Block B on their past, group relations, and future goals [part 1]
The seven members of Block B - Zico, Jaehyo, Taeil, U-Kwon, P.O., Park Kyung, and B-Bomb - recently sat down for an in-depth interview with News Vision E that covered not only their past, but also their personalities, relationships to one another, along with their future goals.
Check out their interview below!
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Q.Your name, Block B, is very unique.
Block B: It’s a shortened form of the term ‘blockbuster.’ It’s an expression of our desires to become a big impact on the Korean music industry.
Q.Could you please introduce your debut track, “Freeze!“ Can you elaborate on what kind of song it is?
Block B: It’s an electronic track with a hip hop base. The lyrics are about telling someone you love that keeps drifting, getting further apart from you to freeze for a moment, so that you can deliver your true feelings. It’s got a hip hop feel with an added effect of electronic sounds so it’s modern in that aspect. We all love the song and feel that it’s something that’s easy to enjoy.
Q. It’s been a long time since there’s been an emergence of hip hop idols. After the 90’s, hip hop has basically evaporated from idols and has since turned into a professional genre thanks to the efforts of Cho PD and other hip hop musicians. There’s a strong fanbase of ‘hip hop manias’ for the genre now, so does that pressure you?
Zico: Honestly, I don’t think hip hop fans want idols to pursue the genre. We did hear concerns of us following the tastes of the public and I think that people stereotype us as idols that are just pursuing hip hop with no real skills or talents.
We’re young and stand as an idol group so I think it’s inevitable that we’re stereotyped in such a way. We want to break that with our efforts and talents since we still have so much more to show. Please don’t look over us with a premeditated / certain view in mind, because over time, we will show something that is uniquely us.
Q. Have you always loved hip hop?
Zico: All of the members love hip hop, I was a rapper underground and it’s been about six to seven months since I’ve taken up producing. Park Kyung’s hobby is also rapping and he has always pursued hip hop music. The passion of the other members don’t fall behind as well.
Q.You received a lot of attention for being trained by Cho PD, who’s regarded as one of the godfathers of Korean hip hop. What kind of mentor is he to you?
Park Kyung: Off stage, he has a charisma to him that makes you think it’d be both scary and difficult to approach him, but he’s like a hyung to us that always tries to hear our opinions out. He’s strict when he has to be but overall, he’s really caring. Most of all, he tells us what what we’re doing wrong right on the spot and always asks us questions in a way that makes us think and come up with an answer our selves. We really respect that side of him.
Jaehyo: I have a funny episode to share. Before our official debut, we performed at Lotte World. Right before we were set to get up on the stage, Cho PD hyung pulled us together and told us with a serious expression, “Don’t think for a second that it’s a good thing that you got your name known ahead of everything like this. If you don’t live up to expectations, you can receive double the criticisms. It’s like a double-sided saber.”But sabers are always double-sided, I think what he meant was a double-edged sword. We were all about to burst out in laughter, but we couldn’t laugh out loud in that situation when he was giving us such serious advice. We bit our lips and held it inside. To this day, he doesn’t know that he made such a mistake. “Hyung, I mean CEO! It’s not double-sided saber, it’s double-edged sword!”
Q.Let’s move on to your personal stories. I’m curious as to how each of you debuted.
Park Kyung: I was studying abroad in New Zealand but returned to Korea to debut. I’ve been friends with Zico since we were in elementary school. Zico had gone overseas to study in Japan and he told me one day that he had passed Cho PD’s audition and was now an official trainee. Through that connection, an opportunity for me to audition for Cho PD opened up as well.Before then, I wasn’t sure as to whether I should pursue music or not, but after talking it over with Zico and meeting Cho PD, I became determined. The more I think about it, the more thankful I am.
U-Kwon: I first came tried music when I joined a band in junior high school. I played the guitar and was the sub-vocalist for the band for a while, until one day I fell in love with all of the dancing at the concerts we performed at. I wanted to pursue both singing and dancing, so I was determined to become a singer that could do both.Honestly, two years ago, I was under a different agency and was training to become a member of a different group. I was deeply wounded when that group couldn’t debut, but someone had been watching over me at the time and suggested that I audition for Block B, which is how I received the opportunity.
Zico: I was an art student while studying in Japan. I had always loved listening and making music so recording and composing had always been something I had learned as a hobby. Every time I came back to Korea while studying abroad, I’d perform at Hongdae clubs with a few close crews and met a lot of musicians like that. Two years ago, I received the opportunity to meet Cho PD hyung. He thought well of me then and let me come in as a trainee right away.
Block B on their past, group relations, and future goals [part 2]
Jaehyo: I lived in Busan and went to see a dance competition with a friend for fun with my friend during my first year of high school. I was street cast there and really worked hard because I was so glad to have been chosen, but I think I overdid. I strained and injured my knee and reached a point where I had to nearly give up my dreams. Right when I was about to give up, MBLAQ’s Lee Joon hyung gave me one last word of support: “Don’t end everything.” Back in Busan, I went through surgery and recovered, and someone later introduced me to Cho PD
.P.O: In junior high school, my dream was to become an actor, or more specifically, a play actor. After getting into Hanlim Arts High School, I worked hard to achieve my dream while keeping rap as my specialty. One of my teachers had watched over me and introduced me to an agency for an audition. After seeing the hyungs rap and make music there, I was just captivated with their charm. Ever since, I changed my dream into becoming a singer.
B-Bomb: By chance, I had an opportunity to see Rain’s performance up close. I really received a shock then and began learning how to dance and sing ever since. After going through a few auditions, I did have the chance of debuting elsewhere, but I think fate tied me to Block B. I learned a lot here and was finally able to debut with them.
Taeil: My story’s pretty unique in that I was preparing to enlist in the army before my debut. I can’t call myself a professional singer, but I had promoted as a singer in a few places. After seeing an advertisement for MBC’s “Birth of a Great Star“, I auditioned for the program and luckily made it to the camp episode. Unfortunately, I was eliminated when they were cutting down to 30 members.I prepared to enlist in the army until I received a call from our agency right after the show aired. He said he liked what he saw, and soon after, I had joined Block B. I feel like it’s a dream.
Q. Your debut stories are definitely something worth sharing. Now let’s talk about the people next to us. If you had to introduce the person next to you, what would you say?
Park Kyung: U-Kwon is so innocent that it doesn’t work to his advantage. He’s like a child sometimes, but I think the fact that he’s so uncorrupted is his merit. But it can also be his weakness because it makes the people around him kind of tired (laughter).
U-Kwon: Zico is someone that hides his prodigal qualities. He has so much to show, and I don’t think he’s shown all of it yet, which I think is amazing. I feel this when he writes songs because he’s able to come up with two songs that are of completely different colors. It surprises me.
Zico: Jaehyo is a hyung that has a handsome face, but a pure sensibility. He’s like a child, but he’s also the hyung so he’s kind of greedy in that he won’t ever let go of his three favorite things: food, girl groups, and rest. (Jaehyo tried to retort but failed). His preference in food is fast food, and girl groups.. Mmm, kind of dangerous to reveal, but he likes a newly debuted group associated with the color pink. And he also loves resting in his second floor bed no matter what.
Oh, there’s also one more characteristic about him. He’s got a lot of upper body strength, but his legs are quite weak!
Jaehyo: P.O. isn’t like the maknae, but he’s still the adorable maknae. I think he wants to become an adult fast because he doesn’t act like a maknae sometimes. To us, that’s still adorable and he’ll forever be our maknae no matter what. Oh, and another thing is that I never thought he’d become so handsome when I first met him, but he really did become very cool. His cuteness turned into a charm which is pretty surprising. Both his heart and his physical look… have become prettier. I think he’s always improving.
P.O: Main vocalist Taeil hyung is someone that really loves singing and is very good at it. Even though he’s so talented, he practices as if his life depends on it. He’s always living inside of the training room, and I learn a lot from watching him. He’s one of the oldest hyungs, but he’s really innocent and cute. He loves reading comic books and raising fishes. I think he’s a really cute main vocal.
Taeil: B-Bomb is a friend I’m really thankful for. We’re the same age, and he’s also the first person ever that taught me how to dance. Unlike his cold impression, I have a lot of memories with him where he’ll help me up when I’m tired from dancing. I’m thankful for him.
B-Bomb: Park Kyung is like Block B’s endorphin. He’s always energizing the team and lifting everyone’s moods.. although that does tire us out sometimes (laughter). I’m joking. Even though he’s my dongseng, he listens to everything regarding the team very maturely. I’m proud of him. If you exclude the bad manners he commits in the car, he’s a really great person. Because of Kyung, we think very important of the ventilation in the car. (Park Kyung tried to retort this statement as if his life depended on it but was ignored by the other members).
Q. What kind of music will Block B show in the future?
Block B: One thing we’re definitely sure about is that we’re going to be showing music different from the standard idols. With hip hop as our base, we’re going to try bringing in a variety of different genres as actively as possible. We want to be remembered as a group that’s both unique and different.
Q.To you guys, what kind of group is Block B?
Block B: We’re a very free group. We’re not forced into a frame like other idol groups, nor are we pretty. We may be rough, but we have a definite meaning to our identity and feel that we deliver it directly. We’re a group that has a color of our own, and it’s always going to be like that into the future.
Q.One concluding statement of determination?
Block B: We’ll be releasing our mini-album in June and beginning our activities then. It’ll consist of everything we couldn’t show through our debut single, so please watch over us and give us your support.
Cho PD reveals Block B’s new album cover + new song preview
Yesterday Cho PD teased fans about Block B’s upcoming album. Earlier today, he unveiled their album cover and released a short preview of his own new song.
On June 10th, Cho PD tweeted,
“Officially Block B first copy of Block B’s debut album!! ^^“
Meanwhile on his tumbler account, the multi-entertainer gave his fans a short sample of his upcoming track, saying,
“Giving this song from my upcoming album as a gift to all of Cho PD fans who are not getting responses because I’ve been busy focusing on Block B lately ^^ This just finished mixing keke“
The song he revealed is titled “Thrilla“, which guest features Zico, Park Kyung, and Hanhae.
aku suke kyung..
stylo
cool..
rupe tade la adek2 sgt..
tp grup nie mcm de konflik dalaman jer..
mse allkpop interview depa.
part jaehyo introduce himself..
zico dgn p.o..
p.o ke tae il..keliru aku sebab muke depa mcm sme..
reaksi dieorunk nie mcm annoying jer dgn jaehyo..
jaehyo pulak nmpak mcm x serasi jer dgn grup nie..
depa jelous ke dgn kecantikan muke jaehyo..
ulzzang kate kan..
Block B’s “Freeze!” gets banned for the second time without an explanation
The questionable standards of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family have been highlighted once again with the second ban of Block B’s debut track, “Freeze!”
As reported earlier, the song was banned by the MOGEF earlier this year for containing lyrics describing unwholesome dating methods. Two lines in particular were judged to be unacceptable: “Send all of your friends home”, and “I’m waiting for you right here.”
Fans questioned the ban, especially since the lyrics didn’t mention any alcohol or sexual activity.
Nevertheless, Brand New Stardom decided to re-edit the lines to “My eyes are already watching you”, and “This night is waiting for you”. They resubmitted the song for re-evaluation in order to put it in their “New Kids on the Block” release, and the MOGEF passed the edit, allowing Block B to re-release “Freeze” through their mini-album.
However, on August 27th, MOGEF had banned the song once again without giving any notice to the company or its artists, and they did not provide an explanation detailing why.
Block B fans hoping to attend fan signings have begun to protest, especially since the album is no longer available for sale to minors.
Member U-Kwon commented on his Twitter, “Kids can’t listen to idol music anymore.”
In other related news, Block B will be going on a four-city nationwide Japanese showcase tour next month, all of which sold out within three minutes of going on sale.
Block B’s Zico writes a rap about the homunculus in 10 minutes
On September 9th, Block B’s Zico guested on an interesting MBC program titled ‘101 Secrets to Awakening My Child’s Brain‘, where they had him test the correlation between concentration and reciting text.
Zico was specially chosen for his rapid fire rapping abilities, and viewers got an inside look in his production studio back at Brand New Stardom. Producers surprised him with an impromptu mission, presenting him with a list of scientific brain terminology to memorize and make a rap out of in 10 minutes. Although he seemed hesitant at first, he stunned producers and his staff alike by managing to pull it off flawlessly.
This is what they call me~ the homunculus
The motor cortex~ the sensory cortex~
Penfield proved it! With his smart brain…
Should we get to the main chase~ To the world of the cortex~
The motor cortex represents the fingers, mouth, lips, tongue, eyes
While the sensory cortex represents the hands, tongue, and back
If you’re interested look it up~ the homunculus
Get together~ Get together~ Everyone get together
He was then put through two tests that took a look at his brainwave activities before he recited text and after he recited text for 20 minutes. Results showed that his brain was more active and showed a higher level of concentration when studying after he had recited text, providing helpful information to students and parents.
Block B stirs controversy with Thai interview, draws response from 2PM
With Block B‘s recent visit to Thailand, the popular news source RYT9 sat down with the young men for an extensive interview about the group’s background, current activities and more.
What’s getting viewers around the world riled up is Block B’s playful attitude and a variety of comments they made throughout the video that came across as rude and insensitive.
The interview begins with the members still getting settled with the interview, with one member even sprawling himself across the coffee table. Then at 3:40, Block B was asked about the origins of their group name. After leader Zico explained, he turned to the translator and stated, “You know this!”
At the 9:15 mark, the interviewer asked, “What separates you from other Korean hip-hop artists?” Zico then said, “If you look at hip-hop artists, they’re very ugly. But we feel confident in our technical abilities.” The other members burst out laughing at Zico’s response, and P.O slid back on the couch, pushing his legs up into the air and clapped his hands and feet together in unison. Zico continued, “And sometimes we have crazy clowns like him.” U-Kwon continued laughing and suddenly stood up and started dancing around, followed by a loud monkey imitation as he swung his arms and screeched.
What has really gripped the attention and anger of viewers was the group’s commentary on the recent flooding in Thailand. At the 12:32 mark, the interviewer brought up the crisis, to which Zico replied, “I know that many people have it hard due to the flood. With this monetary aid, we hope that you will feel better. The only thing we have is money.” To this, another member chimed in, asking how much money Zico had, to which the leader answered, “About 7000 won?” which is roughly $6 USD. The other members laughed again.
With such comments, the Youtube video has quickly escalated in views, earning nearly 103,000 views with a 95% negative rating. While some fans and viewers are defending Block B’s behavior as their typical trolling, some netizens assert that the group has gone too far with this interview.
“If you are going to act in this despicable manner, I invite you to go home. It’s like you’ve never been taught any manners,” one Thai netizen commented. An international viewer commented, “Even though I don’t understand what they’re saying, I think it’s really really rude to make fun of something that’s obviously not funny in the first place. It was so embarrassing and really mean. You just lost a fan, Block B.”
In response to the widespread hate, Korean netizens have also made an attempt to apologize and express their shame. ”Congrats Block B for making worldwide [anti-fans] not just in Korea but also in Thailand. As a Korean myself, I feel so terribly [ashamed] that you’re all Koreans. I sincerely [apologize] for Thai people,” one commented. Another said, “Thais, please do not support them. They are bunch of rude and disrespectful jerks. I doubt the translator translated everything. They are just young boys? Well, they better learn their manners if they want to be successful. And they are not that young either. It’s actually very embarrassing that they are Korean.”
The original comments by Block B have since been widely translated (and mistranslated) then distributed through the internet, sparking fanwars and arguments from the Hottest fandom and Thai fans.
The issue has received so much attention that Nichkhun, Junho and Chansung of 2PM took to Twitter to comment on the matter.
A Thai citizen himself, Nichkhun tweeted, “As a Thai, I’m offended by those who talk about the flooding in Thailand without thinking. If you come to Thailand, rather than acting without thinking, please respect this country and only behave with a proper attitude.”
In response to Nichkhun, hip hop legend Drunken Tiger tweeted, “Not everybody like that bro. Keep speaking the truth tho #prayers!”
Junho retweeted Nichkhun’s post then commented, “I won’t say who, but those behaviors and attitudes make me ashamed as a fellow Korean. I wish they would learn that one bad action doesn’t just affect them, but also creates a dirty mess for those around them. I say this as a person and a sunbae.”
Chansung tweeted, “Even if carelessness can seem inevitable even if you’re trying your best to avoid it, if you’re absent-minded and hurt others then act like you’re the best, that’s being careless. This is more than a mistake and proves that you’re that kind of person.. Shame on you.”
Block B apologizes for their Thailand interview incident
Earlier, we reported that rookie group Block B had gotten themselves involved in a bit of a scandal concerning their controversial manners and attitude during an interview in Thailand. You can read more about the matter and watch the interview yourself here.
After the video hit the airwaves, the members of Block B stepped forward to personally apologize to their disappointed fans and the general public through a post on their official fan cafe.
You can read their apologies below.
P.O.
I apologize for our hurtful attitudes and our manners to all Thai fans and [South Korean] citizens who have given us so much love.
I’m very sorry that I acted in a childish, unreasonable manner throughout the entire interview.
It was an act that ignored the boundary between freedom and the line of decency. Again, I apologize to Thai citizens and fans.
We will deeply reflect upon our mistakes that led to a damaged national image and and the image of its artists.
I feel that we’ve shown so much unreasonable attitudes and actions so we bow deeply in apology.
In the future, as a public servant, we will work hard to show a more mature image. Learning from this event, we will act more conscientiously and responsibly as a South Korean artist.
Zico
I deeply apologize for my unreasonable attitude and creating a controversy due to my childish actions and not taking into account the huge pain and suffering of the Thai people due to the flood damage.
Although I’ve already become an adult, I feel so ashamed of my mistaken comment that did not consider the feelings of the many casualties of the flood and the national psyche.
I believe that no matter what excuse we give, our actions during the interview – sitting cross-legged on the sofa, chatting with members, damaging South Korea’s image abroad, and being unable to differentiate the line between what is right and what is wrong – were unforgivable.
I bow once again to apologize for our actions.
We are sorry that, thanks to our inconsiderate interview, we gave an injury to a not yet healed scar. I am incredibly ashamed. Sorry and sorry again.
U-Kwon
We feel incredibly ashamed that we disappointed with our inconsiderate Thailand interview.
We apologize to all of the Thai citizens who suffered massive damages due to the flood.
Also, we apologize to the citizens of South Korea for failing to uphold the national image thanks to our dishonorable actions.
Watching the interview clip, we are feeling the mistakes that we have made and reflecting deeply.
We apologize once again and Block B will work hard to prevent repeating these inconsiderate and disrespectful actions.
B-Bomb
I apologize from the bottom of my heart.
Apart from being public servants, I apologize for not stopping the actions of my fellow members as the older brother and creating a controversy out of our actions which were against basic manners.
Although we should have shown much more respect and manners asas a Korean, we apologize again for disappointing our fans and Thai citizens with our inconsiderate actions.
We will reflect and reflect some more upon our actions. We apologize.
We will work hard to become a Block B which will not make these mistakes again.
Taeil
First, I would like to say sorry.
There were many people saying, even before this interview, whether or not Block B was too free-willed, and we believe it is our fault that we did not listen to the criticism, however minute, and acting as though it was our strong point, despite being public servants in the eye of the whole nation. All of the members were immature.
I was honestly surprised when our fans sent us the interview clip through SNS [social networking services]. We are the people in the video…we were the disrespectful ones in that interview, I thought, and was filled with shame. I really could sympathize with those saying that we put South Korea to shame.
I once again apologize for both my refusal to control the actions of my younger brothers, and not paying attention to the interview.
I will work harder. I will work harder and repay everyone with better music. To our fans, Thai flood survivors, and everyone, we apologize again.
We will become a more mature Block B, and a more respectful Taeil. Sorry.
Kyung
Hello, this is Block B’s Park Kyung.
I don’t have anything to say other than sorry.
We know that whatever we say, it will only be excuses.
All of our actions, from the beginning to the end of the interview, from our members’ immature actions and the joking, and our statements disregarding the severity of the incident, were out of line and we are ashamed and reflecting upon our mistakes.
We bow our heads again in apology.
Jaehyo
We deeply apologize to the citizens of Thailand.
Also, we are very sorry to South Korea for degrading the nation’s image and shaming them.
We apologize for making people uncomfortable with our lack of respect and playful attitude.
Although I should’ve been the example to the younger members, I apologize for not being able to fulfill that role.
I could have set the interview on the right track, but I was irresponsible and participated in the proceedings and I apologize for embarrassing everyone watching the video.
I am reflecting upon my shameful actions and lack of basic manners during an interview and looking back upon myself. There are no excuses, nor explanations necessary.
I am thinking deeply about this huge mistake and will act with more thought in the future.
Block B Releases Official Apology, Zico Shaves Head to Show Remorse for Thai Interview
Block B released official apologies on their official fan site regarding their inappropriate behaviors and comments made during an interview with Thailand's RYT9 on "New Artist - Block B in Thailand."
As an effort to put an end to this controversy, the members of Block B posted official apology letters one by one on their official fan site on February 20.
P.O stated, "We blurred the boundary between freedom and responsibility. I apologize to Thai people and fans. I am sorry for damaging national image and other Korean artists' reputation by such behavior."
Zico wrote, "I am deeply ashamed of my ignorance in current affairs and failure in understanding the severity of the incident and flood victims' sorrows as an adult." According to Block B's agency, Zico also shaved his head to show remorse for his mistakes.
U-Gwon also apologized, "I feel ashamed of my insensitive and irresponsible behaviors and comments in Thailand." B-Bomb commented, "I deeply apologize for failing to show the most basic humanity and courtesy in my words and actions and not being able to correct fellow teammates behaviors as an elderly member."
Taeil wrote, "We've been called 'too free-spirited and liberal' before and we thought of such label only as a positive feedback and failed to acknowledge what these words might mean otherwise. When I revisited the video clip, I felt ashamed of how disrespectful we were. Now I understand why people say 'Block B is a disgrace to your country.'" Park Kyung and Jaehyo also added, "We did not realize the seriousness of the situation and were very disrespectful. We promise to be more mature and humble in the future."
sy tengok jaehyo & sorang lg yg sebelah dia tu je yg sopan. yg lain tu lepas laku, terutama zico, po & u-kwon.
betullah kata leetaemin kat post#26, jaehyo cam tak ngam dgn grup ni. mungkin la kot depa yg lain jeles dgn 'kecantikannya', dia jg expose kat rancangan realiti yg lain. if berterusan gini, dgn insiden ni lg, boleh ke jahyo keluar dr grup? sy pun suka tengok dia
ya, bukan utk depa je tapi lain2 grup, terutama rookies. jgn main sedap mulut je bercakap.
sy rasa depa ni mesti kena hentam teruk dgn co. tu psl buat 2,3 kali mintak mahap ni.
sy bukan bias grup ni, cuma suka sgt lagu halo, tu je tapi personally, sy masih rasa jaehyo isolated dr grp ni. nmpk sgt tak ngamnya. dr video ni pun tengok dia, yg plg tunduk sekali, time interviu aritupun dia yg paling behave. duduk pun agak renggang dr grup member lain, takde gelak2 sakan cam yg lenlain. if dia keluar dr grup ni, sy tak heran.
Author
Post time 12-7-2011 02:50 AM
The questionable standards of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family have been highlighted once again with the second ban of Block B’s debut track, “Freeze!”
