of the company have known for some time now that EvoL, a female hip hop group, would be debuting this year, but it looks a final date has been set. As for Topp Dogg, it seems like it’ll be another boy group, as Block B had previously revealed that one of the names in consideration for their own debut was ‘Topp Dogg’.

Source: Brand New Stardom’s Official Twitter

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The boys of Block B have been under much mental and emotional stress after finding themselves in the middle of a controversy after their recent interview in Thailand. It seems the level of stress reached a point at which it became too hard for member P.O. to handle, as he has been hospitalized.

With the controversy getting out of hand, P.O., the maknae of the group at 19 years old, has been reported to have been in a state of panic after suffering from much stress the past week. With the news of a petition calling for suicide by some cruel individuals, the stress and shock he received seems to have led up to his hospitalization on February 24th.

People have been wondering where P.O. was during ‘M! Countdown’, since he had been seen at the pre-recording, but not during the actual show. It seems his missing presence was due to his state of health.

Brand New Stardom stated, “It is true that P.O. is currently hospitalized. It seems he has experienced much shock after the current controversy, but his full medical examination report has not yet come out.”

They also added,“Currently, we’re most worried about the members’ health and the welfare of their families.”

As reported earlier, Block B has issued written apologies, bowed 90 degrees on their music show appearance, and also released a video apology to show their sincere remorse and apologize to the people of Thailand.

Source + Photo: Hankyung via Nate

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By now, anyone who’s a fan of K-pop is aware of 7-member idol group Block B. One of the boys’ interviews which took place in Thailand January 30th has stirred major controversy, and the boys have been receiving slanderous remarks from the public and the media alike.

The most sarcastic of remarks said, “They sure did their noise marketing properly,” deeply upsetting the members and their agency. When Star In caught up with Block B backstage at Mnet‘s ‘M! Countdown‘, all the members wore long faces. When approached for an interview, their manager denied the request. Instead, Star In met with a high ranking representative from their agency to ask a few questions.

- Did you neglect to act upon the situation, knowing what happened?
▲ Not at all. I didn’t know at first because I didn’t travel with them to Thailand for the interview, but I was shocked upon seeing the fans’ criticisms. We were going to release an official apology on the 20th, but the controversy had already caught fire by the 19th. The attacks coming at us were so uncontrollable we didn’t know how to control the situation at hand. We got one step behind, and after that, everything got really difficult.

- Are you saying that this is unfair?
▲ No. We deserve to be criticized, 100%. I am responsible as well. The apology statement was typed online after the members personally wrote it by hand. The Block B members were heavily disciplined and they learned a hard lesson. But to see the netizens’ comments be turned into news articles without proof or confirmation was really hurtful.

- There are netizens saying you sought revenge against Nichkhun who started this problem.
▲ What kind of revenge would a small company like ours be able to seek against JYP Entertainment? And if we did try to bring down Nichkhun, do you think it would work? We’re actually quite thankful to Nichkhun. It’s only natural for him to become upset and criticize our wrongdoing, and he did his part by asking fans to refrain from attacking Block B. He said that he hoped the boys had learned through this mistake, and if it weren’t for Nichkhun, this could’ve gotten more out of hand. We are grateful for his understanding nature.

- How are the Block B members?
▲ They are extremely panicked and worried. They’re about to step on stage right now, but they aren’t themselves. I’m just worried that they might have had suicidal thoughts. The boys were only focused on wanting to stand out and be noticed, and they were a little thoughtless. But the boys aren’t stupid, they did not have ill intent when they said the things they did. A part of me is relieved. They are being disciplined well while they are still young. They are reflecting on their actions in remorse, so much to the point they probably wish they’d never been born.

- When will you personally apologize to the Thai citizens?
▲ Like I said, we got one step behind trying to deal with all of the criticism and attacks, and we lost the right timing. Anything we say now is going to sound like an excuse. And it’s not like we can go to Thailand because we want to and immediately apologize, there are orders and principles to how things go about. We are discussing many different routes we can take. We should have something official by next week. And of course, we will also be visiting Thailand.

- Is there anything you would like to request?
▲ We’ve hit rock bottom in despair. We were wrong, and we deeply apologize. The Block B members and myself are extremely repentant. I think this incident will be an opportunity for the boys to become a little more mature. I hope that you guys will give the boys a chance to learn from their mistakes. If you want to further reprimand us, I will gladly receive the punishment. It is all my fault. Reprimand if you must, but know that the boys are being genuine. These kids are younger than you think. I hope you will be a little understanding.

Ahead of this interview, Block B’s agency Brand New Stardom stated that “all the members are deeply repentant,” and posted personally hand-written apology letters on their official fan cafe.

Source & Image : Edaily via Naver

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Rapper/producer Cho PD recently shared his thoughts about several controversial issues haunting the music industry, such as the bulk purchasing of albums and ‘hype’ versus stable success.

Cho PD began by expressing his determination to come out on top through good music and careful planning. Although Cho PD once shunned TV appearances in favor of gaining recognition through his music only, he’s since changed his opinion on the matter.

The producer recognized the growing importance of TV promotions, but also warned that it’s foolish to expect success to come from that alone. “It’s important to increase the level of closeness you have with the public through TV broadcasts,” he said. “But to think that you can become the best with just that alone is delusional.”

“Plastering one’s self all over TV shows and buying albums in bulk can only achieve superficial success, and it cannot be sustained,” he flatly explained. “There’s no reason to even criticize that kind of behavior because the truth will come to light after the hype dies down in just a year or two.”

He continued, “You can figure out the current response when visiting a record store or going to one of the performances. If the song is #1 on the charts but their albums don’t sell and the audience response is mediocre, is that not proof of hype rather than real success?”


Cho PD also stressed the importance of content planning and cited SM Entertainment and YG Entertainment as agencies that achieved success through their content in an era when the K-Pop we know today, was not the dominant force in the music industry. “When both H.O.T and Jinusean made their respective entrance into the K-Pop scene, SM and YG were inferior in a lot of ways to others in the industry. But the two groups defeated the big players of their era and went on to becoming the companies that represent the nation.”

“The number of albums being sold back then was much higher than now, and it was much harder to defeat the biggest names in the industry back then, as there was all sorts of absurdity during that time period, so it was probably very difficult to overcome the traditional big players. Their rapid progression is a good example of how elaborate, meticulous planning and powerful content results in an explosive reaction from the market.”

He continued, “In the beginning, YG and I had the same manager and so I heard a lot about the company. Back then, YG did not have an in-house management system, so they had to look for outside sources whenever they wanted material. What’s noteworthy here is that developing an in-house team (which most major labels have) was not as importance to them. Their first priority was on developing content.”

“In comparison to [the start] of those two senior labels, Brand New Stardom is in a very good situation despite being in its early stagse. All that we need to grow even further is a ‘syndrome’ that starts in the [music] market, rather than looking for a shortcut. If we were to start buying our albums in bulk, it would make our situation more difficult.”

Source + Photo: Newsen via Nate, Star News via Nate,

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Block B and their agency chief, Cho PD, recently appeared on MBC‘s ‘Lululala‘, where they showed off their entertainment skills.

Cho PD made his first foray into entertainment programs through ‘Lululala’, despite making his debut as a singer 14 years ago. ”I don’t have any regrets. Everyone including myself must make concessions to obtain good results,” he expressed, demonstrating his dedication to helping Block B’s promotions as much as possible.

Cho PD also revealed that he gave permission for the Block B members to produce their own songs. Though there was some backlash from those who believed that it was a risky move, Cho PD persisted in making this happen.

As the head of Block B’s agency, Brandnew Stardom Entertainment, Cho PD got to witness firsthand the trials his group had to face during their debut period. ”When Block B debuted, I criticized the producers for not giving credit to the members who composed and produced the song; the producers responded by pulling out, taking their songs with them. It was an uncertain situation where the Block B members suffered a lot.”

Though Cho PD and Block B both endured difficult times in the beginning, the strong impression made by Block B’s comeback track “Nanrina” is paving a smoother path for them through the rocky terrain of the industry.

cr : allkpop

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Cho PD, the mastermind behind Block B, has revealed that he once inquired about a loan for the first time in his life.

Cho PD said that he estimated the amount of money it would take to push the seven-member idol group and agency Brand New Stardom to the top; the figure made him think about putting in a loan application for the first time in his life.

He stated, “I’m not paying a monthly installment for my car, nor do I have any loans right now. However, I looked into how much money I could borrow by using our agency office as collateral, so that I would not have to receive help from outside sources.”

Cho PD’s investment in Brand New Stardom with Block B’s debut last year was said to be around 1.5 billion Won (~ $1,341,297 USD). Ten months later, it was estimated to have surpassed 2 billion Won (~$1,788,350).

The reason why Cho PD sought a loan rather than accept funds from outside investors lies in his belief in Block B’s talents. He wished to preserve their freedom, which would not have been guaranteed if outside investors had their say.

ChJo PD stated, “In pushing for concepts that haven’t been tried by others, and giving the members the authority over their music, there will be strong opposition by individuals in those positions [investors]. These things cannot be achieved when leadership has been dispersed… The trust in the members’ talents and abilities should be absolute.”

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Block B reveals ‘Welcome to the Block’ intro!

On January 13th, Cho PD tweeted, “Welcome to the BLOCK intro“, and linked a video from Block B’s official Facebook page.

The 22-second clip introduces each member amidst a highly intense background, further building the hype for Block B’s long-awaited comeback.

As reported earlier, ‘Welcome to the Block’ features five new songs all written and produced by leader Zico and Park Kyung. Their comeback is scheduled for February 2nd.

Check out their intro below!



Credit : BrandnewStardom

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Although fans were sad to hear that Block B had to delay their comeback by another month due to their other schedules, Brand New Stardom went ahead and revealed their comeback album and tracklist today.

The boys have spent the past several weeks completing their Christmas showcases in Japan and Singapore before finally returning to Korea to continue their album production.

Block B’s comeback mini-album will be titled “Welcome to the Block” and features five new songs all written and produced by leader Zico and Park Kyung. Their comeback is scheduled for February 2nd.

Check it out below!

1. Action
2. LOL
3. Go Crazy
4. Synchronization 100%
5. Did You or Did You Not

Source: Brand New Stardom’s Official Twitter

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Block B and their producer, Cho PD, recently sat down for an interview with BNT News and revealed their thoughts on one another and their careers.

While Cho PD was like a proud father, reporters noticed that the members of Block B actually contrasted against their stronger image with innocent personalities.

Check out their first interview together below!

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Q. “Why did you create Block B?”

Cho PD: “You can’t become an artist with just talent these days. If you want to be popular, you have to be skilled in singing, dancing, character, and even looks. I really wanted to find good gemstones.”

Q. “What was Cho PD’s first impression like?”

Block B: “He kind of looked like a monkey…”
Zico: “When I first saw him two years ago, he looked like an uncle. He was wearing a t-shirt and jeans so I wasn’t too intimidated by him.”
Jaehyo: “He has extremely nice skin. I knew from the moment I saw him that he was the CEO.”
Taeil: “I was only used to seeing him on stage, but seeing him in person wasn’t as scary as I thought it’d be.”
U-Kwon: “The first time I saw him, I only saw his back as he was walking in for a meeting. I found out that he was the CEO later, so my first impression of him is just of his back.”
P.O: “He has a greater body than what he looks like on TV, so I was really scared of his first impression.”
Kyung: “He looked cold and chic, like the son of a rich family.”
B-Bomb: “I was in his music video when I was in high school, so I didn’t think I’d see him again as my CEO. Back then, he was someone I wanted to emulate, but seeing him in person now, he was normal.”


Q. “Cho PD seems like a father to Block B.”

Cho PD: “They say that your kids will learn bad habits if you just let everything slide, but I want to give them respect. I chose kids that are worthy of that respect, and I know that they’re going to be raised into a position of respect. Just because I give them that respect earlier doesn’t mean that they’ll go wrong. It just means I have that much more expectations for them.”

Block B: “When we’re tired from rehearsals, he’ll visit our dorm with delicious food. When we said we wanted to eat meat on a radio show, he bought us meat all week long.”

Q. “What made Cho PD so captivated by Block B?”

Zico: “Rap.”
Jaehyo: “My visuals? I heard that he fell in love with my emotional voice.”
Taeil: “My singing, of course.”
U-Kwon: “He chose me as his dark horse, but I really don’t know why. I think he thought well of my improvements.”
Kyung: “I think my voice. I’m a good rapper, but I also have good character.”
B-Bomb: “I think my performance, and also the fact that I had met him twice like fate.”

Q. “Which member doesn’t listen to you the most?”

Cho PD: “They all listen to me well now. It’s not a problem for me because I had told them before, ‘If you don’t want to do it, leave. Only those that can handle it must stay.’ Only the members that were willing to put their lives on the line are left now.”

Block B: “We all listen to him well, and U-Kwon is always working hard. Zico has a tendency to rebel or go off track, but he always listens to whatever U-Kwon tells him to do.”

Q. “Is Block B also pressured to take care of their bodies?”

Cho PD: “I made them work out from the beginning, but it’s hidden now. Personally, I think that bodies with too much muscle… mmm, I’ll get antis if I say it like this, but I think it’s kind of countrified. Trying to look cool with a good body worked in the 80s with people like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. In this generation, it’s about tall, modern looking things. As far as exposure goes, I respect the opinions of the members.”

Block B: “We’re really hidden. Zico works out a lot and Kyung does too, but once he stops, he stops for good. We also hope that there will never come a point where we have to expose our bodies.”

Kyung: “I’m a man like fire.”

Q. “Does Block B have a set amount to spend on food like other idols?”

Cho PD: “I think in all of Korea, our company pays the most for meals. Aside from the expenses, I’d like for the members to eat more healthy food like chicken breasts and whatnot, but they eat too much fast food instead.”

Block B: “We’re allowed exactly $6.50 USD!”
Jaehyo: “Before our debut, we were only allowed to eat bean paste stew. I think because our CEO is so busy that he doesn’t know, but we’ve just now ‘leveled up’ to eat soft tofu stew.”
P.O: “I got in trouble for eating fried fish yesterday.”
Block B: “We don’t eat fast food because we want to. We want to eat healthy food too but our manager says we don’t have time and buys us hamburgers (laughter).”

Q. “To conclude the interview, could you say something on your future goals and for your fans?”

Cho PD: “There’s a lot of antis because Block B isn’t doing something that’s considered ‘gangster hip hop.’ We’re not, however, putting everything into our title tracks. The market is a single market, and we’re doing our best to show their true colors, but it seems people are being impatient with that. For now, we’re going to be on a full run until Block B wins first place. Only after the kids are on a strong foundation will I be releasing my own albums. I am also considering creating other groups.”

Block B: “We worked hard to show a new image with our first mini-album. It’s an album that’s chock full of things, so please look forward to it. We will be taking this opportunity to show our true talents.”

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Block B will be releasing their first mini-album, “New Kids on the Block“, on June 23rd.

Source + Photos: BNT News

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Cho PD’s Block B finally unveiled themselves earlier today, and much attention is now being put on the individual members. Brand New Stardom was informed that all seven members endured their fair share of hardships before they came together to be the group they are today.

The group’s oldest, Jaehyo, was actually a trainee for B2ST but eventually had to give up his dreams and return home after injuring his knee with heavy rehearsals. When he received surgery for his knee, he was later encouraged by MBLAQ’s Lee Joon to stand up and try again. Under his support, Jaehyo mustered the bravery to try out once more, and fortunately passed.

Maknae P.O. was actually eliminated during the group’s first official audition. He tried out again a year later after losing 10 kg and training intensively to improve his vocals and dance skills. Cho PD watched over his progress, and decided to include him in the final line-up, opposing the voices encouraging him to drop P.O.

Cho PD’s personal ‘dark horse’, member U-Kwon, was also a trainee that failed his camera test in the beginning of their training. After the shock of the experience, he geared up his determination and came back for a second audition, essentially stunning everyone in the room with his favorable profile.



Kyung was chosen as a trainee while he was studying abroad in New Zealand, and is also one of the most experienced members of the group. He was dropped from the final line-up for Block B because Cho PD felt that he would be a better fit as a leader for another group. However, Kyung fasted for 10 days afterwards, and worked to prove himself once more in order to become a member of Block B, which eventually led Cho PD to give into Kyung’s determination.

Leader Zico, like the rest, was also dropped from the initial line-up because they felt that he didn’t have enough what it took to be a leader. According to Cho PD, a true leader needed to have the will to stand up eight times after failing seven. After suffering a brief period of depression, Zico picked himself up again and returned to wow the crowd for a second time.

Main vocalist Taeil is already well-known for being eliminated from MBC’s “Birth of A Great Star“. Taeil didn’t let that stop him, though, as he later tried out for Cho PD’s audition and passed, managing to go straight into recording for Block B’s title track.

Rounding out with member B-Bomb, the industry has their eyes set on these seven members and are already anticipating what they’ll be bringing to the table.

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