Why B.A.P deserves to win the rookie award
Why B.A.P Deserves Rookie of the Year
B.A.P deserves the Rookie of the Year award as not only have they worked extremely hard with their hectic schedules, but throughout the year, they have released great songs/albums which broke the ster
eotype of rookie groups. They take music seriously, and have given up a lot to achieve their goal of winning.
“18 songs, 6 concepts, 5 comebacks, 3 single albums, 3 showcases, 1 mini-album,
1 repackaged album. All in 9 months. This is B.A.P”
Here’s my lengthy summary of why I think they should win Rookie of the Year. ^^
DEBUT
From the very beginning, B.A.P’s debut with “Warrior” was an attention grabber. In the midst of other boy groups with the usual “flower boy”, “noona-lovin’” concepts, B.A.P came out with a powerful song criticizing society. They entered the k-pop scene hard and definitely stood out among the tons of rookie groups emerging in 2012. From the beginning, B.A.P didn’t seem like rookies at all.
PERFORMANCES
I think the majority of us can agree that B.A.P’s performances are mindblowing. The energy they exude on stage is admirable. They show so much charisma for a rookie group. Whether it was their hardcore songs like “Warrior” and “Power”, or their softer songs like “Unbreakable” and “Happy Birthday”, B.A.P’s confidence on stage really brings their music to life. They utilize all sorts of fun things for the fans to enjoy like their trademark whistles, Zelo’s megaphone, and even some changes to their choreography - like the ending for “Warrior” and parts of “Crash”.
MEMBERS
BANG YONG GUK - Started off as an underground rapper using the name Jepp Blackman. He has a strong passion for music. He writes and composes songs. What I really appreciate about Yong Guk is how much he gave up. As an underground rapper, making the transition into an idol is difficult. Now having to dance, and be watched much more…having to take care of 5 other guys and teach..he makes a great leader and I think he has a lot to offer.
ZELO - From a very young age, Zelo showed amazing dance skills which many would be envious of. His rap style even at debut was surprising. He gained a lot of attention in “Warrior” for his speed rap and even satoori rap in “No Mercy”.
DAEHYUN - Even Daehyun is young, but his vocals are quite mature. He hits those high notes like no tomorrow. Very sweet voice and has a wide vocal range.
HIMCHAN - With a background in traditional Korean music, Himchan brings a unique flavour to the group. He’s a dorky ulzzang, but is a pretty good sub-vocal. I’m not sure if he has shown his full potential yet as he doesn’t have as much lines in songs, but he’s hardworking hard looks to improve.
YOUNGJAE - Like Daehyun, Young Jae’s voice is also very mature. He has that R&B style voice and really connects with the audience.
JONGUP - Absolutely amazing and powerful dancer. This kid could command the stage and you could see his love for dance. For a 17 year old, his body is NO JOKE. Those cheetos and chocolate abs…yum can’t help being a pedonoona…sorry
TA-DAH, IT’S B.A.P! YES SIR! & KILLING CAMP
I think a lot of people fell for B.A.P after this show. It was a chance to get to know the members and understand their concept of conquering earth. It was fun and entertaining to watch (which is hard to do as rookies). They were all blonde, but I think by the 2nd or 3rd episode I could tell them all apart. They have very different personalities ^^ It was funny to see them actually refer to their fans as mere “Earthlings” even in interviews. A concept I’ve never seen in k-pop before. From the beginning, the show was entertaining…the whole set-up of the show was brilliant and we fell in love with their characters. Commander Himchan, Brain Young Jae, Robot Zelo, Leader BYG, Goes-Along-With-Everything Jong Up, and Mysterious Daehyun. All from Planet Mato..here on Earth to capture the hearts of Earthlings and get an energy source..sounds absolutely insane but we fell for it didn’t we?
B.A.P’s Killing Camp was fun to watch as well. Only 3 episodes, but they still showed their playful sides and kept the show entertaining. They got 2 variety shows in 2012, and many other TV appearances such as Yong Guk on “Lulu Lala”, Himchan MCing on “The Show”, B.A.P on Beatles Code, Weekly Idol, etc. Plus radio shows & overseas showcases.
MUSIC
B.A.P’s music is new and fresh. For me, they have already differentiated themselves from other artists. They have a unique sound with distinct voices and it’s pretty easy to listen to a song and tell it’s by B.A.P. What I love about their music is that it is also presented so well. Not only are their MVs well directed,but another thing I really love about B.A.P’s songs are the lyrics. Often times, songs may sound good or catchy, but when we look at the lyrics, they may not be what we expected. Songs like “Goodbye” are very meaningful. It talks about overcoming depression and never giving up on one’s dreams.
“I am just breathing for my dreams
If I fall down, I’ll get back up –
if I enjoy my failures, that’s that”
Also, their music is very relatable. They sing about a range of topics like society, love & heartbreak and are diverse. Not all of their songs are powerful or slow ballads. Their style has the potential to reach many audiences as they have demonstrated that they could tackle any genre you throw at them. I believe that as B.A.P moves on, they will become more recognized and gain a lot of respect because they work extremely hard and create good music despite being so young.
I have so much more I can say about their music but this is getting long ><
MARKETING/TRADEMARK
TS Entertainment has done a remarkable job building B.A.P and giving them a trademark. The marketing is brilliant. B.A.P has their own mascot (Matoki) which has made appearances in their M/Vs, a comic book series featuring each members’ bunny, B.A.P whistles for the fans to cheer them on, etc. As a result, fans are already demanding their own Matoki plushies and more B.A.P merchandise! The concept for B.A.P gained a lot of attention because of them coming from another planet and such…a concept which many young kids would love. B.A.P attracts fans of all ages because of this.
INTERNATIONAL POTENTIAL
Now before everyone gets their tied when I say this, calm down. IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL POTENTIAL, I can see B.A.P becoming as popular as Big Bang in the future. Remember, calm down. I’m not saying B.A.P is in any way copying Big Bang nor did I say B.A.P is like Big Bang. I am saying that B.A.P can be as popular as them. Alright. B.A.P has a unique sound and has experimented with different music styles. Not only do they have their trademark powerful songs, but also ballads, soft rock, British rock, old school, and some traditional Korean incorporated into songs.
Their debut stood out. They have received a lot of love not only in Korea, but worldwide as well. If they pay attention to trends, learn different cultures/languages, I don’t see them having much problems overseas as K-pop is already growing so much.
SUCCESS SO FAR
Now, B.A.P’s success so far since debut is amazing. In just a short amount of time, they have:
Been awarded as the “Best Foreign Clip” by Russian TOP30
Gained over 8,000 fans in an online fanclub is Russia
Been ranked #10 for Most Popular video on Youtube’s Russian chart (POWER)
Topped Taiwan’s g-music K-pop chart for 5 consecutive weeks with “No Mercy” surpassing Gangnam Style, Tarantallegra, y, Free & Single, etc.
Topped German Asian music Chart (Warrior & Power had ranked in the top 4 before as well)
Become the only rookie to accomplish this since the chart started in 2009
Been interviewed by Allkpop & EatYourKimchi
Ranked #10 on Billboard World Albums Chart (Ranked for both Warrior & Power, remained for 2 weeks with Warrior)
Ranked #1 & #2 on iTunes Hip Hop Albums Chart in Canada & the U.S with “Power”
Sold over 10,000 copies of “Warrior” within 2 days
Sold out first 30,000 copies of “Power”
Ranked #1 on Malaysia’s “Nite Live” K-Pop Chart over Big Bang, INFINITE & Junsu
“18 songs, 6 concepts, 5 comebacks, 3 single albums, 3 showcases, 1 mini-album,
1 repackaged album. All in 9 months. This is B.A.P”
Here’s my lengthy summary of why I think they should win Rookie of the Year. ^^
DEBUT
From the very beginning, B.A.P’s debut with “Warrior” was an attention grabber. In the midst of other boy groups with the usual “flower boy”, “noona-lovin’” concepts, B.A.P came out with a powerful song criticizing society. They entered the k-pop scene hard and definitely stood out among the tons of rookie groups emerging in 2012. From the beginning, B.A.P didn’t seem like rookies at all.
PERFORMANCES
I think the majority of us can agree that B.A.P’s performances are mindblowing. The energy they exude on stage is admirable. They show so much charisma for a rookie group. Whether it was their hardcore songs like “Warrior” and “Power”, or their softer songs like “Unbreakable” and “Happy Birthday”, B.A.P’s confidence on stage really brings their music to life. They utilize all sorts of fun things for the fans to enjoy like their trademark whistles, Zelo’s megaphone, and even some changes to their choreography - like the ending for “Warrior” and parts of “Crash”.
MEMBERS
BANG YONG GUK - Started off as an underground rapper using the name Jepp Blackman. He has a strong passion for music. He writes and composes songs. What I really appreciate about Yong Guk is how much he gave up. As an underground rapper, making the transition into an idol is difficult. Now having to dance, and be watched much more…having to take care of 5 other guys and teach..he makes a great leader and I think he has a lot to offer.
ZELO - From a very young age, Zelo showed amazing dance skills which many would be envious of. His rap style even at debut was surprising. He gained a lot of attention in “Warrior” for his speed rap and even satoori rap in “No Mercy”.
DAEHYUN - Even Daehyun is young, but his vocals are quite mature. He hits those high notes like no tomorrow. Very sweet voice and has a wide vocal range.
HIMCHAN - With a background in traditional Korean music, Himchan brings a unique flavour to the group. He’s a dorky ulzzang, but is a pretty good sub-vocal. I’m not sure if he has shown his full potential yet as he doesn’t have as much lines in songs, but he’s hardworking hard looks to improve.
YOUNGJAE - Like Daehyun, Young Jae’s voice is also very mature. He has that R&B style voice and really connects with the audience.
JONGUP - Absolutely amazing and powerful dancer. This kid could command the stage and you could see his love for dance. For a 17 year old, his body is NO JOKE. Those cheetos and chocolate abs…yum can’t help being a pedonoona…sorry
TA-DAH, IT’S B.A.P! YES SIR! & KILLING CAMP
I think a lot of people fell for B.A.P after this show. It was a chance to get to know the members and understand their concept of conquering earth. It was fun and entertaining to watch (which is hard to do as rookies). They were all blonde, but I think by the 2nd or 3rd episode I could tell them all apart. They have very different personalities ^^ It was funny to see them actually refer to their fans as mere “Earthlings” even in interviews. A concept I’ve never seen in k-pop before. From the beginning, the show was entertaining…the whole set-up of the show was brilliant and we fell in love with their characters. Commander Himchan, Brain Young Jae, Robot Zelo, Leader BYG, Goes-Along-With-Everything Jong Up, and Mysterious Daehyun. All from Planet Mato..here on Earth to capture the hearts of Earthlings and get an energy source..sounds absolutely insane but we fell for it didn’t we?
B.A.P’s Killing Camp was fun to watch as well. Only 3 episodes, but they still showed their playful sides and kept the show entertaining. They got 2 variety shows in 2012, and many other TV appearances such as Yong Guk on “Lulu Lala”, Himchan MCing on “The Show”, B.A.P on Beatles Code, Weekly Idol, etc. Plus radio shows & overseas showcases.
MUSIC
B.A.P’s music is new and fresh. For me, they have already differentiated themselves from other artists. They have a unique sound with distinct voices and it’s pretty easy to listen to a song and tell it’s by B.A.P. What I love about their music is that it is also presented so well. Not only are their MVs well directed,but another thing I really love about B.A.P’s songs are the lyrics. Often times, songs may sound good or catchy, but when we look at the lyrics, they may not be what we expected. Songs like “Goodbye” are very meaningful. It talks about overcoming depression and never giving up on one’s dreams.
“I am just breathing for my dreams
If I fall down, I’ll get back up –
if I enjoy my failures, that’s that”
Also, their music is very relatable. They sing about a range of topics like society, love & heartbreak and are diverse. Not all of their songs are powerful or slow ballads. Their style has the potential to reach many audiences as they have demonstrated that they could tackle any genre you throw at them. I believe that as B.A.P moves on, they will become more recognized and gain a lot of respect because they work extremely hard and create good music despite being so young.
I have so much more I can say about their music but this is getting long ><
MARKETING/TRADEMARK
TS Entertainment has done a remarkable job building B.A.P and giving them a trademark. The marketing is brilliant. B.A.P has their own mascot (Matoki) which has made appearances in their M/Vs, a comic book series featuring each members’ bunny, B.A.P whistles for the fans to cheer them on, etc. As a result, fans are already demanding their own Matoki plushies and more B.A.P merchandise! The concept for B.A.P gained a lot of attention because of them coming from another planet and such…a concept which many young kids would love. B.A.P attracts fans of all ages because of this.
INTERNATIONAL POTENTIAL
Now before everyone gets their tied when I say this, calm down. IN TERMS OF INTERNATIONAL POTENTIAL, I can see B.A.P becoming as popular as Big Bang in the future. Remember, calm down. I’m not saying B.A.P is in any way copying Big Bang nor did I say B.A.P is like Big Bang. I am saying that B.A.P can be as popular as them. Alright. B.A.P has a unique sound and has experimented with different music styles. Not only do they have their trademark powerful songs, but also ballads, soft rock, British rock, old school, and some traditional Korean incorporated into songs.
Their debut stood out. They have received a lot of love not only in Korea, but worldwide as well. If they pay attention to trends, learn different cultures/languages, I don’t see them having much problems overseas as K-pop is already growing so much.
SUCCESS SO FAR
Now, B.A.P’s success so far since debut is amazing. In just a short amount of time, they have:
Been awarded as the “Best Foreign Clip” by Russian TOP30
Gained over 8,000 fans in an online fanclub is Russia
Been ranked #10 for Most Popular video on Youtube’s Russian chart (POWER)
Topped Taiwan’s g-music K-pop chart for 5 consecutive weeks with “No Mercy” surpassing Gangnam Style, Tarantallegra, y, Free & Single, etc.
Topped German Asian music Chart (Warrior & Power had ranked in the top 4 before as well)
Become the only rookie to accomplish this since the chart started in 2009
Been interviewed by Allkpop & EatYourKimchi
Ranked #10 on Billboard World Albums Chart (Ranked for both Warrior & Power, remained for 2 weeks with Warrior)
Ranked #1 & #2 on iTunes Hip Hop Albums Chart in Canada & the U.S with “Power”
Sold over 10,000 copies of “Warrior” within 2 days
Sold out first 30,000 copies of “Power”
Ranked #1 on Malaysia’s “Nite Live” K-Pop Chart over Big Bang, INFINITE & Junsu
#Copied from NickyB on a B.A.P facebook fanbase
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