DC Comic’s Robin Comes Out As Bisexual In New Batman Installment

Comics as of late have been increasingly supportive of the LGBTQ community. After Marvel unveiled its first superhero gay character, it is now DC’s turn to introduce their queer hero. The long speculated debate over the sexuality of Batman’s sidekick, Robin, has finally been answered as he comes out as bisexual in the upcoming DC comic.

The latest instalment of “Batman: Urban Legends” has revealed that the Caped Crusader’s longtime sidekick Robin, specifically the Tim Drake version of him to be bisexual thereby confirming Robin’s LGBTQ status, Entertainment Weekly reported. The narrative was confirmed by writer Meghan Fitzmartin, artist Belén Ortega, colorist Alejandro Sánchez and letterer Pat Brrosseau at the end of part 3 of the “Sum of Our Parts” story.

Robin or Tim’s bisexual narrative unfolds when Robin had what is described as “a lightbulb moment” while fighting side-by-side his old friend Bernard Dowd in a streetside brawl. After Tim ultimately rescues Bernard as Robin, he then drops by Bernard’s house to pay him a visit.

At Bernard’s door, Tim can be seen psyching himself up to greet his friend and stammers, “I’m really glad you got home okay. I was relieved. And I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, about that night. And I — I don’t know what it meant to me. Not yet. But I’d like to figure it out.”

Bernard responds by asking him out on a date which the DC hero character then accepts, concluding the episode until the next instalment in December. Fans have long speculated about Robin’s sexuality, albeit his history of dating women in previous iterations. DC fans seem thrilled and quite ecstatic with this DC plot twist as one reader wrote, “Crazy thing, I saw Tim Drake coming out, years ago… congrats to DC for making it a reality.”

“My goal in writing has been and will always be to show just how much God loves you,” writer Fitzmartin tweeted. She added, “You are so incredibly loved and important and seen. Forever grateful to be trusted with Tim Drake and his story and honoured to work with the amazingly talented Ortega and Sánchez.” Ortega also tweeted on Tuesday (10th August) captioning her tweet with a rainbow flag emoji after the issue dropped.

My goal in writing has been and will always be to show just how much God loves you. You are so incredibly loved and important and seen. Forever grateful to be trusted with Tim Drake and his story and honored to work with the amazingly talented @BelenOrtega_ and @loquesunalex 💗 pic.twitter.com/h2BMotX0Iq

— Meghan Fitzmartin (@megfitz89) August 10, 2021

#Batmanurbanlegends #6 is already out and with it our last chapter of “Tim Drake: sum of our parts”. It’s overwhelming all the comments and love I’m receiving from you guys, thanks for your support on my very first series with @DCComics ♥

— Belén Ortega ☆ (@BelenOrtega_) August 10, 2021

Tim Drake finally coming out is so inspiring, DC never wanted a queer Robin but after years and years of campaigning from writers and fans it finally happened

A big thank you to Meghan Fitzmartin, Belén Ortega and Alejandro Sánchez for making this moment so beautiful ❤ pic.twitter.com/xb5YugEYd9

— Neb | 🏳🌈 (@NebsGoodTakes) August 10, 2021

Tim’s Robin is now officially added to the list of other canonised LGBTQ superheroes alongside Marvel’s Aaron Fischer (Captain America), Kate Kane (Batwoman), Bobby Drake (Iceman), Loki, Hulkling, Jean-Paul Beaubier (Northstar), Billy Kaplan (Wiccan), Midnighter and Apollo.

Sources: Entertainment Weekly, TMZ, Fox News


(UPDATE) #Australia: Malaysian Student Arrested For Spending A$4.6 Million That Didn’t Belong To Her; Pleads Not Guilty

What do you do when you discover a large amount of money in your bank account? Thank your lucky stars and spend it lavishly?

That’s exactly what happened to Christine Jiaxin Lee.

Unfortunately, the 21-year-old Malaysian student was arrested by Australian authorities for allegedly spending A$4.6 million (RM13.8 million) that was mistakenly deposited into her bank account.

According to reports, Christine, a chemical engineering student who has been living in Australia for the past 5 years, was arrested by Australian Federal Police at Sydney Airport when she tried to board a flight back to Malaysia on Wednesday (4th May) night.

Christine was charged at Waverly Local Council in Sydney with “dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of the crime” after Westpac Bank mistakenly gave her credit in the form of an unlimited overdraft in August 2012.

Instead of alerting the bank of its error, the young woman went on a massive shopping spree for luxury designer handbags and shoes that would even make our PM’s wife proud. According to Daily Mail, Ms Lee was living luxuriously in a sub-penthouse apartment at River Boulevard complete with Sydney Harbour Bridge views.

Sergeant Turner said that even though Westpac and the police made frequent attempts to contact her, she did not return any of the bank’s phone calls or e-mails. The Waverly Local Council was also informed that out of the A$4.6mil (RM13.8mil), A$3.3mil (RM9.9mil) had not been recovered.

During the court session, Australian magistrate Lisa Stapleton questioned whether Christine had broken the law, as the money she spent was technically given to her. “It isn’t proceeds of crime. It’s money we all dream of. She didn’t take it from them. They gave it (the money) to her,” said Stapleton. If that was the case, then she would owe the bank the money she spent but she wouldn’t have broken the law.

Christine has been granted bail by the magistrate and is due to appear at Downing Centre Local court on 21st June.

If you were in Christine’s shoes, what would you have done?

7 months after Christine Lee Jia Xin was arrested for spending millions that didn’t belong to her, she’s back in the news again.

According to Daily Mail Australia, the 21-year-old Malaysian student in Australia has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her at the Downing Centre Court in Sydney yesterday (Tuesday, 13th December).

Her lawyer, Hugo Aston, told the news portal that the legal team would be “vigorously defending the charges of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime” adding that they are positive Christine will be acquitted.

Christine’s parents are currently in Sydney to provide her with moral support. Hugo added that the family plans on returning to Malaysia once the court ordeal is over.

Sources: Malay Mail Online, The Star Online, Daily Mail, Coconuts.

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#EpikHigh: Tablo To Collaborate With Joey BadA$$ For A New Project

Is the biggest, most explosive hip hop project about to happen soon?

We think so, especially since YG Entertainment announced that Epik High‘s Tablo will release a new collaborative track with Joey Bada$$ sometime in August.

On 27th July (Monday), the Korean entertainment powerhouse announced that Tablo is set to hit the studios with the American hip hop artiste to work on the new song soon. In the announcement post, they wrote:

The latest project is a global one, led by Korean producer Code Kunst and Joey Bada$$. With the confirmation of Tablo for participation of the project, we will be seeing a collaboration between him and Joey Bada$$.

Born in Brooklyn, USA , Joey Bada$$ released his first mixtape “1999” in 2012 at the young age of 17. Earlier in January, he dropped his debut album titled “B4.DA.$$ (Before the Money) and received high praises from critics across the world due to his old-school” Boom Bap” sound. He recently captivated the crowd with his performances at this year’s Fuji Rock Festival as well.

Both Tablo and Joey Bada$$ are known as being “lyrical” rappers in the hip-hop scene, thus their collaboration track is highly anticipated by their fans (including us).

What do you think of the collaboration? Considering how both rappers are known for their profound lyrics, do you think the song is going to be great as well? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.

Source: YG Family via  Soompi / Image sources: Tumblr, High Snobiety


10 Fairytale Films To Watch Before Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’s Wedding

Are you excited for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding this weekend? Has it turned into a slight obsession? It’s ok, we’re not going to judge ;)

In the words of psychiatrist Dr. Sudeepta Varma, “We are fascinated and obsessed with fairy tales. They have been a part of our society’s fabric since childhood. They help us escape from the everyday mundane“. Plenty of Hollywood movies have combined romance and royalty, usually one royal falling in love with a common-folk, to give us the ultimate happily ever after.

Before we witness Markle walking down the aisle on 19th May, we’ve compiled a list of movies that exudes royal romance.

“This updated adaptation of the classic fairytale tells the story of Danielle, a vibrant young woman who is forced into servitude after the death of her father. Danielle’s stepmother Rodmilla is a heartless woman who forces Danielle to do the cooking and cleaning, while she tries to marry off her own two daughters. But Danielle’s life takes a wonderful turn when she meets the charming Prince Henry.”

“Anna has been employed to educate the king’s 58 children. She knows very little of King Mongkut, apart from the fact that his people revere him as a god. She brings with her an East vs. West prejudice against the king, considering him to be uncivilised. She soon realises that her views are more than matched by the rulers own preconceptions about the West and particularly this impertinent English woman.”

“Shy San Francisco teenager Mia Thermopolis is thrown for a loop when, from out of the blue, she learns the astonishing news that she’s a real-life princess! As the heir apparent to the crown of the small European principality of Genovia, Mia begins a comical journey toward the throne when her strict and formidable grandmother, Queen Clarisse Renaldi, shows up to give her ‘princess lessons’.”

“Kate McKay is a modern day executive, a 21st century woman driven to succeed in the corporate world. Leopold, the third Duke of Albany, is a charming gent and bachelor of the late 18OOs. With career and social expectations looming, each has grown cynical about the very notion of falling in love. But when a rip in the fabric of time thrusts Leopold into present day New York, the potential for an old-fashioned modern romance ignites.”

“On a whim, American teenager Daphne boards a plane to England to find the father she never met. Upon arriving there, though, she makes a startling discovery: The man she’s looking for is Lord Henry Dashwood, a member of the British upper class, who is running for political office. Lord Henry didn’t know Daphne existed, but he welcomes her into his life. However, she isn’t so sure – and his family and his current betrothed look on her disapprovingly.”

“As a baby, Ella receives a visit from Lucinda, her fairy godmother, and is bestowed with a magical talent that requires her to obey anything that she is told to do. This proves to be more of a curse than a blessing, particularly once her mother dies and she is forced to live with the cruel Dame Olga. Eventually, Ella embarks on a journey to find Lucinda and break the spell, accompanied by the handsome Prince Charmont.”

“Paige Morgan is a focused premed student who becomes intrigued by Eddie, a wealthy Danish student. Despite Eddie’s initially boorish behaviour, Paige falls for him, only to discover that his father and mother are the king and queen of Denmark, and he is heir apparent to the throne. As Eddie adjusts to American life, and Paige gets used to her beau being a future king, the two must decide if their romance is something that can last.”

“In the fairy-tale land of Andalasia, pretty young Giselle frolics with her woodland pals, and falls in love with the handsome Prince Edward, but when Giselle arrives at the castle to marry her Prince Charming, his evil stepmother sends the princess-to-be to a place where there are `no happy ever afters’: New York City. Cynical divorce lawyer Robert comes to her rescue, but can Giselle find her way back to her true love?”

Netflix had a hit “A Christmas Prince” was released during the holiday season last year. An aspiring young American journalist, Amber Moore, was sent abroad to get the scoop on a dashing adopted prince named Richard. You can guess what happens next.

“Chronicling the courtship and love story between a beloved prince and his new fiancée, the film will examine the history of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from the moment they met after being set up by friends, through their initial courtship when they were able to keep their romance under wraps, and ultimately the intense global media attention surrounding their relationship and Meghan’s life as a divorced American actress.”

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Malaysian Males Are Offended By This Song Which Advises Them To…

Remember Takahara Suiko? The talented gal who made personalised birthday jingle for only RM50! (Not sure if she still does that…) Anyway, she has come out with new song, but apparently Malaysians – especially men – don’t really appreciate it.

The song is called “Mari Pertahankan Lelaki” (translated as, “let’s defend the men”) which is kind of misleading because the song is not really about protecting men but more of an advice to them, asking them to control their lust.

Takahara, or more fondly known as Taka, wrote the song in lieu of the recent and many violent cases which happened to women such as the MRT lift robbery, the murder of an 11-year-old girl, and others.

“In lieu of recent events and technically any woman’s eternity, we have been told to ‘be safe’, ‘be careful’, ‘don’t do this or that’, ‘have pepper spray’, etc. Now it’s time for us to advise the men. Crime can happen to anyone,” she shared.

However, as she has expected, many men are offended by the content of the song, which seems to be generalising that all men are the same and putting all the blame on them.

Hahahaha ingat penjenayah nak dengar ke kau nyanyi ni? Kau nyanyi pun samun, rogol, rompak, still ada jugak. Come on, takkan macam ni level perempuan fikir? 😂😂 https://t.co/jxhUysKEdC

— Shahrul (@ShahrulBertweet) February 20, 2019

But despite some disapprovals, many are defending and supporting the artist for having the courage to voice out the issue in public. Some even praised her calming vocals and music style and many even requested her to put up the song on Spotify.

Pretty sure the idea here is to teach people to be a decent human being before they become criminals instead of waiting until it is too late. If girls can be taught to be aware since we were young, surely can teach everybody to be a great human being from young also.

— Hawa⁷ saw Yoongi (@hahawawa) February 20, 2019

The context here is bigger than the video. It's just that whenever these things happened we're more focused on telling girls to be careful as if we don't know that already. Now is the time to focus on the other side.

Half the men replying to this tweet are like:Abuse towards women happen on a daily basis and we know that it's wrong BUT GOD FORBID WOMEN ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT

— de zerbi fan (aiman) (@aimandamai_) February 20, 2019

For those who find the song offensive, you can look for Taka at The Gasket Alley on 8th March 2019. She will be performing there in conjunction with International Women’s Day. Entrance fee is only RM25!

So are you offended by the song or do you think Taka should make more awareness-themed song like this? Let us know~


#MasterClass: Christina Aguilera Is Offering Singing Lessons

“It’s official! Call me Professor Aguilera,” Christina Aguilera recently tweeted.

Ever wished you could belt out a tune like X’tina? Your dreams just came true. Soon, aspiring singers won’t need to audition for “The Voice” to be coached by the Grammy winner. You read right, Aguilera will be sharing singing lessons with the whole class. The MasterClass, that is.

From being able to hit those impressive high notes to channeling the raw grit and soul in her performances, X’tina is one of the top vocal powerhouses of today. Her recent stint as a judge on “The Voice” seemed to have sparked her mentor flame and now she wants to share her experience with you.

X’tina made the official announcement on Twitter that she will be offering an instructional singing program on MasterClass. Titled “Christina Aguilera’s MasterClass”, the online education will help students all over the world expand their vocal range.

“You’ll learn warm-up exercises, breath control, vibrato, her signature growls, and hear Christina break down her biggest hits,” the MasterClass website reads. For US$90, X’tina class will offer more than 20 video lessons along with a 40-page workbook and a vocal training app.

“I’m interested in and passionate about many different things and I wanted (the course) to reflect that. I can be very eclectic and switch genres. I can sing anything from Andrea Bocelli and Puff Daddy to The Rolling Stones and Dave Navarro to something more obscure and ballad-esque,” said X’tina in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

She added, “Being half-Spanish myself, that’s also an important part of my journey. Ultimately, I’m giving my own experiences, my experiences of working with other artists, specific stories from my journey that others can learn from“.

In a short trailer for the class, the singer assures potential students that “every student can learn from this course how to better trust yourself, what to look out for, what to listen to, when to project, when to be silent“. If you’re still having second thoughts, X’tina provides a much-needed reminder, “Technique is only a quarter of it – passion and drive is like 100% of it“.

For more information on Christina Aguilera’s MasterClass, you can hit up the website here.

Sources: Maire Claire, The Hollywood Reporter, E! Online.

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#FiftyShadesDarker: John Legend, Sia, Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift & More Featured In Soundtrack

The anticipation for “Fifty Shades Darker” just got a tad more tantalising, thanks to the released of the tracklist from the original motion picture soundtrack.

Although Ellie Goulding and The Weeknd are nowhere to be found on the album, the film’s production team has absolutely earned its keep for assembling some major pop music heavyweights to set the mood for the erotic “Fifty Shades” sequel.

Nick Jonas and Nicki Minaj joined forces for a duet called “Bom Bidi Bom”, while John Legend is lending his soulful vocals to a track titled “One Woman Man”. Tove Lo, who previously contributed to “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” soundtrack, will also be featured on this soundtrack.

Of course, no compilation would be complete without a token from Sia. The enigmatic artiste delivers a powerful pop-anthem with “Helium”. As for the next single? The honour goes to Halsey’s “Not Afraid Anymore”. The full track is expected to arrive tomorrow (Friday, 13th January).

Aside from the musicians above, other big acts on the soundtrack include Kygo and The-Dream. While most of the songs on the album are comprised of fresh tunes, Idolator notes that there could be several cover versions in the mix as well. Corinne Bailey Rae’s take on “The Scientist” by Coldplay is an example.

While we wait for more tracks from the soundtrack to premiere, fans can still enjoy the solid collaboration from Zayn Malik and Taylor Swift titled, “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever”. The former One Direction singer was recently spotted filming the music video for the aforementioned song in London.

The album will be available for pre-sale this week and is expected to drop on 10th February to coincide with the film’s premiere.

Sources: Idolator, Paste Magazine, ET Online.


100% Price Increase? Netizens Compare Good Vibes Festival 2023 Tickets To Previous Years

Local annual music and arts showcase, Good Vibes Festival is back – bigger than ever!

This year’s Good Vibes Festival will take place at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur. Unlike previous years, this music gala will go on for three days – From 21st to 23rd July. Earlier this week, Good Vibes Festival announced the lineup of musical acts set to appear on the festival.

A post shared by Good Vibes Festival (@goodvibesfest)

The Strokes, The 1975 and The Kid Laroi are set to headline the 10th year of the Good Vibes Festival. Other international acts that have been announced so far include Sabrina Carpenter, Dhruv, ALYPH, DPR Live and also DPR Ian. However, it appears that others were less than ecstatic after realising how expensive the price of the Good Vibes Festival cost.

According to its official website, the 3-day passes will be sold in three phases – Phase 1 tickets priced at RM788 (22nd February until 5th March), phase two at RM888 (6th March until 7th May) and Phase 3 for RM988 (8th May onwards). They also offer the “Squad Goals (Bundle of five passes)” tickets for RM4190. Unsurprisingly, netizens were dumbfounded by the ticket pricing. Many have taken to Twitter to air their frustration.

“Who tf is able to afford these prices in this economy?” one Twitterjaya resident commented. Others also compared the price of the 3-day passes of the upcoming music gala to the price of previous Good Vibes Fest tickets. “Good Vibes Festival 2013 vs Good Vibes Festival 2023. RM788 divide by 3 (days) = RM263 per day.  Almost an 105% price increase in a decade. Did your salary make a 105% jump in 10 years?” one questioned.

RM788/3 = RM263 per dayAlmost an 105% price increase in a decade.

Did your salary make a 105% jump in 10 years? pic.twitter.com/rSgfxTPKAg

— カルサン (Karusa-n) 🏴 (@connerylazenby) February 20, 2023

who tf is able to afford these prices IN THIS ECONOMY

anyways… here's my band's cover of Selfless: https://t.co/1V03alcYGk

— alena (@AlenaNadia99) February 20, 2023

me seeing the ticket price for good vibes pic.twitter.com/xooKwBXlUu

kenapa good vibes mahal sangat wtf rm788 for early bird, you literally sell it for almost rm400 in 2019 and now its double the price??? (also yes i do actually wanna buy the ticket)

— aiza 🏴 (@nothallucional) February 20, 2023

In comparison, early bird tickets for Good Vibes Festival 2019 (pre-Covid) cost RM360 for 2-day passes, followed by RM390 (Phase 1), RM420 (Phase 2), RM450 (Phase 3). Fast forward to 2023, the 3-day passes are priced at RM788 (Phase 1), RM888 (Phase 2), and RM988 (Phase 3).

What a steep increase. I paid RM678 for the Good Vibes tix AND accommodation package in 2019 https://t.co/nE7AmMGvje

— Suraya: bestselling Bergaji & Pokai book (@surayaror) February 21, 2023

Tickets are on sale starting today. Judging from the comments, most are excited for The Strokes and only want to purchase a day pass. What about you?

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Hype’s Exclusive: Talking Shop For A Bit With Young Brit DJ/Producer Philip George

Hailing from the UK, Philip George is probably younger than most DJs/producers who are climbing to the top of music charts – but his dreams are just as big, if not even bigger.

On 28th December 2014, he released his debut single “Wish You Were Mine”. From what we know, the song samples Motown singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder’s song “My Cherie Amour”, a soul classic that was recorded and released way back in the late 1960s. So what business did Philip George have in breathing life back into the tune and how well was it received in the end? On 4th January 2015, “Wish You Were Mine” entered the UK Singles Chart at #2. It was only held off #1 by Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk”.

How’s that for a grand entry by a bedroom producer, eh?

Recently, we managed to ring up this budding superstar and talked shop for a bit with the young Brit. We find out how his (almost) instantaneous success has been treating him, how he’s adapting to being in the limelight, and what other tricks he has got up his sleeves for the neat future.


Daniel Wu & Lisa Announces Birth Of Daughter

Hong Kong actor Daniel Wu and his wife, model Lisa Selesner announced the birth of their first child over their micro blogs on Monday.

“We would like to announce the birth of our healthy baby girl Raven Wu. A couple has now become a family. We are so excited to begin this new journey in our lives!”, said the couple. They also attached a photo of their child’s tiny left hand to their micro blog posts.

Wu, who wed Selesner in South Africa in 2010, had previously expressed that he would take a break from acting in order to spend more time with his daughter once she is born.


#Oscars: The Complete Winners List

Presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), the 87th Academy Awards was held on 22nd February 2015 (23rd in Malaysia) at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles. Despite being a first-time host for the awards, “Gone Girl” star Neil Patrick Harris successfully kicked off the ceremony with his hilarious monologue and a musical performance. He was later joined by Anna Kendrick and Jack Black on stage.

J.K. Simmons bagged the “Actor in a Supporting Role” award for his outstanding performance in “Whiplash”. All best 8 picture nominees won an Oscar but Alejandro González Iñárritu’s unconventional film “Birdman” and Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” soared at the ceremony by taking home 4 Academy Awards respectively. “Birdman” beat other nominees by winning “Best Picture”, which was also the final award of the night. Although the director and the actor for “Selma”  were shut out in their respective categories, the movie won the “Best Original Song” with Common and John Legend’s recent Golden Globe-winning “Glory”.

One of the award highlights goes to “Boyhood” star Patricia Arquette, the actress who gave a life-giving speech about gender equality after winning “Best Supporting Actress”.

Check out the list of winners for the 87th Academy Awards below:

For more pictures from the awards, check out the gallery below:

The 87th Annual Academy Awards was broadcasted live in Asia on HBO (Astro Ch 411/431) on 23rd Feb from 6am. The primetime encore of Oscars Red Carpet 2015 and The 87th Annual Academy Awards will air on the same day at 7:30pm and 9pm respectively.

For more information, visit HBO Asia’s website or Facebook page.


Hype’s Now Playing: Martin Garrix Ft. Usher – Don’t Look Down

The worlds of electronic music and R&B continues to blend with collaborations that no one thought were possible of happening just months ago. From Deorro teaming up with Chris Brown to Jack Ü‘s collaboration with Justin Bieber, wunderkind Martin Garrix has borrowed Usher’s vocals for his latest track, “Don’t Look Down”.

Both Garrix and Usher have been teasing this collaboration for the past couple of weeks on their respective social media accounts and boy, that just drove the internet into a frenzy. No stranger to the dance music world, Usher has previously collaborated with Swedish House Mafia and David Guetta.

A photo posted by Martin Garrix (@martingarrix) on Mar 4, 2015 at 4:59pm PST

The latest single from Garrix and Usher was recently released and it follows the same aesthetic Garrix established with his previous work, “Forbidden Voices”. “Don’t Look Me Down” features a guitar driven intro, Usher’s high vocals and light-sultry sounding synths.

Check out the track below and be sure to purchase it here.

For more on Martin Garrix, his up his social media platforms: Website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Hype’s Must Watch: Kung Fu Panda 3

Fans of the “Kung Fu Panda” film series can really expect “a great joy” from the upcoming threequel of the franchise, as the first official trailer, which was released by DreamWorks Animation, already had us laughing out loud.

Jack Black is returning to the 3rd “Kung Fu Panda” film as Po, with “Breaking Bad” star Bryan Cranston attached to portray Li, one of the newest characters in the movie.

Po is believed to be the last panda left in the world as he lost his father when he was young. He has never seen any other pandas, but the photos posted last week and the first official trailer indicated that all his bear kins still exist.

When Po’s long-lost panda father suddenly reappears, the reunited duo travels to a secret panda paradise to meet scores of hilarious new panda characters. But when the supernatural villain Kai begins to sweep across China defeating all the kung fu masters, Po must do the impossible—learn to train a village full of his fun-loving, clumsy brethren to become the ultimate band of Kung Fu Pandas

“Kung Fu Panda 2” helmer Jennifer Yuh has returned to co-direct this animated movie alongside veteran animator Alessandro Carloni.

The original cast members from the past “Kung Fu Panda” films are also returning to voice their respective roles. Dustin Hoffman will voice warrior trainer Master Shifu while Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, David Cross, and Lucy Liu will voice the “Furious Five” kung fu warriors.

“Kung Fu Panda 3″ is scheduled for release on 29th January 2016. It will be released in Malaysia on 17th March 2016.

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


#BTSinMY: An Energy-Packed Experience With The Boys Of BTS

Well, if we had to choose one word to describe BTS‘s first solo concert “2015 BTS Live Trilogy In Malaysia – Episode II: The Red Bullet” in Malaysia, we would definitely go for that word. The Malay word, which translates to “good” in English, can be used to express a multitude of meanings, ranging from “AWESOME!” to “meh… Okay”, depending on the tone you use to pronounce the word. The members of BTS couldn’t stop uttering the word in high spirits, and well, neither could we, as we were constantly amazed at how enthusiastic the boys appeared to be at their concert.

But before we talk about their debut concert in Malaysia that was held on Saturday night, we would want to talk about the delightful time we had with the boy group during their press conference.

During the press conference, which was aptly titled “A Date with BTS” (because, yeah, the boys were so mesmerising that we might as well be on a solo date with them), BTS talked about a huge range of things, from their first visit to Malaysia, to their album production, to how they maintained their stamina. Did we expect them to be this talkative and interactive? No, but isn’t it better this way? ;)

When the emcee asked them about their first impression of Malaysia, Suga said that the first thing they noticed were the warm welcome from ARMYs (as fans of BTS are lovingly known). Then, J-Hope added that they would definitely come over to Malaysia for their holidays, as it’s beautiful here in Malaysia and the country has a “beautiful season”. In J-Hope’s words, “it’s just a beautiful country”. We can’t help but agree with him!

We’re also sure that fans were pondering the meaning of “The Red Bullet”, which was the title for their solo tour. To relieve fans of their curiosity, J-Hope said that the group came up with this name as “there’s a lot of prejudice in this world”, and they would like to appear as a red bullet that has the power to go through every obstacle and prejudice in the world. Rap Monster added that it symbolises their passion for music, and “red bullets” are like teenagers and young adults in their 20s who are filled with energy.

As for the meaning of their latest album, “The Most Beautiful Moment In Life, Part 1”, the leader, who can converse in fluent English, expressed that the new album talked about both the good and bad side of youth and the songs revolved around the theme. They want to inform the public that though youth is beautiful, but it has its dark and dangerous side as well.

BTS are known for their explosive and energetic performance that requires them to sing and dance at the same time. It is not as easy as one would think, as it requires lots of concentration and stamina. Jimin did say that to maintain their stamina, they have certain special workouts and lessons, but generally, their dance practice, which could take up to hours, are more than enough to become their workout and increase their stamina. J-Hope chimed in and jokingly said, “Dancing is a type of sports too!”

When the group talked a little about the hardships when they first debuted, V said that they were awkward at first and did not know where to look while giving interviews. Sometimes, there were also so many cameras that they got confused. But after 2 years of experience, the boy became more natural and “can show more gestures on stage”. BTS is indeed filled with unpredictable members, as member J-Hope suddenly interrupted the translator and shouted “Camera!” before posing for the cameras! The unexpected but adorable action certainly elicited laughter from members of the media.

When questioned on which member improved the most since their debut, V said Jimin, J-Hope chose Jung Kook, Jin selected J-Hope, while Rap Monster picked Jimin. They all had different reasons, with V simply stating that “Jimin got a lot more awesome” and J-Hope saying that “Jung Kook has matured a lot and even start to write and compose songs”. Jin also expressed that “J-Hope became a lot more brighter” while Rap Monster explained that Jimin “has gotten a lot more cooler but still have space for improvement”.

The 2-year-old boy group also sincerely thanked their fans multiple times throughout the press conference. They stated that fans stuck with them through thick and thin, and were there for them when they had their first concert, first concert tour, and even when they won the rookie awards and the music show awards. They promised that the fans will always be a motivation for them to work harder.

Fast forward to Saturday (6th June), which was the day of the concert. The excitement of fans were apparent as they already started to flood the venue 5 hours before the concert started. Fans were shouting and chanting “BTS” as they expressed their eagerness to see their favourite group. They finally got their wishes at 6pm, as the hip-hop boy group started their show right on time.

A VCR was shown at first, portraying the boys as high school students who rebel against the systematic education that applies to all students in the world. The VCR did remind us of “No More Dream”, their debut track which talked about the unrealistic expectations that society has on the young. Kudos to the group, for being consistent with their theme and being a voice for all students around the world.

After the VCR was shown, BTS appeared on stage and began the show with a few fast paced songs. We have to say, the songs were really effective for bringing us into the mood. They performed “N.O.” and “We Are Bulletproof Pt 2” consecutively, only pausing to take a break after performing the 2nd song in which the boys finally greeted their fans amidst loud screams from the crowd. With the formality of introducing themselves out of the way, the boy group continued with their set, and sang “We On” and “Hip Hop Lover”, 2 more quick tempo songs that had us nodding our heads along with the rhythm.

Well, after dancing and singing impeccably for half an hour, we can’t really blame the boys when they had to take a break. They also took the chance to interact with fans, and J-Hope did not hesitate to tease fans when he asked for their permission to take off their jackets as “it is so hot in here”. That, of course, prompted fans to shout their approvals out loud.

It was then time for some slower tempo songs, with “Let Me Know” and “Rain” being the most suitable for the occasion. For the performances of the aforementioned songs, fancy props and stage aids were removed. The members stood and sang as they looked intently at the crowd in front of them. Fans were also moved by their singing, as the songs were stripped and were a good means to showcase their vocal talents. It was an understatement to say that their rendition was perfect.

As the show progressed, BTS performed some of their more well-known tracks, such as “Just One Day”, “No More Dream”, and “War of Hormone”. Needless to say, fans were singing along at the top of their lungs and we have to say that it was a sight (or sound) to behold. The whole stadium was reverberating with the voices of BTS and ARMYs as their voices joined as one, signifying their unbreakable bond.

The highlight of the event came when another VCR played, this time documenting the times BTS went through with their fans, from the start of the career when they had nothing, until now, when they already have several achievements under their belt. The VCR was played in conjunction with their 2nd anniversary since their debut, and we would be lying if we say we weren’t moved by the video.

Though BTS already thanked fans continuously at the press conference, they continued to convey their gratitude to ARMYs who were at the concert venue. Incessant “thank yous” were uttered by the members, as they truly believed that all of their achievements were unachievable without the aid of their fans. Rap Monster also said that this leg of the tour is very meaningful to them, as it is the first show for the second half of their “The Red Bullet” tour. The members also showed their gratitude by constantly giving fan service, as they frequently hugged each other and had a lot of “skinskip” between the members.

Another thing we found cute: the effort the boys put into speaking English. Their English, understandably, were heavily influenced by their mother language, but it was still comprehensible and it definitely made things easier for fans. They did not require a translator this time round and fans greatly appreciated that as the meanings and emotions could be lost if a translator were to take some time to translate what they said. BTS did their best to speak in another language other than their native language, and it paid off, as they sounded pretty fluent!

All in all, the concert not only embodied how perfect the K-pop group was, but also stands for everything that they are: energetic, talented, cute, dedicated, and well, there’s no other way to put it – awesome.

“2015 BTS Live Trilogy in Malaysia Episode II. “The Red Bullet ” Set List:

1. N.O
2. We Are Bulletproof pt 2
3. We on
4. Hiphop Lover
5. Let Me Know
6. Rain
7. Blanket Kick
8. Just one day
9. Look here
10. Propose (Jin, Jimin, V &Jungkook)
11. No More Dream
12. Tomorrow
13. Miss Right
14. I Like It
15. If I Ruled The World
16. Killer (Rap Monster, Suga & J-Hope)
17. War of Hormone
18. Danger
19. I NEED U
20. Boy in Luv

1. Road
2. Boyz With Fun
3. Attack on Bangtan

BTS definitely gave us a night we won’t forget when they came to Malaysia for their world tour. The boys not only gave us an energetic performance, but were filled with so much passion that we could feel their excitement at times, even though we were seated quite a distance away from the stage. They have indeed converted us into true blue fans, and trust us when we say that we will be waiting for them to return to Malaysia.

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#TARA: Members Soyeon & Boram To Leave Group After Last Album In May

We’ve got some bad news for you, Queen’s :(

On 23rd March, MBK Entertainment announced that members Soyeon and Boram have decided not to renew their contracts. However, Qri, Eunjung, Hyomin, and Jiyeon will be extending their contracts till December.

“As reported, Soyeon and Boram’s contracts expire on 15th May and they will not re-sign. Hyomin, Jiyeon, Eunjung, and Qri have extended their contracts until December of this year. They will continue their group and solo promotions, both domestic and overseas. The upcoming album, which will be released on 17th May, is their last album as a group of 6.”

Besides that, it was reported that the girls’ final album will include a special 6-minute medley that consists of 24 hit songs. This includes “Lies”, “TTL (Time to Love)”, “Bo Beep Bo Beep”, “You Drive Me Crazy”, “Lovey-Dovey”, “Number Nine”, “Sugar Free”, and “Roly Poly”.

Known for their hook-heavy dance music, T-ARA made their debut in 2009 with their first album, “Absolute First Album”. To date, the group has spawned several albums and EPs such as “Day By Day”, “Black Eyes”, “Temptastic”, and more. Their most recent comeback was in November 2016 with their 8th EP “Remember”, featuring the title track “TIAMO”.

Sources: All Kpop, Soompi (1)(2), Koreaboo.


Fired Up Fridays Pres. Mark Sixma

Mark Sixma is the hot topic of conversation amongst trance fans right now, the latest production maestro to emerge from the world’s dance music capital, The Netherlands.

A few months on from his largely successful Australia tour with Genesis and Mark has already made debut appearances the world over from India to Malaysia. Mark recently returned back to his homeland to appear at ASOT #650 on 15th February for a second time, after appearing a couple of years back at ASOT #550.

2013 saw Mark release the mammoth “Requiem” on W&W’s Mainstage Music imprint knocking none other than “King of Trance” Armin van Buuren off the Beatport Trance #1 spot. Along with two smash and grab collabs “Rio” [Armind] and “Tripod” [Captivating Sounds] with Klauss Goulart and Faruk Sabanci, respectively.

In the latter half of 2013 who could forget the inimitable “Character” the result of a commission for internationally renowned Dutch brewery Grolsch, coupled with a progressive house/trance crossover collaboration with Jerome Isma-Ae titled “Refused”. All this on top of also finding time to squeeze remixes in for Andy Duguid and Cosmic Gate on Black Hole Recordings:

Where some artists may release at a greater rate, arguably, you will be hard pressed to find someone who has released consistent quality hits like Mark Sixma in the past 12 months. This why he is dubbed by many fans as a “must see” artiste!

Ticket Entry:: RM40 before 11pm (Men/Ladies) (inc 1 drink) / RM55 after 11pm (Men/Ladies) (inc 1 drink)

Reservations*: Please call 03-2171 1997 (12pm – 6pm) or 0163323191 (after 6pm) or email rsvn@zoukclub.com.my

For more information, visit Zouk Club Kuala Lumpur’s website or Facebook page.


2018 Malaysia School Holidays & Term Dates Revealed

It’s time to mark those holiday dates on your calendar. We previously unveiled the 2018 calendar with the latest updates on the 2018 public holidays in Malaysia. Guess what? We now have the school term dates and holidays.

This would certainly come in handy for families with children still in school. There are 4 long school holidays throughout 2018, 2 on each term. So whether you and your family are planning to travel within the country or overseas, it’s never too early to start planning.

Although the Ministry of Education (MOE) is responsible for setting the term dates and holidays for all schools across the country, it’s important to note that certain dates may vary between the state or territory you’re living in.

The graphs (below) are broken into 2 categories – Group A and Group B. Group A are the states that have Friday and Saturday as their weekend. They are Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu. On the other hand, Group B are those that have Saturday and Sunday as their weekend (which are all the remaining states).

The dates highlighted in yellow are the long school holidays that fall on the 1st term, mid-term, 2nd term, and year-end.

*Do also note that these dates are preliminary and may change in 2018.

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ONE OK ROCK To Perform In Malaysia As Ed Sheeran’s Opening Act

Famous Japanese rock band ONE OK ROCK has announced that they will the official opening act for Ed Sheeran’s Asia leg of Divide World Tour.

“So excited and such an honor that we will be joining Ed Sheeran on the Asia leg of his Divide World Tour. Kick off in April at Taoyuan City Stadium, and we will be playing 10 dates all over Asia,” the band announced on their social media.

A post shared by ONE OK ROCK (@oneokrockofficial)

This will be the 4-member J-rock band’s second visit to Malaysia since their Who Are You? Who Are We? Tour Live In Kuala Lumpur in 2013.

They will also be opening for Ed Sheeran in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, and more.

ONE OK ROCK gained international recognition via the single “The Beginning”, which was used as the theme song for the live-action “Rurouni Kenshin” movie adaptation.

Throughout the years, the band won various awards and recognitions including Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards for Eastern Breakthrough Male Band in 2016 and Rock Sound Awards for Best International Band in 2017.

Tickets for Ed Sheeran’s concert in Malaysia can be purchased via prworldwidelive.com or myticket.asia.


Yuna Sparkles On With Samsung GALAXY Note

It was merely a month ago when Yuna announced that she will be using her trusty Samsung GALAXY Note to shoot, edit, and animate her new music video.

Just yesterday, the people of Samsung Malaysia Electronics, invited guests of the entertainment industry, fans, and members of the media got a first look at “The Sparkle Project”.

Said to be Malaysia’s first music video created with the Samsung GALAXY Note, the event showcased Yuna’s new music video for her wonderful single, “Sparkle”. The music video was the result of a creative partnership between Yuna and Samsung Malaysia Electronics.

“The past three months was an amazing experience for us all. The idea behind The Sparkle Project was basically to bring new perspectives to the music industry through the state-of-the-art technology built within the Samsung GALAXY Note. This in turn, brings new experiences to our customers and takes user experiences to a whole new level,” said Vincent Chong (Head of Mobile Phone Division, Samsung Malaysia Electronics).

Yuna, who is currently based in the United States, was in town specifically for the debut and made an appearance at the premier as Malaysia’s award-winning singer/songwriter and to share more on her creative partnership with Samsung Malaysia for the Samsung GALAXY Note. As part of the official launch of the music video, she also performed her single “Sparkle” at the event.

When asked about her creative partnership with Samsung Malaysia Electronics for the Samsung GALAXY Note, Yuna beamed, “I am delighted to see the outcome of the Sparkle Music Video at this event. The entire shoot was unique and one-of-a-kind experience for me. I am happy that the fans’ support was overwhelming and many had submitted their creative visuals, inspiration and ideas to create this wonderful experience for all of us.”

Samsung customers and fans of Yuna took part in the exciting The Sparkle Project by contributing visual suggestions and ideas for the music video via The Sparkle Project’s digital space here. Selected ideas and visuals were creatively-interpreted and featured in Yuna’s ‘Sparkle’ music video.

For more information on the Samsung GALAXY Note, please visit the official website or visit Samsung Mobile Malaysia’s Facebook page.

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Marvel Replaces Steve Rogers With New African-American Captain America

Marvel sure is making crazy big changes!

This fall, comic giants, Marvel, will have Steve Rogers pass his star-spangled shield on to Sam Wilson, making Wilson, more commonly known as the Falcon, the first African-American Captain America. Following its overall drive for more diversity, this announcement comes a day after Marvel revealed plans to give the role of Thor to a woman this fall.

Wilson is set to take up the mantle of Captain America after Rogers has his super serum sucked out of his body, thereby losing his super-soldier abilities and ages into an old man. Wilson, who is one of Cap’s oldest friend and ally is the perfect candidate to carry on Rogers’ legacy — he was after all there to save Rogers’ life before the end of issue 21.

Created in 1969, Wilson is Marvel’s first African American superhero and is not the first character to replace Rogers as the iconic American hero.  James “Bucky” Barnes aka the Winter Soldier is the first person of colour to officially hold the moniker.

“While Sam shares many of Steve’s beliefs in a general sense, he’s also a very different person with a very different background. He didn’t grow up in the 1930s, he’s a modern day man in touch with the problems of the 21st Century,” said series editor Tom Brevoort in an interview.

Marvel, has however, explored with the idea of black super soldiers in the past. 2003’s limited series Truth: Red, White, and Black featured the attempts of World War II scientists recreating the original super soldier serum, tesing their formula on enlisted black soldiers, mirroring the infamous Tuskegee syphilis experiment.

The only survivor of the tests that gained superhuman strength, speed, and endurance was Isaiah Bradley who would have  became a legend in the African-American community and be considered as the Black Captain America, but his identity and historical significance were not commonly known.

The new changes in characters sure are exciting and we can’t wait to find out what else Marvel has in-store for us.

Let us know what your thoughts are on this in the comments!


#SDCC2016: Marvel’s Mind-Bending #DoctorStrange Trailer Will Make You Question Reality

“What if I told you the reality you know is one of many?”

The 2016 San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), which was held over the weekend, allowed fans to step into the magical world of superheroes and super-villains as powerhouses Warner Bros., DC Entertainment, and Marvel dropped teaser after teaser, and trailer after trailer of their offerings at their respective panels.

But it wasn’t limited to SDCC attendees alone as fans from all over the world were collectively flipping out as videos and interviews rolled in. One such video that successfully bowled fans over was none other than the new “Doctor Strange” trailer.

The footage, which debuted during Marvel’s SDCC panel, gave attendees a closer look at English actor Benedict Cumberbatch as surgeon-turned-sorcerer, the Sorcerer Supreme.

“Marvel’s Doctor Strange follows the story of the talented neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange (played by Benedict Cumberbatch) who, after a tragic car accident, must put ego aside and learn the secrets of a hidden world of mysticism and alternate dimensions. Based in New York City’s Greenwich Village, Doctor Strange must act as an intermediary between the real world and what lies beyond, utilising a vast array of metaphysical abilities and artefacts to protect the Marvel cinematic universe.”

We’ve already seen a generous amount of footage (bless Marvel!) in the 1st trailer that was released back in April this year. Director Scott Derrickson retained some of the same shots for the 2nd trailer, but also made way for the other characters, namely supervillains Baron Mordo (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Kaecilius (played by Mads Mikkelsen) via some never-before-seen scenes.

I am death, and pain – you’ll die protecting this world.

True to the nature of the story, the trailer also includes some very intense, mind-bending footage like a cross between “Inception” and Marvel’s version of “The Matrix”. It’s magic, it’s strange (no pun intended), and November can’t come soon enough.

“Doctor Strange” also stars Tilda Swinton, Rachel McAdams, and Benedict Wong. The film will be released worldwide on 4th November 2016.

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

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#VivaLaMadness: Jason Statham Confirms “Layer Cake” Sequel Is Still Happening

Jason Statham may be busy doing promotional rounds for the action comedy “Spy“, but he certainly did not forget to take the chance to talk about his upcoming movie, “Viva La Madness”.

“Viva La Madness” was previously confirmed for production in 2013, with Statham buying over the rights to the movie. However, not much about the film have been heard since then and many fans assumed that the movie has been dropped.

In an interview with Digital Spy, Statham confirmed that the movie is still in production.

J.J. Connolly’s written a great book called “Viva La Madness”, and we’re taking that book and doing something great with it. He’s such a talented writer. The book was incredible. I loved “Layer Cake” and this is, if anything, better. The chance to work with someone of that caliber, to do something back home, it’s the most exciting thing on my plate. We’re doing it next year, and it’s full steam ahead. We’re putting all the (financing) together, and we’re off and racing.

“Viva La Madness” is the sequel to 2004’s “Layer Cake”, a crime thriller film that centres on the social stratification of the British criminal underworld.

Both films are adapted from the novels of the same name, which are written by J. J. Connolly.

The first movie was directed by Matthew Vaughn, starring Daniel Craig in the titular role as an unnamed cocaine dealer, who is only known as XXXX. Craig will not be returning for the sequel as Statham would be taking over the role instead.

Statham will also be producing the movie based on a script written by Connolly himself, but it is unsure who will be chosen to helm the movie. The actor and his manager/producing partner Steve Chasman have reportedly prioritised the production of the movie and if all goes well, production will start by the time “Furious 7” finish its run in cinemas.

Statham has starred in 3 action films so far this year, namely “Wild Card”, “Furious 7”, and “Spy”.

His latest outing in Paul Feig‘s “Spy” has him playing a badass but slightly lunatic secret agent. “Spy” was released on 21st May and is currently showing in cinemas nationwide.


#Malaysia: 5 New GSC Cinemas To Open In 2017

Movie-goers, rejoice! We’ve got great news for you.

One of Malaysia’s oldest cinema operators – Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) – has revealed that it will be opening 5 new cinemas in various locations starting next year. 2 new cinemas will be set up in Cheras, 1 in Taman Melawati, 1 in Selayang, and the largest of them all will be opening in Johor Bahru.

Described as “an exciting mixed development situated on 12 acres of freehold land on Jalan Cheras”, EkoCheras (which is closely linked to Leisure Mall MRT station) will be introducing an 8-screen cinema that will feature 1 Atmos hall with more than 1000 seats.

Thinking of shopping for home furniture and catching a movie on the same day? You can soon kill 2 birds with 1 stone when GSC opens in MyTOWN. Located at Jalan Cochrane, Taman Maluri, the shopping centre is built right next to Malaysia’s 2nd IKEA outlet. The new cinema will boast 13 screens, including 1 Maxx hall (Atmos) and 1 Premiere hall, together with a seating capacity of over 1,800.

Slated to open in the 2nd quarter of 2017, those living within the neighbourhood of Taman Melawati will have access to the area’s first major shopping mall. The joint development by CapitaLand Malls Asia Limited and Sime Darby Property will be introducing 11 well-known brands to the public. Moreover, the 13-storey Melawati Mall will be featuring GSC’s 10-screen cinema, which includes 1 Atmos hall, with more than 1,400 seats.

Besides Melawati Mall, another GSC 10-screen cinema will also be debuting next year. Located at Jalan PS 7, Taman Prima Selayang, Star City Mall will also come with 1 Atmos hall, and will be able to house more than 1,400 cinema movie-goers at a time.

JB’s Paradigm Mall was originally expected to open later this year but has since encountered a delay. Instead, all you Johor Bahru folks will have to wait just a little while longer. The long-awaited 6-floor shopping mall will boast the largest cinema to date in Johor with 16 movie screens, including 1 Maxx hall (Atmos) and 2 Premiere halls, that can house more than 2,200 seats. It is also the 2nd largest cinema nationwide, behind Mid Valley’s 21-screen cinema.

For more information, visit GSC’s website or Facebook page.

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CONTEST: Assemble for “The Avengers”

Here’s the truth: You sports went completely insane vying for the movie tickets that we were giving out on Friday. We almost felt bad that we couldn’t give everyone tickets. Almost.

So imagine our surprise (and now yours) when we discovered that we had 33 more pairs of exclusive “The Avengers” movie screening tickets to give out. Yup. THIRTY THREE PAIRS. Count them!

If you didn’t manage to snag any last Friday, here’s your chance.

The two steps above are crucial because next, you would have to:

1) Share this post on your Facebook wall.

2) Include the message “I still have a chance to be part of The #AvengersHype this Friday. Pick me to be your superhero!”

3) Spread the above message on Twitter (don’t forget to tag @HypeMY on Twitter & hashtag #AvengersHype or we won’t be able to see it).

Contest is open to those residing in Selangor only and it ends on the 25th of April 2012 (Wednesday). Only a few days so let’s get cracking, superheroes!

[youtube id=”eOrNdBpGMv8″ width=”600″ height=”350″]

For more information, visit the official movie website.


Shenae Grimes Available No More!

90210 star Shenae Grimes is officially engaged with her hot British model Josh Beech and we know this for sure because the star confirmed it on her website. About time! They’ve been photographed all lovey dovey for as long as we can remember.

Shenae’s official announcement on her website reads:

The pair have been going out together last spring and have been inseparable ever since. Extreme PDA (public display of affection) and all that jazz, included:

Grimes hubby-to-be Beech, has been modeling for Moschino, Levi’s 501 jeans, and Valentino. Oh, you know, just to name a few big guns.

Congratulations to the both of you, don’t forget to send us an invitation!


#Malaysia: National Service Training Programme No Longer Compulsory For Youths

Malaysia’s National Service Training Programme, or Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN), is Malaysia’s 3-month national service program that selectively drafts 18-year-old youths to spent 2 months in physical training camp, followed by a final month in a university setting.

In 2015, the program was suspended for a year as a preemptive measure to sustain development and economical growth for the country. The announcement was made by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak during a special session at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre in view of falling oil prices.

The revision was expected to save the government RM400 million and the National Service Training Programme was to be reviewed and enhanced.

About a year later, a “new and improved” National Service Training Programme, “PLKN 2.0”, was launched, with an upgraded set of “more streamlined and compact” modules that focuses on equipping trainees with job skills that could help them in the real world.

However, the program continued to be plagued with claims of poor management right from its inception in December 2003, including the way in which conscripts are selected. Not only has there been 16 trainee deaths to date, one of the other main concerns was the programme uses a selection system where the government computer database system picks up the trainees randomly without considering their social status e.g. poor teenagers who need to work for their living, young mothers with newborn babies, etc.

The good news is that it is no longer compulsory for teenagers to attend the program.

According to the National Service Training Department, selected youths can now opt out of it under the revamped PLKN2.0. The department’s director Datuk Mohmed Asri Yusof said that trainees who have a change of heart while at the camp as well as those with health problems will not be forced to stay on, adding, “this is not the army, we don’t want to torture them”.

As such, only volunteers would now be selected for the revamped programme.

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Interview: Meduza’s Mattia Vitale On The Meaning Of Music & More

Fans of house music or electronic dance music (EDM) have recently showered their love for the Italian musical trio, Meduza. Producing such smash hits that would revolutionise the genre of house music, they’re a huge deal in the music industry. The production trio consists of members Luca de Gregorio, Mattia Vitale, and Simone Giali.

Before the group was named Meduza, the three musicians started working together in 2014 as a production team. They joined together to create rap instrumentals and various tracks as they were active DJs and electronic musicians. Then after a few years, they settled on making house-influenced type music and started working on that style with their current name, Meduza in 2018.

The trio has spent years of great success, with their debut single “Piece Of Your Heart” featuring Goodboys garnering over a billion streams worldwide. The song has also reached double platinum in the UK as well. Meduza then won multi Diamond, Platinum, and Gold certifications across the globe and even a GRAMMY nomination.

Even their next hit, “Lose Control” featuring Goodboys and Becky Hill has reached the UK Top during its first week, with the song now attracting a billion streams and achieving Gold sales in the country. Meduza has also featured a lot of incredible artists for a handful of remixes. Such artists include Friendly Fires, MK, and even John Legend himself, which all demonstrate Meduza’s ability to make a release that stands out by showcasing their signature sound and energy.

Recently, the now globally recognised Meduza has collaborated with popular Irish artist, Dermot Kennedy, together on the new single “Paradise”, which came out on 30th October last year. Creating such a powerful and heartfelt record, the song was shot at the trio’s homeland of Italy with amazing production and an outstanding performance by Kennedy’s amazing vocals. Hence, which is why the song was able to dominate charts around the world with over 24 million views on YouTube.

Meduza has started their journey together as musicians in 2018. Ever since then, they are now thriving in ensuring house music continues to be more relevant and more alive once they start sending out more tracks in the future. Moreover, such great potential can be taught from the group in encouraging new or growing artists to develop the house music genre, growing a wider audience for it.

One of MEDUZA’s members Mattia Vitale, was kind enough to let us interview him about the house music genre, collaborations with other artists, their recent “Paradise” single, the music industry, and their experience of making music together:

1. Ever since “Piece of Your Heart” became a smash hit worldwide, it not only got a Grammy nomination but also won 2 International Dance Music Awards. Did that open more doors for you guys?

It’s never enough, like everyone says. Yeah, it was a really good start. Obviously being nominated for a Grammy and winning the talent award was a great start, especially if you think there is just one year of the project. But obviously, the most important thing for us was not the award itself. It was the recognition of the people following our music and sharing, dancing, and singing our music. That was the most important thing for us and it still is.

Obviously, a Grammy is always welcome. We got just a nomination but we are also trying to be nominated again and hopefully win in the future. Obviously, that’s the plan, but we are not making music just to win the Grammy. We’re making music because it’s our passion and because people love our music as much as we do. So that’s the most important thing for us.

2. Can you recall when you first fell in love with electronic and house music?

Oh yeah, it was with Daft Punk. I remember, it probably was “Homework”, the title of the album. It was the second album, with “One More Time”, “Aerodynamic”, and all those tracks. I remember when I was listening to that album for the first time I’d say “Wow, what is this? It’s something completely new, something like a game-changer for dance music from electronic music. And it was like that, to be honest. Yeah, that was my first crush on electronic music.

3. What is the best part when making electronic or house music? What sort of fulfillment do you get from producing your songs?

The best thing is having fun in the studio, every time. No matter where you are, no matter what you’re using to make music, it’s just the fact that you are in the studio with other people like songwriters or singers, and you’re trying to create something fresh or different from the standard and the usual. And the magic happens when you create a feeling with these people in the studio. You create a kind of magical atmosphere in the studio. That is the best part of making music, I think. It’s the connection.

4. All of your singles, of course, involve collaborating with other artists. What were the challenges you guys had to face when working with other singers? Was it easy or difficult to find a voice to match your sound?

It was easy, and not at the same time. It was not easy because house music is not like pop. So, everyone is looking at dance music like something that is not mainstream, like we show that it is. So maybe a lot of pop artists don’t want to collaborate with us just because we do house music.

But a lot of artists like Dermot Kennedy, Goodboys, Becky Hill, and MK – they come from a different world from John Legend. But they’re excited to work with us and we had sessions together, creating new music because they want to create something that goes out of the standard for dance music. So it’s the only way to create something really special.

5. Of all the artists you’ve worked with, who has left a lasting impression? What surprised you about them?

Dermot Kennedy, basically. I was really surprised that a singer like him (who would usually sings on something more rock, soul, and country) wanted to work with us on a dance track. He’s so passionate and he’s so good at recording a dance track but it’s not easy for an artist like him who isn’t quite used to dance music. So I was really happy and excited when he decided to work with us. I was on a session with him, obviously not personally, and I got to listen to him recording with a lot of passion on what we wrote for him.

A post shared by Dermot Kennedy (@dermotkennedy)

6. The music video of “Paradise” took place in the Italian ghost town of Craco. What was it like filming in such a location? Does it have any significance to the song?

It’s not particularly linked up to the song. MEDUZA in the videos and the official clips, it’s all about the location, like we do with “Piece Of Your Heart” in Ukraine, “Lose Control” in Turkey, and now “Paradise” in Italy. It’s all about the location because we can show the people that we can tell stories from locations like those examples and also playing house music, and not only pop. So we can create a feeling to the people and emotion to them.

Also with this kind of music, we can also show the people that every place is different like if I play you a song at home, your perception is one. I mean you feel comfortable, or you’re having fun dancing. But if you hear the same song in a different place, it can tell you something completely different. You can describe maybe a completely different feeling. So that’s the power of music and we can show the people telling this that house music is the same. It’s music so it can create different feelings and different emotion from different places.

7. Do you think time affects the way people listen to music as well, like day and night?

Yeah, I mean, it can be different, not only from one place to another but also from one hour to another. You can be in a completely different mood. Music can create the same song and give you a completely different emotion.

8. What was it like working with Dermot Kennedy on “Paradise”?

It was great because he has such good talent and I think he’s gonna smash the world in the next three to four years. He’s going to be one of the biggest artists in the world. That’s it, I mean I can only have good words for him.

9. We heard The Weeknd wants to collaborate with you guys. Have you guys been in contact? Is anything in the works?

I was reading that article and to be honest, it was a mistake. We haven’t had plans to collaborate together. I’m a big fan of The Weeknd. We’ve been in touch, obviously, because in the US, we are under the same label. But there’s nothing yet. We’ve not been in the studio together and there’s nothing planned yet together. Obviously, it is possible in the future, we will see, but not at the moment. It’s unfortunate because I’m a big fan of The Weeknd, so it will be a dream.

10. Any artists you plan to collaborate with in the future?

I would love to collaborate with The Weeknd, Post Malone, Drake, Miley Cyrus, and John Legend. I have plenty of names that I want to collaborate with. But we have time, so it’s going to be step by step.

11. Do you guys ever wish to recreate or remake any songs using your style of music, old or new?

No, we are just focusing now on making originals. Yeah, maybe in the future it will be possible, why not. Never say never. But not at the moment, we’re just focusing on making originals and new songs.

12. How have you guys been impacted by Covid-19? Has making music become harder now?

Yeah, the inspiration is not at our best level, but we try to do our best. You have the right inspiration when you travel, meet new people, and new culture. That’s pretty easy to do and we miss that really much. It’s not easy now but we’re trying to think, what was the experience in the last few years of touring… We’re trying to recapture that kind of experience that we felt in the studio and make music like we usually do.

Obviously, it is not easy. It’s all about inspiration. When you have it, you can do everything in 10 minutes. When you don’t have any, it’s better that you leave the studio and just live the rest of the day without thinking about music.

13. If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

Wow, that’s a good question. Probably I would like to see more people trying to collaborate with different genres of music. For example, I want to see more people, like coming from rock, collaborating with people coming from soul, dance, or maybe different genre because it’s the only way to create something special and unique.

A lot of people in this industry that does hip hop or rock, only want to collaborate or do things with people coming from their world. It’s not a good thing to me because we are always trying to do something different, and be inspired by a variety of music. Music is good like that because you can mix and try something new or you can experiment every time. That’s the meaning of music.

14. Would you love to perform in Malaysia if you had the opportunity to do so?

I would really love to, honestly. I’m really looking forward to the pandemic to be over and come to Malaysia. I’m really looking forward to playing and raving with people in clubs or festivals.

Meduza’s recent performance such as their smash hit “Paradise” featuring Dermot Kennedy and their remix with artist such as John Legend on “Wild” can be viewed here:

We would like to thank Universal Music Malaysia for giving us a chance to interview Meduza’s Mattia Vitale. Even with the other two members absent, he was able to provide great insight into the trio’s career in music.

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Good Vibes Festival 2018: Local Rising Star Lunadira Ready to Shine

YouTube is undoubtedly a powerful tool for emerging musicians. A barista by day and a songstress by night, Lunadira first started posting her song covers to her YouTube channel in 2007.

From Blink-182’s “All The Small Things” to Lorde “The Love Club” to Radiohead’s “Creep”, she put her own unique spin on songs and successfully developed an audience of thousands that helped launch her music career.

Drawing inspiration from her own relationships and stories by friends, Lunadira began recounting tales of unrequited love through her self-penned songs. Together with her main collaborator Harith Jamil on production duty, she eventually made her first foray into R&B with “Forever’s Not Our Thing”, her first single in 2017.

In an industry over-saturated with throwaway pop songs, you could say that Lunadira’s sound is a breath of fresh air.

With the recent release of “Stuck with You”, her new single from her forthcoming EP, we spoke to the home-grown singer about her sound, her songwriting process, her future plans and what her fans can expect from her performance at Good Vibes Festival 2018.

You used the term “sad and groovy” to describe your sound. Do you think that this is a label that will stick, or are you thinking of experimenting with new sounds?

Lunadira: It’s interesting you should ask that because I’ve always identified myself within songs that are sad and groovy, but I also believe that music and the human experience are both parallels of each other. I’d love to explore new sounds as I experience life first hand, so I’m actually hoping to change my sound in the future! It’s something I always look forward to whenever I’m in the studio, like “hmmmm how do I feel today? What’s new about me and how can I translate that into a sound?”

You have been writing songs for 8 years now. Tell us what your songwriting process is like.

L: It started off with writing short poems in my diary, and it slowly transcended into paragraphs on paragraphs of me lamenting about my relationships with people. It was a very toxic time in my life, but the silver lining of it all is that I got to learn from those experiences and am able to recount those experiences through writing songs about them! The process varies from time to time, but I always have my Notes app on my phone on standby whenever I need it.

Although it’s usually when I’m alone in my bed at night, under the covers, over thinking things and the only way I can let go of those thoughts is if I write about them. It’s either that or when I’m in the studio, vibing really well with the tracks that my producer Harith came up with. The latter is almost always instantaneous, which I prefer.

The “Stuck with You” music video is so aesthetically pleasing – it reminds us of Kali Uchi’s music videos! When it comes to producing music videos, how big of an influence do you have in the creative direction?

L: I’ve always been obsessed about creating music videos in my head as a kid. I’d spend hours just listening to the songs on my iPod, visualising a scenario, second by second.
I had a sit down with Amani (Director) and Lizzie (Prop Master and Art Director) about this idea I had and even laid down a minute by minute of how I envisioned the music video to be. It was all laid down on an amateurish Powerpoint presentation and they understood my vision right away. It helped that these two women know me personally and I’m thankful to have had them on the team to execute my vision.

Are there any particular artists you intend in collaborating with for your upcoming project?

L: I have a list of names in mind, but I’d have to have to be given the green light before anything is solidified. Don’t wanna jinx this one, now do we?

You are the second artist chosen by Jin Hackman to be a part of his project, “This Way Up”. How does it feel being in the studio with him?

L: Ugh it’s TORTURE. He locks me up in the studio for DAYS ON END until each track is done. I’m just kidding! He’s actually very very accommodating to his artists and wants our own voice and vision to be heard and seen. It’s amazing seeing someone in the industry believe so much in upcoming artists. He makes it a point to seek out new talent that needs to be given a chance to be heard. My heart warms a little thinking about it. Very very cool guy. Genuine too. Anyone who gets the chance to work with him is lucky because it’s an honour to work with him (Can you unlock the studio now Jin? I wanna go home and eat and shower and sleep).

Are there any future plans – music or otherwise – currently in the works?

L: There are a few!! Nothing written in stone yet but all very very exciting projects. Keep your eyes and ears open. I’m still trying to decide what to name my EP though….

What can we expect to see (and hear) from your set at Good Vibes Festival 2018?

L: Colours! New songs! And a FUN time! See you guys there!

Good Vibes Festival 2018 will take place on 21st and 22nd July at The Ranch, Gohtong Jaya, Genting Highlands. The festival is open to those aged 18 and above. Early Bird passes are going for RM 330, Phase 1 passes for RM 360, Phase 2 passes for RM 380, and Phase 3 passes for RM 400. All passes will include entry to both days. Find out the full line-up and ticketing info here.

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#Kapsul: Tun M To Make Acting Debut In Local Historical Sci-Fi Film

Malaysia’s longest-serving Prime Minister is a man of many skills and talents. Aside from just his political career, he’s also quite a businessman, having launched his gourmet bakery and pastry restaurant The Loaf a couple of years ago.

And in case you didn’t hear, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Tun M) is about to make his acting debut!

Last month, Cinema Online wrote that Tun M will participate in the late Martias Mohd Ali’s historical sci-fi film, “Kapsul”. According to “Kapsul” producer Amru Najmi Osman, the former Prime Minister will appear in 5 scenes with the main actor, Faizal Hussein.

Amru Najmi also revealed that the production at first failed to get Tun M to act in the movie, but fortunately, the former premier later accepted after taking a look at the movie’s first draft.

He added that he was surprised to see the level of commitment shown by Tun M during filming, as the 90-year-old did not stick to the original script. Instead, he improvised with his own dialogues that proved to be more precise and impactful than the written dialogues.

The Star Online quoted Tun M, who was present at the press preview in Kuala Lumpur, as saying, “I have a small role. I’ve never done any acting like this before. So I thought why not just go for it. I just have to act as how I usually am in public.”

Now, we know what you’re thinking! Who does Tun M play in “Kapsul”? Well, who better to play Tun M than the man himself, eh? ;)

“Kapsul” stars Faizal Hussein as high-tech security expert Zohri Ibrahim. After making a bet with a few friends, he steals a time capsule planted by Tun M which contains his vision for Wawasan 2020. Once the capsule is activated, he is taken on a journey through time where he learns about the struggles of the generation before him.

Tun M also revealed to The Star Online that he had to shoot more than one take for his scene. “I asked for payment but they don’t want to give me,” he joked. However, when asked if he would act again, Tun M said he’d feel nervous.

“At least I get to tell people that I’ve acted before,” he said.

“Kapsul”, shot with a budget of RM2.3 million, began filming in January 2014 and wrapped up earlier this year. It was shot mostly in Perak, Putrajaya, and Kuala Lumpur.

“Kapsul” opens in cinemas nationwide on 17th September.

We don’t know about you but we’re looking forward to catching Tun M’s acting debut!

For more information, hit up the movie’s official website.

Sources: The Star Online, Cinema Online.


A-Lin To Perform In Resorts World Genting This June

Calling all A-Lin (黄丽玲) fans, the Taiwanese songstress will be bringing her “I’m A-Lin” World Tour to Malaysia later this year.

The latest world tour is in support of her 9th studio album, self-titled “A-Lin” (同名專輯). Now that the singer is back in full swing, expect a show-stopping concert when she performs at Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting in June.

Since placing sixth on the singing-reality competition, “I Am A Singer” Season 3, back in 2015, A-Lin has gained a larger fan base. For her 11-track self-titled, released in September last year, A-Lin reinvented herself and became a producer of her own record.

In speaking about connecting to her fans through her art, A-Lin said, “I feel amazed that my music brings influences to others. I believe music will keep a fountain of joy alive in you and I will never give up in producing good music.”

Brought to you by Star Planet, the details to A-Lin’s “I’m A-Lin” Malaysian World Tour 2018 are as follows:

Concert tickets will go on sale on 30th March 2018 at 11am. Fans can purchase tickets via Star Planet or TicketCharge.

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Celebrate A&Wesomess With A&Wesome Festival Happening At A&W PJ!

For the past 56 years, A&W has been satisfying our hungry tummy with its signature menu that include burgers, coneys, waffles and its iconic root beer float!

We believe this proud achievement is not an easy feat. Therefore, to commemorate this record-breaking milestone, A&W Malaysia has launched the one-day special A&Wesome Festival to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime occasion with fans of the food and beverage outlet.

According to the CEO of A&W Malaysia and Inter Mark Resources Sdn. Bhd (IMRSB), George Ang, the carnival aims to bring back good-old memories to loyal customers as well as offering high-quality and fresh menus to attract the younger generations.

“We believe we have the advantage among Malaysians who grew up in the 70s and 80s. In this case, they celebrate their birthdays with our mascot Rooty the Bear, they have at least one personal favourite menus, or they can even have a chilled and relaxing afternoon at our outlet after school  to enjoy our iconic root beer float,” Ang shared during the launch.

A post shared by A&W Malaysia Official (@anwmalaysia) on Nov 23, 2019 at 10:14pm PST

However, Ang believes with the growth of social media platforms, it is important to for them to get familiar with the youths’ demands nowadays. In doing so, he came out with several strategies in order to win the hearts of the new millennials.

This includes the introduction of new menus, upgrades from their existing treats and services as well as plans to open more outlets by the year 2021.

Speaking of the A&Wesome Festival, the carnival has wowed fans of the fast food chain store. Jam-packed with various interesting activities such as arcade games, live music performances, movie screenings, visitors have no doubt been enjoying their best time at the festival while munching on A&W’s yummy delicacies!

For more info, visit their official Facebook page.


WINNERS: Win Official “Dirty Jobs Down Under” Merch!

Thank you all for being so patient. We’ve finally got the winners list for our “Dirty Jobs Down Under” and Discovery Channel merch giveaway! They are:

Congratulations, y’all! Special thanks to our friends from Discovery Channel for making this contest possible.

Come pick up your prizes from our office from 28th May 2013 (Tuesday) onwards. Remember to bring your IC for verification purposes. Also, we need to stress that prizes are strictly are strictly nontransferable. Hype Malaysia reserves the right to refuse the collection of prizes for those who attempt to transfer it from one contest winner (in whose name it is registered) to another person.

B-13-5 Northpoint Office Suites, Mid Valley City,

Our office hours are 10am to 6pm (Monday to Friday only).


Shopee Malaysia Introduces 24-Hour Express Delivery Service & 7.7 Orange Madness Sale

Good news shoppers! Shopee Malaysia has just launched a brand new service called Shopee24 Express Delivery, or just Shopee 24 for short.

As the name states, it is Shopee’s 24-hour express delivery service available to over 10000 items on the e-commerce platform with the “Shopee24” tag with the Shopee 7.7 Orange Madness sale. Leading brands include Nescafe, Dutch Lady, Drypers, Dove, Dettol, Khind, Philips and more.

“We believe that our ability to now offer express delivery without charging premium prices and cover a huge product assortment will not only change the way Malaysians shop online but also impact their lives positively with greater convenience,” said Ian Ho, Regional Managing Director, Shopee.

Currently limited to those residing within Klang Valley, consumers will be able to receive their Shopee24 delivery on their doorstep the next day, provided your purchase is made latest by 2pm. If not, your next shipping will be free of charge.

Meanwhile, the 7.7 Orange Madness Sale will kick off next Monday (24th June). Some of the highlights include:

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Newtown: The Town Of Broken Hearts

We’re pretty sure most of you have heard about the devastation that took place in Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut. Two days ago, we wrote on the preliminary reports that were circling around the interwebs. Now, we’ve got the full deal on what went on that fateful day:

President Barack Obama met with first responders and the families of the victims two days after the horrific massacre. He attended the vigil held at Newtown High School, where he gave an emotional and tearful speech:

Since I’ve been president, this is the fourth time we have come together to comfort a grieving community torn apart by mass shootings, fourth time we’ve hugged survivors, the fourth time we’ve consoled the families of victims.

And in between, there have been an endless series of deadly shootings across the country, almost daily reports of victims, many of them children, in small towns and in big cities all across America, victims whose — much of the time their only fault was being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

We can’t tolerate this anymore. These tragedies must end. And to end them, we must change.

[youtube id=”ftlT41LpIOY” width=”600″ height=”350″]

20 children will never go to prom. 20 children will never graduate. 20 children will never know what it’s like to fall in love. And this Christmas, there will be no celebrations for Newtown, the town of broken hearts.


#Minzy: Former 2NE1 Member Collaborated With Jay Park For Solo Album

Blackjack, rejoice! There’s finally some news about Minzy’s (공민지) solo debut.

It was reported that Jay Park has participated in the former 2NE1 member’s album. Last June, she hinted fans about the collaboration with an Instagram photo of herself and the Korean-American artiste. In her caption, she wrote, “Turn up with my bro.”

Numerous insiders are saying that the idol’s upcoming album is slated for a release date sometime in April or May. However, Music Works, Minzy’s label, stated that nothing has been confirmed yet.

“Minzy has been working on her solo album since last year and it is true that has worked with Jay Park. We haven’t decided on a title track yet so we cannot reveal details regarding the release date,” they said.

23-year-old Minzy debuted through YG Entertainment’s 2NE1 in 2009 with “Fire” and the group quickly became one of the most popular female idol groups in K-Pop. On 5th April, she left the group and YG Entertainment to pursue a solo career.

The idol is currently a member of KBS’ “Unnies’ Slam Dunk Season 2” alongside IOI’s Jeon Somi, Kim Sook, Hong Jin Kyung, Kim Joo Hee, actress Han Chae Young, and Hong Jin Young. Besides that, she will also be releasing an OST for new K-drama, “Rebel: Thief Who Stole The People”.

For more information, you can visit Minzy’s Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook page.


#JYP: 2AM Debunks Disbandment Rumour + 2PM Renews Contract

Reports have surfaced that 2AM may disband due to Jinwoon’s and Seulong’s decisions to depart from JYP Entertainment. But before you start panicking over 2AM’s possible disbandment, you need to stay calm and read what really happened to the members.

The truth is, the Korean boy group is still very much intact. The only difference is that the members will begin working under different entertainment agencies instead. Confused? Here, let us explain it to you.

2AM is a South Korean 4-member idol group who made their debut on 11th July 2008 under JYP Entertainment. The group consists of Jokwon, Changmin, Jinwoon, and Seuloong. It is one of the 2 subgroups branched out from the 11-member (before Jay Park’s departure) boy band “One Day”, the other being 2PM. While the other group is known for their synchronised choreographies, 2AM is best known for their powerful vocals. Seulong even collaborated with Avicii for the Korean version of “Levels”.

Now that they are entering the 8th year as part of the idol group, Jinwoon and Seuloong decided to leave for new agencies after their contracts expired. Jokwon decided to renew the contract with JYP while Changmin still has 7 months left until the expiry date of his contract.

Regarding their current situation, an affiliate of JYP said:

Jo Kwon decided to renew his contract with JYP. Lim Seulong and Jung Jin Woon decided to leave for another agency. Lee Chang Min’s contract with JYP ends in July and Big Hit Entertainment has been in charge of his management.

It was reported that Seulong has signed with SidusHQ to focus on his acting career while Jinwoon is at the final stage of signing a contract with Mystic Entertainment. They will be promoting as singers and actors at the same time. Jokwon will continue to focus his activities in music and musicals.

Though the members will be in different agencies, JYP Entertainment said in a statement that the band is not disbanding.

There is still possibility for 2AM to promote together. The g.o.d members also promote together although they are in different agencies. The 2AM members are also very close to each other, so there is a high chance for them to carry out group activities.

Considering how they will carry out their own solo activities in the future, it is still very unclear how they are going to promote together under different agencies.

However, it is true that the members are very close to each other as they were rarely caught up in rumours of conflicts. When they were promoting their new album “Over the Destiny” in 2014, they also mentioned that “there will absolutely be no team disbandment”. Thus, they will most likely come together as a group again when necessary.

Meanwhile, fans of 2PM can breathe a sigh of relief as all the members of 2PM have decided to renew their contracts with JYPE. They will continue working as an idol group until 2018.

A representative of JYP Entertainment said:

Every member of 2PM has completed the renewal of their contract. The duration of the contract spans from January of this year to January of 2018. Around fall of last year, we discussed the contract renewal with the 2PM members. All of the members expressed their desire to re-sign, so they renewed together.

What do you think of 2AM’s decisions? Will you still support them? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment box below.

(Source: Mwave, Soompi (1) (2) / Featured image)

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#Uber: Cash Payments Feature Now Accepted In Kuala Lumpur

Good news, Uber users. If you reside in the Klang Valley, you can now pay for your Uber rides via cash!

Kuala Lumpur isn’t the first city to roll out cash payments: Johor Bahru was the first to kick off the feature, followed shortly by Ipoh and Penang.

Is paying cash the better alternative? While many passengers still prefer cashless transactions by card, Uber says that this option might appeal to first-time riders who are skeptical of using their credit cards or debit cars for online or mobile transactions.

“Credit cards are a common way to pay but many Malaysians still prefer transacting in cash so by rolling out this cash payment option in Klang Valley, we are hoping to provide Malaysians more choice and a payment option that suits their needs,” said Uber Asia Pacific communications director Amy Kunrojpanya.

For those paying by cash, choose the cash payment option when confirming your pickup location. Do note that if you don’t have exact change, the ride-sharing service will round up your fare to the closest ringgit. For example, if your ride is RM6.60, you will need to pay RM7.

For more information, you can visit Uber’s page.


(Video) Michelle Yeoh & Angela Bassett Make History With Golden Globes Wins

There was a lot to celebrate at the 2023 Golden Globe Awards. There were several first time winners (Zendaya, Austin Butler, Quinta Brunson, Jeremy Allen, Tyler James Williams, Ke Huy Quan) but history was made when Michelle Yeoh and Angela Bassett won in their respective categories.

In case you aren’t aware, Michelle Yeoh won Best Comedy/Musical Actress for her role as Chinese immigrant Evelyn Wang in the psychedelic comedy drama “Everything Everywhere All at Once”. Meanwhile, Angela Bassett took home the Golden Globe for her performance as Queen Ramonda in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”.

"I'm just gonna stand here and take this all in. 40 years. Not letting go of this."

Michelle Yeoh accepts her #GoldenGlobe. https://t.co/IpBnF0ZqEp pic.twitter.com/EbQZk624xD

“Whew! OK. I’m just gonna stand here and take this all in,” the 60-year-old actress said. “Forty years, not letting go of this. So just quickly, thank you Hollywood Foreign Press for giving me this honor. It’s been an amazing journey and incredible fight to be here today, but I think it’s worth it.” “As time went by — I turned 60 last year — and I think all of you women understand this as the days, years, numbers get bigger, the opportunities get smaller, as well,” Michelle continued. “Then along came the best gift: ‘Everything, Everywhere All at Once’.”

This is Michelle’s first Golden Globes nomination and win. She’s only the second Asian performer to win in this category, after Awkwafina won for “The Farewell” back in 2019. It’s also a proud moment to see our own homegrown talent be the first Malaysian and Southeast Asian star to win the gong for Best Comedy/Musical Actress! Many are now rooting for her to be the first Asian winner to win Best Actress at the Oscars.

Also, shout out to Michelle for telling the Golden Globes to “shut up” when they interrupted her speech with the “wrap up music”.

Angela Bassett pays tribute to Chadwick Boseman as she accepts her #GoldenGlobe. https://t.co/IpBnF0ZqEp pic.twitter.com/KyCNjl0j7t

Angela Bassett didn't have any reservations attending the #GoldenGlobes tonight: "Hollywood Foreign Press has made strides to do what they know needs to be done, so tonight is the beginning of that season." https://t.co/zVpKt56AhJ pic.twitter.com/HKJXSSIgWJ

Someone who also deserves her flowers is Angela Bassett. The 64-year-old actress snagged the trophy for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”. She also made history by becoming the first actor in the MCU to be nominated and win for an acting role in a Marvel film. This marks her second win (and second nomination) at the Golden Globes. She previously won best actress in a musical or comedy for 1993’s Tina Turner biopic “What’s Love Got to Do With It”.

“I got to find my words. I’m so nervous. My heart is just beating,” she said. “The late Tony Morrison said that your life is already a miracle of chance just waiting for you to order its destiny. But in order for that destiny to manifest, I think that it requires courage to have faith. It requires patience, as we just heard. And it requires a true sense of yourself. It’s not easy because the past is circuitous and it has many unexpected detours, but, by the grace of God, I stand here. I stand here grateful.”

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WINNERS: Coldplay Live 2012 DVD + CD Giveaway

And we’ve finally got the winners list for our “Coldplay Live 2012 DVD + CD Giveaway” contest. We thank all of you for so patiently waiting. It took us awhile to go through the submissions – only because they were all super creative. Good job, troopers!

So here are the LUCKY FIVE who will be taking home a piece of Coldplay with them:

Congratulations, guys! Of course, special thanks to our awesome friends from Warner Music Malaysia for making this happen.

Kindly collect your prizes from our office from 17th December 2012 (Monday) onwards. Remember to bring your IC for verification purposes.

B-19-4 Northpoint Office Suites, Mid Valley City,

Our office hours are 10am to 6pm (Monday to Friday only).


Wu Chun To Make Public Appearance At 1 Utama On 29th January

Would you like to meet Wu Chun (吴尊) up close and personal? You’re in luck cause the former member from Taiwanese boyband Fahrenheit (飛輪海) will be in Kuala Lumpur soon.

How soon exactly? In less than a week, the 38-year-old star will be in 1 Utama Shopping Centre to promote his latest action film titled, “Guardians of the Tomb (谜巢)”. Mark your calendar fans, the date is 29th January 2018 (Monday).

Directed by Kimble Rendall, the synopsis of “Guardians of the Tomb” reads:

“A team of scientists has made the discovery of the century, which involves a well-preserved mummified Emperor from 200 BC China. However, this also brings about a 2000-year-old nightmare. They lose a colleague in an ancient labyrinth and are now fighting for their lives as they battle their way through a swarm of funnel web spiders that also happen to be man-eaters. They then discover the secret behind the spiders’ unusual intelligence and power.”

Wu Chun plays Luke in the upcoming adventure film. Filmed on the Gold Coast of Australia and in China’s Dunhuang and Beijing, filming for “Guardians of the Tomb” was completed within 3 months in 2015. However, post-production required another two years to refine the film.

According to actor, one of the most challenging aspect of this project was the daily make-up sessions. It required four to five hours to put on the special effects and another one-and-a-half hour to remove the make-up.

The details to Wu Chun’s meet-and-greet at 1 Utama Shopping Mall are as follows:

Side note: The star will also be making his way to TGV cinemas at 9pm.

Originally slated for release on 25th January, “Guardians of the Tomb” has since been postponed to 1st February.