I was today years old when I figured out SKZ’s Victory Song uses the same main beat as MTBD by CL. I just. I can’t. I’m so blindsided by that. This is almost as bad as the time I heard a German rap song that used the same instrumental as Hala Hala by ATEEZ
On the 27th of February, ten years ago, 2NE1 released their second Korean Full-Length album, CRUSH.
"CRUSH" features a blend of electronic, hip hop, and pop sounds, with catchy melodies and powerful vocals. The album includes hit tracks like "Come Back Home" and "Gotta Be You," showcasing 2NE1's signature style and energy.
Taeha's silenced by the swift wave of two manicured fingers and a firm shhh! The coach's eyes are fixed on the iPad placed on the table between them, the sound of Taeha's first try at performing a few rap snippets filling the room. She's never been one to shy away from reviewing her performances, but listening to herself now was almost as excruciating as sitting through her first year communications lectures. The coach finally pauses the clip and hums. It was one of those hums. The kind of 'hum' that signals to a trainee already bursting at the seams with nerves that what she just presented was nothing short of -
'Impressive.'
"Wh - what?"
The coach nods once, scribbling a few quick notes onto the notepad at her side. 'You've improved a lot already.'
"R - really?! So... you - You don't hate it?"
'I do not,' the coach's usually stern tone softens, but her hand continues to steadily move along the lines of the page, leaving Taeha on edge. 'Relax. This isn't an evaluation. Breathe. In and out.' Taeha promptly obliges, sucking in a deep breath and quickly pushing it out, her shoulders drooping forward a bit. How long had she even been holding her breath for?! 'We still have a lot of work to do,' the coach adds, sliding the device across the table for Taeha to view. 'I want you to rewatch this section, but without sound.'
Although she can't help responding with a slight frown, she nods and leans forward to watch the clip with somewhat of an open mind. It is a bit bizarre to see herself this way - Brows furrowed and head moving this way and that, her hands flailing somewhat wildly in various gestures. Her coach reaches over to pause. 'What do you think?'
"I think... I think that I definitely need to work on my facial expressions? I look a bit..."
'Ridiculous? Yes." Wouldn't be her first choice of descriptor, but there was little room to argue. Taeha shrinks in her seat, fingers fiddling with the hem of her shirt. "I guess.. I was just really trying to be like the artists you sent me? I watched so many performances and everyone is just so... It just seems so..." she trails off, teeth sinking into her bottom lip. "I... I just don't know if I'm cut out for this kind of thing? I'm not really - I'm not very - "
'Uh huh,' the coach hums once again, pen still going. Taeha leans forward, trying to take a quick peek but the notepad is quickly tucked under the coach's chin. 'If you think you're not cut out for this kind of thing, then you're not.' Her heart sinks in her chest, eyes already beginning to well at the coach's instant ( a little too instant, if you'd asked her ) agreement. 'But,' she adds, playing the clip once more. There's a brief moment at the end of her reel where'd she'd clearly forgotten a lyric. She glances off camera into space, first staring blankly and then putting on a bright grin as the words finally come to her, wiggling back into center with her eye smile in full view. 'That. That did not look ridiculous. That is a Taeha that's cut out for this. That is rapper Taeha I want to see.'
"You... you want me to forget my lines?!"
'N - No, Taeha. I want you to be yourself! That's the whole reason you were chosen for this role. If we wanted another Kim Nayoon or CL, we would've gotten an impressionist. We want to see what you bring to the rap position. In this entire reel all I saw you do was mimic what you think a good rapper looks like. But that girl -' she emphasizes with a tap of her nail against the screen. 'That girl has the potential to be a great rapper. If she learns to relax. Breath in and out.'
Taeha gives a hum of her own, swiping away the tear that had still threatened to slip down her cheek - this time in relief instead of worry. "Breathe in and out," she repeats, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
'Good. Now, I want to hear you do those lines again, bar for bar, without all the... Whatever that was,' the coach chuckles, navigating to her sounds to play the selected track. Taeha sits back up in her seat, eyes wide and silently reminding herself to just breathe.
On the 7th of March, nine years ago, 2NE1 released their second Korean studio album, CRUSH. It is their final studio album, the group's first Korean album release since 2NE1 (2011) and the first studio album following To Anyone in four years. CL contributed to the production of three songs from the album. Stylistically, the album incorporates a broad range of musical influences, utilizing a variety of genres such as R&B, hip hop, dance, electronic, and reggae.
Crush was positively received by music critics, who highlighted its modern electronic innovation and was listed as one of the best albums of the year worldwide by Rolling Stone and Fuse. Crush sold over 5,000 copies within four days in the United States and debuted at number 61 on the Billboard 200—simultaneously becoming the best-selling and the highest charting Korean album in the country, at the time of its release.
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The first single from the album, "Come Back Home", peaked at number one on the Gaon Digital Chart for two consecutive weeks, becoming the group's ninth number-one hit in South Korea. The second single, "Gotta Be You", peaked at number three on the Gaon Digital Chart.
i'm in a big mtbd since days and jk coming in live out of nowhere, singing, showing us Bam, talking about his tattoos... gosh i miss him so much my sweet baby i hope he's happy and careful with himself and he can do all the things he wants because he deserves all the love in the universe :(
btw gonna be back and answer to everyone soon i just need more rest, but tysm for the few ppl who sends me kind words I love y'all :( ♡