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CHUNG HA : WEEK

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DIA : WILL YOU GO OUT WITH ME?

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SF9 : EASY LOVE

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LABOUM : HWI HWI

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Artist Spotlight: 4Minute (Part II)

This is a continuation of 4Minute’s Artist Spotlight. Please see here for Part I.

2013 marked a big change in 4Minute’s artistic development. The group collaborated with most sought out producer-of-the-time, Brave Brothers, for the release of their fourth EP Name Is 4Minute. The title track “What’s Your Name?” experimented with a funkier, more sugary brand of hip-hop, with bright, eye catching visuals and a hook which would become a popular craze in South Korea during 2013. 

“What’s Your Name” would become 4Minute’s first song to reach the pinnacle of the South Korean Gaon chart, their first in their four year career.

Due to the success of “What’s Your Name?”, 4Minute swiftly released “Is It Poppin’?” in July 2013 due to renewed public interest, peaking at a modest #9 on the Gaon chart.

4Minute would return on March 17th, 2014 with the infectious “Whatcha Doin’ Today?”, the group’s second collaboration with Brave Brothers, taken from their fifth EP 4Minute World. Combining shimmering and eclectic visual imagery with an accessible, relaxed “shoulder dance,” “Whatcha Doin’ Today?” would become 4Minute’s second consecutive #1 single, albeit ultimately their last. Notably, the song was also the group’s final partnership with Brave Brothers.

2015 marked a significant image overhaul for 4Minute. Citing “Huh” (2010) as an influence, the group returned with an authoritarian, girl power concept, blending forceful choreography with strong black and white visuals.

“Crazy,” taken from their sixth EP of the same name, was a hammering hip-hop and EDM fusion, created by producers Jaewoo Seo and Big Ssancho and Youngjin Son. “Crazy” would peak at #3 on the official Gaon chart, whilst influencing future girl groups such as label mates CLC in the near future.

4Minute would release their seventh and final EP, aptly titled Act 7 in January 2016. An experiment for the group, the title track “Hate” was a collaboration with internationally known DJ and producer Skrillex. Creating a pop song with strong hip-hop and dubstep influences, the song would be lauded by many international fans to be an amalgamation of 4Minute’s various signature sounds and concepts.

Unfortunately this reverence would not translate to the South Korean public, becoming their first promotional track to miss the top ten, entering at #13 on the official Gaon chart.

Citing the disappointing sales of Act 7, new management under Cube Entertainment decided to dissolve the group upon their contract expiration the following June. In my personal opinion, this would become one of the biggest gaffes in K-Pop history, an opinion held unanimously by long time 4Minute fans, and indeed many K-Pop fans in general.

All was not lost however, with member Hyuna Kim continuing to pursue a solo career with “How’s This?” in late July 2016.

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MINZY : NINANO FEAT. FLOWSIK

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Artist Spotlight: 4Minute (Part I)

4Minute was a five member K-Pop girl group, formed in 2009 by Cube Entertainment. The group consisted of members Jihyun Nam, Jiyoon Jeon, Gayoon Heo, Hyuna Kim and Sohyun Kwon. 4Minute were active until June 14th, 2016, upon the expiration of their contracts with Cube Entertainment.

Unanimously considered icons of the Hallyu Wave and rising K-Pop scene of late noughties, 4Minute set up trends and concepts which continue to influence active K-Pop groups of today. 

Let’s explore the discography of 4Minute.

4Minute debuted on June 15th, 2009 with digital single “Hot Issue.” Donned in bright colours, with a candy culture influenced wardrobe, the group was immediately touted against similarly styled girl group 2NE1 by fans, creating an early rivalry. “Hot Issue” would establish 4Minute as ones to watch, peaking at #3 on the official South Korean Gaon chart.

4Minute would then utilise the success of “Hot Issue” to release their debut physical EP For Muzik on August 28th, 2009, promoting with the title track “MUZIK.” 

The song was 4Minute’s second collaboration with producer Shinsadong Tiger, with influences of gritty EDM and hip-hop in production. "MUZIK” would exceed the popularity of “Hot Issue”, whilst establishing a signature sound for 4Minute, peaking at #2 on the official Gaon chart. Promotional activities for For Muzik would grant the group their first music show wins on the likes of the coveted Inkigayo, and M Countdown.

4Minute would later release “What a Girl Wants” as a recut single, peaking at #6 on the official South Korean Gaon chart, despite being antecedently available on their For Muzik EP.

4Minute would start off 2010 in a big way, releasing their second EP Hit Your Heart on May 19th that year. The EP was promoted with “Huh”, another hip-hop influenced number by Shinsadong Tiger, with additional lyrics contributed by Junhyung Yong of label mate boy group BEAST.

“Huh” would set up 4Minute with an image of no nonsense, indomitable girl power. A natural progression, this concept would later be emphasised upon and reenacted in promotions such as “Crazy” and “Hate” from 2015 and 2016 respectively.

“Huh” peaked at #3 for two consecutive weeks on South Korea’s official Gaon chart.

2011 marked the release of 4Minute’s debut full length album, 4Minutes Left. Consulting a new co-producer, Blue Magic, in collaboration with long term executive producer Shinsadong Tiger, the result was a more refined and infectious, hook-driven electropop song named “Mirror Mirror.”

“Mirror Mirror” was promoted alongside “Heart To Heart”, both peaking within the top five of the South Korean Gaon chart, with “Mirror Mirror” narrowly missing the coveted top spot by one position.

4Minute exploded into 2012 with the release of “Volume Up,” a track taken from their EP of the same name, their third overall. The song, a dark, shadowy slice of EDM, lead by an undeniably captivating saxophone hook, became their third song to peak at #2 on the official Gaon chart. 

Clearly inspired by the erroneous popularity of the Twilight franchise at that time, the video draws visuals of mystery and eldritch.

Notably, “Volume Up” marks 4Minute’s final collaboration with long time producer Shinsadong Tiger.

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ZICO : SHE’S A BABY

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HYOLYN X CHANGMO - BLUE MOON

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WA$$UP : COLOR TV

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MISO (GIRLS GIRLS) : KKPP

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EXID : NIGHT RATHER THAN DAY

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