Fun Facts: 8 Things You Should Know About BTS

BTS? What’s that, behind-the-scenes, you ask? Well, not exactly, but after reading this, you’ll be enlightened about some behind-the-scenes information about them. And by them, we mean the K-pop group BTS.

Well, BTS is actually an abbreviation for Bulletproof Boy Scouts, a Korean idol group who is also known as Bangtan Boys or Bangtan Sonyeodan (방탄소년단). Yup, it’s a little confusing, especially to the uninitiated, but we are sure that you’ll be feeling like you know them inside out after you get through this post. ;)

Before we start, here’s a short history of the group.

BTS is a 7-membered group made up of leader Rap Monster, lead rapper Suga, vocalist V, lead rapper and dancer J-Hope, main dancer Jimin, vocalist Jin, and maknae Jungkook. They are formed by Big Hit Entertainment, an ex-subsidiary of JYP Entertainment, back in 2013. On 13th June 2013, they debuted with their 1st single titled “No More Dream”, which is a song about the unrealistic expectations that society has on the young.

After an explosive debut, the hip-hop group proceeded to snag several rookie awards, including those offered by MelOn Music Awards, Golden Disk Awards, Seoul Music Awards, Gaon Chart K-pop Awards, and YinYueTai V-Chart.

However, it wasn’t until last month when the group won their 1st music show award, which was awarded to them by SBS MTV‘s “The Show”. They then went ahead and swept up 4 more awards from multiple music shows for their song “I Need U”.

They proved their popularity when they kickstarted their 1st solo concert in Seoul last October, where they had to announce an additional show as tickets for the 1st show were sold out in 5 minutes. Due to popular demand, the solo concert was expanded into a world tour, going to countries like Philippines, Taiwan, Australia, US, Mexico, Brazil, and Chile.

The best part of the world tour? Malaysia is included in the list of countries and they will be coming to town this Saturday for their debut showcase in Malaysia!

To prepare you for that, we’ve prepared a list of things that you probably didn’t know about the boy group.

1. They produce and compose most of their songs.

You could say that BTS is different from most generically churned out Korean boy groups in the sense that they are known for producing and composing their songs. Each member adds on their personal flavour to the group’s music, as they are encouraged to aid in the production process of the songs, whether they are contributing ideas, writing the lyrics, or composing the melody.

The members were involved in producing 12 out of the 14 songs included in their latest full studio album, “Dark & Wild”. Leader Rap Monster participated in 12 songs, while dancer J-Hope proved his talent by contributing to 11 songs from the album, followed by member Suga who wrote the lyrics for 10 songs.

2. They are talented in several fields, even before their debut.

The boys from BTS are already considered quite talented prior to joining the company. Rap Monster was a underground rapper who was in the same crew as Block B’s Zico, and according to him, they were “kind of like the rising stars of the hip-hop community”. J-Hope was also part of street dance team “Neuron” and even won an underground dance battle and performed at a huge-scaled festival.

Jin was chosen to be a BTS member through an audition, but before that, he was actually a student majoring in film and arts, rather than music. Suga was already a lyricist back in his hometown Daegu and he revealed that he worked his days off and skipped dinner every day as he wanted to buy musical equipment in order to expand his interest.

V and Jimin also proved their worth as they were accepted into Big Hit Entertainment via auditions. V went through a nationwide contest that was held at many different provinces, but he emerged victorious after presenting his singing and dancing skills, while Jimin was recruited into the group through a closed-door audition. Maknae Jungkook, however, was chosen by the company when he left Superstar K3, a reality talent show broadcasted by Mnet, when he was 12 year old.

3. Documentary/reality show featuring Coolio and Warren G.

Just last year, the members were given an opportunity to go to America in order to experiencing true hip-hop culture. They took a break off their usual schedules and headed to Los Angeles, California to film the documentary/reality show titled “American Hustle Life”. The program ran for 8 episodes, and took a few months to film.

Well, shooting a reality program is no big deal, but what made it exciting was that legendary rapper Coolio and the talented rapper and producer, Warren G, were involved in giving the boys a few tips. Coolio acted as their mentor in episode 2 of the series, while Warren G appeared in episode 5.

4. They have posted more than 100 short videos on YouTube

The 1st video of them joking amongst themselves was uploaded on 19th June 2013. Since then, they have posted around 100 short videos, titled “BANGTAN BOMB“, of them goofing around on their official YouTube channel. These playful boys never take the chance to rest as they are always up to some crazy and/or mischievous antics. Fans are not complaining, as it gives them a chance to get closer to the boys. The videos also show their fun side instead of the serious image they exude on stage.

Take the time they performed a magic show for their fans for example, or the time they did a weird yet comical dance. How could fans resist their cuteness?

Wondering how funny those boys can be? Well, take a look at this video and you’ll know the answer:

Member Jin cried during the group’s debut performance on Mnet‘s “M! Countdown“. And it wasn’t because he was touched or overjoyed. Apparently, his pants fell down when the group was performing “We Are Bulletproof Pt. 2”. It was his 1st time wearing a microphone pack and it turned out too heavy for him. He did try to rectify the embarrassment, but sometimes, there’s nothing you can do when bad luck decides to strike. In his own words, “I quickly pulled them back up but they fell off again during the second time”.

It also certainly didn’t make things better as the choreography required them to jump frequently over the duration of the song. To be fair, the camera didn’t catch him with his pants down (literally), but it you pay attention to it, you’ll notice that the poor boy was trying to hold on to his pants:

An IQ of 140 and above makes you a genius. Leader Rap Monster, real name Kim Nam Joon, reportedly has an IQ of 148, and that makes him a genius too. The highly intelligent young man was also placed in the top 1% in South Korea’s national mock exams.

No one is disputing his intellectual capabilities, but sometimes, it’s hard to believe the fact when the leader also has a nickname of “God of Destruction”, named after his tendency to break things around him.

Rap Monster is well known for his ability to converse in fluent English (he taught himself to speak the language), but did you know that he can speak in Japanese as well? V can also speak Japanese fluently and he, along with Rap Monster, are always the ones to talk to the media when they are in Japan for their Japanese promotions.

What’s more surprising is the fact that Jin can speak in Mandarin, and he might have influenced the other members because J-Hope and V both revealed that they are taking baby steps in order to learn how to speak in Mandarin.

When asked if they had any role models that influenced their decision to be a singer, 3 out of the 7 of them synonymously cited BIGBANG members T.O.P., G-Dragon, and Taeyang. Jin idolises T.O.P. as he sees the rapper as both an excellent idol and actor while Jungkook simply stated that he likes G-Dragon. Jimin also gushed about Taeyang’s amazing vocal performances and expressed his wish to become a capable singer like his idol.

During their “No More Dreams” showcase, Rap Monster also said, “We really respect Big Bang sunbaenim. Jungkook likes G-Dragon, and V likes T.O.P. Big Bang is at the top as hip hop idols, so we’re learning from them. We want to be like them in a lot of ways.”

Here’s a video of them channeling their inner fanboy and dancing to BIGBANG’s “Sunset Glow” + “Fantastic Baby“:

Need more prove? You can always click here and here to watch them dance and sing to BIGBANG’s tracks and Taeyang’s solo tracks.

So, that’s all for the fun facts about BTS. There’s obviously more things to discover about the talented hip-hop group but you’ll have to find out by yourself ;)

Meanwhile, here’s a video of BTS greeting their Malaysian ARMYs (as BTS fans are lovingly known) to tide you over until their concert this Saturday!

For more information regarding their “The Red Bullet” concert, visit IME Productions‘ official Facebook and Twitter page.

Sources: 2deer, BTS Trans (1) (2) (3) (4), soompi, Dramafever, BIGBANG Updates

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Canto-Pop Superstar Aaron Kwok Will Be Visiting Penang Next Week

Aaron Kwok (郭富城) will be visiting Malaysia next week. What brings him hear you asked?

We were informed that the 54-year-old Heavenly King is set to appear in Penang to carry out his duties as a Longines Ambassador of Elegance at the new Longines Gurney Plaza Penang boutique grand opening.

“Well-known for his outstanding performances as a dancer, singer and actor, Aaron Kwok is currently one of the most popular artists in Hong Kong and Asia today. A big name in the Asian record industry, Aaron Kwok’s exceptional talent has earned him more than a hundred awards since the beginning of his career.

“A Longines Ambassador of Elegance since 2005, Aaron Kwok’s manifold achievements as well as his ceaseless quest for perfection and innovation throughout his career have earned him a loyal following of enthusiastic admirers, the respect of his peers and widespread popularity worldwide. Of all the performing arts at which Aaron excels, stage appearances remain his perennial favourite.”

The details to the event are as follows:


Hype’s Now Playing: Disclosure – Hourglass (ft. Lion Babe)

Oh man, Disclosure. Please never stop whatever you guys are doing with your music because it’s so deliciously good.

From Sam Smith to Kwabs to Gregory Porter, the British music duo has been kicking it with some talented artistes left, right, and centre. After performing “Hourglass” at their Wild Life Festival earlier in June, producers Guy and Howard Lawrence dropped the studio version of the track today.

“Hourglass” is one of the songs that will be featured in Disclosure’s upcoming album, “Caracal“. It features Lion Babe, a New York-based neo-soul duo comprising of Jillian Hervey and Lucas Goodman.

There’s a consistent sound in “Caracal” because similar to what they did to “Willing & Able” and “Holding On“, the Lawrence brothers meld Lion Babe’s smooth R&B vocals with their sensual, soulful beats in “Hourglass”. It’s one sure sign that Disclosure is currently doing what they do best as they constantly lure us in with their addictive deep house tunes.

This is the first time I have done a “Feature” record and I am glad it was with Disclosure.

“Not only am I a genuine fan of them, but I love house music and thought it would be a great collaboration and opportunity,” she added.

“Caracal” is the follow up to Disclosure’s debut album, “Seattle”. It is one star-studded album as multiple award-winning artistes such as Lorde, The Weeknd, and Miguel are lending their talents to the LP too.

The full track list of “Caracal” is as follows:

Slated for release on 25th September 2015, “Caracal” is currently available for pre-order via iTunes.

Stay tuned for more updates on their official website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


#Namewee: Police To Arrest Controversial Rapper Over “Oh My God” Music Video

Johor-born rapper and director Namewee has done it again.

Last month, Namewee (real name Wee Meng Chee) released a new video for a Mandarin song entitled, “Oh My God”, which touched on various religions in Malaysia, including Islam. Featuring Taiwanese band Nine-One-One (911), the video, directed and produced by Namewee was shot in a number of places of worship in Penang.

It also includes a montage of visuals and sounds of religious prayers, a church choir singing, Buddhist meditation chants and gongs, and even the ringing of Hindu temple bells. Namewee can be heard saying, “Hallelujah”, “Om Mani Padme Hum”, “Allah”, and “Namo Amitabha” in the video.

Within a day, the YouTube video garnered over 40,000 views before it was taken down.

In speaking about “Oh My God” in one of his “Tokok” episodes on YouTube, Namewee insisted that the concept behind the music video was to promote religious harmony between Malaysians. “We just want to promote harmony within all religions. Many countries are having religious issues which caused a lot of terrorist attacks. Some countries even have conflicts which continued without reconciliation for centuries,” he said.

“So we combined the four main religions, we travel together happily and we’re having great times together. It’s a rare picture,” he added.

“Let’s open our hearts because a truly great religion will accept, understand, and be tolerant of others in all aspects,” Namewee concluded.

Unfortunately for the controversial artiste, despite his good intentions (as he claims), the authorities are now hot on his heels following the release of “Oh My God”. Penang Northeast district police chief Assistant Commisioner Mior Fraidalathrash Wahid confirmed that Namewee is currently abroad and that the authorities could not divulge his location as it may affect the ongoing investigation.

“We will arrest him as soon as he returns to Malaysia to help in the investigations on the video clip recording which has been said to have spread through social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp last week,” Utusan Online quoted him as saying.

The police have already opened an investigation paper on Namewee’s “Oh My God”, following reports lodged by 20 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), claiming that the rapper had insulted Islam.

Mior Fraidalathrash added that 4 other reports have also been lodged against Namewee at the Jalan Patani police station since 27th July, the first being a report from the chairperson of the floating mosque in Tanjung Bungah – based on suspicions that some scenes from the video were shot within the mosque’s compound.

The case is being investigated under Section 295 of the Penal Code for defiling a place of worship with the intent of insulting a religion.

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#BuraqAir: Baby Born Mid-Air Given Lifetime Of Free Flights

There’s a saying that goes: “you walk before you can run”, but chances are, this baby will probably just fly.

Another newborn baby boy has been awarded with free flights for life after his mother went into labour and gave birth to him while onboard a Buraq Air flight.

The airline was flying from Tripoli in Libya to Niamey, the capital of Niger. A Buraq Air employee named Amir Abu Sin told CNN that the infant was delivered safely into the world with the help of the flight’s cabin crew. To show her gratitude, the mother reportedly named her son after the plane’s captain, Abdul Baset.

Abdul Baset’s birth was recorded and a portion of it was uploaded on The Libya Observer’s Facebook account yesterday (8th September). In the 1-minute long clip, the staff can be seen cleaning the baby, who seems to be covered in blood.

Baset’s case is hardly the first though. Less than a month ago, a woman gave birth to a premature baby girl while onboard Cebu Pacific Air. The tiny tot was also rewarded with a lifetime of free flights from the airline.

Is giving birth while mid-air now becoming a trend? Sound off your thoughts in comments section below.


#NIN: Trent Reznor Announces 2016 Release For Nine Inch Nails’ New Album

Gosh. We almost can’t believe that this is happening!

Trent Reznor, leader of American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, surprised fans by announcing that his band is preparing to make a return to the music scene next year.

The musician made the announcement via Twitter Last Friday (18th December).

Reznor has earlier told Rolling Stone in an interview that he was already working on some new stuff. He said:

It’s not a record I’m trying to finish in a month. It’s more just feeling around in the dark and seeing what sounds interesting.

“It’s nice to do that every few years to try and reinvent and discover and try to learn about yourself and what feels exciting to you as an artiste“, he added.

“Hesitation Marks” was the last album released by Nine Inch Nails back in 2013. Reznor collaborated with longtime producer Atticus Ross and English alternative rock producer Alan Moulder on that record.

Titled “Came Back Haunted”, the lead single from the 2013 album was nominated for the “Best Alternative Music Album” at the 2014 Grammy Awards. Reznor was the only official member to have released 8 records which include the revolutionary 1994 record “The Downward Spiral”. His band was also nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for 2 consecutive years in 2014 and 2015.

Listen to Nine Inch Nails’ “Came Back Haunted” below:

Earlier this year, Reznor received a Golden Globe nomination for his scoring work with Atticus Ross on “Gone Girl“, a film helmed by his longtime collaborator David Fincher. He will soon work on a “rock opera” interpretation of “Fight Club” alongside Fincher.

The musician has also been busy working as a chief creative director with Apple Music.

Sources: Digital Trends, US Weekly, Rolling Stone.

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One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson Bringing “Faith In The Future” Tour To KL & Singapore

2023 is going to be a busy year for Louis Tomlinson. The former One Direction member had already kick off an extensive world tour approximately 3 months ago, in support of his newly-released sophomore studio album “Faith in the Future”.

Thankfully, fans in Asia won’t have to wait long as the 31-year-old Brit has just announced his Asia tour, which will take place in April. Louis will be performing in Japan first, followed by Bangkok and Taipei, before travelling down to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore (27th Apr).

In speaking about “Faith in the Future”, the singer said that the second album was intended to elevate his concerts with high-energy rock anthems, like his single “Out of my System”. “It was my first moment of excitement making this record, and where it felt we were on to something which honors the live show. I realized from doing those live shows what it means to my fans and how everything I do is bigger than me. It’s almost a coming of age for myself and putting opinions about myself to the back of my mind and thinking about what it potentially means for other people,” he said.

Details to Louis Tomlinson “Faith In The Future” tour in Malaysia are as follows:

Concert tickets to watch Louis Tomlinson live will go on sale on 14th February, while Live Nation members will have access a day earlier. More info here.


Doraemon Invades Tokyo Street In Pavilion KL This Month

Calling all Doraemon fans! Head over to Pavilion KL today as the robotic blue cat has invaded the award-winning shopping mall from now until 23rd July 2019!

Held in conjunction with Tokyo Street’s 8th Anniversary, the Doraemon Fair will be filling the 6th floor of Pavilion mall with plenty of pop-up stores selling various exclusive and limited edition merchandise.

So time to relive your childhood and get your hands on a variety of original Doraemon goodies ranging from plushies to pillows, bags, notebooks, t-shirts, mugs, key chains, and more – it’s an event you don’t want to miss!

This will be the third time Pavilion holds a Doraemon fair. The first one was in 2012 in celebration of Doraemon’s 100th anniversary, and the second one was in 2015 for the merchandise fair.

During the same week, Pavilion will also host the third edition of Japan Expo Malaysia from 26th until 28th July, featuring huge Japanese stars like AKB48, DJ Hello Kitty, Kousuke Atari, Riona Hamamatsu, The Sixth Lie, and others.


#Disney: “Interstellar” Actress Mackenzie Foy To Star In The Live-Action Adaption Of “The Nutcracker”

“This is all like a dream come true. The Land of the Dolls is so beautiful and everyone is so kind. I’ve known some of you all my life. And to think we could all be together forever.” – Clara (The Nutcracker Prince, 1990)

Variety has confirmed that Disney has found the perfect lead girl for their upcoming live-action adaption of “The Nutcracker” and it is none other than promising young star Mackenzie Foy!

Helmed by “The Hundred-Foot Journey” director Lasse Hallström, the studio’s latest film will be titled “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” and it is based on the classic ballet by Pyotor Ilyich Tchaikovsky and German poet E.T.A. Hoffmann’s timeless tale, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King”. It was also reported that Ashleigh Powell will be penning a fresh script for the upcoming fantasy.

Hoffmann’s romantically haunting story follows a young girl and her favourite Christmas toy, the Nutcracker prince. After defeating the evil Mouse King in a battle, he whisks her away to a magical doll kingdom. Their love is put to the test when The Mouse Queen seeks vengeance against the prince.

For a better idea about the Christmas tale, you can watch the short cartoon below:

Best known for her role as Renesmee Cullen, the daughter of Edward Cullen and Bella in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn”, she will be starring along with American Ballet Theatre dancer Misty Copeland, who is lead ballerina role for the dance sequences, in her new movie.

No plot details or a release date for “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” have been confirmed yet, but it’s safe to say that the film is going to be a mixture of classical music, beautiful ballet choreographies, and a beautiful storyline.

What do you think about the casting news? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below :)

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#Google: New “Night Light” Mode In Google Play Books Makes For Comfy Reading

Here’s a nice update for those of you who are avid readers!

Some of us love reading before bed/reading ourselves to sleep but looking at the bright screen can be hard on our eyes. And long time usage will eventually affect our eyesight, especially if you’re the type who reads in the dark.

Amazon’s Kindle has a mode that makes reading at night more pleasant and comfortable for your eyes. If you don’t have a Kindle, the good news is that your Google Play Books has also rolled out a similar mode for their Play Books app!

Called the “Night Light”, the new colour mode gradually filters the amount of blue light displayed by the Play Books app depending on how late it is.

Looking at reading time across the world, activity peaks between 8pm and 10pm local time.

The “Night Light” mode automatically adapts to the amount of natural sunlight outside, using hues of warm, amber light to filter blue light.

By giving the reader just the right temperature and brightness, the colour adjustment greatly improves low-light night reading and therefore reducing eye strain.

The new feature is still rolling out to Android and iOS readers. To activate it on your phone or tablet, update your Google Play Books app to the latest version through Google Play or the App Store. Then open a book and turn on the Night Light mode option (you’ll see a pop up in the app). After that, Night Light will always adjust to the perfect setting.

Sources: Official Android Blog, The Verge, CNET / Featured image from Android Central.


#HelloKitty: Sanrio Hello Kitty Town To Hold Largest Gathering Of Fans

Yup! The world’s most iconic cat (or not cat, or cat, it’s up to you to decide) will be celebrating her (this we’re certain, that she’s female) 40th Anniversary and she wants you to be part of it. After all, she is expecting some 10,000 including fans from Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Hong Kong to visit the Sanrio Hello Kitty Town in Puteri Harbour Indoor Family Theme Park come end October onwards!

This is because in conjunction with the celebration, Sanrio Hello Kitty Town has introduced new activities starting August until end-October! After which, the theme park will play host to the massive Hello Kitty 3-day birthday carnival from 31st October – 2nd November. Just so you know, Hello Kitty’s birthday falls on 1st November. So, you could say that they’re hoping to host the first and largest Hello Kitty fans gathering in Southeast Asia.

And why wouldn’t they want to? The Sanrio Hello Kitty Town is the first Sanrio Hello Kitty Town attraction outside of Japan after all!

There will also be 4 main events for the occasion namely:

Expect street shows, magicians, and performers on the streets as well as plenty of things to do for the whole family like the minute-to-win-it games and indulging at the food bazaar. More importantly, we hear that fans will be able to enjoy Hello Kitty convention exclusives and grab limited edition merchandise.

Why you should go? Well, for all the wonderful reasons that we’ve already listed above! So, you want in? Tickets to Sanrio Hello Kitty Town can be purchased online here.

For more information, visit its official website.

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#MouseGuard: “Rogue One” Writer Gary Whitta To Pen Script

Are you guys ready for the live-action adaption of “Mouse Guard”?

The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Fox enlisted “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” screenwriter Gary Whitta to pen the script for David Petersen’s best-selling comic book series. While Matt Reeves, who directed “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”, will be producing the film through 6th & Idaho productions alongside the comic’s publisher Boom! Studios, he will not be helming the project.

David Petersen’s “Mouse Guard” is set in a world of mice who live in the middle ages, paralleling the same age in human history, though in their world there are no humans. Its stories revolve around a brotherhood of mice known as the “Mouse Guard” who have sworn an oath to serve their fellow civilian mice in times of need, including making safe passage for them through the wilderness and protecting them from predators.

The adorable series has been translated into 10 languages and it has almost 1 million copies in print. Besides the main series, Petersen published 3 volumes of spin-off comics including “Mouse Guard: Legend of the Guard” and “Mouse Guard Roleplaying Game”.

No title or a release date for the upcoming comic-turned-movie has been confirmed yet, but we’ll be updating this post with more information as soon as we get ’em details :)

What do you think about a “Mouse Guard” live-action movie? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Screen Rant.


#Instagram: Steps Into World Of Content, Launches @Music

Yes, please! While Instagram has grown to be a significant platform for established and aspiring artistes alike to connect with their fans on a more personal level, the Facebook owned photo-sharing platform has always been short of an official community dedicated to highlighting the influential world of music.

Following its most recent upgrade which now allows for emoji hashtags, Instagram has now launched an official music community under the handle, @music. This new handle signifies the first time Instagram has dedicated an account to a single subject. CEO/Founder Kevin Systrom shares the concept of the new handle, explaining that its introduction has been long overdue:

“The music community is — and always has been — an important part of Instagram. For the past four years, we have become the home for artists big and small — a place where people across the musical spectrum come to share stories, reveal their creativity and connect directly with fans.”

@music will host 11 series and six posts per week from Tuesday to Sunday, helping users discover new artistes and other fans with similar taste in music. From established musicians to budding up-and-comers, Instagram will engage 300 million Instagrammers by highlighting music photographers, album illustrators and instrument makers via music-themed hashtags.


Hype’s Must Watch: Penguins of Madagascar

Directed by Simon J. Smith, Private, Skipper, Rico, and Kowalski are back for their very own feature movie — Penguins of Madagascar. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch who plays a good-looking and charming secret agent who, to everyone’s surprise, also happens to be a wolf!

The Sherlock actor is the voice of Classified, the head of a covert protective force of animals in the animated fixture, Penguins of Madagascar. Known to have always thought of themselves to be better than anyone else in the Madagascar trilogy, Penguins of Madagascar is set to hit cinemas on November 27th, 2014.


#Urbanscapes2016: City-Wide Festivities Celebrating The Creative Arts Over 3 Weekends

Returning for its 14th year, Urbanscapes 2016 will be reimagined into a 2 week-long, city-wide creative arts celebration between 23rd April and 8th May.

For its homecoming, festival-goers can expect the city to come alive as various venues become playgrounds for music, theatre, design, art installations, markets, and experiential events headlined by international and homegrown talents.

“The entire city is now our festival site. After 14 years, Urbanscapes is returning to its roots and rediscovering the urban environment it started from. No longer a weekend wonder, Urbanscapes is now a festival spanning over three weekends featuring an exhaustive creative arts programme to excite festival-goers of all ages,” said Adrian Yap, founder of Urbanscapes.

Urbanscapes today announced additions to their KL Live lineup, including a music showcase by English drum and bass band Rudimental (“Feel The Love”) on 1st May.

Malaysian indie alternative rock band Hujan (“Pagi Yang Gelap”) will share a stage with Ipoh’s own indie rockers Bittersweet (“Perfect Match”), on 24th April. The KL Live lineup includes the recently announced Tame Impala on 23rd April and M83 on 7th May.

Meanwhile, The Bee Publika will play host to several intimate Urbanscapes gigs.

On 30th April, homegrown rapper Jin Hackman of the independent hip hop movement Raising The Bar will present The Night Before Tomorrow (NB4T). NB4T will feature future beats, seapunk, vaporware, footwork, witch house, UK bass, dub, sound system culture-derived genres, and everything else other than the usual KL nightlife scene.

Singaporean experimental art rock band The Observatory will blur the lines between film and music on 5th May with a screening of their experimental music documentary “THE OBS: A SINGAPORE STORY,” followed by a live music showcase of their latest album “August Is The Cruellest”.

The heart of Urbanscapes will pulse at the scenic and historic square Medan Pasar, where the heritage “OCBC Bank” art deco building (now known as 2 Hang Kasturi) will be completely taken over to serve as the festival hub Urbanscapes House.

Occupying 5 floors, Urbanscapes House will host 3 weekends of art festivities.

Right when you enter, there will be an Urbanscapes Café that will feature a signature menu created by their food partners. The first floor will feature the skate and visual culture art exhibition Cannot Be Bo(a)rdered featuring the works of 26 artists from Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Up on its airy rooftop, expect thematic food markets where the nation’s best food vendors will peddle gastronomic bites.

The festival will then conclude with a high-energy closing street party from 4pm to 9pm on 8th May at Medan Pasar, where Urbanscapes House is centred. Malaysia’s artists and creative communities will come together to deliver a salvo of artistic endeavours including street performances and art installations, while food trucks fill the square with their enticing fare and aromas.

For Urbanscapes 2016’s full lineup, visit their website.

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Hype’s Now Playing: Kendrick Lamar — “i”

Kendrick Lamar is a man with words of inspiration!

As we wait for word on whether rapper Kendrick Lamar will drop a new album this year, the “B*tch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” rapper has shared the lyric video for “i” — his inspiring and uplifting single from that much-anticipated LP. Directed by Christian San Jose, the lyric video for the track rides along on a sample from the Isley Brothers’ 1973 soul hit “That Lady.” The video features dozens of people making that two-handed heart symbol along with footage of Lamar performing onstage.

The real highlight and star of the video however goes to the lyrics. If the rapper’s super fast pace and striking imagery as well as impressive rhymes made it difficult to keep up with, this video puts the spotlight back on Lamar’s words. “Dreams of reality’s peace / Blow steam in the face of the beast / The sky could fall down, the wind could cry now / The strong in me, I still smile,” Lamar raps on the track.

As he works on a follow-up to his 2012 breakthrough LP good kid, m.A.A.d city, that may or may not be done in time for a 2014 release, this single takes on a happier, lighter and fun mood as compared to Lamar’s previous works including “Swimming Pools,” “Poetic Justice,” and “B*tch Don’t Kill My Vibe.”

Check out the lyric video for “i” below.

Here are Kendrick Lamar’s social media platforms: Facebook and Twitter for your stalking pleasure.


Adventure Seekers, Red Bull Wants To Send You To Europe For A Challenge!

If you are a bold and fearless university student, Red Bull is looking for you and your friends to join the Red Bull Can You Make It 2018 edition.

The challenge is essentially a dash to the finish line, but there is a catch. Participating teams will have to travel more than 1,000 km to reach the final destination, using only Red Bull cans as currency.

If your team is selected, you will join 200 teams from 60 countries around the world on the 6th of March – and will depart from one of the five starting points in Europe – Budapest, Madrid, Manchester, Rome or Stockholm to make your way to Amsterdam.

Each team will hand over their cash, credit cards and personal phones and have one week to make it to the final destination.

Instead of cash and credit cards, you will be exchanging cans of Red Bull for everything you need on the journey – food, a place to sleep, and transportation to the next location to complete your given tasks.

The application has officially opened and will close on Wednesday, February 14, 2018.

Step 1: Gather a team of three friends. You’ll each need to be a current university student. International students can join too!

Step 2: Create a one-minute-long video explaining why your team should be chosen and submit it at Red Bull Can You Make It no later than February 14, 2018.

Step 3: The next step is to earn online votes before getting to the starting line. After the voting period ends, a panel of judges will select a team to be Malaysia’s representative.

For more information, head over to Red Bull Can You Make It‘s official website.

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Hype’s Now Playing: The Prodigy – Wild Frontier

The Prodigy give fans a taste of what to expect.

Slightly over a month away from the  release of their sixth album “The Day Is My Enemy“, British electronic royalty “The Prodigy” has released their newest track “Wild Frontier” giving fans a taste of what to expect from the forthcoming album.

The gory video features a new take on the classic “hunter becomes the hunted” plot, this time featuring stop motion animated puppets in a hand-crafter forest. The video, created by Dutch director and producer Mascha Halberstad and animator Elmer Kaan, depicts a horror-story to follow suit in the tone of the track. Besides, one can’t really be surprised by the direction of this video, after all, this is the band behind the videos for “Baby’s Got a Temper” and “Smack My B*tch Up”.

“Wild Frontier” is the third song released from “The Day Is My Enemy” following “Nasty” and the title track. The Prodigy who’s set to perform in Singapore for Future Music Festival Asia this March will be releasing their sixth studio album “The Day Is My Enemy” on March 30th so be sure to keep a look for it.


Pete Davidson Loves Ariana Grande’s Shout-out To Him In “Thank U, Next”

The music video for Ariana Grande’s latest song “Thank U, Next” is now trending at number 1 on YouTube. Well, why wouldn’t it? Everyone is loving the song and all the references it has on today’s pop culture as well as Ariana’s exes – including Pete Davidson.

That’s right! According to an insider, Ariana Grande’s former fiance Pete Davidson reportedly loves the song and all of the nice shout-outs from the “Dangerous Woman” singer.

“Pete was really moved by Ariana’s ‘Thank U Next’ video. He found it really touching that she included such a sweet and loving shout out to him. Pete wasn’t sure what to expect, but Ariana is a total sweetheart so he wasn’t bracing himself for anything bad or nasty, but still, he wasn’t expecting anything quite so loving,” a source close to the comedian told Hollywood Life.

In the video, when Ariana is flipping her own “Mean Girls” inspired Burn Book where she mentions 3 of her former flames including Ricky Alvarez, Big Sean, and, of course, Pete. On Pete’s page, Ariana wrote “I love u always”, “Sry I dipped”, as well as “HUUUUGE.”

https://t.co/xLaDPy8OLU Ariana Grande apologised to Pete Davidson for "dipping" in her 'thank u, next' video (click link for more info) pic.twitter.com/Afe9sK72ht

— Celeb News (@celebslegit) December 1, 2018

“The fact Ariana drew a large heart around his name, and wrote ‘l luv u always’ and ‘Huuuuuge’ gives him hope that they may still be able to work things out—which, is something Pete would love, with all his heart,” the source adds.

“Pete was really touched by the fact Ariana included an apology to him for the break-up, and he loves that it was so subtle that most people would miss it if they blinked. Pete has watched the video a whole ton of times since it came out, and he noticed Ariana had written “Sry I dipped” above his name immediately, and it made his heart soar.”

In case y’all didn’t know, ‘dipped’ means left, so in this context, Ariana is apologising to Pete for leaving him – which means she was the one who dumped him.

“Pete’s never stopped loving Ariana, and the video has strengthened those feelings even more, in addition to his desire to win her back again in the future,” the source said.

“Thank U, Next” broke the record for most-watched video in YouTube within 24 hours, officially achieving over 50.3 million views, surpassing by a large margin the 45.9 million YouTube views of BTS’s “Idol” video, the previous record-holder.

Directed by Hannah Lux Davis, the video made references to the films “Mean Girls”, “Bring It On”, “13 Going on 30”, and “Legally Blonde”.

The video features cameos from singer-songwriter Troye Sivan, YouTube stars Colleen Ballinger and Gabi DeMartino, Mean Girls actors Jonathan Bennett and Stefanie Drummond, and Grande’s former “Victorious” co-stars Elizabeth Gillies, Daniella Monet and Matt Bennett.

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#SMAP: Pioneering J-Pop (Japanese Pop) Idol Group To Disband After 25 Years

One of J-Pop’s (Japanese pop) pioneering idol groups, SMAP (Sports Music Assemble People), will disband on 31st December this year.

The news was just confirmed by SMAP’s management agency, Johnny’s & Associates Inc., after denying rumours of a split for months.

Formed in 1988 before making their official CD debut with the single “Can’t Stop!! Loving” in 1991, SMAP originally consisted of 6 members: Masahiro Nakai, Takuya Kimura, Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, Shingo Katori, and Katsuyuki Mori. But it was only in 1994 that the group saw success with their first #1 single, “Hey Hey Ōki ni Maido Ari” (Hey Hey おおきに毎度あり, “Hey Hey Thanks For Your Business”).

Not long after, SMAP quickly built up a huge fanbase in Japan as well as all over Asia as its members would appear in variety shows, films, dramas, and commercials. It is without a doubt that they were “an idol group that does anything”.

Their popularity made them ambassadors for diplomatic relations between Japan, China, and South Korea.

In fact, they were the first J-Pop group to visit China in a decade, when they held a concert performance at the Beijing Workers Stadium in China under the theme of “Come on, Japan. Thank you, China. Asia is a united home” in 2011. The concert, which was a symbol of gratitude for China’s assistance in the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami tragedy, was attended by 40,000 people.

Upon the announcement, Johnny’s & Associates Inc. released an official statement which read:

“Thank you for always supporting SMAP. We have put everyone into worry regarding the deliberation among the members about their future. With this decision made by the members, and on behalf of everyone who has been involved, we would like to apologise that we have made this announcement through a faxed letter.

SMAP, which has been in the industry for 25 years, will be disbanding on December 31, 2016. In January of this year, there were deliberations regarding SMAP’s future. Over a period of 6 months from February to August 10, we have still continued their activities by appearing on music shows and other various activities as usual. We have also planned to commemorate their 25th anniversary of their debut as well as the 20th anniversary of their show by doing promotional events and even concerts. In spite of these efforts, there were still several people who have doubted saying that continuing their activities is very difficult to do with the current situation of the five members. The debate continued among the officials. In July, we have declined a music program guesting. The month after that, for the sake of the people who cannot wait, we had to take our time to think calmly. There were suggestions that the group should take a short break until these circumstances have been resolved. From the members themselves, however, they said that “We’ll rather disband than take a break”. It’s very difficult for the members to come to this resolve after all the achievements they have had for the past few years. Although it is very difficult, we are now reporting it officially.

It wasn’t possible to meet the expectations of the company stakeholders without the fans’ support which were shown in this year’s commemorative events. We would like to thank you and at the same time, apologize. We are sorry.

With that being said, SMAP will disband, but the affiliation of the members remain in the company. We will focus on their individual activities. We are hoping for you to support them as warmly as before and we are looking forward to your encouragement in the future. We humbly express our gratitude to everyone.

In addition to the above statement, it was also announced in SMAP’s official fanclub that they will stop accepting new members.

Up to last year, SMAP has sold a whopping total of 35 millions records. Its 5 members – Masahiro Nakai, Takuya Kimura, Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori – are expected to pursue solo careers.

It truly is the end of an era. Thank you for the music, SMAP.

Sources: SMAP Wiki, aramajapan / Featured image: Getty Images.


Raja Ilya Reveals Real Reason For Turning Down Marvel Role

Raja Ilya recently revealed the real reason on why she decided to turn down her role in a Marvel superhero movie.

According to the “Estet” actress, she had to reject the offer of starring in the film as it involved a kissing scene, which is against conservative Islamic values.

Talking to Harian Metro, Ilya (real name Raja Ramilah Begum Raja Mohammad), shared that she felt a little upset to let go of the golden opportunity. However, she put her disappointment after knowing that her upcoming movie “KL Vampires – her 1st take on action film – will be releasing in local cinemas after 2 years.

“I was deeply moved. Looking back on how difficult it was for us in order to carry out all the action scenes. To get us all geared up, we went through a whole month of training session. Besides that, the premiere of the movie also serves as an answer to fans’ question on when will the film will come out in cinemas,” she further added in the interview.

Additionally, the 34-year-old was also asked about her marriage with husband, Trent Garrett as well as plans on having a baby. Ilya responded by saying that “married life is so much fun. Thank God after a year since tying the knot, we understand each other a lot. In regards on getting a child, my husband and I are planning to have our own baby next year. Plus, I’ve been busy in arranging my schedule as I am planning to make my comeback in the industry,” she told Berita Harian.

Ilya further added that her husband has been very supportive of her. “I was thinking of slowing down (career), but he always encouraged me to continue with my activities in the entertainment platform. My husband often motivates me to keep on sharpening my skills in acting. This includes expanding my career overseas,” said the Kuala Lumpur-born starlet.

“In this case, he knew about me attending auditions in the US for career opportunities at the country. Therefore, he suggested I try my luck by signing with a local talent agency in Perth, Australia. I haven’t received any feedback yet so far but Trent has been showing non-stop support for me in order to pursue my career as an actress,” Ilya further added.

In another news, Ilya recently took to her Instagram to express her frustration towards airline company Malindo air. According to Ilya, she had to take the issue to the extreme measures, demanding further explanation from them.

“I’ve been patient for so long, I had experience in working for airlines too. I’ve never treated passengers with this kind of manner based on my experience as a cabin crew,” she wrote on her Instagram, before adding, “Today, I feel like it was just too much. Sending e-mails and phone calls seems to not function at all. What options do we have to voice out our complaints to the individuals in charge?”

Terlalu banyak kali bersabar…. Ilya pun kerja airline gak Sblm ni ,jadi cabin crew gak Tapi Tak pernah sekali pun layan passenger mcM segelintir mereka skrg ni ,Walaupun kita baru break up tetap Senyum and kerja Dengan ikhlas . Today rasa Lebih lebih lak,email complaint pun Tak jalan ,call complain pun Tak ambik peduli ,so macam mana kami nak Sampai kan complaint ke pihak yang kena ambik tahu ? Bukan sekali kena ,banyak kali !!sampai bag2 penumpang di tinggal kan kat KLIA tanpa bagitau apa apa ,sampai kat Perth kata Airline Tak upload baggage sebab overload , so kena tunggu 1 Hari utk Terima bag . Bila naik Pesawat some of teh Cabin crew layan and sembang Dengan passenger macam musuh negara , nak hidang Makan pun macam bagi sedekah. Bila cancel ticket Dengan PNR yang sama plak baggage Tak leh nak Tukar sebab POLICY . Ayoooo policy ambik duit passenger free2 ? Macam cakap Dengan robot!!! Tak ada common sense ,Tak ada timbang rasa Bila Tanya kata company policy . Teruk sangat policy ni.. dah lama malas naik airline ni sebenarnya sebab benda2 macm ni laa… nasib baik ada option air asia & @malaysiaairlines , skrg harap2 pihak atasan nampak Kami ni.. sebab email,call Tak layan..terpaksa laaa guna cara ni. Bukan saja ILYA ,ramai lagi kat luar sana nk smapi kan semua ni .aiyoooooooo Ini luahan hati seorang passenger and ex crew pada airline ini. Harap ambik tindakan . Tolong laa.. @malindoair

A post shared by  Raja Ilya (@rajailya) on Nov 16, 2019 at 2:38am PST

In the lengthy caption, she also recalled back her past experience with the air flight’s poor service, “Not once, but many times!! To the point that we were not informed that the luggage were left at the airport. When we arrived at Perth, we were told that they were not able to bring out the bags along as a result of overload.”

“When boarding the flight, some of the cabin crews served their passengers as if they were the enemies of their country. They even served their food like they were giving them to beggars,” she further added in the caption.

Ilya’s upcoming film “KL Vampires” is set to debut in local cinemas this coming Thursday (14th November).

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Hype’s Movie Review: “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2” Fails To Make Audience Laugh

In 2009,  Kevin James worked together with Steve Carr to come up with “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”. The movie was an unexpected box office success, grossing 31.8 million USD in its opening week and accumulated 138 million USD in worldwide ticket sales. As expected, it spawned a sequel.

In the sequel, “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2”, James reprises his role as Paul Blart, the security guard at West Orange Pavilion Mall. This time, the film takes the setting of the movie out of New Jersey and moves it to Las Vegas, where Blart is scheduled to attend a Security Guard Expo with his beloved teenage daughter Maya (played by Raini Rodriguez). The movie takes place in Wynn Hotel, where Blart inadvertently discovers a criminal group trying to smuggle all the famous and expensive paintings and sculptures from the hotel.

Now that you know how the movie goes, it’s time for me to begin the review.

Admittedly, I am no fan of the comedy genre, but solid comedies like the “Night at the Museum” film series have persuaded me to give it a try. I do not oppose watching it but most of the time, I do not enjoy it either. So, as someone who did not watch the first “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” movie, and did not even bother to keep up with news regarding the sequel, I went into the cinema with zero expectations.

To be honest, I liked how the movie started and it instantly hooked me in. Not going to spoil anything, but the opening was pretty fast-paced and skipped from one scene to another, which kept me on my toes. There was also a twist right at the beginning that I swear would make you jump out of your seats.

The introduction played an important part, as it showed the audience the reason for Blart’s loneliness and also hesitance to allow his daughter to stray far from him. The reason was echoed several times throughout the movie and serves as the main push for the premise. I have no complaints there as the base was solid enough. It made things believable because it is something which I believe everyone can relate to.

After that solid scene, I expected the movie to be spectacular, yet I was set for disappointment as nothing really stood out.

The movie mainly focused on Blart’s relationship with his daughter, and this premise has been played to death in several comedies. Blart’s daughter has been admitted into the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and is reluctant to inform her father of the news because she doesn’t want to leave him alone. As hard as she tries to hide it from her father, he finds out eventually. A huge part of the film concentrates on this father and child conflict, with him objecting to it and her insisting to follow her dreams.

Although the story is told from Blart’s point-of-view, you start to root for his daughter as the movie progresses. It is hard for us to sympathise with Blart because his antics can sometimes come off as annoying and juvenile.

I have to admit, I have a soft spot for Divina Martinez, The Wynn’s hotel manager. Although the character comes off as exaggerated, her over-the-top actions were what made her endearing. Daniella Alonso, who played Martinez, successfully pulled the character off without making her irritating.

Neal McDonough plays the villain of the film, who is only known as Vincent. The character is a typical antagonist, who intimidates everyone with just his words. You wouldn’t expect it, but a scene towards the end of the movie, which involves Vincent, brought one of the biggest laughs in the movie.

All in all, I would say that the movie falls below average. It does provide laughter, but it is scarce and would elicit chuckles rather than hearty laughs.

“Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2” is slated for release on 7th May.

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


#GotG: The Post Guardians of the Galaxy Syndrome

Yes, there is such a thing called the “Post Guardians of the Galaxy Syndrome” but you shouldn’t be worry about it if you haven’t watched “Guardian of the Galaxy”.

Considering the fact that we’ve already watched and reviewed it, it’s pretty obvious that we’re the victims of the “Post Guardians of the Galaxy Syndrome” and it might actually get worse soon. In fact, there isn’t a day that goes by that we don’t think about all the cameo appearances and Easter Eggs in the film. Oh, did we mention that Chris Pratt aka Star-Lord is one amazing actor in it too?

For what it’s worth, this film is arguably one of the best films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Thus, we’ve gathered some of the things that you might want to get for yourself after watching it. For those who have NOT seen “Guardians of the Galaxy”, you can either click away from this post or spoil it for yourself.

This is very much expected from LEGO as they’ve been releasing tonnes of toys based on comic characters such as Batman and the Avengers! In fact, the LEGO version of  “Guardians of the Galaxy” is part of the LEGO Marvel Super Heroes collection and it was released earlier in June.

For now, 3 sets of LEGO’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” have been introduced, titled The Milano Spaceship Rescue (76021),  Starblaster Showdown (76019), and Knowhere Escape Mission (76020). On top of that, LEGO and Marvel have previously collaborated to build the life-size statues of Rocket Raccoon and Groot to display at San Diego Comic-Con 2014 and the film’s London premiere! The process took about 300 hours and 80 builders to complete both statues! Mind blown?

2. Funko’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” collectibles

If the LEGO version of “Guardians of the Galaxy” isn’t enough for you, Funko Pop! vinyl figures would be the next best alternative toys to get! This will turn you into a collector yet.

Previously, Funko released SDCC exclusive Funko Pop! vinyl figures, including the SDCC Exclusive Flocked Rocket Raccoon & SDCC Exclusive Marvel Mystery Minis.

Prior to the release of the film, Funko released the “Guardians of the Galaxy” Pop! Vinyl Bobble Figures that come in a window display box. The “Guardians of the Galaxy” Pop! Vinyl Bobble Figures characters include Rocket, Star-Lord, Gamora, Groot and Drax while the Wacky Wobblers collection features Rocket and Star-Lord. Both Wacky Wobbles figures stand about 7-inches tall and they come in a window display box as well.

The real potted baby dancing Groot hasn’t happened yet, but we have already reserved a spot for him to just dance away on our desks! Yes, you heard us, Marvel/Disney. Just make this happen already!

During the mid-credits scene of the film, baby Groot was spotted dancing to Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” and would come to an abrupt stop whenever Drax looked his way. That particular scene quickly became one of the best moments in the film and many are looking forward to get a potted baby dancing Groot! Based on a tweet from Agent M aka Ryan Pegora (the Executive Editorial Director for Marvel Digital Media Group and Marvel.com), there’s no info about the dancing Groot yet but the studio has been discussing about it for months now. Ace!

It is just a matter of time before they release the film’s official merchandise! Who knows? Maybe they will release the actual potted dancing Groot Toy this Christmas!

Meanwhile, check out these handmade figures inspired by the baby Groot. Told you people are obsessed with it!

But unfortunately, that one can’t dance.

4. Star-Lord’s “Awesome Mix Vol. 1” cassette tape

Admit it. Ever since you watched “Guardians of the Galaxy”, you have been listening to “Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede, haven’t you? Or maybe even the full track list in “Awesome Mix Vol. 1”!

Well, Marvel definitely knew us well and has already featured all the songs (including the composers’ scores) in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” deluxe soundtrack album! The deluxe edition of the album was released on 29th July and it is currently available on iTunes as well. Check out the full track list here:

“I am Groot” but “we are like Kevin Bacon” now! Pardon the lame statement there, but the quoted phrases are some of the phrases that you might hear from those who’ve seen the film. Repeatedly.

Due to Star-Lord’s 80s-appropriate childhood, the film featured a fair share of comedic elements that have been strongly linked to the 80s pop culture. But of course, the aliens are neither familiar with nor understand the 80s pop culture on Earth. Thus, laughter would fill the theatre whenever the phrases were wrongly used by the characters. On top of that, the one-line phrases are one of the factors that has made the entire film greatly enjoyable.

Now, we know you could be suffering from the “Post Guardians of the Galaxy Syndrome” too but there are far too many symptoms to list down here. So, tell us, what are some of the symptoms you’ve experienced? Let us know in the comment box below!

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No More Riding E-Scooters On Public Roads Starting 1st January

Kuala Lumpur dwellers have grown to love commuting around the city with electronic scooters ever since it was rolled out last year.

Nevertheless, the authorities are imposing legal action on individuals who ride e-scooters on public roads, starting 1st January 2021.

Kuala Lumpur Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department chief Zulkefly Yahya said that there have been a lot of complaints from the public regarding the usage of e-scooters on the road. Riding e-scooters on the road could potentially disrupt the flow of traffic and cause accidents.

Zulkefly said, “E-scooters are not allowed to be used on the road. They are a nuisance to other road users, besides being dangerous as they can cause accidents. These people (e-scooter riders) can only ride in gazetted areas, that is in playgrounds and permitted areas in shopping centres.”

According to him, e-scooter riders who wish to use the vehicle on the road would have to request for a special permission licence from the director-general of the Road Transport Department (JPJ). He also added that the police have identified three major areas where the scooters are actively used, “namely around Dataran Merdeka, KLCC and Bukit Bintang.”

As of now, cops are only advising e-scooter users to not ride them on public roads. However, Zulkefly stated that, starting 1st January, action could be taken under the Road Transport Act, with fines imposed on such individuals.

To all city dwellers out there, don’t be bummed out! You can still ride your e-scooters around parks and sidewalks, just not public roads.


#Malaysia: Civil Servants May Only Be Required To Work For 6 Hours In A Day

Research has found that a shorter working day can increase productivity and make employees happy.

If you agree with the aforementioned study, then we may have some great news for you. The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has urged the government to consider reducing the current civil servant’s daily working hours from 8 hours to 6 hours.

“We will see, and study it first. Actually some of the civil servants working in the Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) and some of the selected agencies are already on 14 hour shifts or if divided by 2, 7 hours for each officer. So this has already been practised. However we will look at why there is a need for the 6 hour work days and so on,” Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa was quoted as saying.

The minister for the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim, is also supporting the notion of a 6-hour work day to provide work-life balance to government employees.

“I welcome the call from the MTUC and I would also like to thank the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, who will look into and scrutinise the proposal. Over the past 2 years, we (the ministry) have been implementing flexible working hours, with 3 options, for our staff,” she said.

The proposal, according to MTUC secretary-general N. Gopal Krishnan, is not only to increase productivity but to prevent Malaysian employees from burning out, which in turn will negatively impact the work force in the long run.

What do y’all think? Will this implementation produce a positive outcome? Do sound off in the comments section below.


Top 6 Celebrity Death Hoaxes

How many times have you read news on Twitter or Facebook that you’d later find out were false? With millions of people on Twitter and Facebook posting up millions of updates on a daily basis, it can be quite frustrating to try to differentiate genuine news from hoaxes. Celebrities, especially, are usually not spared. Many of them, who were thought to have been “touched” by the Grim Reaper aka thought to be dead, were in fact very much alive and kicking.

Here are some of the top 6 celebrity death hoaxes:

A death hoax can be made worse (read: spread more quickly) if even celebrities fail to tell fake from real. Kim Kardashian caused major confusion one fine day in 2012 when she tweeted to her tens of millions of Twitter followers:

Of course it wasn’t true and the Internet wasted no time in chastising her for tweeting without first fact checking. One Twitter follower apparently said to her, “Of course not, Cher will outlive you”. An hour later hour, Kim corrected her error by tweeting, “Can’t believe people would make up a sick joke like Cher died. These people need to get a life! Thanks Twitter for clearing that up”.

In 2011, a Facebook page called “Jackie Chan R.I.P 08/17/2011” went viral as flocks of fans memorialised the action star, who was said to have died from a heart attack. Then, last month, a piece of news which read:

Actor Jackie Chan died while filming a movie in Kitzbühel, Austria early this morning – June 23, 2013 (obviously the fake obit generates up-to-date deaths). Preliminary reports from Austrian Police officials indicate that the actor fell more than 50 feet to his death in a remote area of the Hahnenkamm mountains while on-set during the filming of a movie. Specific details are not yet available. The accident occurred at approximately 4:30 a.m. (UTC/GMT +12).

..went viral. Of course, the popular martial arts actor wasn’t dead. He was just the latest celebrity to fall victim to the infamous online death hoax. Following the “news”, the “Rush Hour” star took the Facebook (how apt!) to tell his fans that he’s alive and well – with a photo of himself posing with an issue of a 21st June newspaper:

He also wrote on his Facebook wall, “Everybody called me to see if I was alive. If I died, I would probably tell the world! I took a photo with today’s date, just in case you don’t believe me! However, thank you all for your concern.”

At least he had a good sense of humor about it!

In May this year, a story made its rounds on the interwebs, claiming that a “Seinfeld” star had died. Apparently sourced from a fake TMZ website, the car crash on Route 446 in Pennsylvania involved Wayne Knight, his Mercedes, and a tractor-trailer. But just as soon as the “news” was released, Wayne Knight himself took to Twitter to dispel the fake report when he tweeted the following:

Well, duh, if Wayne Knight says he’s alive, he has to be. Right?

Rumors of the actor’s alleged demise gained traction after a “R.I.P. Eddie Murphy” Facebook page attracted nearly one million likes. Those who read the “About” page were given a believable account of the American actor’s passing:

At about 11 a.m. ET on Tuesday (July 01, 2014), our beloved actor Eddie Murphy passed away. Eddie Murphy was born on April 3, 1961 in New York. He will be missed but not forgotten. Please show your sympathy and condolences by commenting on and liking this page.

Hundreds of fans immediately started writing their messages of condolence on the Facebook page, expressing their sadness that the talented 53-year-old actor, comedian, singer and musician was dead. However, on 2nd July, the actor’s reps officially confirmed that Eddie Murphy is not dead. “He joins the long list of celebrities who have been victimised by this hoax. He’s still alive and well, stop believing what you see on the Internet,” they said.

Seriously, the only thing that killed Eddie Murphy is the internet.

In 2007, while she was in jail (remember that!), it was widely reported that Paris had died. Then, in 2012, reports surfaced that the heiress was killed in a violent car crash. This site stated:

Paris Hilton, born on February 17, 1981 in New York, was an American heir. She died on September 15, 2012, at the age of 31. Friends and family are mourning the loss of a loved one.

Paris Hilton died in a single vehicle crash on Route 80 between Morristown and Roswell. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics responding to the vehicle accident and was identified by photo ID found on his body. Alcohol and drugs do not appear to have been a factor in this accident.

Perhaps the most popular “death” that we’ve seen repeatedly in our Facebook newsfeed is none other than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s. In June, it was reported that he died due to a dangerous stunt gone awry during the production of his upcoming film “Fast & Furious 7”. Again, satirical website Global Associated News (the same site that reported Paris Hilton’s so-called death) wrote that the famous the famous wrestler and actor had a fatal fall from Kauri Cliff in New Zealand:

Actor Dwayne Johnson died while filming a movie in New Zealand early this morning – June 10, 2014. Preliminary reports from New Zealand Police officials indicate that the actor fell more than 60 feet to his death on the Kauri Cliffs while on-set.

After which, a similar video entitled, “Rest In Peace Dwayne Johnson 1972-2014”..

..quickly went viral and sparked concerns among social media users and fans of The Rock.

Sure, 42-year-old Dwayne Johnson was really on site filming, “Fast & Furious 7” but he sure as heck didn’t die because on the same day, he tweeted:

And he’s still very actively tweeting until this very day.

Other notable “celebrity death” mentions are such as:

So kids, don’t believe everything that you read on the internet!

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


#LilJon: PLAY Club Is Ready To Turn Down (For What?) & Get Loose With Lil Jon

Come play with the Grammy award nominee because he’s back in town!

If you have been hitting the clubs for the past one year, you wouldn’t have missed out the popular tune “Turn Down For What” by Lil Jon and DJ Snake, the hip-hop tune which earned them the Grammy Award 2015 nomination for “Best Music Video”.

PLAY is proud to present the American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, on 11th June, where the hip hop genius extraordinaire is set to perform his popular tunes including his hit single, “Bend Ova”, which was released in July 2014.

Our friends at PLAY will also be giving you (and 2 of your pals) a chance to meet the world famous hip hop maestro when he’s here ;)

Meet and greet contest deets are as follows:

Lil Jon’s upcoming gig at PLAY Club at The Roof will mark his second appearance at the club since November 2013. The event is supported by HAIG Club, Asahi, and UBER.

For more information and reservation, call 0132703111 or visit their Facebook page.


Jenson Button: “Vettel’s Selfishness Will Return To Haunt Him”

McLaren ace Jenson Button has stepped in to give his two cents about the whole Sebastian Vettel-Mark Webber fiasco that took place at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang a few weeks ago. Jenson, who was shocked that Sebastian Vettel disobeyed Red Bull principal Christian Horner by overtaking team-mate Mark Webber to win the race, believes that Sebastian will get eventually get “hurt”.

Jenson also added that three-time world champion Sebastian Vettel’s selfishness will only return to haunt him later in the season:

We all want to win but Sebastian drives for Red Bull and they have to call the shots. So many times it has worked in his favour. I think that will hurt him in the long run. I am surprised he did that. I find team orders difficult but to disregard a team order is something different. At the start of the race, they knew they had team orders. That’s the bigger issue.

I am not a fan of giving a driver preferential treatment but the issue here is that Vettel did not want team orders. How is he going to give that win back to Mark? I cannot imagine him leading the race and going to Mark and say, “Here you go”.

That’s very difficult and I could not do that.

If you are told to save tyres and your team-mate is behind you and he overtakes you, you are going to get annoyed. It can cause an issue. Even if they sit down and discuss it, it is not going to change the outcome. It is still in their minds and it does not go away.

Of course, he’s no stranger to dueling with a team mate. In 2010, he went head-to-head with Lewis Hamilton in Turkey. Ironically, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber had already taken each other out of the race when they collided.

Jenson Button, who was unaware that Lewis Hamilton was told to turn his engine down and save fuel, leapfrogged past him. The two discussed it as soon as they got out of their cars and later buried the hatchet after the misunderstanding.

Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber will be under fierce scrutiny as they return to the Red Bull team garage at this week’s Chinese Grand Prix following a furious team orders row in Malaysia. The reigning world champion and his aggrieved Australian team-mate are said to have called a truce after Vettel’s controversial late pass for victory at Sepang, but relations are likely to be uneasy at best.

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


#DCA: Fees For Airlines Operating Out Of M’sia To Increase 10x; May Cause Airfare To Go Up

The Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia (DCA) announced that effective 15th April, airlines operating out of Malaysia will be charged 10 times more than the current rate.

The increase in fees will be applied to everything such as the usage of air space, air traffic facilities, air operator’s certificate (AOC), and pilot’s flight license. This decision was made under a review of fees and charges by the DCA after 40 years.

According to the revised fee, bigger aircrafts will be charged more and even the smaller jets, cargo planes, and helicopters will not be spared. This will definitely affect the airlines’ bottomlines and may lead to an increase of airfares for travellers.

Some airlines were briefed by the DCA officials last Friday (1st April), but were surprised that they will start execution so quickly. This rise would lead up to a ten-fold increase in an airline’s monthly air navigation flight charges (ANFC), which is the biggest cost item for the usage of DCA services.

“The rise is too drastic and too fast,” said an airline executive.

He also said that airlines like AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, and Malindo Air will take the worst hit by these new charges because they have several hundred domestic flights per week.

Based on the DCA briefing, the ANFC charges will rise from 5 sen per nautical mile to 50 sen for lightweight aircraft. For the bigger planes like Airbus 320/330 and Boeing 737/777, the cost will rise from 10-25 sen to RM1-RM2.50 per nautical mile, the Airbus 380 price will increase from 30 sen to RM3 per nautical mile. The minimum charges will be raised from RM5 to RM50 per nautical mile.

As for the AOC, which is an important document for airlines to fly, the initial approval fees for mid-sized aircraft will increase from RM400 to RM80,000, and yearly renewals fees will rise from RM400 to RM30,000.

Pilots who have to be licensed to fly will have to pay RM500 for their initial flight crew licence and RM300 for yearly renewals.

“We have to upgrade our systems, maintain and replace them as we want to give them the best. Hence, we have to charge a bit. In any case, there has not been a revision in the pricing since 1970 and it costs us money to provide the services,” DCA director-general Datuk Seri Azharuddin Abdul Rahman told StarBiz yesterday.

Although Azharuddin said that Malaysia’s fees is still lower than some other countries in the region, another airline executive said that the DCA’s new fees are higher that Singapore and Thailand, and that they need to review its rates.

The DCA spent RM1.41bil to build infrastructure and systems and the new KL air traffic control centre (ATCC) will be expected to operate by 2018/2019, and would need about RM550mil to upgrade Kota Kinabalu ATCC and other systems’ upgrade in the country.


Rob Dumps Rita “Wh-Ora”

The famous reality star Rob Kardashian is single again after breaking up with..a woman. Well, obviously. He didn’t mention who but we’re pretty sure it’s singer Rita Ora. They were both seeing each other secretly a couple of months ago and went official in early November.

Rumour has it that Rita is cheated on Rob.

The handsome star tweeted his emotions saying, “She cheated on me with nearly 20 dudes while we were together, I wonder how many she will sleep with now that we apart? But I mean 20?!!!”. Aherm. Deleting tweets and photos of Rita on Twitter shows who you’re talking about, Rob.

Following which, Khloe Kardashian rushed in and tweeted in support of her brother, writing, “Cheaters never prosper @RobKardashian ill be home today… Try and smile little brother.”

Aww. Don’t worry Rob, tons of gals out there would love to mend your heart!

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


Hype’s Birthday Shoutout To Local Hero DJ Blink!

No stranger to the club scene in Kuala Lumpur, DJ Blink of Lapsap celebrates his birthday today! The turntable maestro has won awards and competitions for his turn table skills, played at international festivals such as the 2007 Global Gathering in the UK and he created several popular club nights such as Eclectic Phunk, Mis-shapes, Hura Hura and Lapsap.

Now known as one of Kuala Lumpur’s top DJs, he is known for his Lapsap nights with partner XU and his single sets at Zouk Club Kuala Lumpur. Blink together with DJ Goldfish will once again be playing at Malaysia’s major dance festival Thirst, this December 14th at the Sepang International Circuit and he holds a residency at Barsonic, Zouk Club Kuala Lumpur every Saturday night.

Adding on the celebration of his birthday, Blink’s EP Tension with DJ Goldfish was released just a couple of hours ago.

Hype’s Now Playing: Blink & Golfish — Tension/Make You Jump


(UPDATE) Hardwell Confirms Debut Album Release Date

As you may recall, during our interview with Hardwell when he was here in Malaysia a couple of months back, we asked him about his debut album and he said “It’s gonna be released 100% in January 2015!”.

Currently the world number #1 DJ as voted on DJ Mag‘s Top 100 DJs poll, Robbert van de Corput, best known as Hardwell has finally confirmed the date for the release of his debut studio album. The long-awaited new full-length studio album from the Dutch superstar follows the first North American appearance of his worldwide “I Am Hardwell” tour.

Titled “United We Are”, the album is set to be released on January 23rd, 2015. Hardwell has confirmed this date via Facebook on a post revealling that the last track on the album, a collaboration with Mr. Probz, is completed.

In addition, the album will include the single “Young Again” featuring Chris Jones, released earlier this year, and the collaboration with W&W and Fatman Scoop titled “Don’t Stop The Madness”, which has been an essential track in Hardwell’s sets this past summer.

The album release will be followed by a massive “United We Are” tour, set to kick off at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam on January 24th, 2015. As we wait for his album, here’s “Young Again”:

The full tracklist for Hardwell’s “United We Are” has been released via iTunes. So far, we can only preview one track, which is the Hardwell and W&W ft. Fatman Scoop collab. We were also pleasantly surprised to find that Hardwell has worked with Amba Shepherd again for the title track, “United We Are”. He last worked with the Australian singer-songwriter for his massive hit song, “Apollo“.

In case you haven’t seen the tracklist, here:

Which track are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments box below!

Stay updated with Hardwell via these platforms: Website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


11.11 Sale: Lazada & Shopee Brings Unbeatable Deals, Online Shows & More!

11th November is the most awaited date amongst online shoppers and it’s right around the corner!

You know what to expect from the “11.11” big sales as e-commerce platforms go head-to-head for your attention with their amazing deals and lucrative offers. Here is a breakdown of what’s to come this “11.11” from Shopee and Lazada :

From now until 11th November, Shopee is bringing Malaysians the biggest bargain and deals with over 100 million items going on sale with some at 99% off and price tags from as low as 11 sen during the “Shocking Sale”. Notable brands such as Acer, Carlo Rino, OPPO, Philips, realme, Skechers, Watsons and more will be giving out 50% off vouchers on top of product discounts.

What’s more, stand a chance to win the new Proton X50 with just RM1 on One or Not, but that’s not all. You can catch your favourite celebrities such as Phua Chu Kang, Fynn Jamal, and Tyra Kamaruzzaman on Shopee Live, or tune in to the Shopee 11.11 Big Show where viewers can look forward to two hours of non-stop entertainment with performances by local celebrities including the likes of Anuar Zain, Ella, and Shila Amzah, just to name a few.

What are you waiting for? Head on here to get started.

Lazada Malaysia promises to bring Malaysians some of the lowest prices guaranteed this “11.11” with discounts of up to 90% off on around 70 million items, leaving you spoilt with choices. During this event, hundreds of international and local brands have chosen Lazada as their exclusive e-commerce partner, which means that you can expect tons of unbeatable prices and deals from a wide range of categories and products!

This includes getting your hands on incredible tech deals with discounts up to 50%, or enjoy delicious treats from Lazat with more than 60% off from various brands. In addition, you will stand a chance to win an all-new Nissan Almera by just topping up your Lazada Wallet from 1st to 10th November and purchasing anything on Lazada between 12am to 2pm on 11.11.

Lazada 11.11 Super Show also returns on 10th November (9pm – 12am), which will feature performances by local household names such as Yuna, Harith Zaman, Douglas Lim, along with appearances from Ayda Jebat, Ismail Izzani, Sean Lee and Joey Leong.

To learn more about Lazada’s 11.11 Biggest One Day Sale, click here.

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Win Amazing Prizes & Vouchers When You Tune In To The Rainforest World Music Festival 2021

The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) is back this month and will be coming to your smartphone and PC screens. Its first ever virtual event promises to “entrance, liberate, and immerse” everyone in music, arts, and culture.

The RWMF 2021 will take place from 18th – 20th June 2021 from 6pm to 7:30pm. The best part? Millions of households across the country can enjoy this festival from the comforts of their own homes for absolutely free!

The Rainforest World Music Festival 2021 Virtual Experience will see an exciting line-up of artistes: Borneo-born Dayak-European Alena Murang who recently released her new album titled “Sky Songs”; KEMADA, Sang Rawi, Mathew Ngau, At Adau, Suk Binie’, Nading Rhapsody and World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) champion Tuku’ Kame’.

In addition, viewers will be serenaded by a string of jazz musicians during the following week’s Borneo Jazz Festival (BJF). The music acts include Clinton Jerome Chua, O-Ha Soul Band, Nisa Addina, Ta’Dan and the “Prince of Borneo” himself – Pete Kallang from 25th to 27th June at 6pm. There will also be flashbacks of favourite musical acts from previous years, along with interviews with RWMF’s forerunners and personalities.

Since Shopee is the Official E-commerce Partner, the shows will be streamed via Shopee Live. During this period, shoppers can take advantage of these following highlights:

For more info on RWMF and BJF on Shopee Live, and the limited edition merchandise, visit https://shopee.com.my/m/rwmf-shopee-live.


Base Jumpers In KL Makes Best Pool Party Grand Entrance – Ever!

These guys really know how to make a splash! Base jumpers John Van Horne, Matt Frohlich, and Andy Lewis leapt off the 1,099-foot-high observation deck of Kuala Lumpur Tower (KL Tower) in Malaysia, then took aim for the 34th floor rooftop pool of a nearby building, according to Discovery.

“The kind of fun part for us is the ‘make it or you’re in trouble’ kind of way because there’s nowhere else to land,” Van Horne told ABC News.

The website reports that the jumpers were in town for the KL Tower International Base Jump event, and the pool party was part of the festivities. But not everyone at the party knew that a few of the guests would be jumping into the pool from another building.

“There were a few people at the party who knew we were coming in,” Van Horne told the Washington Post.

In case you weren’t there in person to see them make their grand entrance, the stunt was recorded by a GoPro camera attached to the second jumper’s helmet. Watch:

For more information on the KL Tower International Jump Malaysia event, click!


CONTEST: Exclusive “The Expendables 2” Merch

You’ve seen the movie, now take “The Expendables 2″ home with you – sort of. Thanks to our friends from NEF, we have official merchandise to giveaway to a few of our readers. Feeling lucky? Here’s what you need to do (we promise it’s really easy!):

Tell us why you deserve to win the official “The Expendables 2” movie goodies. Explain it in no more than 150 words in the most creative ways possible. Go on, make us smile at your response (yes, you’re allowed to be funny)! Insert puns, movie jokes, it’s your call. The more creative you are, the better.

Then, e-mail your submissions to submit@hype.my and you’re automatically in the running to win the following official movie merchandise:


#NikeRosheTwo: Nike Unveils Updated, More Streamlined Roshe; Available In Malaysia Today

“Flexibility doesn’t always equate comfort. It is more complicated than that.”

For designer Dylan Raasch, the creation of the Roshe was all about sculpting and refinement, all with the goal of building a light, uncomplicated shoe. “The simpler i could make it, the more profound it would become,” Raasch said.

Today, Nike unveils Nike Roshe Two, the successor to the ever-popular Nike Roshe One, which championed an only-what’s-necessary philosophy that dissected a sneaker into its primary elements and then refined them.

Originally debuting in 2012, the Nike Roshe One epitomised simplicity i.e. basic shoe necessities brought to life with every detail. The streamlined Nike Roshe Two is a plusher update version of the original with even more comfort and soft feel.

As light and flexible as the original, the Nike Roshe Two combines 3 layers of cushioning with a soft, stretch upper for the perfect to go for all-day, everyday comfort. Here are its 3 key attributes:

1) Underfoot comfort: A combination of stability, support and cushioning, based upon research from the NSRL.

In the latest Nike Roshe Two, a dual-density memory foam in the insole is paired with a new innovative outsole that has been cored to improve flexibility and allow each waffle to move independently. Combining this with a new, tri-fusion IU midsole, it features three unique densities to deliver the targeted compression and durability that doesn’t pack out by the end of the day.

2) Upper comfort: A contoured, dynamic fit is also key

Nike Roshe Two features a minimal upper that forms to its wearer’s foot, while lofted groves add flexibility and a supplemental foam layer provides additional cushioning.

3) Long-lasting comfort: A responsive system

Feet swell and the in-shoe temperature rises as the hours accrue. The Nike Roshe Two provides stretch and breathability in the upper to counteract these realities, while providing suitable support underfoot.

Nike Roshe Two will launch on 1st September in Malaysia and it will be available in Pavilion, JD Sunway Pyramid, Bandar Utama, Gardens Mall, Crossover Midvalley, Lot 10, and Zalora.

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SuPearls: Over Before They Even Began

In August 2012, YG Entertainment confirmed that they were going to debut a new girl group under their label named, “SuPearls”. The original team consisted of four finalists of the SBS survival audition show, “K-Pop Star” and they were Lee Michelle, Park Ji Min, Lee Jung Mi, and Lee Seung Joo. However, Park Ji Min later chose to sign with JYP Entertainment, giving up her “SuPearls” spot to Lee Ha Yi, whom we all now know as Lee Hi.

The long-awaited debut for “SuPearls” never came. And it would never.

[youtube id=”CgjGKpvq7eg” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Just yesterday, it was revealed that “SuPearls” have disbanded. YG Entertainment stated:

We’ve decided to nullify the contracts of Lee Michelle, Lee Jung Mi, and Lee Seung Joo without any conditions. Even though it’s disappointing, they decided that they should break up for the benefit of each other, so we have decided on this unavoidable decision.

Out of all the girls who were supposed to debut under the highly anticipated “SuPearls”, only Lee Hi will be staying with YG Entertainment to continue her solo career. There are also rumours that Lee Hi is preparing to release her first solo album next month.

In a recent interview, Lee Hi confessed:

If four people are together, we could fill the parts where the others’ are lacking. If the team had good chemistry and teamwork, areas where I lack could be supplemented, too. The four of us were making something together for 5-6 months. Now that it came to nothing, I was so disappointed. The team was different from the original “SuPearls” (on K-Pop Star), but I think if we debuted, people would’ve said that we were really charming.

As for the other girl group that was supposed to have debuted on 15th January 2013, there has been no word as of yet. Hopefully, they haven’t also disbanded?


From A Pet Expo To A Makeup Extravaganza: Things To Do In The Klang Valley This Week!

Mark your calendars and plan your time, people, because here’s our weekly list of fun events and activities you can participate in over the next 7 days.

From Hari Raya open houses to mini pop-up booths – there’s a lot you can expect this week. So read on and make your plans!

Ever wondered what the MyTOWN KL’s Raya Meriah mascot looks like? Well, wonder no longer, as you’ll be able to see for yourself at the mall on 1st May. Head on there this Monday to enhance your Raya with the colorful and lovely mascots. Don’t forget to take pictures with them to show off to your friends on social media! Check out their Facebook page for more details on the event.

Always wanted to visit the recently-opened Splash Mania, but never got around to it? Well, from now till 1st May, Splash Mania will be featuring a series of festive performances and fun activities at their park. From their mascot dressed in traditional Malay clothing, to Raya sing-a-longs, experience Raya the fun way with Splash Mania’s Splashy Raya. Click here for more information.

Makeup lovers, get ready to treat yourself to makeup products from one of the leading makeup artistry brands worldwide – M·A·C Cosmetics. From 3rd to 7th May, head on over to Mid Valley Megamall for M·A·C is Everything and enjoy various promotions and exciting line ups! Also, don’t miss out on the chance to meet Hakken! The celebrity cosplayer will be meeting and greeting fans on 6th May from 8pm onwards. At the same time, get exclusive special edition M·A·C kits featuring Hakken’s favourite M·A·C cosmetics.

M·A·C is Everything will also feature personalised avatars. Design your own avatar at their Avatar Gen station and get it printed on a variety of products to show off to the world! Lastly, if you’re looking for makeup tips from professional makeup artists, then you might want to consider dropping by as well, according to the schedule below.

Location: Mid Valley Megamall, Centre Court

The annual Pet Expo is back! To be held at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre, the event lets you bring along your furry friends and go shopping! With more than 250+ booths, enjoy savings up to 80% at the largest pet event in Malaysia. Don’t miss out on the exciting activities in store for you and your pets as well! Click here for more details.

Come and get the full experience of the Raya season with TemasyaGlenmarie at its Hari Raya open house this weekend. Other than the usual Raya delicacies, look forward to performances, traditional games, as well as workshops. Open to anyone through registration, you can bring your friends and family and celebrate Hari Raya with TemasyaGlenmarie. Register your spots here.

Location: TemasyaGlenmarie Welcome Centre

You’d be surprised at the goodies local start-ups can create. This weekend, head on over to Jo’s Bakery and discover some of the products and services provided by the small businesses of Malaysia. This event will be featuring vendors from various local start-ups. And well, who knows? You might find something that piques your interest! Click here for more details.

Say hello to Malaysia’s first ever Nickelodeon-themed entertainment centre. You can now meet the beloved Nickelodeon characters you watched growing up at The World of Nickelodeon Malaysia. Happening at Pavilion Bukit Jalil, you can bring your kids and head on over now! For just RM16, you’ll experience an immersive carnival filled with exciting games from 17 engaging stations; and tons of photo opportunities. From the iconic “Spongebob Squarepants” to the adorable “PAW Patrol”, don’t miss out on this chance to see them in the flesh! Book your tickets now at trip.com.

Date: Now till 23rd July 2023 (10am-9:40pm)

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Interview: Skream & Benga

The “Godfathers of Dubstep”, Skream and Benga were in town recently as part of their tour. You may remember a time last year when the duo were in Kuala Lumpur, rockin’ an epic set at Vertigo Club complete with high energy madness coupled with a little bit of crowd surfing. Yes, crowd surfing (read: Benga)! So imagine how excited we were to see the boys again.

Thanks to our friends from Livescape Asia, we were given the opportunity to speak with them hours before their set. Here’s what went down:

Pretty good! Looking forward to your set tonight. What were you two looking forward most to when you knew that you were coming back to Kuala Lumpur?

Skream: “That reaction from you! Haha. It was the highlight of our last your so yeah..we’re really looking forward to tonight.”

Benga: “I nearly killed myself the last time (crowd surfing). I’m all about staying alive now.”

So this dubstep pop thing is happening right now. It’s so rampant! Taylor Swift has done it, Britney Spears has done it, Justin Bieber has done it..what are your thoughts on that?

Skream: “No, the problem is..is that it just sounds rubbish. That’s the problem. It’s really bad sounding dubstep stuff – almost the ‘brostep’-ish side of things. They don’t sound good.”

Benga: “If people are picking up on it like that and if they come to us or people that produce good dubstep then they’re gonna get wicked mainstream records that are worldwide smashes but..they’ve yet to do that. Haha!”

But say, if Taylor Swift came to you and she was all, “Guys, I wanna do this dubstep record and I need your help..” would you do it?

Benga: “I think I would – if Taylor Swift came to me and said..could you produce a dubstep for me? I would do it. Because I think..if the record was good, it would go somewhere. Like even on this album ‘Chapter II’ that I’ve made, I’ve had so many artistes come through and they’re massive artistes. And if the record wasn’t good enough, I wouldn’t use it.”

Right. And the thing is, until today, your fans and the people in the know still refer to the both of you as the “Godfathers of Dubstep”. And that’s great, really. But how does that affect the both of you in terms of the pressure to perform or succeed?

Skream: “It’s kind of irrelevant now, I think. It has become an easier way for people to sell us.”

Benga: “Yeah, it’s very easy. It’s when people tell other people that we’re the inventors, it sell us. But no, it doesn’t make it harder for us. For me, even now, ‘Chapter II’ is a good way for me to kind of go out and do what I’ve always wanted to do. Being called what we’re called, it just makes it easier for me to do what I want to do.”

And how’s the music production process for you guys? Do Skream and Benga ever argue?

Benga: “At one stage, we definitely did. We used to compete. Like if Skream had a big record, then I’d want to do a big record too. And vice versa.”

Skream: “Not in the sense of you know, competing with each other. I think we just bounce off each other really well.”

Aww. Now that’s bromance right there. Thank you Skream and Benga for speaking to us! Also, special thanks to our friends from Livescape Asia for making this exclusive interview happen.

For more information on the “Godfathers of Dubstep”, hit up their website.

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#TOMS: Inject Some Swag Into Your Soles With TOMS Malaysia’s Free Customisation Event

TOMS Malaysia invites you to a colorful in-store event that blends the arts, fashion and compassion. All you have to do is to purchase a pair of blank canvas TOMS on the day of the event and pick your favorite artist to create a one-of-kind pair just for you!

The 4 artists who’ll be participating in the event are:

1) Tyler Ramsey: Tyler Ramsey, an abstract painter and performance artist based in Los Angeles, has worked as a TOMS resident artist since 2006. Ramsey creates powerful artwork with an aggressive application that exudes energy and free-creativity. Ramsey has created his own approach to the art form, using seemingly contradicting concepts, vigorously and generously applying paint with his hands or directly from their containers – he has never owned a paintbrush! This charismatic entertainer considers every TOMS shoe the perfect canvas for a unique work of art.

Notable owners include museums, Ban Ki Moon, Lobsang Sangay, Bill Clinton, Clint Eastwood, the United Nations, the Red Cross and the Human Rights Foundation.

2) Melanie Bayoud: Doodle artist Melanie has lived in 6 countries on 3 continents with the cultures she has experienced reflected in her artwork. She loves working with the shapes that architecture and nature create together. Melanie is the founder of “Thinking with Ink” in Malaysia, which she developed by combining her two passions; helping people and drawing. Through her workshops Melanie teaches people how to find tranquility and unleash their inner creativeness through art. Melanie has used her art skills to raise money for charities and carried out “Thinking with Ink” workshops for underprivileged youth.

For more information, visit her website or her Facebook page.

3) Zam.C.K: Zam, Master of Custom Hand Painted Shoes from “ContengKASOT”, has made a career out of applying his expertise and design ideas to create unique and distinctive shoes that meet the wishes of his customers. If you want to wear your favorite character or icon on your shoes, Zam is the person you wanna see. Zam has developed unique skills to add meticulous and detailed designs to your kicks using waterproof colors.

4) Nurul Fyka: Nurul Fyka of Amuse Art, is a self-taught experimental Malaysian painter and myral artist with a Bachelor Degree in Creative Industry Management. Since little, Fyka found art to be exhilarating and creative projects to be fun, and so her pursuit of happiness resulted in the establishment of Amuse Art – an art main place in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, known as a prime destination for fresh, original, and contemporary artwork. Fyka has found ways to blend her passion for art and philanthropy by actively participating in charity events such as “Art for Homeless” and “Kota Wanita”.

For more information, visit her website.

The customisation is free of charge – based on a first come, first served basis. So best you rock up as early as possible!

With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One®.

For more information, hit up TOMS Malaysia’s Facebook page.


We Are Here: Monsta X Returning To Malaysia For World Tour In June

Get ready Malaysian Monbebe, Monsta X (몬스타엑스) has just announced their “We Are Here” world tour!

The K-pop boy group is set to perform in Asia, Europe, Australia, as well as North and South America. Our week just got better cause Monsta X will be returning to our local shores this coming June.

If you recall, the 7-member group was here in August last year for K-Wave 3 Music Festival where they performed Stadium Melawati, Shah Alam. Because Monsta X had to share the concert with other K-pop acts (FT Island, EXID, AOA /Ace of Angels, Boyfriend, Cosmic Girls, and Jeong Se Woon) during K-Wave 3, fans wanted more.

Thankfully, K-pop fans will get the full experience when Shownu, Wonho, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Jooheon, and I.M. return to Kuala Lumpur. Besides Malaysia, the only other Asian countries include South Korea (Seoul) and Thailand (Bangkok).

The organiser MacpiePro, so most likely the venue will be held at Stadium Melawati again.

We’ll announced more details as soon they’re revealed.

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