Kendrick Lamar & The Weeknd Sued Over “Black Panther” Song

Uh oh, Kendrick Lamar and the Weeknd have been slapped with a lawsuit after being accused of plagiarism over their “Black Panther” soundtrack single, “Pray For Me”.

Rock band Yeasayer claims that the song infringes on their “All Hour Cymbals” song, “Sunrise”.

The legal documents viewed by TMZ and Pitchfork details that the Brooklyn-based band has accused the duo of lifting material from their 2007 song. Apparently “Pray For Me” features a “distinctive choral performance” of their “Sunrise” track. Yeasayer described the similarities around “male voices singing in their highest registers, with animated, pulsing vibrato”.

The band also asserted that Kendrick Lamar and the Weeknd only modified the sound slightly with an “intent to conceal the infringement”. They are now seeking profits from “Pray For Me” and damages.

Compare the 2 tracks below to determine if their claim is valid:

Here’s the ironic part: Yeasayer broke up at the end of last year.


Immediate Action Taken After Puchong Flood

Last week, two southbound sections of the LDP (Damansara-Puchong Highway) were flooded for about 30 minutes, with water reaching to almost 0.8 metres due to heavy rains and backflow from the Klang River. It caused a massive congestion in the late evening at a time when the traffic was as its heaviest. Some cars even stalled in the middle of the road.

The basement flows of IOI Mall were flooded as well as the interior of the mall. 140 cars parked at the mall’s open carpark space were affected and about 15 cars needed to be towed away.  Several businesses at the entrance had to close down remporarily while cleaning operations were affected.

Since then, a lot of blame has been thrown around, including the blaming of the Selangor state government, Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (Prasarana) aka people in charge of the Light Rail Transits (LRT) Line Extension Project (LEP, and the highway concessionaire, Lingkaran Trans Kota Holding Berhad (Litrak).

Litrak’s Chief of Operations Richard Lim Kim Ong said only 45m of the two kilometre of the underground channel was managed by Litrak. Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (Prasarana) too said that the flash flood that hit several parts of Puchong should not be attributed solely to the on-going LRT project in the area.

However, immediate action is being taken to unblock and widen the existing drainage along Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP), which are believed to be the major cause of Monday’s flash floods in the area. According to Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) will be engaging Prasarana to clear the debris and blockage as they are responsible for the works because the existing drainage is located at the Prasarana LRT construction site beside IOI Mall.

Litrak, on the other hand, will not be compensating vehicle owners whose machines were damaged in the flood. Vehicle owners are advised to claim from their insurance.

Sources: Selangor Times,  The Star, AsiaOne, ABN News.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Ella Chen Rumoured To Leave Music Label. What Will Happen To S.H.E?

Word on the street has it that Ella Chen (陳嘉樺) will be partying ways with her Taiwanese management company, HIM International Music.

Naturally, longtime fans are worried about the future of her girl group S.H.E. Will Ella still continue to make music with her bandmates of 17 years – Selina Jen (任家萱) and Hebe Tien (田馥甄)?

Her Malaysian husband, Alvin Lai, released a statement saying, “When the time is right, Ella will explain.” However, to fans who have been following the Taiwanese girl group for more than a decade, Alvin assures that they have nothing to worry about. “Not even a typhoon could tear them apart,” he clarified.

The Chinese beauty, who celebrated her 37th birthday with Selena and Hebe on 18th June, has been busy taking on the role as vocal instructor in variety show “Produce 101” (創造101). Besides her time on screen, Ella has also been occupied with mummy duties. Both she and Alvin welcome their first child – a baby boy – in April last year.


Hype Picks: Best Things To Do In The Klang Valley This Week (31st October – 6th November)

Spooky season is finally over and you know what that means? Mariah Carey is defrosting as we speak (if you know, you know)! As much as we love hearing ghost stories and going to Halloween-themed events, we’re also very much looking forward to the holiday season.

Don’t worry, we still have time before we go and do our Christmas shopping. Still, it’s never too early to start. If you’re looking for presents and party theme ideas for the Merry holiday, how about checking these places out? From Fashion and Beauty to Thrift Shopping events to karaoke in the ocean to live musical performances of your favourite fantasy animes. Here are our Picks for this week:

A post shared by ᴋɪᴍ ʀᴀʏᴍᴏɴᴅ (@kimchiraymond)

A post shared by TianChad #田七摄影 | Portrait Photographer KL🇲🇾📸 (@tianchad)

Location: Lorong Panggung, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

If you missed the 19Crimes Halloween Street Party at Kwai Chai Hong then have no fear dear friends! The venue has a lot of new and exciting art installations and events in the future, especially during a holiday celebration! Even if there are no new events, the location is the perfect spot for you to take your Instagram photos and TikTok videos! Not only that, you get to enjoy some delicious food there as well! Click here for more info.

A post shared by STUDIO LOKASI (@studiolokasi)

Location: STUDIO LOKASI, Kota Damansara Petaling Jaya.

Okay, be honest: how many of you had never been to a Pyjama slumber party? Neither have we. But that could all change as Studio Lokasi is hosting a Pyjamas Music Party! So get in your jammies or your onesies and enjoy the evening with your friends and live music by Amir Alif, Mascot, and special guests Khodi and Meer Nash. Get your tickets now!

A post shared by Kuala Lumpur International Beauty Week (@klbeautyweek)

You can’t go out and party if you don’t look your best. However, if you have no clue about how to style yourself then how about attending the KL Beauty Week at Mid Valley Megamall. View 50 Beauty Exhibition booths from local and international beauty brands, join workshops, meet beauty influencers and content creators and stand a chance to win some awesome prizes!

Who doesn’t love thrift shopping? Be sure to catch PJ Collectors Market back at The School, Jaya One! With at least 80 vendors, the event will feature thousands of products ranging from toys, to vintage men’s and women’s clothing to classic, vintage collectibles, and home goods to add to your collection. Here’s where you can find out more.

A post shared by MinNature Malaysia (@minnaturemalaysia)

Malaysia’s largest indoor miniature exhibition is now located in Sungei Wang Plaza! Ever wondered what it’s like to view the world through the eyes of giants? Well, now you can! With this exhibit, you’ll be able to see the whole of Malaysia in just less than a day! Immerse yourself in the culture and history of our country through this very small and extremely detailed display. You know what they say? Big things come in small packages.

A post shared by Aileen Koh (@aileennn729)

Location: Jaya Square, Jalan SS 17/2, Ss 17, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor

Talk about being part of this world (did you get our reference? Please do)! If you ever wanted to know what it’s like to go karaoke underwater, now’s your chance! Don’t worry, you don’t have to actually go into the ocean and sing. Just head on over to Subang Superstar Family KTV to fully enjoy this ocean-themed karaoke place and perform like there’s no tomorrow! Better warm up your vocal cords now!

Time: 8:30pm (Friday, Saturday), 3pm (Sunday)

If the mere mention of Joe Hisaishi, Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli makes your eyes go wide and your heart race, then this is for you. “A Fantasy World: Anime x Classical”, performed by the 50-strong klpac String Orchestra, presents familiar tunes from well-known animated films! Book your tickets now!

A night dedicated to big tribal afro beats laced with the freshest house and electronic grooves with tons of attitude. Percussions play a strong role in this catchy genre that will definitely have you grooving. Make sure to RSVP to enjoy the party!

Location: Level 2, Kloe Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

KLové Market will take up the hotel’s second-ﬂoor and turn its rooms into pop-up boutiques for a unique shopping experience. Specially curated by Traders Market, this time around there will be 18 local merchants joining this market to showcase their fashion, beauty, accessories, lifestyle, and home decor brands.

Location: Damansara Uptown Exhibition Hall

Attention new parents or parents-to-be! If you haven’t done any shopping for when your little bundle of joy finally arrives, then here’s the place for you! Be sure to check out all exclusive promos, discounts, and most importantly, FREEBIES! Nothing but the best for your baby! More info here.

It’s always nice to be able to get a drink when you want it. Unfortunately, we don’t always have that luxury, either because of time or convenience. Well, if that’s your problem, why not check out the new CHAGEE Express at The Sphere, Bangsar South? You’ll be able to get your favourite drinks at a faster pace thanks to their new tech, without compromising on quality and standards.

However, do note that currently, CHAGEE Express stores will only be offering three main drink categories, fresh milk tea, premium pure tea, and the cold brew series. There will also be more outlets opening later this year in places such as Intermark Mall, Kuala Lumpur, The Curve, Petaling Jaya, Main Place Mall, Subang Jaya, MyTOWN, Kuala Lumpur, and Paradigm Mall, Petaling Jaya. With this, you’ll surely be able to enjoy your “Premium Tea On The Go”!

2. Jotun Malaysia’s New Colours Collection

Jotun recently launched their latest Global Colour Trends for 2023 anchored by an overarching theme of Stories. The newest tones and themes have been purposefully designed to inspire a creative ambiance within the living space, and provide users with the opportunity to define themselves through the new colour trends. For more info on the new collection, click here.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Netflix’s Cuties: Has Netflix Gone Too Far By Promoting Paedophilia?

Recently, Netflix has come under fire with its release of a French foreign film, “Cuties”.  Twitter is in an uproar with people calling for Netflix’s cancellation, claiming that the film promotes paedophilia and sexualises young children.

The controversy has even drawn the attention of the US Justice Department. That being said, some have come to the defence of “Cuties”. Its most high-profile defender being “Thor: Ragnarok” actress Tessa Thompson. Arguing that the film isn’t promoting the sexualisation of children, rather it is critiquing it. Needless to say, there are some strong opinions on both sides of the aisle.

We took the time to watch “Cuties” to better understand the controversy behind the film and let’s just say, it’s a lot more complicated than a simple black-or-white answer. It’s time to ask the hard question: Does Maïmouna Doucouré’s “Cuties” encourage the sexualisation of young children? Before moving forward, do note that there will be spoilers ahead.

Before coming to a consensus, we think it’s important that we give a listening ear to the film’s director and creator, Maïmouna Doucouré. Contrary to online opinions, the upcoming director was in fact trying to warn the world about the dangers and ills of sexualising children. In an interview with “TIME”, she even goes on to state that the film’s purpose is to “show that our children should have the time to be children, and we as adults should protect their innocence and keep them innocent as long as possible“. Right, so it’s clear that the authorial intent of the film is clearly against the hyper sexualisation of children. Let’s examine the film’s plot to gain deeper insight.

The film follows the story of Amy, an 11-year-old Senegalese immigrant living in a poor neighbourhood in France. She finds her restrictive home life and the conservative Islamic values imposed on her suffocating. The situation is further exacerbated when she finds out that her father has essentially abandoned her mother for a second wife. She is now thoroughly disillusioned with the gender role placed on her by her Senegalese roots.

Later on in the film, she meets Angelica. A rebellious little girl looking for attention and online fame through twerking. The two form a friendship and Amy soon joins Angelica’s dance group called the Cuties. Together, Amy and her new friends get up to all sorts of crazy antics and mischief. Through Amy’s help, the team makes it into the finals for a dancing competition. Along the way, Amy begins to use her sexuality in destructive ways. When her adult cousin catches her stealing his phone, she attempts to seduce him by pulling down her pants.

On the day of the competition, Amy finally realises the pressure to maintain her hyper sexualised image is as oppressive as the religious dogma placed on her. By the end of the film, she rejects the false binary placed before her. She doesn’t have to conform the mould of a submissive wife-to-be or to internet trends to fit in. The final scene has her going outside to play jump rope with some other kids. At last, she embraces her innocence as a child. She has found herself.

In terms of plot and message, “Cuties” obviously isn’t trying to push for some ridiculous liberal agenda on how children need sexual liberation. In fact, the film goes to great lengths to show how this culture wears heavy on the psyche of young kids. How it degrades them and opens them up to exploitation and abuse. It’s a powerful sentiment that many of the film’s moral critics would agree with.

Which begs another question: How could this miscommunication between the film’s intent and most of the viewers’ reading of the “Cuties” have happened? It’s an anti-child sexualisation film being accused of paedophilia! We believe the answer lies in the film’s visuals.

One thing to note is that the film does not shy away from its vivid portrayal of the sexualisation of kids. It’s a given seeing that the film is touching on the subject. To be fair, it can be a hard issue to broach and the film was simply trying to depict the phenomenon to the best of its abilities.

It’s supposed to make you feel uncomfortable. It’s supposed to unsettle us and wake us up to the inappropriate exposure of children to sexual themes. All that would have been fine except for one thing…the film itself at times indulges in this exploitation.

If the provocative dance moves and scantily clad dressed 11-year-olds were used only with the purpose of furthering the plot, it probably wouldn’t have been such a big issue. The problem is, there are whole scenes deliberately sexualising these girls. Not in a critical or serious fashion, mind you. Rather, in a way that almost romanticises it.

There’s even a 2-minute long dance sequence that appears out of nowhere. It gets even more disturbing when the camera begins to trace and follow the girls’ bodies as they randomly dance to a pop song playing in the background.

This bubbly fun scene, with the camera zooming in on the girls’ breasts, torso and butts, is in direct opposition to the film’s message. Furthermore, it serves no purpose whatsoever. It comes off as completely tone-deaf. Perhaps, Doucouré intended the scene to be absurd. Juxtaposing the gravity of the situation with the levity in which society views these issues. In any case, we can definitely see why some people take umbrage with “Cuties”.

Long story short, we don’t think Maïmouna Doucouré’s “Cuties” promotes paedophilia or the sexualisation of children. Honestly, we support the filmmaker’s overall message of children simply being children. However, we can’t help but feel that a few of the film’s creative decisions does clash with its themes at times. It certainly didn’t help that Netflix’s original marketing material completely misrepresented the film’s premise. This is in stark contrast to the film’s original poster. Which is far more tasteful in its depiction. In our humble opinion, “Cuties” is a flawed film with a positive message. One that could have better connoted with greater restraint.

So what do you think? Do you think the controversy behind “Cuties is warranted? Or are people simply being moral alarmists? In any case, be sure to let us know in the comments down below!

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Misery Misery! Lord Of The Rings: Gollum – The New Worst & Greediest Game Of 2023

There’s always a second side to everything; if there’s good, the bad exists alongside it. This adage is largely accepted and can be applied to almost anything, even video games. Once a year, there is at least one game that lets everyone down and has zero redeeming qualities. And sometimes, if these games are bad enough, they can leave a permanent stain on a company’s reputation. Thus, it is with great displeasure that we announce the worst game of 2023 (so far).

Labelled by gamers and critics alike as the worst game of 2023, Daedalic Entertainment dragged J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece through the mud with their reimagining of the game, “Lord of the Rings: Gollum.” Fans of the book, gamers, critics, and those in between are up in arms over this underwhelming game, and here’s what they have to say about it.

Shadow of Mordor (2014) VS Gollum (2023)Devs has no standards or shame anymore pic.twitter.com/lvKnFaA2A3

When you look back on the movies or imagine him based on the book, Gollum isn’t really easy on the eyes, but the first thing gamers have commented on are the abysmal graphics and how horrendous the lowly hobbit looks. Daedalic Entertainment wasn’t the first to reimagine a pitiable creature; gamers then pointed out how another LOTR game from 2014, Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, managed to give the creature some justice.

However, for something worth RM130, you should at least expect a gripping narrative that would deepen the lore of Middle-Earth in ways we have never seen before, right? Wrong! You spend, at least, the first three hours of the game running around in a massive cave system that you cannot explore at your leisure. The gameplay is as uninspired as its graphics, involving only sneaking under tables and around light sources and then killing orcs here and there. That’s it, and that’s all.

First time we’ve ever really done this, but the version of Lord of the Rings: Gollum we were given to review on PS5 was so non-functional ahead of it’s day one patch that we could not dignify it with a scored review in good faith. https://t.co/ONIEPSi20M

— Giovanni Colantonio (@MarioPrime) May 25, 2023

Gamers aren’t having fun with how the game looks and plays, but at least critics are having a blast reviewing it and getting creative with their titles. However, due to its poor state and insurmountable number of bugs and glitches, Giovanni Colantonio, the Gaming Section Lead for Digital Trends, went on Twitter and stated that they were not able to play the game, let alone review it. Furthermore, he went into a long thread explaining the nitty gritty of what led to that decision.

Not that it matters, as other critics have taken the liberty of giving it a score that the community at large can agree upon (the image below is a compiled list of popular game reviewers and their scores for LOTR: Gollum).

6.5 – TechRaptor6 – Shacknews5 – Spaziogames5 – CGMagazine4 – Gameblog2/5 – Hardcore Gamer2/5 – GamesRadar+1.5/5 – Twinfinite1/5 – Guardian3 – Press Start 3 – Inverse2 – Push Square2 – Gamespot

The game in its current state and whatever else is offered are not worth the RM130 price tag. If you think that is horrendous, then you haven’t seen the Precious Edition of the game. Any story-rich game worth its salt will often have an accompanying compendium that compiles and explains the history of the world. Though the story of LOTR is already well known, Daedalic Entertainment had the gall to lock the lore compendium behind a RM13 paywall. If you’re still itching for more content from this dry-as-bones game, you can pay an additional RM30 for the aforementioned Precious Edition, earning it the title of “greedy game” to go along with “worst game”.

Of course, this outcry has not gone unnoticed, forcing Daedalic Entertainment to release a statement that, much like their game, has received a lot of negative reception. Simply put, gamers aren’t satisfied with just a simple apology anymore, especially if developers keep making the same mistake over and over again.

A few words from the " The Lord of the Rings: Gollum™ " team pic.twitter.com/adPamy5EjO

— The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (@GollumGame) May 26, 2023

According to a leaked grant filing, Daedalic Entertainment is working on another LOTR game. People are begging that, after the reception of the first game, the sequel will never see the light of day. Others have called upon the Tolkien Estate, owners of the copyright to all things Tolkien, from the books to the author’s image, to have Daedalic Entertainment return the licence they have given to these developers.

Regardless, until any official confirmation has been made, those who were enamoured by the story of Middle-Earth from the books, to the film, and to the game (mostly gamers) must live in fear for Lord of the Rings: Gollum and its future sequel.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


M’sian Illustrator Lyn-Hui Ong Featured In Apple’s “Create It Your Way” Series

Every country has its talents, both big and small, and that includes Malaysia. We have our legendary sports figures, and geniuses who get into Harvard. But, it’s time we turned our eyes to the art side of things.

Malaysia has its fair share of artistic talent, with plenty of creators and craftsmen. That includes children illustrator Lyn-Hui Ong! If you haven’t heard of her, get ready to as Lyn-Hui has been chosen to be featured during Apple’s upcoming App Store series, “Create It Your Way”.

The Penang-born artist has been honing her craft for many years. She once joked that she started drawing before learning how to speak! Her Instagram is colourfully filled with fan art, short comics and adorably drawn cats. Lyn-Hui also has the blessed opportunity of combining her job with her passion into ForReal Studio. This indie illustration and graphic design company was founded with Jin Xin, her business and creative partner.

If you’re a big fan of Netflix’s “Stranger Things”, you may have even seen her work. Lyn-Hui dedicated a large portion of her fan art to her favourite TV show, and it paid off. In February 2019, Netflix noticed her fan art and asked her to work with them on a project called #StrangerRewind. The project involved 18 artists worldwide making a poster of a “Stranger Things” episode. Lyn-Hui was ecstatic and declared it “a dream come true”.

Most of Lyn-Hui’s art are digital, which is no easy feat, although she makes it look easy… While it’s talent, it’s also partially the tools she uses. Lyn-Hui usually keeps to an iPad and uses the app Procreate to help make her gorgeous illustrations. She will be giving her top tips during the series, but first, we should probably check out the app itself.

To begin with, Procreate isn’t just for illustrations. You can also use it to sketch, paint or animate. It has hundreds of handmade brushes and artistic tools for you to play around with. There’s also an advanced layer system which is extremely helpful when you do digital drawings.

Additionally, Procreate has an intuitive interface for iPad and Apple Pencil, so no more frustration while drawing! That also means smudging will be smooth and simple on Procreate. Your drawings will also be featured on Ultra High Definition canvases if you’re using an iPad Pro. Hooking up a keyboard will allow you to use shortcuts for advanced features. Best of all, don’t be afraid to make mistakes! Procreate ensures you have 250 levels of undo and redo and it will continuously auto-save your work for you.

The app store series will run from 15th October to 28th October. Be sure to check it out! We should support our local artists when we can. Also, she’ll be offering tips for the app, to help you improve quickly. With Lyn-hui and  Procreate’s help, who knows? Drawing digitally might just get a little easier for you.

Check out one of Lyn-Hui’s works with Procreate:


#Marvel: Rumoured #Blade Reboot May Centre On Blade’s Daughter

Is “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” coming to the big screen soon? Nope, not at all.

But we might be getting something slightly similar to the famed TV series as it was rumoured that Marvel is planning to develop a “Blade” reboot, centering on Blade’s daughter Fallon Grey.

Rumours and speculations regarding the rumoured reboot have been running wild ever since Marvel got back the rights to “Blade” in 2013. In fact, it was rumoured that a TV series based on “Blade” will be developed too. Wesley Snipes, who starred as Eric Brooks/Blade in the film adaptation of the comic book series, also hinted in an interview with IGN that “Blade 4” might be happening.

Now, new rumour has emerged online, suggesting the “Blade” reboot may no longer centre around Eric Brooks as it will instead focus on his daughter, Fallon Grey.

“Blade” comic writer Tim Seely described Fallon as follows:

She’s a sort of ‘anti-Peter Parker.’ She’s popular, she’s well-liked and it seems like the world is her oyster. But, the expectations that come with being so damn perfect are starting to break her down, and that’s before she learns she’s the heir to a Daywalking-Monster-Stabbing-Empire.

It was first announced in July that Marvel Comics will launch a new comic book series about Fallon Grey. However, according to Bleeding Cool, the series was recently delayed from its planned October release date.

It was later revealed that Marvel studio executives are “being extra-careful with the character” in an effort to make a new movie about her.

It is unclear whether Snipes will return as Blade in the film, but his character is a prominent role in the comic book series about Fallon Grey.

But for now, it’s just a pure speculation. “Blade #1” starring Fallon Grey will have to do well in order for Marvel to develop the film. Fallon could also be the franchise’s first non-white female lead.

So, would you like to see a 4th “Blade” film? Who do you think should play Fallon Grey?

Let us know in the comments section below.

Source: Bleeding Cool / Featured image: comicbook.com.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Lex Luthor & Iris West Have Been Cut From #JusticeLeague

Uh oh, bad news for all you DC fans out there.

Word on street has it that popular DC characters, Lex Luthor and Iris West, have been axed from the cut of the highly-anticipated “Justice League“. This news comes courtesy of Batman News, after the movie was recently shown to a selected few at advanced screenings.

Last month, Kiersey Clemons expressed her excitement at the prospect of making her DC debut as Iris West. The 23-year old actress even mentioned that her scenes were “f**cking sick”. Unfortunately, moviegoers won’t be able to see her on the big screen.

Although Jessie Eisenberg was included in last year’s “Justice League” press release, his scenes have also been cut out of the test screenings. As you may know, Lex Luthor was thrown into Arkham Asylum after the events of “Batman v Superman“. The Dark Knight even branded him with a bat sign while he was in jail.

There have been massive reshoots ever since Joss Whedon took over as director from Zack Snyder due to a family tragedy. While it’s a good thing that the new filmmaker has decided to cut out parts that don’t contribute to the overall story, we’re still hoping scenes of Lex Luthor and Iris West will appear in the Blu-ray release.

“Justice League” opens in theatres 16th November.


#Valentines2015: Unconventional Romantic Movies To Watch On Date Night

Believe it or not, it’s that time of the year again. No, not Lunar New Year, but Valentine’s Day. For all the singletons or couples who prefer to stay home for a date night, Valentine’s Day would probably be the best time for you to check out some classic romantic movies. But if you’re just like us, you’d skip these cheesy romantic movies and look for unconventional romantic comedies, twisted romantic movies, or even some silly chick flicks instead.

Now, we don’t know about you but we noticed that the romantic genre has been taking over pop culture for quite a while now. I mean, just look at the TV series and the movies we’ve been watching these days. From sci-fi films to action movies to animated featured films, the romantic plot becomes an inevitable part of every movie we’ve seen. Not that we are complaining, but these scenes are typically based on the cliché formula: boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy finds girl again, and they live happily ever after. Sounds boring, doesn’t it?

So, if you are bored of those typical romantic films, may we suggest you to watch these instead? ;)

“Love Me If You Dare” is a film I stumbled upon a couple of years ago and it is by far one of the best romantic movies I’ve ever watched. No, I neither speak French nor do I understand it. But just like every other foreign film I’ve watched, the language barrier doesn’t stop me. The film started out as a fun film, where the childhood friends Sophie (played by Marion Cotillard) and Julie (played by Guillaume Canet) play an outrageous game of truth or dare. As they grow older, the two fall in love with each other but are unable to leave their old habits behind for their love and happiness.

While the film has a romantic ending, it ended in a fairly twisted way. In fact, there are 2 alternate endings, which are shown consecutively. The opening scene seems to indicate that there’s only one ending for the movie and it’s bittersweet ending. In real life, the 2 actors began their own relationship on the set of the film and Cotillard gave birth to their son, Marcel, on 20th May 2011.

“Edward Scissorhands” is a classic romantic dark fantasy movie that we would watch every Christmas and still get goosebumps from it. Legendary filmmaker Tim Burton brought his favourite actor, Johnny Depp on board of this movie for the role as Edward, an artificial man with an unfinished creation of scissorhands. After being stumbled upon by a suburban family, he is taken back to a small town so that he can stay with them. The family has a teenage daughter named Kim (played by Winona Ryder), who was shocked by his appearance at first but later treated him nicely for his kind heart.

The 2 developed feelings for each other but by the end of the movie, they were separated because the town accused him for all the troubles that he had caused. Burton revealed that the movie was inspired by his childhood upbringing in suburban Burbank, California. The leading role of Edward has been connected to a number of Hollywood’s A-listers including Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Robert Downey, Jr., and William Hurt. It is also the 4th feature collaboration between Burton and film score composer Danny Elfman. “Edward Scissorhands” was a financial success and received numerous prestigious award nominations including the Academy Awards, British Academy Film Awards, and the Saturn Awards. The movie also won the Hugo Award for “Best Dramatic Presentation”.

If your date is up for some weird movies, but is not ready for gory stuff yet, we’d recommend you to watch this zom-com-rom-drama called “Life After Beth”. Starring Dane Dehaan and Aubrey Plaza, “Life After Beth” is about Zach, a boy who becomes devastated and depressed after his girlfriend, Beth dies unexpectedly. But life decides to give him a second chance as he discovers that Beth is still “sort of” alive. Perhaps the dead should remain dead because Zach soon realises that Beth is not the same girl he used to know. Thus, this causes him to make a decision before Beth and the rest of the zombies become more violent than ever.

While it shares a similar theme as “Warm Bodies”, the movie steers clear of the cliches that appears in the typical zombie films with some of the wittiest and the funniest dialogues we’ve ever seen. It is unclear why the deads were resurrected but it allows us to learn the different reactions people had towards the zombies.

“Her” is a heart-wrenching rom-com that illustrates society’s dependence on advanced technology. Joaquin Phoenix, the former runner-up for Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” plays a man named Theodore Twombly (we know, it’s a weird name) who develops an unlikely relationship with Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson), an intelligent computer operating system personified through a female voice. Directed by Spike Jonze, the movie was inspired by the idea Jonze conceived after reading an article about Cleverbot, a web application that uses an artificial intelligence algorithm to have conversations with humans.

The movie also stars Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, and Olivia Wilde. Due to the innovative twist, it became a critically-acclaimed film that received multiple awards and nominations including the 86th Academy Awards, the 71st Golden Globe Awards, the 66th Writers Guild of America Awards, the 19th Critics’ Choice Awards, and the 40th Saturn Awards.

Edgar Wright is a great director that brought us some of the best visual comedies in the film history including “Hot Fuzz”, “Shaun of the Dead”, and “The World”. But among all of the visual comedies he made, “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” brings a fresh twist to the typical novel-turned-films. Based on Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel series “Scott Pilgrim”, the movie is a 2010 comedy film co-written, produced, and directed by Edgar Wright.

Michael Cera stars as musician Scott Pilgrim, who must falls in love with a girl of his dream (literally), Ramona Flowers (played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead). However, he must first defeat her 7 evil exes, who are actively trying to kill him whenever he goes near Ramona (surprisingly, Chris Evans plays one of the exes). We like how Wright directed the battle in a video-game style as it fully illustrates the battle as seen in the graphic novel. It may seems like the director didn’t take the film seriously but the director just used a different approach to bring us this ridiculously epic movie.

No one does romantic comedies better than these comedians who got together to star in this movie called “They Came Together,” a parody of the romantic comedy genre. Paul Rudd, who is set to portray the tiny-sized superhero in Marvel‘s upcoming “Ant-Man“, plays Joel, a corporate businessman whose company is threatening to close the small store run by Molly (played by Amy Poehler). Don’t you think that the storyline sounds familiar? Exactly. It sounds like “You’ve Got Mail”, the 1998 rom-com that stars Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

Directed by David Wain based on a screenplay by Wain and Michael Showalter, the movie infuses Showalter and Wain’s absurd approach to the rom-com genre. They mock the typical rom-com formula by exaggerating the problems in their relationship and basically making fun of the couple. SNL alum Bill Hader and Ellie Kemper as well as Max Greenfield from the comedy series, “New Girl” are also stars in the movie, further providing some of the funniest parodies we’ve ever seen.

7. “Let Me In” (US)/”Let The Right One In” (Swedish)

Let’s be real: What’s up with humans falling in love with vampires or werewolves in movies and TV series? Are we running of actual humans to love? Come to think of it, isn’t that a twisted love story? There’s no denying that these films often feature attractive model-like actors to portray the mystical creatures (though a vampire can actually look like this) but only some vampire-centric films managed to pull off the greatest love story of all time (read: “Only Lovers Left Alive”). But if you think these vampire-centric romantic movies are twisted, wait until you watch “Let Me In”.

This romantic movie stepped a little too deep into the darkness with its horrific vampire story. There’s a US remake of this Swedish film but personally, I love both movies as it tells the story of a bullied 12-year-old boy who develops a friendship (and feelings) for a young girl, who turns out to be a vampire in the 1980s. Both horror and romantic elements are distributed equally in the movie, which is why I think it’s very well-executed. Even though we could predict that their relationship is not going to end up well, a small part of us hoped that this heart-breaking relationship was possible. Better prepare your tissues because this movie has a satisfying yet very, very sad ending.

“Lars and the Real Girl” is straight-up creepy and it’s not because it’s a horror film. It’s because in this movie, Ryan Gosling the oh-so-charming actor couldn’t find a girlfriend and so he bought a life-size sex doll to become his girlfriend. Now, here’s what’s wrong: Gosling couldn’t find a girlfriend. We call this bulls**t. But of course, this is just a character he plays in Craig Gillespie’s comedy-drama film.

This film is one of the weirdest movies I’ve ever watched but it is a very well-executed film. The fact that the entire town goes to great lengths to protect this precious “relationship” just stunned me. Thus, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the script has received an Oscar nomination. While it’s slightly disturbing, the movie is a comedy with a dark approach to a sweet relationship.

So, what are you planning to watch this Valentine’s Day? Think we missed out a few great films in this list? Share your list with us in the comments box below ;)

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


CONTEST: Win Official “The Avengers” Merchandise & OST!

Awesome news after awesome news. Universal Music Malaysia have announced that they have goodies up for grabs. Now, we know you’ve seen the pictures, you’ve watched the trailer (several times infact, maybe?), and you’ve probably set the countdown clock.

How do you guys feel about winning some “The Avengers” stuff?

Following the release of Soundgarden‘s first song in 15 years, “Live to Rise”, which will be featured in the end credits to one of this year’s most highly anticipated movies, “The Avengers”, Universal Music Malaysia is giving you (yes, YOU) the opportunity to get more than you’ve ever asked for – in a good way. The Avengers Assemble Original Soundtrack will be released on the 7th of May, 2012.

And these are the official “The Avengers” merchandise that are up for grabs:

We’re not going to deny that we’re not secretly eyeing the iPhone cover for ourselves. Aherm.

Anyway! So here’s the thing – all you have to do is answer the following questions:

Then e-mail your answers/entry along with your personal details (Full Name, I.C No, Address, Phone Number) to universalmusicmy@gmail.com before 11:30pm on the 30th of April 2012.

Pretty easy, no? Go get yourself some of that official “The Avengers” stuff and stuff!

For more information, visit the Facebook event/contest page.


Huh? Ford Binds & Gags The Kardashians For An Ad

Uh oh. Ford Motor Co. has landed themselves in the worst possible situation.

After series of ads were released to Ads of the World by its global ad agency WPP, critics have jumped in to declare the campaign offensive and misogynistic. In one of the three images, a cartoon depicting Paris Hilton winks from behind the wheel of a Ford Figo with three Kardashian sisters tied up in the cargo compartment of the hatchback. The tagline of the ad reads. “Leave your worries behind with Figo’s extra-large boot”:

Note: Paris Hilton and the Kardashians are famous archenemies.

The Paris Kardashian-themed poster also appeared alongside one that featured F1 driving champ Michael Schumacher behind the wheel. In that version, his long-time racing rivals, Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, and Fernando Alonso, are tied up:

Sure, the ads were never used in paid media, but that hasn’t stopped Ford Motor Co. from taking the heat. They have since been forced to apologize for the ads that were created by JWT India:

We deeply regret the publishing of posters that were distasteful and contrary to the standards of professionalism and decency within WPP Group. These were never intended for paid publication and should never have been created, let alone uploaded to the internet.

We deeply regret this incident and agree with our agency partners that it should have never happened. The posters are contrary to the standards of professionalism and decency within Ford and our agency partners.

Hmm. What do you guys think? Lightly humorous or straight up offensive as heck?

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


#KPop: 4Minute To Work With Skrillex For Early 2016 Comeback

Well, this is definitely one collaboration that we did not see coming.

According to a report by Soompi, citing Korean media outlet Star News, K-Pop idol girl group 4Minute and American electronic music star Skrillex (real name: Sonny Moore) will be working on a musical collaboration.

The report stated that the girl group is currently gearing up for an early 2016 comeback.

This was confirmed by an affiliate from A Cube Entertainment. The affiliate said:

Even delayed, the group will make a comeback within the first half of the year.

Skrillex has reportedly met up with the agency’s songwriters and 4Minute to discuss the said collaboration. Both the DJ and the group also uploaded photos and videos of their meeting to their Instagram accounts respectively. Both parties seemed excited about their upcoming collaboration.

Check out all the photos and videos that they’ve uploaded to their Instagram accounts below:

A video posted by skrillex (@skrillex) on Dec 18, 2015 at 2:27am PST

skrillex 멋쟁이?? A photo posted by Hyun Ah (@hyunah_aa) on Dec 18, 2015 at 1:31am PST

A photo posted by Hyun Ah (@hyunah_aa) on Dec 18, 2015 at 1:46am PST

A photo posted by Hyun Ah (@hyunah_aa) on Dec 18, 2015 at 1:47am PST

This won’t be the first time that Skrillex is working with a K-Pop idol as he previously worked with BIGBANG‘s G-Dragon and 2NE1‘s CL on”Dirty Vibe”, a hit single by him and Diplo.

Are you excited about this upcoming collaboration? Do you think that it’s going to be good? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.


Psy’s Painfully Creating His New Song

South Korean superstar Psy is due to release his new single, the much-awaited follow-up to “Gangnam Style” soon. And always the one to outdo himself, on the very same day, he will also be holding a concert at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. The date (13th April 2013) has been marked, and millions of fans around the world are waiting to hear the song. Will it or will it not match up to his “Gangnam Style” hit?

With that in mind, has anyone ever wondered what Psy looks like when he’s working? Especially now that he’s under so much pressure to perform just as well, if not better than “Gangnam Style”, for his upcoming single? A few days ago, Psy has finally allowed his fans a glimpse into his life away from the stage on which he gallops:

From the picture, it looks like he’s struggling to write, with one hand clutching his forehead. He even hashtagged it “#PAINofCREATION”. Eep!

It was only two whole days after he initially posted the picture that he posted a celebratory tweet, stating that he had finally gotten his music (track, dance moves, mousic video concept) down pat:

Aww, Psy oppa, you work so hard! Fighting!

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Animated Film Abominable Won’t Be Released In Malaysia

“Abominable” was originally slated to premiere in Malaysia on 7th November 2019. However, we’ve now received word that it won’t be screening here.

This comes after The Star reported yesterday that our film censor board (Lembaga Penapis Film) had ordered one particular scene to be censored from “Abominable”.

The scene in question revolves around China’s “nine-dash line” in the South China Sea. “The U-shaped line is used on Chinese maps to illustrate its territorial claims over vast expanses of the resource-rich South China Sea, including areas claimed by other countries,” the publication explained.

This is controversial because the South China Sea territorial conflict has been an ongoing issue for many years. To quote Lowyat in layman terms, “China is basically increasing claims in the South China Sea without permission from neighbouring countries”. Vietnam pulled the film from cinemas earlier on Monday while The Philippines have ordered the scene to be cut (and people are encouraged to boycott it).

“After discovering a Yeti on the roof of her apartment building, teenage Yi and her two friends embark on an epic quest to reunite the magical creature with his family. But to do so, they must stay one step ahead of a wealthy financier and a determined zoologist who want to capture the beast for their own gain.”

Since our country won’t be screening it in cinemas, United International Pictures Malaysia (UIP Malaysia) has deleted the trailer from their YouTube channel. It’s possible that LPF felt that “Abominable” was too controversial to be released in Malaysia.

Were you planning to watch this animation?

Update: We stand corrected. “Abominable” isn’t banned, but the distributor won’t be releasing it here.


MoH Gets Called Out For Using Artwork Without Permission

Yikes! Another day, another plagiarism controversy comes to light.

The photo below shows a step-by-step procedure by our Health Ministry (MoH) on how to dispose face masks. An eagle-eyed netizen soon noticed that the image used is the same exact cartoon strip created by Evangeline Neo – also known in the comic world as Evacomics.

To top it off, no credit was given to the owner – giving the impression that the artwork came from the government itself. The government has in turn received some backlash from netizens when it was discovered that they had used the aforementioned artwork without the artist’s consent.

After the incident, the Singaporean native then came up with a comic strip to seemingly clap back at the ministry for making use of her work without her consent. Read what she created below:

She further assured everyone that she had already accepted the Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM)’s apology, knowing that the artwork was “used for a good cause and given away for free with the masks to protect people from the virus.”


(Video) French TikToker Left Impressed; “An Island In Malaysia More Beautiful Than The Maldives!”

Malaysia is a beautiful country filled with picturesque beaches, delicious food and rich with history. That is why every time a foreign tourist showcases Malaysia, we are always extremely proud to see what they have presented.

Previously, French TikToker Valentin Anger became a hot topic in Malaysia when he was compared to a brown-skinned tourist. Now, almost a month later, he is trending once again among the Malaysian community.

A post shared by VALENTIN ANGER | Travel and Adventure Content Creator 🇫🇷 (@valentin_agr)

According to MStar, Valentin is a 22-year-old student majoring in Finance and Economics at Taylor’s University in Subang Jaya. Up until now, he has been touring Malaysia on an exchange programme that requires him to stay abroad for a whole year.

In his two months of exploring, Valentin has visited numerous beautiful islands, such as Langkawi, Perhentian, Mantabuan and many more. Recently, the French student also made it to the summit of Mount Kinabalu! How many Malaysians do you know who have done that?

An island in Malaysia more beautiful than the Maldives 🏝 #sabah #malaysia #gapyear #adventuretiktok

♬ What goes around comes around by Justin Timberlake – avdloss

Valentin has an eye for photography. He has been uploading numerous pictures and videos, to both his Instagram and TikTok accounts, which capture the beauty of Malaysia. One video stood out, which is him claiming that Pulau Sibuan in Sabah, Malaysia is more beautiful than the Maldives!

The French student even met up with well-known French TikToker Alwin GC, who has also been touring and showcasing Malaysia. The pair made several videos together talking about their experiences in Malaysia. Alwin also taught Valentin a couple of Malay phrases like “Saya Anak Malaysia!” which translates to “I am a Malaysian!“.

Two French Travelers talking about Malaysia. @Valentin Anger shares his experience in the country so far: what he learned in Malay, best memory, are people nice? Why Malaysia? And his next country

♬ Ballet song like “Waltz of flowers” _3 minutes(965255) – yulu-ism project

Valentin has also uploaded a video asking for suggestions on where to go next. He is spoilt for choice when it comes to beautiful locations! So, where do you think he should go next? Penang? Malacca? How about our capital city, Kuala Lumpur?

Puteri Teja contributed to this article.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Contest: “Morbius” Merchandise & Movie Tickets Up For Grabs

In the shadow of every hero, lies a villain. Get ready superhero fans, cause a new Marvel legend is arriving and his name is Morbius. Following the mega success of “Spider-Man: No Way Home”, we’re stoke that another Spidey-family character will be making his Marvel Cinematic Debut on the big screen.

Taking on the enigmatic antihero Michael Morbius is Oscar winner Jared Leto. This character has gone from being a straight villain to a bit of an antihero in the comic books. Despite multiple delays due to the pandemic, it’s nice to see that fan enthusiasm is still high.

In speaking to IGN about his character, Jared Leto said, “(Morbius is) a pretty complex character. This is somebody who has a lot of conflict in his life. He’s a guy who’s born with this horrible disease and is really a gifted person. When he was young, he was very curious about science and medicine and decided to dedicate his life to find a cure for the disease that he’s afflicted with and that others like him have, as well. But along the way, all hell breaks loose.”

There are also hints at crossovers with the wider Marvel multiverse. “There’s all kinds of opportunities for villains to meet up and maybe nurture their more sinister intents,” the 50-year-old actor was quoted as saying.

Tom Holland has also expressed interest to see a showdown between Spider-Man and the deadly villain. “I actually think the Morbius film looks really cool. And it’s more scary, that film. I think it could be quite a cool thing… Spider-Man versus a vampire.”

In conjunction with the premiere of “Morbius” on 31st March, we’ve got some awesome movie merchandise and 10 pairs of movie tickets to give away. (*Do note that the merchandise will be given out randomly and are subject to availability.)


Kim Jae-hwan Includes Malaysia In His 1st Fanmeeting Tour In Asia

After Ong Seong-wu, another former member of Wanna One will be coming to Malaysia for his first ever solo fanmeeting.

22-year-old Kim Jae-hwan has announced that he will be coming to Malaysia as part of his “2019 Kim Jae-hwan Fanmeeting MIN:D”.

[📢] 2019 김재환 FAN MEETING [MIN:D] 오픈 안내 (+ENG)→ https://t.co/CCbMfdGiGq#김재환 #KIMJAEHWAN #MIND #WIND pic.twitter.com/J942xRImpD

— 김재환 KIM JAEHWAN (@KJH_officialtwt) April 5, 2019

According to Naver, the fanmeeting tour will kick of at Jamsil Indoor Arena in Seoul, followed by Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, Hongkong, and Malaysia.

The fanmeeting is to promote Kim Jae-hwan solo debut after his contract with Wanna One ended on 31st December 2018.

The vocalist recently told The Star Magazine as translated by Soompi that he is currently preparing his solo album.

“I’m working hard on my [new] album, and I feel confident about [my music], but I’m curious as to how the general public will feel about it. I hope they can relate to it.”

Details such as venue and dates for the Asian fanmeeting have yet to be revealed. Stay tuned for more updates.


5 Successful Original Movies of 2013

Scratch sequels, prequels and remakes — these movies made it on their own.

2013 has seen many brilliant films and some not so brilliants one too and like it or not, it’s generally novel adaptations, sequels, prequels or remakes that really hits it big on the box office. Looking at things a little differently today, Hype.My have chosen 5 most successful original movies of the year that did not only leave a mark in our hearts but also on the box office.

Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity is science-fiction thriller of sheer brilliance that takes your into the unforgiving realm of space. Starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, the movie opened with $55 million at the box office during its debut weekend. Shot beautifully, Gravity reinvented the whole meaning of setting a modern feature film in space with nothing but just two on camera speaking roles. Brilliantly done and historically original, Gravity stayed at the top of the box office for three consecutive weekends.

Rank for all 2013 domestic box office: 6

This 3D computer-animated adventure comedy film directed by Kirk DeMicco and Chris Sanders is set in a fictional prehistoric era known as The Croodaceous. The animated film is follows the world’s first ever family as they take on a journey of a lifetime when the cave that has always protected them from danger was destroyed. Featuring the voices of Nicolas Cage, Emma Stone, Ryan Reynolds and Catherine Keener, The Croods  is the second highest-grossing original film of the year.

Rank for all 2013 domestic box office: 12

Co-written and directed by Guillermo Del Toro, this big-budget movie of rampaging monsters starring Charlie Hunnam and Rinko Kikuchi was a flop in the box office in the United States but pulled in three times its domestic take overseas — including an enormous $111 million in China!Total domestic gross: $101,802,906

Rank for all 2013 domestic box office: 28

Director Rawson Marshall Thurber’s We’re The Millers follows the story of a veteran pot dealer who creates a fake family as part of his master plan to move a huge weed shipment from Mexico to America opened with $26.4 million in August but continued to go strong for the next eight weeks. Starring Jennifer Anniston, Jason Sudeikie, Emma Roberts and Bill Poulter, We’re The Millers is Jennifer’s best-grossing movie since Bruce Almighty in 2003.Total domestic gross: $150,394,119

Rank for all 2013 domestic box office: 14

Starring Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman, Identity Thief directed by Seth Gordon is a comedy about a man who’s goes through a whole lot of trouble to get his identity back after it got stolen from a woman.Total domestic gross: $134,506,920

Rank for all 2013 domestic box office: 17

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Woah! Westlife Day 1 & 2 Kuala Lumpur Concerts Sold Out!

There’s no question – fans are eagerly anticipating Westlife’s return to Malaysia.

Last weekend, concert tickets for Westlife’s “The Twenty Tour” in Kuala Lumpur officially went on sale. Tickets were selling out fast as soon as the curtain lifted.

As aforementioned, pre-sale tickets were sold at Atria Shopping Gallery on 13th April 2019 from 11am onwards. According to WoB, around 1500 fans showed up at the Petaling Jaya mall last Saturday with the first person in line – Tan Yuin Yee – queueing up for 28 hours!

As you may know, Westlife’s concert will take place on 8th and 9th August (Thursday and Friday). Seeing as how both shows fall weekdays, many concert-goers were aiming to secure tickets for the Friday show. True enough, tickets for that day were sold out in less than 2 days.

Officially sold out for both nights!! We will see you in August! Thank you for your kind patience and support ☺⠀ .⠀ #Westlife⠀ #WestlifeTwenty ⠀ #Crazy20⠀ #MacpiePro⠀ #UniversalMusicMalaysia⠀ .⠀ @westlife @shanefilanofficial @kianegan @markusmoments @nickybyrneinsta @universalmusicmalaysia @universalmuzikmy

A post shared by  MacpiePro (@macpiepro) on Apr 14, 2019 at 8:01pm PDT

Day 2 is officially SOLD OUT! Thank you to all Westlife fans out there. You guys are amazing! ? Grab your tickets for Day 1 now. They are selling out fast‼ ??? . #Westlife #WestlifeTwenty #Crazy20 #MacpiePro #UniversalMusicMalaysia

A post shared by  MacpiePro (@macpiepro) on Apr 14, 2019 at 6:01am PDT

Based on the seating plan for Thursday’s show, the cheapest ticketing zone (Green Zone) has also been sold out. That leaves the other 4 coloured zones still up for grabs but we have a feeling the Purple Zone will sell out next.

If you’re still on the fence, take our advice – don’t wait any longer and secure those seats fast. For more info, go here.

A post shared by MacpiePro (@macpiepro) on Apr 14, 2019 at 5:02pm PDT

Holy Moly! Concert organiser MacpiePro has just announced that Westlife concert tickets for both days have been officially sold out.


Avengers: Cast To Assemble On Jimmy Kimmel Live & Debut Exclusive Footage

Jimmy Kimmel’s preparing to hang out with Earth’s mightiest heroes and the late-night appearance will mark the cast’s first group effort to promote the new Marvel film.

ABC announced Tuesday (7th April) that the cast of “Avengers: Age of Ultron” will appear for the first time together on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” to promote the film.

Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and Jeremy Renner will join Jimmy Kimmel on 13th April for a special episode of his late-night talk show, during which the late-night host will debut never-before-seen clips from the “Avengers” sequel — one of the most highly anticipated blockbuster movie events of the year.

During the special episode, Jimmy Kimmel will also split the cast up in a friendly game of “Avengers Family Feud”. Additionally, his “Wall of America” will allow Marvel fans from across the country to have the opportunity to be a part of the show and interact with the cast.

The episode will air 13th April at 11:35 p.m., ET/PT on ABC. “Avengers: Age of Ultron” opens in theatres in the US on 1st May.

Ah, fingers crossed that the footage will be released via Jimmy Kimmel’s official YouTube channel!

Meanwhile, in conjunction with its theatrical release on 23rd April in Malaysia and the launch of the 2nd season of Disney XD’s “Avengers Assemble” TV series, a series of activities will be held at Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur. From 8th April (Wednesday) onwards, the life-sized figurines of the Hulk Buster Armour, Captain America, and Hulk will be showcased at the Centre Court of Mid Valley Megamall.

The figures will be shown for display until 19th April (Sunday).

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Zouk Genting Expected To Debut In SkyAvenue In 2018

Mention the word “Zouk” anywhere and most of the younger generation will call it the hippest and trendiest club scene. While Zouk Kuala Lumpur has lived up to its name, the franchise will be bringing the electrifying clubbing vibe to Zouk Genting.

That’s right clubbers, who’s ready to party 6,000 above sea level? According to Resort World Genting’s High Life magazine, Zouk Genting is expected to debut sometime next year.

Zouk first started out from a historic warehouse 26 years ago. Since gaining popularity, Zouk club has been the place where the younger crowd go to watch international guest DJs, enjoy live performances, and party to the latest dance music. In staying true to the trend, Zouk Genting seeks to be the ultimate party central.

So what can we expect? An excerpt from High Life reads:

“Zouk Genting will offer patrons a 4-in-1 site for them to indulge in some of Zouk’s most celebrated and well-loved destinations. It is all about full immersion into a world of uninterrupted luxury and stand-out services that treat you to your every clubbing desire. The concept encourages patrons to take their time enjoying each and every aspect of the club while engaging themselves with the pulsating and body-bending music.”

Although it hasn’t been officially announced yet, Zouk Genting will reportedly open in June 2018 at SkyAvenue. Word on the street also has it that it will have a day club with a swimming pool facing the 20th Century Fox theme park.

If that’s not enough, Red Tail by Zouk will also be bringing the exciting social gaming bar to Resorts World Genting. From beer pong and darts to pool and giant jenga, visitors can expect a wide array of state-of-art gaming facilities when visiting SkyAvenue. In addition, diners will also get to enjoy live sports games on 12 big screens. If not, you can simply enjoy a beer or cocktail while listening to some live music at the venue.


(UPDATE) #MazeRunner: Sequel Trailer Teases The World Outside The Maze

There’s nothing more depressing than getting out of a maze and stepping into a world where real danger lurks around, as shown in the first trailer of “The Maze Runner” sequel titled “The Scorch Trials“.

After escaping from The Grievers-filled maze, Thomas (played by Dylan O’Brien) and his fellow Gladers will now face a new challenge as they discover that the world outside of the maze isn’t all that perfect either.

“The Scorch Trials” is the 2nd instalment of Wes Ball’s film adaptation of James Dashner’s “The Maze Runner” trilogy. The first film was a sleeper hit as it raked in a surprise success of over $340 million in worldwide box office since its release in September 2014.

Best known for his role as Lord Baelish aka Littlefinger in the HBO’s “Game of Thrones”, Irish actor Aidan Gillen joined the cast of the sequel to play one of the main antagonists named Assistant Director Janson. In the book, Gillen’s character is often referred to as Rat-Man by Minho. “True Grit” star Barry Pepper will portray Vince, the leader of an organisation called the Right Arm. Vince is described as one of the last remaining soldiers in the Right Arm and he believes that the money used by the WCKD would have been better spent in the disease prevention.

A new character named Mary Cooper (not to be confused with Sheldon Cooper’s mother in “The Big Bang Theory”) will be included in the sequel and she will be portrayed by “The Conjuring” star Lili Taylor. Cooper is described as a doctor who starts a colony of survivors in the hopes of making a last stand.

Avid readers of the novel would know that the Gladers (what Thomas and the gang are known as) will be confronted by the Cranks, a group of zombie-like humans infected by the Flare virus. The gang will also stumble upon “a lot of people out in the Scorch” as well, including some friends and some foes.

In this next chapter of the epic “Maze Runner” saga, Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and his fellow Gladers face their greatest challenge yet: searching for clues about the mysterious and powerful organization known as WCKD. Their journey takes them to the Scorch, a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles. Teaming up with resistance fighters, the Gladers take on WCKD’s vastly superior forces and uncover its shocking plans for them all.

Directed by Wes Ball, “The Maze Runner: Scorch Trials” also stars Kaya Scodelario, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ki Hong Lee, Jacob Lofland, and Patrica Clarkson.

Yet another trailer for “The Maze Runner: Scorch Trials” has been released by 20th Century Fox.

Prior to the release of the trailer, the studio has debuted 6 new characters posters, which you can check out in the gallery below:

Though the studio recycled some footage from the first trailer, they also gave us a first look at the Cranks, a group of zombie-like humans who were infected by the Flare virus.

The sequel is scheduled for release on 18th September 2015.

For more information, visit the movie’s official Facebook page and Twitter.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


#TWP: DJ Snake To Perform In Kuala Lumpur On 11th December 2016

DJ Snake, the Grammy nominated producer well-known for his collaborations with Lil Jon and Justin Bieber, will be making his way down to Kuala Lumpur on 11th December. Organised by The Livescape Group and in collaboration with PLAY and KC & Friends, the event at KL LIVE will be part of TWP (The White Party).

Having started DJ-ing at the age of 14, DJ Snake has turned from prodigy to a world-class producer having produced Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” album which earned him a Grammy nomination for “Album of the Year”. He has also collaborated with Lil Jon to produce the hit, “Turn Down for What”.

TWP is Kuala Lumpur’s premier white party and has in the past featured the likes of Steve Aoki and Afrojack. It aims to provide guests with a heightened premium clubbing experience. Guests are required to come dressed in at least one item of clothing in white as part of the event’s dress code.

Limited early bird tickets to the Livescape and TWP presents DJ Snake show is priced at RM98 and will be available for purchase from 4th November onwards via www.galactix.asia.

For more information, hit up www.livescapegroup.com or www.facebook.com/livescapeasia.


Hype’s Now Playing: YoonA & 10cm – Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway (덕수궁 돌담길의 봄)

It’s SNSD Girls’ Generation’s YoonA time to shine with her first solo release!

South Korean entertainment powerhouse SM Entertainment just released its latest “STATION” project track titled, “Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway” (덕수궁 돌담길의 봄).

Featuring YoonA and South Korean indie band 10cm (guitarist Yoon Cheol Jong and vocalist Kwon Jung Yeol), the duet plays on the superstition that any couple who walks along the Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway will break up. Befittingly, the beautiful, guitar-led pop duet tells a story of a couple who promises never to break up, even if they walk along the Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway.

The official music video is the perfect representation of YoonA’s syrupy sweet voice, and it focuses on her talking and reacting to the camera. Fan boys will immediately love how it makes them feel like they’re on an intimate date with her ;)

For more information, hit up SNSD Girls’ Generation’s Facebook page.


#Zorro: Iconic Pulp Character To Get A Post-Apocalyptic Reboot

It has been forever since we’ve watched a movie about Zorro, the dashing black-clad masked outlaw who defends the commoners and indigenous people against tryants and other villains. And now, we are finally going to see the return of the hero – in a post-apocalyptic future.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the “Zorro” reboot, which has been in development at 20th Century Fox for years, is back on production, all thanks to a new partnership between Lantica Media and Sobini Films.

Zorro is a fictional character created by Johnston McCulley in 1919. Known for his trademark mask, sword and signature Z, the iconic pulp character has appeared in a number of novels, films, and TV adaptations.

In traditional stories, Zorro is portrayed to be a hero of peasants and farmers who fought against corrupt and brutal officials of Spanish-held California. The reboot is, however, described to be a “a post-apocalyptic take on the myth of Zorro…set in the near future but keeps the idea of a masked and caped stranger taking on tyrants”.

Chances are, this reboot may have more robots and less horses, something similar to “Westworld“.

The project was set up at 20th Century Fox back in 2011. Filmmakers such as Bryan Singer, Ricardo de Montreuil, Gary Whitta, and Justin Marks were once attached to the project, but nothing panned out.

It was then announced that pre-visualisation specialist Rpin Suwannath would make his directorial debut with the reboot. Titled “Zorro Reborn”, the film will be based on a screenplay written by Lee Shipman and Brian McGreevy.

At one point, Gael García Bernal was cast in the title role, but a deal never materialised. It is unclear whether he is still attached to the project.

Take a look at the concept art from way back in 2013:

Led by CEO Antonio Gennari, Lantica will finance the reboot, with its production slated to begin in March 2016 at Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios. Veteran producer and Sobini CEO Mark Amin, whose credits include “Good Kill” and “Frida” will produce it. A search for a filmmaker to tackle the project is currently underway.

Albert Martinez Martin of Lantica Pictures will oversee the production while Cami Winikoff and David W. Higgins of Sobine will executive produce it.

This has been a fifteen year journey filled with ups and downs but it has remained my passion project over the years.

Gennari added, “Every generation has its own Zorro hero and we’re proud to be able to introduce a new Zorro to this generation.”

Take a look at the concept trailer for the now-defunct version of the film below:

So, what do you think of the “Zorro” reboot? Would you like to watch it? Who do you think should join the cast? Sound off your thoughts in the comments section below.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Toast To The Territories: What To Do In KL, Putrajaya & Labuan On Federal Territories Day!

Nothing beats a public holiday during a weekday! As we all know, the 2023 Federal Territory Day is today, and many of us are looking forward to getting some rest and spending a chill day at home. However, if you’re feeling like going out and about, we have some recommendations for you!

In celebration of Federal Territory Day, here are some of the best things you can do in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan. But of course, these activities are not limited to Federal Territory Day – you can indulge in them whenever you feel like visiting one of the three regions.

When it comes to Kuala Lumpur, unless you’re a first-time tourist, you’re probably familiar with all the main attractions in the bustling city. So instead of the normal tourist attractions that are, granted, still great places to visit for a day trip, here are some underrated gems you should explore in KL.

Peeps who just wanna have a relaxing day with family and friends should visit Fly Me To KL, a Moroccan-inspired cafe with majestic, brown-tinted arches and curved doors that will make you feel like you’re on vacation. So, if you feel like ‘flying’ to see the iconic KL skyline with some refreshing coolers, don’t hesitate to give this place a try!

But of course, we gotta have something for the peeps who wanna stay active during their trip! Those who are itching for a challenge and endless fun can visit Beast Park! You and your family are sure to have a field day in this impressive premier indoor climbing gym that also includes kid-friendly obstacle courses. Grab a quick coffee or snack at the Artisan Roast Cafe located at the park which features artwork by Malaysian and international artists.

Known for its eco-friendly environment and being a ‘green’ city, Putrajaya is filled with beautiful parks, lakes, and communal gardens. But aside from its lush greenery, the modern city also has some impressive buildings and landmarks that you have to visit. One edifice is the Putra Mosque, located on the banks of the Putrajaya Lake. The impressive mosque is constructed in rose-tinted granite, giving its iconic desert-pink hue. Fully immerse yourself in the environment by kayaking in the lake, where you can get a full view of the majestic mosque.

As for thrill seekers – you can try out flyboarding at Marina Putrajaya. This water sport activity takes you above water… and beyond! It’s a wild ride that you definitely need to tick off of your bucket list. And don’t worry if you’ve never done this before, since there are professional instructors there to teach and guide you through the process to ensure you have a safe and fun experience.

While Labuan – an offshore financial centre – is celebrated for its duty-free shopping, there’s more to the Pearl of the South China Sea. One of the most popular attractions is its beaches. But if you feel like going deeper, diving in one of the shipwreck sites is definitely an eye-opening experience! You can join a tour and explore one of the four shipwrecks: Cement, Australian, Blue Water, and American Wrecks. Connect with history as you discover each wreck’s story and how they sank off Labuan’s coast.


Rihanna To Perform In Singapore!

One super hot Grammy-winning US singer, Rihanna, is headed for Singapore! The 25-year-old star, who is best known for her hits like “Umbrella” and “Only Girl (In the World)” will perform here on September 22 at the Padang Stage, as part of her 2013 Diamonds World Tour.

She joins US alternative rock band The Killers, who will be performing for the first time in Singapore at the same venue on September 21, as the headline acts of the entertainment programme during the 2013 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix weekend.

[youtube id=”lWA2pjMjpBs” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Unlike previous years, an additional Closing Concert will also be held on September 23 at this year’s Singapore Grand Prix. The concert will feature an as yet unnamed performer and a special guest support act.

Canadian singer and teen pop sensation Justin Bieber will perform at the 2013 Singapore Grand Prix’s The Closing Concert on September 23, at the Padang Stage. He is expected to perform his hits like “As Long As You Love Me”, “Somebody to Love” as well as “Boyfriend” during The Closing Concert, which will also feature a special guest support act.

[youtube id=”4GuqB1BQVr4″ width=”600″ height=”350″]


Indonesians Slam MoH Over Covid-19 Imported Cases Misunderstanding

The Ministry of Health (MoH)’s official Instagram account was recently attacked by a number of enraged Indonesian netizens.

This came as result of a slight misunderstanding regarding the Covid-19 imported cases issued by the ministry earlier.

According to Malaysiakini, Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah stated that 70% of the Covid-19 imported cases were from Indonesia. The percentage refers to the number of 99 (out of 139 in total) Malaysian patients who have just arrived from the country.

However, the statement was completely misinterpreted by Indonesians who thought that 70% of all positive Covid-19 cases originated from the country, whereas it actually refers to imported cases.

Fuelled with disappointment, a number of netizens then took to the comments section with hateful remarks against the MoH. Some even blindly put the blame on Malaysians, which sparked a clash of ideas among the 2 neighbouring countries.

Instead of staying silent, a few Malaysians then came forward to defend the ministry from receiving unfair criticism. The comments section was flooded with heated debacles between the two. Others also tried to clear the air by providing explanations to the netizens who misunderstood the initial statement.

Hopefully the clarifications provided by Malaysian netizens on this matter will help to clear the air on their misunderstanding.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Small Mission Enterprise (S.M.E) Premieres At GSC Pavilion!

A tongue-in-cheek take on Small Medium Enterprises, the sitcom will be MALAYSIA SME®’s first foray into television. It has the makings of a rib-tickling affair even as it looks to create awareness of the various stumbling-blocks encountered by entrepreneurs from all walks of life – whether it be a family staionary business, a tailoring shop, or a pastry café.

The quirky premise pays tribute to the gun-ho spirit and determination of those who decide to strike out on their own accord.

During the premiere of “Small Mission Enterprise (S.M.E)” held at GSC, Pavilion KL yesterday, director Douglas Lim credited the successful completion of the project to a strong story concept that never wavered from its quest to inject the technical know-hows of running a small business into light-hearted premise.

Malaysia’s homegrown talents such as Baki Zainal, Ash Nair, Alvin Wong, Ruzana Ibrahim, Abidah Noor, Indi Nadarajah, and Chelsia Ng are all part of “Small Mission Enterprise (S.M.E).

Alvin Wong (who plays Jose), who is no stranger to the Malaysian entertainment industry, told us that the team was given only two and a half weeks to complete the scripts for 13 episodes. Whoa! Impressive, much?

[youtube id=”_iUtJxWlwmY” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Every week, the sitcom unfolds different thematic plots that will present different dilemmas faced in business and possible solutions available for SMEs. The various weekly themes twine around the central theme of “comedy, friendship, and the never give up spirit“, a proven successful draw for audience of all ages.

We caught the second episode of “Small Mission Enterprise (S.M.E)” at GSC, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur during the official premiere and seriously? Serious can be quite funny. Take it from us!

The first episode will be aired on NTV 7 on 4th October 2012 (Thursday) and subsequently be aired every Thursday at 9pm.


Exciting Times Ahead With David Foster, Anggun, & Jay Park On “Asia’s Got Talent” 2017

The record-breaking series returns to AXN Asia in October this year, entertaining viewers with 10 episodes comprising 5 judges’ auditions, 3 semi-finals, the finale, and the results show where the winner will be revealed, and awarded a cash prize of USD 100,000 from Traveloka.

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

At the press conference yesterday (Thursday, 27th July) at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore, Traveloka announced its participation in the second season of “Asia’s Got Talent”. As the presenting sponsor of the program, they expressed their excitement at being a part of the most anticipated talent show in the region.

For this season of “Asia’s Got Talent”, Traveloka will also be presenting the Traveloka Awards, Traveloka’s initiative to give an award for selected winner who has the most inspiring story across region. The most inspiring story will be selected based on the uniqueness of participant’s talent and their connection story with family and friends. Each week, during the first 5 episodes, 2 acts will be highlighted and their stories will be published online. At the end of episode 5, the audience can vote for the most inspiring act, and that act will receive a major prize from Traveloka.

Along with the announcement, AXN Asia also introduced their new hosts Alan Wu and Justin Bratton, and revealed the “Asia’s Got Talent” judges – musician extraordinaire David Foster, Indonesian songstress Anggun, and Korean superstar Jay Park (박재범)!

When asked about the addition of Korean superstar Jay Park to the “Asia’s Got Talent” panel of judges and how it will contribute to the dynamic, David Foster said, “I can’t wait to argue with him! I mean, don’t you just love the concept that they are so many years in between us and yet we share this commonality in music. Whether it’s rap or R&B, or the music that I do, we will have this common ground, but we’re going to disagree a lot.”

“Because the thing is singers, they don’t know how to pick stars, I don’t believe. I haven’t told him that yet! They just don’t, I mean, think about it. Singers need producers, singers need people like me to help them with their careers. So we might battle over that a little,” David added.

We also got to speak to Jay Park exclusively after the press conference and picked his brain a little on his new role. “To be honest, I have to witness it and see what my reaction is firsthand. I’ve never done this before, you know, I’ve done different shows where I judge dancing or rapping, I’ve never judged talent. I’m gonna have to see what kind of judge I am. I don’t think I’m going to be that easy though because my standards are pretty high, because I’ve seen a lot of different types of talent. I think I might be a tough judge, but we’ll see,” Jay Park revealed.

Unlike the previous years, this season of “Asia’s Got Talent” boasts a different format. The debut season of “Asia’s Got Talent” was helmed by FremantleMedia Asia back in 2015, and AXN Asia (under Sony Pictures Television Asia) was only a broadcaster. The newly announced 2nd season, however, will be fully produced by AXN Asia.

“Asia’s Got Talent” 2017, will feature acts from 27 countries including Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, just to name a few. Production is currently underway as we speak and the season is expected to air in October his year.

Safe to say that there will be exciting times ahead! Can’t wait ;)

For more information, hit up “Asia’s Got Talent” on Facebook.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


#TheLEGOMovie Sequel: Rob Schrab Is The New Director

Still reeling from the awesome rendition of “The LEGO Movie” theme song at the 87th Annual Academy Awards? We thought so. Despite being snubbed by the Oscars, the brick flick continues to charm the fans with its highly addictive theme song and awesome characters. Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller even earned heaps of critical praises for creating such a great movie.

Due to its tremendous success, Warner Bros. has slotted 3 new LEGO-branded films to be released over the next 4 years, starting with “LEGO Ninjago”. A “LEGO Batman” will have its own solo film in 2017 but the sequel for “The LEGO Movie” won’t arrive until 2018. It’s going to be a long wait but everything is cool when Rob Schrab is part of the team.

That’s right, everyone. The “Community” director is officially the director for the sequel of Warner Bros’ “The LEGO Movie!

Both Phil Lord and Chris Miller will not return to direct the film but they are still part of the awesome team. The two will return to the sequel as producers instead, alongside Dan Lin and Roy Lee. The sequel will take place 4 years after the events in the first film and the directing duo are already writing the script with Jared Stern and Michelle Morgan.

Plot details are are still kept tightly under wraps but Lord and Miller are hoping that the sequel could feature Marvel characters.

Having directed episodes of TV comedies such as “Community” and “The Mindy Project”, Rob Schrab seems like the perfect director for “The LEGO Movie” sequel. The director was nominated for a WGA Award for his work on “The Sarah Silverman Show” and won an Emmy for co-writing the Hugh Jackman opening musical number on the 81st Academy Awards in 2009. He also earned an Annie Award nomination for the script he co-wrote for the 2006 animated film, “Monster House”.

“The LEGO Movie captivated critics and audiences on a global scale with its irresistible blend of humor, imagination and fun,” said Greg Silverman, the studio’s president of creative development and worldwide production. He added:

Warner Bros. is excited to build our relationship with The Lego Group with this new adventure, and we join them in welcoming the multi-talented Rob Schrab to the Lego family as he takes the helm of The Lego Movie Sequel.

Warner Bros has yet to announce the exact release date for the sequel but the spin-off films “LEGO Ninjago” and “LEGO Batman” are slated for release on 23rd September 2016 and 27th May 2017 respectively.


Review: What We Like About HyunA & DAWN’s Comeback Singles

K-pop’s resident power couple, HyunA (현아) and DAWN (던) have finally made their long-awaited comeback.

This will be both the lovebirds’ first ever release under PSY’s P Nation since signing with the agency. The interesting part is, they will simultaneously promote their music together! Talk about couple goals, right?

Though their comeback only consist of only a single album – which only contains one song, it’s more than enough for followers of both the former 4minute member and PENTAGON member who have been waiting for their return to save the music industry.

HyunA’s comeback single, “Flower Shower” adds her signature pop and dance flavours with an interesting blend of the now-popular Moombahton sound to add in the kick. The lyrics were written by P-Nation boss PSY while the composition of the song was done by Yoo Gun Hyung, SPACE ONE, Anna Timgren as well as the “Gangnam Style” star himself.

Looking at the words of the song, the 27-year-old K-pop diva talks about celebrating the fact of being unapologetically herself! We already love her for being overly confident in her past hits such as “Red” (2014) as well “Roll Deep” (2015), where the lyrics talk about her being different from any other girls in the industry. It’s clear she’s loving the attention.

In this case, “Flower Shower” is not far from her previous songs she released so far. The spotlight is also on the theme of self-empowerment that is heavily featured in the song lyrics, as the chorus goes, “I will walk on the flower road now, I will shower you with flowers”.

Koreans believe that flower road refers to happiness, and it shows that HyunA is not turning back from all the controversies and scandals surrounding her in the past. Instead, she will continue to be the HyunA that all the stans have known since the past few years.

Being released on the same day and time, DAWN (formerly known as E’Dawn)’s title track “Money” talks about his views on the “value of money, packed with piano melodies and heavy synth bass and beats coupled with an emotional rap,” as reported by Korea Herald. In other words, money is considered as a form of self-love for him. Honestly, we were quite shocked with the deep message in the song.

For those who don’t know, the lyrics of the song was self-written by DAWN (real name Kim Hyo Jong) himself with the help from PSY, while the composers of the song are Kim Phillip, Kim Pil Seong and Yoo Gun Hyung. Fans of his former group PENTAGON have known him for being a little bit different than the others. In this case, we can see that DAWN has been pushing boundaries in terms of his musical style as well as his charisma on stage ever since his debut with the CUBE Entertainment boy band.

It is interesting to know what he has to offer in this new single. The main message of the song itself is very dark, as the lyrics focus on the theme of living the luxurious life. The interesting part is, the whole point of the 3-minute and 25-second song can also be seen as how the artiste tried to showcase his struggles in finding acceptance in the mainstream K-pop industry, just like how he has been trying to earn money as portrayed in the lyrics.

However, we felt that there is still something lacking as the song goes. In this case, we felt that the 25-year-old is missing his positive vibe as seen during his PENTAGON days. Keep in mind that he has also produced songs for his former group back in the day as well, such as “Shine” and “Naughty Boy”. So, we are keeping our fingers crossed that he will produce similar songs like that in the future.

Additionally, we felt that since he is just starting his stint as a solo singer, we can see that he is still struggling on making a name on his own. Maybe because we are so used to seeing him as a boy group member. But it’s okay! Good things take time. As time flies, he will definitely fly high with his own signature music in the future.

Overall, HyunA and DAWN’s comeback single albums managed to get us madly in love with them all over again. We are delighted on how well they really suit each other in terms of musical preference as well as how they carry out their charisma and persona in their songs.

However, if you were to ask us on which one should we recommend, we will go with HyunA’s “Flower Shower”. The reason’s simple – because she’s the QUEEN.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


#GoodVibesFest: Wholesome Fun, Tailored For Everyone!

#GoodVibesFest is set to transform the Sepang International Kart Circuit into a lively outdoor landscape for a regional audience with discerning tastes for music, art, fashion and food. A celebration of great music, positivity, and creativity, festival-goers of all ages will be tempted to wander the landscape dominated by three stages, art installations, fashion exhibits and a food village.

The festival’s three outdoor stages will emanate music for all appetites.

The Blue stage atmosphere is laidback at first, showcasing the likes of Pastel Lite and The Impatient Sisters before morphing after sunset into the high-voltage sounds of They Will Kill Us All and Japandroids. The Green stage will feature local and regional electronic music such as Twilight Actiongirl and Deer Society, all known to draw crowds to their feet.

The Red stage— the heart of every festival— will provide a continuous pulse of good vibes from acts such as local darling Liyana Fizi, Kyoto Protocol (fresh off the heels of TV9 reality show Versus), and the complex sounds of Monoloque, culminating in the highly-anticipated headlining performances of Smashing Pumpkins and Modest Mouse.

[youtube id=”Zf4rXb-6SX0″ width=”600″ height=”350″]

To extend #GoodVibesFest’s creative experience, festival-goers in need of retail therapy will love Chic Vibes, a collaboration between fashion news portal Tongue In Chic and festival apparel sponsor Chic Yamada. Expect to see the exclusive debut of Chic Yamada’s festival capsule collection as well as the designs of five local and five regional up-and-coming fashion labels. Offering respite to the ongoing festivities, Chic Vibes will house a beauty bar complete with a host of pampering services.

Also at #GoodVibesFest, Malaysian artist Nini Ramlan will undertake the mammoth task of curating art installations to bring the festival venue to life. Integral to any festival experience, #GoodVibesFest will also present GoodBites, a food village that will house a tantalising spread of favourite festival foods dished out by local artisan entrepreneurs.

Organised by Future Sound Asia, with support from Malaysia Major Events, #GoodVibesFest is expected to attract some 10,000 attendees, including 3,000 foreign arrivals from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. 2013 is an important year for Malaysia as the country gears up to usher in Visit Malaysia Year 2014 (VMY 2014).

Venue: Sepang International Kart Circuit

Early Bird (17 – 23 June) – RM 128, available at the following outlets (limited tickets only!):

Pre-Sale (24 June – 16 August) – RM158, available at the following outlets:

Door Sale (17 August) – RM188, available at the door on the day of the festival

VIP – RM 258 (24 June – 16 August), only available online at www.myticket.my.

For more information, hit up their website.


#Lego: Nexo Knights Roadshow at Mid Valley Megamall

Introducing 5 young knights from the Kingdom of Knighton: there’s the leader Clay Moorington leading his team which consists of Lance Richmond, Aaron Fox, Macy Halbert, the princess who wants to be in the boy’s club, and a giant named Axl.

With the aid from Great Digital Wizard Merlok 2.0, the Nexo Knights must band together to take down the evil Jestro, a former court jester-turned-bad guy, the Book of Monsters, and the entire army of Lava Monsters, in order to restore peace.

This is Nexo Knights, Lego’s latest original creation that uses the physical toys and TV series to tie in with the Merlok 2.0 mobile game – giving players a unique experience where all 3 of these mediums can interact with one another. There are over 150 unique Nexo Knight powers to find all over the kingdom of Knighton via the lego building sets, online, books, comics, and in the cartoon series.

So how did this idea about Lego stories expand beyond the physical toys to books, TV, and video games? Senior design manager Joakim Kørner Nielsen explained, “We’re learning to think in a bigger picture beyond just our playing range. Making sure the experience is relevant and works for both the digital and physical play experience, getting the scan experience perfected, that’s been the biggest challenge.”

“Also, Nexo Knights is more closely linked to the core experience of Lego. It’s a digital aspect of our core experience, whereas Dimensions was a physical add-on to a digital game. Another thing we learned was, when testing with kids, they just see things in a different way. Things just flow together for them so easily between physical and digital,” he added.

There are currently 17 building sets available from the Lego Nexo Knights collection at Lego Certified Stores, Toys “R” Us, Hamleys, AEON, Isetan, Parkson, Box of Bricks, and Legoland Malaysia Resort with price ranging from RM39 to RM499.

Those who wish to check out the world of Knighton for themselves can do so by Lego Nexo Knights Academy event, which is located at the Center Court in Mid Valley Megamall. The roadshow runs from now until 20th March 2016.

Sources: Fast Co.Create, Hardware Zone, Lowyat.net.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Jay Chou’s PHANTACi Label To Debut New Outlet In Kuala Lumpur

Last year, fans were stoked to find out that Jay Chou (周杰倫) was opening his famous streetwear label in Malaysia. Sadly, the first PHANTACi store in Malaysia was located in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah – Imago Shopping Mall to be exact.

But fret not fashionistas, a brand new outlet is set to open in Kuala Lumpur!

The Mandopop king first launched PHANTACi in Taiwan in 2006 before expanding it to Beijing and Singapore. Nike, Puma, Casio, New Balance, Stussy, G-Shock, and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) are just some of the high-profile brands that PHANTACi has collaborated with in the past.

The soft launch of PHANTACi Kuala Lumpur is set to take place tomorrow. Details are as follows:


Icona Pop Jet Setting Across Asia!

As mentioned before, the girls from Sweden, Icon Pop will be making their way to Malaysia this November. Set to give revellers one hell of a night on November 29th, 2013 (Friday) at Club Neverland, Kuala Lumpur, these girls are first rose to internationally fame with their hit single I Love It!

Icona Pop made up of Aino Jawo and Caroline Hjelt made a surprise appearance at the recent Asia’s Next Top Model Asia Season 2 launch. Asia’s Next Top Model Season 2 will see the girls make an appearance as guest judges and will also be using Icona Pop’s hit single I Love It as its official soundtrack.

Hype.My spoke to the girls in an exclusive interview. Check it out!

What was it like when you first heard I Love It on the radio and heard it go worldwide?

It was a very special time for us. We apparently had a lot of anger that we had to let out and so when we sang it, it was really from the bottom of our hearts and we started how big I Love It is when we started travelling, even here in Asia. It’s such an honour and a blessing to have people recognise us and our music.

You girls met at a party, so how did you decide to form a band and get into music?

It were both very down at the bottom. Aino was heartbroken and she was lying in bed for two weeks, nothing was working for me so I all did was throw parties. We have a mutual friend who told me (Caroline) about Aino and I told her to bring Aino to the party because she needed to have some fun. It was weird because we started to click immediately, we started talking, we decided we wanted to do music and the next day Aino came over to my place and we wrote our first song. It’s was very natural, very weird but very simple and pure. Because sometimes when you write, it’s kind of scary to write with new people because you’re kind of letting new people in but it was just simple with us. We click immediately and it’s like falling in love, when you know, you know.

Following up from your top single, I Love It, is so popular, are you nervous with upcoming tracks because this one has raised the bar so high?

We look at it as I Love It opened up a lot of doors for us. Before I Love It, we had an album full of a lot of good songs, at least that what we think so we are very proud of everything we release and we look to make a change in the pop industry.

How did Icona Pop get involved with Asia’s Next Top Model?

Well we got approached from FOX to join them. And we thought it was such an amazing thing for us, to combine it with a trip to Asia and to be part of a show that is international and huge. Music and fashion goes hand in and hand so it was a great opportunity for us and we are very happy to be able to work with FOX and Asia’s Next Top Model.

What song would you say is a very fashionable song?

Too funky by George Michael! That is a very fashionable song, not just the video but the groove as well.

You’ve got the showcase on Friday at Neverland, so are you excited?

Yes we do! And yes, we are very, very excited. We’re really looking forward to it.

What can fans expect from your showcase this Friday?

Well without revealing too much, a lot of energy. We always say that we have a show together with the audience so thats the most exciting thing when we travel to new places for the first time – to get to know the crowd and to see what kind of things we can do together.

What do you expect from the crowd on Friday?

This is our first time in Malaysia and we’ve been travelling around Asia for a bit, everything is so different, every culture is so different. But the one mutual thing we’ve noticed is that we really respect you if you’ve come over from Europe or anywhere across the globe. We feel very welcome and we feel very love, the respect for music here is great and we just hope our crowd would enjoy themselves and have a great party this weekend.

Catch Icona Pop at Club Neverland, Kuala Lumpur on November 29th, 2013 (Friday)

Asia’s Next Top Model S2: Glitz, Glam & Drama

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.