Young, talented and snazzy, Lee Hi, 16, clinched the No. 1 spot this
week with her new boppy, retro-soul track, “1,2,3,4,” making her the
first female debut act to capture Billboard’s K-Pop Hot 100 top spot
this year. The perky performer was runner-up on the popular audition
program “K-POP STAR” before signing with YG Entertainment (home of PSY,
2NE1, Epik High and BIGBANG).
Lee Hi’s debut solo music video, directed by Han Sa Min (the
visionary master behind music videos for BIGBANG’s “BLUE,” “MONSTER,”
and 2NE1′s “LONELY”) is fun and captivating, with eye-popping colors and
punk/rock and roll outfits. The world was excited for this rookie’s
debut with the high-scale video racked up more than four million views
within a week of its release.
Her debut effort, released under YG Entertainment, is a modern take
on 60′s soul music, inspired by Motown artists, Marvin Gaye, The
Temptations and The Jackson 5. She spills her deep, emotive and soulful
vocal prowess in the track as she repeatedly tells her past boyfriend
its “game over.” The song was mashed up by both CHOICE 37, an in-house
YG producer responsible for hits like BIGBANG’s “BAD BOY” and G-Dragon’s
“ONE OF A KIND” and promising power force Lydia Paek, who co-composed
2NE1′s latest chart-topper, “I Love You.”
Her astonishing range and vocal skills are no surprise to her fans.
She created a buzz performing famous American tracks like Duffy’s
“Mercy” and Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” during her�”K-POP STAR” appearances.
Primary, the producer of prominent hip-hop label Amoeba Culture that
represents Dynamic Duo (Gaeko and Choiza) and Supreme Team (Simon D. and
E-Sens), released the LP, “Primary and The Messengers,” which features
25 musicians. The track”? (Question Mark)” featuring Choiza of Dynamic
Duo and Zion T off Primary’s new release, takes the highest-debut this
week at No. 4. The witty track has a 90s hip-hop nostalgia to it telling
the story about a man’s confusion over a woman he cannot stop thinking
about.
Popular girl group missA (label-mates to Wonder Girls) kicked off
their comeback with new mini-album “Independent Women Pt. III.” If that
title sounds like an old Destiny’s Child track, it’s because the girls
are honoring the former girl group; one of their greatest inspirations.
Destiny’s Child’s original “Independent Women Pt. I” went to No. 1 in
2000 and with the second part appeared on their No. 1 album, “Survivor.”
The four ladies of missA continue with part three and the appropriate
lead single “I Don’t Need A Man.” Watch the gorgeous gals declare their
independence amongst huge-sized perfume bottles, Christian Louboutins,
and lipsticks. A highlight of the video comes towards the end with
member Jia showing off Ciara-like backbends. The DC tribute earns its
fourth week in the Top 10 at No. 6.
Los Angeles-born NS Yoon-G earns her highest position on the chart
with new single “If You Love Me” featuring Washington state-born rapper
Jay Park (at No. 18). The duet jumps from singings to rapping over an
electro-tinged R&B beat while the music video tells a heartbreaking
love story (with a twist at the end) with flashes of NS Yoon-G’s sexy
silhouette. Music program viewers have enjoyed watching the duo perform
the track with Jay Park always brining something fun to the end of their
performance from looking at NS Yoon-G sweetly to running off stage for
another girl. American listeners should notice impressive English
pronunciation from the two singers given their American up-bringing,
both on the West Coast.