With millions of viewers around the world tuning in and casting votes for contestants in the K-pop survival show Boys Planet, contestants who didn’t make a place in the final band left the program with fans eager to see their next steps. No group perhaps better embraces such potential than EVNNE, the seven-member boy band quickly ascending the K-pop ranks and proving themselves as far more than just a simple spin-off act.

Noted for an intense collective charisma, the boy band’s debut with hard-hitting singles “Trouble” and “Ugly” spoke to a viewpoint as the convention-defying underdogs ready to prove themselves to the world. The group scored number-one hit songs and awards on Korea’s competitive music programs, and this summer embarked on their first U.S. tour to expand their international fanbase and showcase their dynamic performances across multiple cities.

“We didn’t expect it, but we really wanted it,” EVNNE’s leader Keita says of the group’s ability to break out beyond Korea and tour the States. “We felt that there were a lot of fans all over the world cheering for us while we were doing such a program like Boys Planet…it’s really a dream come true.”

But it’s not just the awards and accolades that define EVNNE’s success. In less than a year, the group has shown remarkable evolution in their musical style, transitioning from the rebellious anthems of their debut to a softer, more romantic sound with their third EP, RIDE or DIE from June. The lead single, “Badder Love,” a soothing rock-pop track recorded in both Korean and English, marks a new chapter for the group.

“The reason we came out with the concept of bad guys when we made our debut was because we wanted to show the public what we can do best,” Yunseo says. “But we released a refreshing album like this because we wanted to show a new side of us.”

With accomplishments both in awards and aristry, Keita, Hanbin, Lee Jeonghyeon, Yunseo, Seungeon, Mun Junghyun and Jihoo have managed to carved their place in the industry and show lasting potential even if the group’s time together may be short. Read on for why else EVNNE is a group to watch as Billboard‘s K-Pop Rookie of the Month for August 2024.

Congratulations on the success so far and being named Billboard‘s Rookie of the Month! I wonder how you feel about your achievements over the past few months?

YUNSEO: We’ve been through a lot with our members and together we’ve achieved a lot of things, but time is really flying by so fast — faster than I thought. It feels surreal that we’ve been spending so much time together and able experience a lot of things in such a short time, but it also has been very short. Even so, we have realized that there are more fans and more people really supporting us, giving us so much love, so we are just very happy and grateful for everything.

SEUNGEON: I want to add that I’m so happy to be able to come to the U. S. tour following the Asia tour and so excited to meet people from different places. We truly believe that winning on the music shows and being able to go on tours in different countries is all thanks to our fans’ love and support for us. So, we are very thankful for that. We are also very happy and excited to be named as the Rookie of the Month on Billboard. We have been really wanting this so thank you so much.

While you didn’t earn a place in the final group for Boys Planet, you are here now winning awards and going on tour. Did you guys expect all these things to happen?

KEITA: We didn’t expect it, but we really wanted it. We felt that there were a lot of fans all over the world cheering for us while we were doing such a program so we always dreamed that we wanted to go to many cities, perform for many fans, share our energy and communicate with them. It’s really a dream come true.

How has touring the U.S. been for you?

JIHOO: So we were really happy that the crowd cheers were so much bigger than we expected. From what I understand, there’s about 500 people per venue for this tour, but from what we felt on stage, it really felt like the cheer was coming from 5,000 or even 50, 000 people — it was really loud. I feel like we’ve been really eager to share our energy with the audience, but in return, I think we got even more energy and motivation from them.

MUN JUNGHYUN: We were able to sing the English version of “Badder Love” for the first time, and I think the response was good because the fans sang along to the whole song which made us really happy. Also, we were able to show “XO” with its choreography in full for the first time on this U.S. tour and it felt like were cheering so much for that song.

SEUNGEON: You know, the global fans who don’t necessarily speak Korean tend to hum to our songs, instead of like singing along to the actual lyrics, which is still really cute but we always had a little bit of regret that and wish everyone could really sing along together from start to finish. But with the English version [of “Badder Love”] they were really able to do it and were singing along to the song while we were performing so it was really a great experience. It really motivated us and, one day, we would love to release more songs in different various languages in the future.

Any languages you might want to record in next?

HANBIN: We go to Japan a lot and there are a lot of our fans and people who support us in Japan so I think it would be nice to make a version that can be done in Japanese.

Going back to “Badder Love,” it feels like this album is centered around a softer image and less intense than the concepts for your singles like “Trouble” or Ugly.” What does EVNNE want to prove this time around?

JIHOO: Our main focus was to really show a different side of ourselves compared to our first two albums. For our first and second mini albums, we really wanted to show that “cheeky rascal” side, which is more powerful and very straightforward. But with the third album, we wanted to show more of a romantic, a softer side of us.

YUNSEO: Actually, the reason we came out with the concept of bad guys when we made our debut was because we wanted to show the public what we can do best while talking to the company. That’s how we made our debut. We released a refreshing album like this because we wanted to show a new side of us. We’ve always been able to do this, but we’ve shown you a little bit of a bad boy and a strong image, but this time, we’re going to show you a bit of a different image.

LEE JEONGHYOEN: We have some all-white outfits in the music video that are very fitting for summer. There’s also no really bright hair colors. Actually, this is my first time dying my hair in brown so we really focused on showing the right styling for the concept through this album. A lot of the backgrounds in the music video are set in the ocean so in my opinion that really emphasizes on that refreshing cool side with the song and the music video.

I saw you guys compete in the Idol Star Athletic Championship and reunite even with some of the Boys Planet contestants. How was that after all you went through?

HANBIN: We participated in two of the events during the program and we really prepared ourselves to do our best in it while preparing for this tour. We had to find little moments here and there to really prepare for ISAC, but I think it was a great opportunity for us to promote who we are and what we can do to even more people. So, it was a really great experience in overall and like you mentioned, we were able to talk and chat with many other artists as well including ZEROBASEONE. It’s actually been awhile since we got to chat and reunite with them so it was really fun to be reconnecting.

YUNSEO: Our schedules don’t really leave us a lot of time to meet in person or privately, but I was so happy to meet my friends that were at Idol Star Athletics Championships, talk, and play sports and games together.

KEITA: I met Matthew and I told him, “Hey Matt, I’m studying English!” and he said, “Hey, your pronunciation is not as bad as I thought!” but in Korean. So, I got a compliment from him.

SEUNGEON: I think fans who watched the show were really waiting to see us all again and a Boys Planet reunion one day. This was actually our first opportunity for all the Boys Planet groups and artists to come together, really reunite, talk to each other and just have a good time in general. I felt like it was a school event in some ways because there are a lot of idol seniors, juniors and colleagues but we all have the same dream and passion for music and artistry so it really felt like we were at a school event all together. So, overall it was a very, very fun event.

HANBIN: I actually ran into some friends who I trained with so while it felt really very new, and it also really reminded me like we were back in school all together and we were at a school event together rather a TV show program.

Do you have a message you’d like to share with international fans who are waiting to see you?

YUNSEO: First of all, we were selected as the Rookie of the Month so I’d like to say thank you so much. It’s a great honor and beginning with this, we’d like to show you all more and promote our name to an even more bigger audience around the world so we can really share our artistry and who we are to everyone around the world. And in the future, we really hope we can someday have our song chart on the Billboard charts. We will work hard for that so it would be great if the American fans and international fans know about us and send us your continued love, support and attention.

SEUNGEON: We’ve been really eager to share incredible performances through this tour and please please look forward to all our activities and performances in the future as well. It’s a great honor, again, to be selected as the Rookie of the Month with Billboard.

Lana Del Rey responded to gossip about family drama surrounding a rumored romance with Jeremy Dufrene.

The “Tough” singer commented on an Instagram post Saturday afternoon (Aug. 31) that claimed to have an “update on Lana Del Rey’s new man.”

Tagging Del Rey on the post, the Instagram account claimed that Dufrene, “Lana’s new beau, is an alligator tour guide… who also recently separated from his wife. Jeremy’s daughter took to Twitter/X to share that she found out about her dad’s new romance with the stunning singer through social media and her thoughts on everything unfolding.”

The now-edited post originally featured a screenshot of an alleged text message exchange between Dufrene and his “daughter” regarding his rumored relationship with the star. It also showed a tweet from the “daughter” that said: “he doesn’t understand social media i’m in tears” and “everyone is fighting.”

The post on Instagram was later updated to show a different tweet from her that said, “i barely talk to my dad let alone care about his love life. i’m just shocked WHO he’s dating.”

Del Rey shut down hearsay concerning her personal life and Dufrene’s family on Saturday.

“No,” she wrote in a comment on the Instagram post.

The Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd artist returned with a second comment, adding, “Also, that’s not his daughter on Twitter.”

While Del Rey appears to know Dufrene — they were spotted holding hands last weekend in the U.K., at Reading & Leeds Festival, which she headlined — she hasn’t confirmed whether or not they’ve dated. She was previously pictured with him in photos she posted in 2019, from a swamp and marsh tour south of New Orleans, which she captioned: “Jeremy lemme be captain at Arthur’s Air Boat Tours x.” More recently, Del Rey tagged him on an Instagram post this past May, when she possibly returned for another excursion on the bayou.

Video footage on TMZ from one of Dufrene’s tours shows he has no fear of getting up close and personal with alligators. In one clip, he lures one up the side of the boat by feeding the gator raw chicken. Then he plants a quick kiss upon the gator’s head.

Del Rey, who’s kept busy this summer on a tour of her own, played Reading & Leeds on Aug. 24-25. Her Reading set was unexpectedly shortened when her mic was turned off during a fireworks display at the festival. Fans reportedly missed out on her performing Norman F—ing Rockwell‘s “Hope Is a Dangerous Thing for a Woman Like Me to Have – But I Have It.”

“Due to an error by the Reading production team we accidentally cut Lana Del Rey’s incredible set short by 5 mins, we apologise unreservedly to Lana and her fans,” a statement from the fest said the next day, ahead of Del Rey’s performance at the Leeds stage.

Coming next for Del Rey is likely her anticipated new album Lasso, which she’s called country but said won’t be a “heavy departure” from her discography thus far. In an interview with Vogue, she explained, “If anything, it will just be a little lighter lyrically, and more pointed in a classic country, American, or Southern Gothic production — which again, so many of my songs already are.”

The hip-hop community is paying tribute to New York rapper Fatman Scoop, who has died at the age of 53.

Musicians like Missy Elliott, Questlove, Ludacris and Ciara are mourning the loss of the Grammy-winning hype man — whose real name is Isaac Freeman III — after he collapsed during a concert in Connecticut on Friday night (Aug. 30). The rapper’s family announced his passing the following morning on social media. A cause of death was not provided.

Elliott, who collaborated with Freeman on her 2005 hit “Lose Control,” took to X (formerly Twitter) to honor him.

“Prayers for Fatman Scoop family for STRENGTH during this difficult time,” Missy wrote. “Fatman Scoop VOICE & energy have contributed to MANY songs that made the people feel HAPPY & want to dance for over 2 decades. Your IMPACT is HUGE & will be NEVER be forgotten.”

“Lose Control,” which also featured Ciara, peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song’s video earned a Grammy Award in 2006 for best short form music video, and the track received a Grammy nod that year for best rap song.

Ciara also honored the late musician on social media. “Rest Easy at @FatmanScoop! You were truly one of the best voices in hip-hop! I’m so glad I got to experience your greatness! We will all miss you greatly,” the singer wrote alongside a video of Freeman on X.

Questlove shared a lengthy tribute on Instagram, writing, “I want to thank Fatman Scoop for being an embodiment of what hip hop was truly about. To just forget about your troubles and live in the moment and allow joy in.”

The Roots drummer’s dedication was “on behalf” of a list of groups, including “everyone who procreates after a celebratory night in the club,” “all human beings whose hands have the ability to raise up” and “EVERY DJ who needed to spike the punch with adrenaline music to make the energy INSTANTLY rise from a 3 to a way past spinal tap 11.”

Ludacris noted on Instagram that “Scoop was one of those people that reminded you what the word LOVE Truly means. It’s an ACTION, and with his ACTIONS he exuded the PUREST form of Passion For HIP HOP. Every human being that he came Into contact with felt that LOVE & that PASSION. THIS is the Type Of LEGACY WE should ALL continue from here on until ETERNITY.”

DJ D-Nice remembered Freeman, writing on Instagram, “he was always kind to me. This is a major loss for the culture. My condolences to all of his loved ones.”

On Friday, Freeman was performing at Town Center Park in Hamden, Conn., where he appeared to have suffered a medical emergency, according to TMZ. Fan-captured video on X showed the him collapsing mid-performance. After medical personnel performed chest compressions behind a DJ booth, Freeman was then transferred to a local hospital. His death was announced the following morning.

“It is with profound sadness and very heavy hearts that we share news of the passing of the legendary and iconic Fatman Scoop,” his family wrote on Instagram. “Last night, the world lost a radiant soul, a beacon of light on the stage and in life.”

Freeman gained prominence with his 1999 club favorite “Be Faithful,” featuring the Crooklyn Clan. His other musical accomplishments include a feature on Mariah Carey’s 2005 song “It’s Like That,” which reached No. 16 on the Hot 100. Over the years, he would appear on tracks by Skrillex (“Recess”), David Guetta (“Love Is Back”) and Ciara (“Level Up” remix), among many others.

Camila Cabello is teasing more new music.

On Friday (Aug. 30), the 27-year-old pop star announced on Instagram that she’ll be releasing an expanded edition of her latest album, C, XOXO, along with a brand new song.

The Magic City Edition of C, XOXO will arrive on Friday, Sept. 6, and feature new single “Godspeed.”

“i wish you well, but far away from me,” Cabello captioned a teaser video of the forthcoming tune, hinting at a possible theme about breakup.

The brief clip finds the “I Luv It” singer swimming in a dark pool of water while donning a sparkly silver dress. “Always more stories to tell. Some new songs for your night in Magic City,” she wrote in second post announcing the deluxe album.

Cabello’s announcement comes after unconfirmed theories that Sabrina Carpenter‘s newly dropped sixth album, Short n’ Sweet, includes songs are about a potential love triangle between herself, Cabello and Shawn Mendes.

Carpenter and Mendes were spotted spending time together in February 2023, a year after the “In My Blood” singer split from Cabello in November 2021. Just two months later, Cabello and Mendes were spotted rekindling their romance at Coachella.

Songs on Carpenter’s album, including “Coincidence,” “Sharpest Tool” and “Taste,” all seem to follow a storyline about a love interest rekindling his romance with his ex-girlfriend. The corresponding “Taste” visual stars Jenna Ortega, who fans think was casted to represent Cabello in the clip.

Cabello also seemingly added fuel to the flame, by recently sharing a TikTok singing along to her own track, “June Gloom,” which features the lyrics: “She’s cool, I heard/ Won’t act surprised, I saw the pictures/ […] If she’s so amazing, why are you on this side of town? / If you like her so much, what are you here trying to find out?”

Cabello released her fourth album, C, XOXO, in June. The set features 14 tracks, two of which are Drake collaborations. The project was led by the singles “I Luv It” with Playboi Carti and “He Knows” with Lil Nas X.

See Cabello’s post on Instagram below.

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