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MONSTA X's I.M Gets Real on His First Solo World Tour, the Present Moment and Not Caring What Others Think (Exclusive)

The 'Off The Beat' K-pop solo artist talks about gearing up for his first solo world tour

monsta x world tour 2023

There’s no process more natural for I.M than writing music. 

That’s because the 28-year-old K-pop rapper strips away the artificials, like pre-planned lyrics or a thought out message, and looks inward to see what’s beneath. 

Like writing a diary entry with its limitless stream of consciousness, he brain-dumps anything and everything. What’s he thinking and feeling in the moment is a given. Then, he’ll go one step further and draw from his senses, like what he’s wearing or eating. 

What results is a collection of songs that capture a time capsule of who he is at the moment — a solo artist fresh off the release of his third, six-track EP, Off The Beat , and gearing up for his first-ever world tour of the same name. 

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Right before chatting with PEOPLE on a late evening, I.M’s finishing up a small, sugar-cube infused Korean snack, dressed in a classic black T-shirt with a silver wristwatch. It’s still a few days before he makes the world tour announcement, and consequently, his intense training process.

Naturally, he’s excited to meet his fans as a solo artist across 18 cities in Europe, North America and Asia. At the same time, that’s also what makes him a little nervous — talking to them by himself, as a self-described “not talkative” person. 

Previously, when touring as a member of the six-piece K-pop group, MONSTA X , the “X0” singer never needed to worry about doing anything alone. Every performance was a balancing act, a moment of sharing the stage. But now, as the sole member of MONSTA X set to travel the globe, all eyes are on him to “LURE” fans with his rhythmic hip-hop sound.  

As I.M thinks about what this means for his ever-changing identity, he’s quick to notice the way his mindset has changed and shifted since his trainee days.

Before joining the leading third-generation group, I.M explains how he had to fight to secure his place amongst other young hopefuls. 

“It’s really like the program name, ‘NO.MERCY,’” the “MMI” singer says to PEOPLE. “It ain’t mercy. But now, it’s just me. I can control that time, and it’s not a survival.” 

“Of course, it could be a survival just between myself,” he adds. 

With anyone, an internal battle almost seems unavoidable. There’s the creeping self-doubt that sometimes arises, or the inner engine to keep going into OVERDRIVE . There might also be comparison to a past version of yourself — a DUALITY , which shares the same name with I.M’s solo debut in 2021. 

When comparing himself to that past music time capsule of his, the singer almost seamlessly switches between third and first person. 

“When I listen to DUALITY , I feel what he was thinking and what he was trying to do at that moment,” the singer says. “I can find some, ‘Oh, he could do much better than that right now,’ but at that time, I tried my best.” 

“I try to put my 100%, no — maybe 200%, in the music, the moment what I’m doing right now,” he continues, with a nod to his recent EP release. “Compared with that, to this album? I’m better than him.” 

Present-day I.M’s avant-garde persona focuses on fashion almost as much as it does music. Every song has a noticeably distinct visual and vibe, and that’s the first gut instinct he’ll grasp onto when creating. When he’s not strutting on the runway with some of the biggest high-end luxury brands, he’ll wear something black — a “simple, but fancy” outfit. 

Though his fashion sense has remained consistently classy, his existential sense of the “real” him wasn’t always so clear cut. Back in 2016 and 2017, the “nbdy” performer was still trying to define his “real” self, throughout all the busyness of debuting with MONSTA X. Now, he’s realized he doesn’t need to identify with any definition outside of just himself and who he is. 

“I just don’t care about what people think of me, like ‘Oh, the guy from MONSTA X. Oh, the rapper, oh, the long-haired guy, oh, big-nose guy, the nice voice guy,’” he says, adding in hand gestures that come naturally to him when he speaks. “I don’t really care because the real me is every moment of me, and I still don’t know what I am, but I’m sure that I know me.” 

“This might sound a bit strange, but I think that’s the reason why I’m doing music — to find myself, to write it down myself,” he continues. “Because this time is just this time. Today is just today.” 

Though I.M’s fully in tune with the present and future, he’ll still occasionally allow himself a trip down memory lane. In fact, he might just strut down that lane once more when he arrives at his Boston stop on tour — the city that he lived in for three years and moved to from Israel. It was there as an elementary school student when gained a deeper understanding of music and processed the lyrics of what he was listening to, like “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong , he tells PEOPLE. 

“Musically, Boston means a lot to me,” he reflects. “And I still remember the elementary school name, so maybe if I have some day off, I’d like to visit.” 

With any of the 18 cities, there’s one thing in particular he’s looking forward to trying, and he hints at it in a lyric: 

“Sip me like a wine / I’ll treat you right / Pour it more ‘till we slip the floor,” he sings in “LURE,” with a voice just as suave as wine. 

With all the wine, beer and food tasting he’s looking forward to, there’s no doubt that the tour will present a lot of change for I.M on top of a whirlwind career. However, change is a constant that doesn’t scare him. 

“I don’t try to take it seriously because when the time passes and when you think about the past, it’s just a tiny thing,” he explains. “I believe even if there’s a dangerous moment or that I’m anxious about something, I just think about the future because I bet I’m going to get over that.” 

The same thought process applies to his age, and at 28, it seems like I.M isn’t planning on slowing down anytime soon. 

“Well, the best part — I’m the youngest and the only twenty-something guy in this group,” he says as the group’s maknae, before a chuckle escapes his mouth. “There’s no bad part. I mean, everything is good.

“Everything is the best to me right now,” he adds. “I am enjoying the group, enjoying this moment, my day and I’m going to enjoy the tour. I’m excited for the next step, and I’m excited for my future even if I don’t know.”

Off The Beat is now available to stream. 

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Exclusive Interview: MONSTA X Starts Their 3rd World Tour 'WE ARE HERE' & I.M Upcoming Mixtape

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4 min to read

Exclusive Interview: MONSTA X Starts Their 3rd World Tour 'WE ARE HERE' & I.M Upcoming Mixtape

Starship Entertainment

is starting their 3rd World Tour 'WE ARE HERE'. They are all ready to perform in front of international MONBEBE with numerous dates!

On Apr. 14 Kpopmap was invited to the press conference held for the start of this new world tour. ShowNu, WonHo, MinHyuk, KiHyun, HyungWon, JooHoney , and  I.M are all ready and excited to meet fans. Members started the world tour with two concerts in Korea on Apr. 13 and 14 at the Seoul Olympic Handball Stadium.

For their 2nd world tour, they had already greeted fans with powerful performances with 25 concerts in 20 cities. This time for their third world tour, the boys are going to new countries and cities and will perform in 18 cities.

Compare to the previous world tour, there are new stops (some also were removed such as HongKong) such as Bangkok, Mexico City, Sydney, Melbourne, and Kuala Lumpur. In Europe, they added Paris and Berlin to the list and will be performing in 5 cities. In the U.S., LA concert venue will double the size from last year as they will perform in Staples Center! You can check venues, dates, and ticket information here .

Between 2nd and 3rd world tour, MONSTA X had been busy with 2 full albums: Take.1 “ARE YOU THERE?” wi

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Monsta X's I.M announces first solo world tour 'Off the Beat' across 14 cities

Rapper, singer-songwriter and producer I.M. of boy band Monsta X [SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT KOREA]

Rapper, singer-songwriter and producer I.M. of boy band Monsta X [SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT KOREA]

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2022 MONSTA X "No Limit" World Tour

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Background [ ]

On January 13, 2020, the group announced their world tour titled 2020 MONSTA X World Tour will begin in Seoul for two nights on May 9 and 10. [1] Later that same day, the North American stops and dates were revealed with the first show on June 2, 2020 in Minneapolis. [2] [3]

On April 6, 2020, it was announced their Seoul concerts would be postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. [4] [5]

On May 13, 2020, Starship announced the postponement of the North American leg until the COVID-19 pandemic has been stabilized. [6]

The rescheduled dates for the North American leg of the 2021 MONSTA X World Tour were revealed on July 13, 2020. [7]

On March 25, 2021, Starship announced the tour would be delayed for a second time due to the continuing rise of COVID-19 cases. [8] On May 25, 2021, the new scheduled dates for the North American leg were announced. [9]

On January 20, 2022, Starship Entertainment announced that the tour has been postponed to the summer. [10]

On August 12, MONSTA X announced Seoul dates for the tour. It was also announced that the third show in Seoul (September 4) will be live-streamed via Beyond LIVE with re-streamings on October 2 and November 13. [11]

Set lists [ ]

Gallery [ ].

Original Seoul poster (2020)

On February 14, 2023, it was announced that the concert in Seoul will be released in DVD and KiT Video on March 14, 2023, and in Blu-ray on April 5, 2023.

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References [ ]

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Monsta X Drop More Teasers For 2023 Comeback With ‘Reason’

The six-track EP is set to drop on January 9th, 2023 led by the single “Beautiful Liar”

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Earlier this month, South Korean group Monsta X announced they would be making a comeback in 2023 with a brand new EP. Titled Reason , the record follows the six-member group’s April 2022 EP, Shape of Love and is set to drop on January 9th, 2023.

Monsta X began teasing the comeback on December 11th by announcing the album’s title via a teaser poster, then dropped a comeback schedule on December 16th that outlines all the content they will be releasing. This was followed by the unveiling of the tracklist on December 20th. The lead single on Reason is titled “Beautiful Liar” and will be accompanied by five additional tracks, “Daydream,” “Crescendo,” “Lone Ranger,” “Deny,” and “It’s Okay.”

MONSTA X Mini Album 'REASON' 🔗 TRACKLIST Release on 2023.01.09 6PM (KST) #REASON #몬스타엑스 #MONSTA_X #MONSTAX #TRACKLIST pic.twitter.com/tBOTT4Mw5E — 몬스타엑스_MONSTA X (@OfficialMonstaX) December 20, 2022

The members have also participated in the songwriting and production process with the group’s label Starship Entertainment stating, “In the case of Joohoney, who was behind the success of Monsta X’s lead singles like ‘Gambler’ (2021), he participated in producing two tracks included in this album: ‘Crescendo’ and ‘It’s Okay.’ I.M and Hyungwon have songwriting credits on the tunes ‘Deny’ and ‘Lone Ranger,’ respectively.”

After releasing solo posters and video teasers of each member for the comeback promotions, Monsta X finally unveiled the group posters for Reason earlier today. The members are all dressed in black and channel an edgy, dangerous vibe.

MONSTA X Mini Album 'REASON' 🔗 CONCEPT PHOTO Ver.1 #몬스타엑스 #MONSTAX Release on 2023.01.09 6PM (KST) #REASON #MONSTA_X #CONCEPT_PHOTO pic.twitter.com/WSgzeylgH4 — 몬스타엑스_MONSTA X (@OfficialMonstaX) December 25, 2022

The group also dropped a concept film later in the day, featuring the quintet draped in red as they light matches to set aflame mysterious photographs and reels of film. The clip ends on an ominous note as they all stare into the camera and the set seemingly burns around them.

Reason marks Monsta X’s third comeback without leader Shownu, who is still completing his mandatory military service after enlisting in 2021. 2022 was a busy year for Monsta X as they finally embarked on the U.S. leg of their ‘No Limit Tour,’ previously postponed by nearly two years thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. The group also wrapped up the Korean leg of the tour with three dates in Seoul in September. In addition to their activities together, the members of Monsta X also announced several solo ventures–vocalist Kihyun released his first solo EP titled Youth in October, while rapper Joohoney and vocalist Hyungwon announced acting projects that will premiere in 2023.

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Monsta X Just Gave Us A REASON To Celebrate The Start Of 2023: A Track By Track

Anna Marie

If you don’t stan this group already, what are you doing? Monsta X just gave you the perfect REASON to begin your Monbebe era, thanks to their brand new mini album.

Following on from Shape Of Love and a 2022 filled with touring , Monsta X are starting 2023 in the best way possible! REASON is their twelfth mini-album, and it’s giving us everything we need to get through January. The storytelling of this album is incredible, especially as it’s just six tracks, and we’re here to break it down for you!

monsta x world tour 2023

‘Beautiful Liar’

REASON ‘s title track is ‘Beautiful Liar.’ The song is simultaneously exactly what you’d expect and something brand new from the group. It’s classic Monsta X in that it’s relentlessly energetic (and we already know it will make for a 10/10 live performance), but it’s also a new evolution of their sound, with grunge-inspired production and electric guitar that pulls your attention throughout the song.

The music video for ‘Beautiful Liar’ is every Monbebe’s dream, thanks to its slick cinematography, choreography, and (of course) styling. It wouldn’t be a Monsta X comeback without some elite-tier tailoring, would it?

What we love most of all about ‘Beautiful Liar,’ and all of  REASON , is that Monsta X has once again leveled up their input in this album. Joohoney,  Hyungwon , and I.M all participated in the writing and producing of multiple songs, including the lyrics for the title track!

REASON unpacks the tumultuous feelings that come with being in a precarious, and perhaps toxic, relationship and each of the b-sides shows us a new twist in the tale. First up after ‘Beautiful Liar’ is ‘Daydream,’ a tempting track that lures you (and us!) in. The enchanting world-building and the Great Gatsby reference in the lyrics have us dying to see it on stage. Imagine what they could do with a live performance of this one!

monsta x world tour 2023

‘Crescendo’

The third track is ‘Crescendo’ and is the perfect example of  Monsta X’s  hard-hitting image and reminds us of their energy in their rookie years! The absolute highlight of this song, though, is the genre-blending. Writer, composer, and producer Joohoney intertwines geomungo and taepyeongso – two traditional Korean instruments – with drill. We love this song as the perfect example of Monsta X’s global identity. They can do it all!

‘LONE RANGER’

Up next is ‘LONE RANGER,’ co-written by  Joohoney , Hyungwon, and I.M and co-produced by Hyungwon. This song is another one we’d love to see on stage – that western influence has got us thinking about cowboy boots. ‘LONE RANGER’ is one of our vocal standouts on  REASON , and we couldn’t be more obsessed with  Kihyun  and Minhyuk’s high ranges here. Catch us singing “Darling, let me take you home” over and over again.

monsta x world tour 2023

The penultimate song is ‘Deny,’ a slower R&B track about inevitable emotions. Although it’s a softer song, it’s a really pivotal moment in the storytelling of REASON and really showcases Monsta X’s versatility. Changkyun AKA I.M wrote, composed, and produced this one, and the rapline really shine here.

‘IT’S ALRIGHT’

The album closer is ‘IT’S ALRIGHT,’ and, well, it’s more than alright.  REASON  closes with really bright energy, but it’s a classic plot twist. The Joohoney-produced pop track is upbeat but tells the story of a “coward” unable to get over a breakup and just pretending everything is fine.

Monsta X  really proved that they can do it all on  REASON!  Don’t believe us? Listen to the album on loop and let ‘IT’S ALRIGHT’ transition into ‘Beautiful Liar,’ then come back and talk to us. The storytelling and diversity on this album are next level. We love to see a group continue to push themselves eight years into their career!

What are your thoughts on Monsta X’s REASON? Got a favorite track already? Let us know over on Twitter @TheHoneyPOP ! Or we’re also on Facebook and Instagram !

Want more K-Pop? We’ve got you covered.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MONSTA X: FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

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We Are Here in 2024!

K-pop sensations Monsta X are coming to North America for their biggest tour yet, and tickets for all upcoming tour dates are on sale now!  Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Jooheon, and I.M. are touring in support of their latest hit album Shape Of Love , and they'll perform all its cuts at venues across the continent.  It's one of the biggest pop tours in the world this year, and it's got fans all over the globe giddy with excitement!

Love their international hits, their infectious dance moves, and their incredible production values?  Then don't miss your chance to experience them live in 2024.  Check out the Monsta X Tour schedule below to learn more about their upcoming concert near you, and score your tickets right away!

I.M (Monsta X) Royale Boston, Massachusetts

I.m (monsta x) brooklyn paramount brooklyn, new york, i.m (monsta x) park west chicago, illinois, i.m (monsta x) warehouse live midtown houston, texas, i.m (monsta x) the studio dallas, texas, i.m (monsta x) the uc theatre berkeley, california, i.m (monsta x) the wiltern los angeles, california, powered by bigstub® - trusted everywhere, your independent guide to the best concerts in 2024 this website is operated by a ticket broker. tickets are listed by third-party sellers and may be above face value..

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K-Pop Summer 2024 Guide: ATEEZ, IU, TXT & More Live In Concert & On Tour

Whether you want to have your Head in the Clouds, go over the moon at KCON or head Towards the Light, plan out your summer with these K-pop events and tours featuring TWICE, LE SSERAFIM, Stray Kids and more.

2024 has had a handful of memorable K-pop moments in North America so far. From boy group ONEUS's La Dolce Vita tour to TWICE 's one-night-only show at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium in March, the industry has kept a steady flow of entertainment for lovers of Korean music and culture. Last month, ATEEZ , LE SSERAFIM , and indie band The Rose also left their mark at Coachella Festival in California, proving that K-pop acts at major festivals are a rising trend.

With summer right around the corner, even more tours, festivals, and conventions are set to pop up across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. From mid-May to September, whether on weekdays or weekends, there will always be something to do or someone to see. Among the most-awaited events are singer IU 's first world tour and ATEEZ's massive trek in July, as well as Stray Kids , IVE , and VCHA 's performances at Chicago's Lollapalooza Festival.

To help you enjoy the most out of this busy season, GRAMMY.com assembled a list of all the K-pop concerts and events happening in the next few months below.

CIX: 0 or 1 in North America

Boy group CIX will be back in North America for their third tour this May. Named after single album 0 or 1 , the stint will cover eight cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, starting in Chicago, IL and wrapping it up in Los Angeles, CA. The quintet will likely perform hits like "Cinema" and "Movie Star," as well as their latest single, "Lovers or Enemies," and celebrate their upcoming fifth anniversary.

Head in the Clouds Festival

Forest Hills, New York

Following the success of last year's edition in Queens, New York, Head in the Clouds Festival returns to the big apple in 2024. In their mission to spread Asian diaspora talent, the lineup for this year enlists (G)I-DLE to headline on Saturday and singer BIBI on Sunday, along other names like ATARASHII GAKKO! and Joji. Korean acts Balming Tiger, Wave to Earth, and newcomer girl group Young Posse will also join them. HITC Festival is usually based in Los Angeles, but this year's L.A. edition has yet to be announced.

BM (KARD): After the After Party Tour

Hailing from co-ed group KARD , Korean-American singer BM will kick off his first U.S. solo tour in mid-May. After the After Party Tour was inspired by the track "ATAP (After the After Party)," off his December single album, Lowkey . BM will perform in six cities across the country, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. He also teased an EP soon, and stated that he will be "taking new music on this tour."

P1Harmony: P1ustage H : UTOP1A Tour

May 14 - Jun. 16

Boy band P1Harmony is also returning to North America with their third tour, P1ustage H: UTOP1A. Beginning in Houston, TX, on May 14, it will follow with shows in Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, and more — including a prestigious performance on June 8 at New York City's Governors Ball Music Festival 2024 . The sextet released their first studio album, Killin' It , in February of this year.

Tomorrow X Together (TXT): ACT : PROMISE World Tour

May 14 - Jun. 8

A TXT tour in the U.S. has become an annual event: following 2022's ACT : LOVESICK and 2023's ACT : SWEET MIRAGE, 2024 welcomes ACT : PROMISE. Featuring 11 shows across the country, the boy group will play in Houston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and more. They will also perform two nights at New York's legendary Madison Square Garden before heading to the Japanese leg of the tour in July.

Wheein (MAMAMOO): Whee In The Mood [Beyond] World Tour

May 17 - Jun. 4

Powerhouse vocalists MAMAMOO hit stateside last year with their MY CON World Tour, a first for the group. Now, it's member Wheein's turn to celebrate her solo career with Whee In The Mood [Beyond] World Tour, inspired by her first LP, 2023's In The Mood . After a slew of shows in Asia and Europe, the singer will head to San Francisco, CA, for the first out of eight concerts in the U.S. Other cities include Dallas, Orlando, Los Angeles, and New York.

RIIZE: RIIZING Day Fan-Con World Tour

Los Angeles, California

SM Entertainment's freshest rookies RIIZE announced their first fan-con, RIIZING Day, to take place from May to August in various cities across the globe. After playing in Seoul, Tokyo, and Mexico City, the boyband will come to Los Angeles for a single performance at the Peacock Theater on May 20. RIIZE are expected to play their compact yet dynamic discography, including singles "Get A Guitar," "Talk Saxy," and "Impossible."

Purple Kiss: 2024 BXX Tour

June 2 - July 2

It's not even been a year since Purple Kiss toured the U.S. with their The Festa Tour in fall 2023, but they're already gearing to come back. Starting June 2 in Oceanside, CA, the 2024 BXX Tour will take the girl group to seven cities in the U.S. and nine cities in Canada, closing it off in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on July 2. This is a big chance for fans who missed their performances last year, or simply to those who want to see singles like "Zombie" and "Sweet Juice" live again.

ITZY: Born to Be World Tour

Girl group ITZY has spent the majority of 2024 bringing their second world tour, Born to Be, across Oceania, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. In June, they will finally step in North America for a 10-stop stint, including cities like Seattle, Los Angeles, Newark, Fairfax, Toronto, and more. Despite featuring only four out of five members while vocalist Lia is currently on hiatus due to health reasons, they promise to set the stages on fire with their high-energy discography.

VERIVERY: Go On Fan-meeting Tour

Starting June 14, boyband VERIVERY will kick off their Go On Fan-meeting Tour in New York at Brooklyn Steel. Then, they will head to Chicago, Minneapolis, Atlanta, Fort Worth, and finally Los Angeles for a last performance at Vermont Hollywood. The seven-member group is currently a quartet, as member Dongheon is currently enlisted in the military, and members Minchan and Hoyoung are on hiatus due to health concerns. VERIVERY's latest release was 2023's EP, Liminality .

A.C.E: 2024 REWIND_US U.S. Tour

Jun. 19 - July 18

February marked the much-anticipated comeback of boy group A.C.E with the EP My Girl: My Choice . It was their first release in three years, and to rejoice further, the quintet announced an extensive 14-date tour throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Starting June 19 in Madison, WI and closing off on July 18 in San Juan, PR, A.C.E will also perform in Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, and more.

HYO: Milwaukee Summerfest

Milwaukee, WI

HYO , also known as Hyoyeon from Girls' Generation, will be showcasing her DJ chops on June 28 at Milwaukee Summerfest. The performance will happen just months after HYO held her 2024 Spring U.S. Tour, Cherry Blossom, which spanned seven cities across the country. In the setlist, fans can expect hits like "Dessert" and "Deep," but also some innovative remixes of other artists' songs, like GALA's "Freed From Desire" and Girls' Generation's "Gee."

AB6IX: Find You Fan Concert Tour

Another boy group to embark on a North American tour this year, AB6IX will bring their Find You Fan Concert across nine stops in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Starting off in the cities of Toronto and Montreal, they will then head to New York, Mexico City, Miami, Denver, and more, before wrapping it up in Los Angeles. The tour title was inspired by their latest release, January's EP The Future is Ours: Found .

ATEEZ: Towards the Light: Will to Power 2024 World Tour

Jul. 14 - Aug. 11

Performance kings ATEEZ never stop. After the release of their EP, Golden Hour: Part. 1 on May 31, the eight-member group will head to North America for their Towards the Light: Will to Power 2024 World Tour. Kicking off on July 14 in Tacoma, Washington, the boyband will also play in the cities of Los Angeles, Arlington, Washington, D.C., Toronto, New York, and more. The tour supports ATEEZ's December 2023 LP, The World EP.Fin: Will , but hopefully the setlist will include surprises as new music comes out.

IU: HEREH World Tour

Jul. 15 - Aug. 2

One of the most important artists to come from South Korea, IU (born Lee Ji-eun) has been shaping the country's music industry since 2008 with her unique voice, sensitive songwriting, and sharp mind. Given her journey, it's almost absurd that her first world tour is only happening in 2024 — but better late than never. After stops in Asia and Europe, IU will head to the U.S. for six sold-out concerts, beginning on July 15 at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, and concluding on August 2 at Kia Forum in Los Angeles, CA.

The Boyz: Zeneration II World Tour

Following their 2023 Zeneration Tour, which featured 24 stops across Asia, 11-member group The Boyz are now bringing its sequel worldwide. After a 3-day July stint in Seoul, South Korea, the Zeneration II tour will head to the U.S. for five shows in New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, and San Jose. Throughout August, The Boyz will segue onto the Asian leg of the tour, wrapping it up with a few European dates in September.

KCON Los Angeles 2024

Known as the largest Korean culture and music festival in North America, KCON has a decade-long legacy of serving as a bridge for "all things Hallyu." Held at the Los Angeles Convention Center and Crypto.com Arena, the festival includes a two-night concert, fan signings, food and merch stalls, panels with professionals in the industry, and many other attractions. KCON hasn't announced its official lineup yet, but attendees can expect it to maintain the same excellence of past years.

Secret Number: The 1st U.S. Tour 2024 Unlock

Jul. 26 - Aug. 10

Girl group Secret Number debuted amidst the chaos of 2020's COVID-19 pandemic, therefore falling short of live experiences with their fans. As they enter their fourth year together, they will finally meet North American fans with their 2024 Unlock tour this summer. Kicking off on July 26 in Chicago, the sextet will then head to Minneapolis, Charlotte, Houston, Denver, Phoenix, Seattle, and Los Angeles for a final show on August 10.

Stray Kids, IVE, VCHA: Lollapalooza Chicago 2024

K-pop's presence on Lollapalooza continues to expand. This year, Stray Kids is set to headline on Friday, Aug. 2, alongside singer SZA . It's the boyband's second appearance at the festival, following their 2023 show at Lollapalooza Paris. On that same day, U.S.-based, K-pop-trained girl group VCHA, formed by JYP Entertainment in partnership with Republic Records, will also make their first performance at the festival. To close it off, Saturday will feature the captivating girl group IVE.

I.M (Monsta X): Off The Beat 2024 World Tour

Monsta X 's maknae (youngest member) I.M has been building a prolific solo career while his teammates are enlisted in the military. Accompanying his third EP, Off The Beat , the singer announced an eponymous world tour, featuring 19 stops in Asia, North America, and Europe. He will play seven dates In the U.S. and two in Canada, including New York, Boston, Toronto, and more.

ARTMS: 2024 Moonshot World Tour

Aug. 16 - Sept. 10

Formed by five LOONA members (Kim Lip, Choerry, JinSoul, HaSeul, and HeeJin), girl group ARTMS was one of 2023's most-awaited debuts. Their first studio album, Devine All Love & Live , is set to drop on May 31, and the quintet will celebrate with a string of concerts across South Korea, Japan, and the U.S. Starting August 16 in New York, the tour will cross Atlanta, Orlando, Los Angeles, and more cities before wrapping up on September 10 in Chicago.

11 Rookie K-Pop Acts To Know In 2024: NCT Wish, RIIZE, Kiss Of Life & More

AAPI Month Playlist 2024 Hero

Photos: KQ Entertainment; KATO SHUMPEI; Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images; Medios y Media/Getty Images; Presley Ann/Getty Images for Coachella; Lauren Kim

Leap Into AAPI Month 2024 With A Playlist Featuring Laufey, Diljit Dosanjh, & Peggy Gou

Celebrate AAPI artists this May with a genre-spanning playlist spotlighting festival headliners and up-and-coming musicians. From Korean hip-hop to Icelandic jazz-pop, listen to some of the most exciting artists from the Asian diaspora.

With spring just around the corner, it’s time to welcome AAPI Month in full blossom. From rising musical artists to inspiring community leaders, it’s essential to recognize AAPI members of the artistic world and their achievements.

While AAPI Month is a U.S. holiday, the Recording Academy takes a global approach in celebrating artists and creators from across the Asian and Asian American diaspora. This aligns with the Recording Academy's growing mission to expand its reach on a global scale and celebrate international creators outside of the U.S.  

Musicians of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander heritage have not only helped establish the music industry, but have transformed it. From Diljit Dosanjh being the first artist to play a Coachella set entirely in Punjabi to Laufey winning a GRAMMY for her jazz-inspired pop, AAPI artists continue to influence music by both honoring tradition and reshaping modern standards.

It’s thrilling to see AAPI musicians continue to take centerstage — from Atarashi Gakko! to Tiger JK ’s memorable sets at Coachella, to surprise appearances from Olivia Rodrigo , Dominic Fike , and Towa Bird. As festival season gets underway, examples of the AAPI starpower from every corner of the world abound.

As one of many ways to celebrate AAPI Month, listen to the GRAMMY.com playlist below — as a reminder to give AAPI musicians not just their May flowers, but their flowers all year-round!

Chung Ha

Photo: MORE VISION

Chung Ha Returns: On 'EENIE MEENIE,' The K-Pop Soloist Is Ready To Step Back Into The Spotlight

Chung Ha was one of K-pop’s most promising soloists, but decided to step back from the industry. Upon her return, Chung Ha wants to tell her fans "that they have the freedom to choose."

It takes courage to become a soloist in K-pop — a scene largely dominated by girl groups and boy groups of the most varied sizes — but more than that, it takes verve. Singer, dancer, and songwriter Chung Ha, 28 years old, knows it better than anyone.

Born in Seoul, South Korea but raised in Dallas, Texas, she first rose to stardom in 2016, after  returning to her home country and participating in Mnet’s trainee competition show "Produce 101." There, Chung Ha caught the eyes of judges and viewers alike for her sharp movements and innate charisma. She placed fourth on the finale, and became a member of I.O.I — the show’s resulting temporary girl group.

While I.O.I and its 11 members found great success, when the group disbanded in early 2017, Chung Ha decided to challenge herself further. In June of that year, she released her solo debut EP, Hands On Me . 

Soon, Chung Ha became one of K-pop’s most promising (and somewhat unexpected) soloists — not only did she prove to be an exceptional dancer, but a smooth vocalist as well, full of style and star power. On stage, she commands performances with surgical precision, yet flows with breathtaking grace. She proved her versatility with a string of captivating singles, like the ice-cold "Snapping" and the bewitching "Gotta Go," which reached No.1 on Billboard’s K-pop Hot 100 chart in 2019. Her first studio album, 2021’s Querencia , blended R&B, EDM, reggaeton and even bossa nova with finesse.

But amidst all the success, Chung Ha took a break. She decided not to renew the contract with her previous label, spent more than a year on a hiatus, and even considered abandoning the music industry, as revealed on the YouTube talk show "Gabee’s Rising Star "

Luckily, Chung Ha changed her mind. She signed with MORE VISION, a label founded by singer and rapper Jay Park, and will drop the single album EENIE MEENIE on March 11. 

GRAMMY.com caught up with Chung Ha via Zoom to learn more about her comeback — and to dive into her creative process, how she sees herself, and who she wants to be.

You spent more than a year on a hiatus, and even left your previous company. What made you sign with MORE VISION for this new phase of your career?

Jay [Park] reached out to me often. When I talked to the other co-workers at the company, their vision really aligned with mine. I think that was a crucial reason.

For example, I've never toured. I want to start out in small venues, and if I do have a chance I want to make it bigger. I want to work on more collaborations and try different genres of music like [on] "EENIE MEENIE," and they're aligned with me on that.

On "Gabee’s Rising Star," you said that you wanted to study abroad during your hiatus, and that being a celebrity is "just a job." What made you want to come back to music?

I was always interested in psychology. Working in this industry, it's a little chaotic, so I tried to maintain my mental health by [attending] counseling, and then I felt like I wanted to maintain my mental health on my own.

And growing up in Texas, I always had my Mexican friends with me, but I was the only one unable to understand Spanish. I was always interested, but [the break] felt like it was the right time to embrace Spanish more. I wanted to dive into the culture and the language, but at the end of the day, it was all about me maintaining my mental health because I wanted to be in this industry. Me wanting to explore Spanish because I wanted to engage more with my fans. I just realized, Oh, it was all about music. Okay. [ Laughs. ]

Since your last comeback, in what areas do you think you have improved or evolved?

Um… I don't know. I'm gonna need to have a real [live] stage for that. I think that's the kind of question I want to ask my fans to see what gradual changes that they notice, because for me, I feel like I'm still the same. But I want to tap myself [on the back] for trying new genres and being brave about getting out of my comfort zone.

What did you have in mind when you started producing this new album? What's the story behind it?

I was really confused. I was asking people, like, "I don't know what to do. I don't know what's next for me."I feel like I've tried different genres of music and different colors of myself, like "Bicycle," "Play," "Love U," and "Roller Coaster."

I didn't know what to do, so I decided to show both sides of myself. A new [side] with MORE VISION, and the one people are always eager to see, like [on] "Stay Tonight" and "Dream Of You." Those were some of the biggest [songs] that I saw people commenting on. So, the familiar side of me and a new side of me are both in the album, and I'm pretty confident [about it].

You collaborated with Hongjoong from ATEEZ in the lead track "EENIE MEENIE," which represents that new side of yourself. How was that experience?

I have followed ATEEZ since the beginning of their career. Their performance is so mind-blowing, they have that special energy that only they can give, so I was always inspired by them.

And then, on "EENIE MEENIE" there is a rap part, so when I heard the track I was like, Oh, I am not rapping . [ Laughs .] That's just too new for me. I sing-rap in "EENIE MEENIE," but that’s about it. So, I needed a real rapper and a real captain on my side and I thought Hongjoong was a perfect fit. After I heard his verse, it was so great, more than I ever expected. He definitely gave that final touch.

The other song on your album, "I’m Ready," represents your familiar side with driving house beats and a mesmerizing atmosphere, almost like a sequel to "Stay Tonight" and "Dream of You." As for the title, what are you ready for?

I guess I'm navigating through new things, and I don't know how it's gonna come out. [People] might say it's a failure, they might say it's a success, they might say I'm brave to challenge myself, but I'm just ready to face all that. 

Even though someone might say, "Oh, I don't think it's the right fit for Chung Ha" or "I liked the old Chung Ha better," I don't think I'm afraid of getting judged, or getting rates on anything. I'm just ready to be more adventurous. Being too nervous might drag you into this anxiety space, but just being nervous in general with music and releasing new things is what makes me keep going.

I think people need that nervous feeling, being out of their comfort zone. You never know how you're going to feel, how the outcome is going to be. 

Do you remember any specific experiences where you were trying something new and it turned out better than expected?

Oh, "Stay Tonight"was one of them. When I first heard the track, I was like, U m… this is too high. I don't know if K-pop lovers will like this song , because it was more [Western] pop than K-pop. It was right after I dropped "Snapping"and "Gotta Go," so I was like, Are my fans ready for this?  

But [I thought] hey, you know what, let's just have fun. Let's just try new things. Let's vogue. [ Laughs ] I've always wanted to vogue, so I did that, and it became one of my epic pieces of performance. It didn’t go big in the charts or anything, but it became a real standout from a more artistic point of view.

EENIE MEENIE represents a new start for you, and both songs in the album talk about trusting yourself and your choices. Since you participated in the songwriting, is that what you have been experiencing lately? How do you recognize what feels right for you?

I feel like you never know what's right, but for me, I decide [something] when it keeps on popping in my head. Like, I would just be calm and see where my mind goes and what my [fandom] HAART keeps on telling me. 

If your heart moves that way, I’d rather just do it and regret, than not do it and regret. That’s how I trust my instincts, listening to what I really want.

You mentioned that you see K-pop and Western pop as one. What do you think about the global growth of K-pop, and Western artists trying K-pop, or artists collaborating?

I think it's wonderful. I mean, the only difference is the culture and the language, and how we make our music with different rules and stuff. And it's really awesome [to see] other artists trying out Korean, trying out the marketing strategy of what we have always done. But it's the same with Korean artists, they try to go abroad and then try Western music.

Trying different cultures is getting more natural than splitting what's K-pop and what’s pop. I think it's all gathering into one because music is one, and we love music.

Is it easier for you to see everything as one because you are Korean, but you lived in America for so many years?

Yes, I think it was more natural for me to try different things. It was fun to get to know things like, Oh, this is Western style music, Western marketing strategy, or Western businesses, it goes on like this, and then Korean businesses go on like this . So it's all about learning.

You mentioned in an interview with Teen Vogue that you like to portray characters in your songs, but recently you have been telling your own story in them as well. How do you find the balance between those two possibilities?

I don't initially choose what to do before I hear the music. I hear it first, and then decide, like Oh, I want to share a story of mine, because I have this experience and my current state of mind is this, but sometimes it's just Oh, this is a new character I've never tried before. I want to be her, or I want to be him, or whatever. Let me try that out, let me see what it tastes like. [ Laughs. ] When new music comes to me, whatever character, whatever story comes up first, I would go with that.

And for this album, are you a character or are you portraying your life story?

I’m portraying my life story in both songs. I had a lot of choices to make throughout the beginning of my new career [after leaving my former company], like choosing a label, choosing a new logo, choosing songs, and other things, but in the end I just like what I like to do. 

I came back to the music industry, and I really want people to embrace whatever they want to do. To tell them that they have the freedom to choose more than predetermined answers. I wanted to encourage that.

In another moment of your interview on "Gabee’s Rising Star," you said "When people think of Chung Ha, all that comes to mind is ‘Gotta Go’."Do you still believe in that?

Yes, and no. But I’m very grateful, because that song is what elevated me to the next step, and it gave me the courage to try different genres of music. But "Stay Tonight" and other pieces of music also identify me in different ways.

Who is Chung Ha, then? How would you like to be recognized?

Definitely not "Gotta Go." [ Laughs. ] I'm not that person now. I'm just a girl who loves music, and I'm just grateful and thankful, always. As much as I was diligent before, I want to keep on doing that, and I want to meet my fans more.

As Chung Ha, I want to ask my fans who they think I am, because I try to be as authentic as possible with music and my personality. Also I'm an adventurous person. Love to challenge myself. And I’m ready to go.

It Goes To 11: Meet J.Fla's "Best Friend," Her Acoustic Taylor Guitar

Women's History Month 2024 Playlist Hero

Photos (clockwise, from top left): Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Coachella, Paras Griffin/Getty Images, Lufre, MATT WINKELMEYER/GETTY IMAGES FOR THE RECORDING ACADEMY, Paras Griffin/Getty Images, JOHN SHEARER/GETTY IMAGES FOR THE RECORDING ACADEMY, Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Listen: GRAMMY.com's Women's History Month 2024 Playlist: Female Empowerment Anthems From Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Jennie & More

This March, the Recording Academy celebrates Women's History Month with pride and joy. Press play on this official playlist that highlights uplifting songs from Taylor Swift, Victoria Monét, Anitta and more.

From commanding stages to blasting through stereos, countless women have globally graced the music industry with their creativity. And though they've long been underrepresented , tides are changing: in just the last few years, female musicians have been smashing records left and right, conquering top song and album charts and selling sold-out massive tours .

This year, Women's History Month follows a particularly historic 66th GRAMMY Awards , which reflected the upward swing of female musicians dominating music across the board. Along with spearheading the majority of the ceremony's performances, women scored bigtime in the General Field awards — with wins including Best New Artist , Record Of The Year , Song Of The Year , and Album Of The Year .

Female empowerment anthems, in particular, took home major GRAMMY gold. Miley Cyrus ' "Flowers" took home two awards , while Victoria Monét was crowned Best New Artist thanks to the success of her album Jaguar II and its hit single "On My Mama." As those two songs alone indicate, female empowerment takes many different shapes in music — whether it's moving on from a relationship by celebrating self-love or rediscovering identity through motherhood.

The recent successes of women in music is a testament to the trailblazing artists who have made space for themselves in a male-dominated industry — from the liberating female jazz revolution of the '20s to the riot grrl movement of the '90s. Across genres and decades, the classic female empowerment anthem has strikingly metamorphosed into diverse forms of defiance, confidence and resilience.

No matter how Women's History Month is celebrated, it's about women expressing themselves, wholeheartedly and artistically, and having the arena to do so . And in the month of March and beyond, women in the music industry deserve to be recognized not only for their talent, but ambition and perseverance — whether they're working behind the stage or front-and-center behind the mic.

From Aretha Franklin 's "RESPECT" to Beyoncé 's "Run the World (Girls)," there's no shortage of female empowerment anthems to celebrate women's accomplishments in the music industry. Listen to GRAMMY.com's 2024 Women's History Month playlist on streaming services below.

9 Ways Women Dominated The 2024 GRAMMYs

Megan Thee Stallion (Center) and (from L to R:) J-Hope, Jin, Jungkook, V, RM, Suga, and Jimin of BTS attend the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Photo: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

9 Essential K-Pop/Western Collabs: From BTS And Megan Thee Stallion, To IVE And Saweetie

From Jungkook and Usher's tribute to their shared musical idol, to BLACKPINK and Selena Gomez' sugary sweet collab, K-pop and Western artists of all genres are joining forces to create killer hits.

It’s impossible to ignore the growing global popularity of K-pop. Although Korean pop has been around for decades, the genre's meteoric worldwide success over the past 10 years is reminiscent of Beatlemania and the early 2000s American boy band craze. With a steady increase year-over-year in album sales and K-pop groups touring the U.S. and Europe, interest in K-pop shows no signs of slowing down .

Initially launched in South Korea as a music subgenre with Western pop, R&B and hip-hop influences in the '90s, the K-pop industry is valued at around $10 billion .

Given the worldwide appetite for K-pop, several Western musicians are keen to partner with K-pop acts crossing over into more international markets, often with songs sung partially or entirely in English. While K-pop artists do not need Western artists to be successful — BTS sold out London’s Wembley stadium in under 90 minutes back in 2019, and BLACKPINK made Coachella history twice with performances in 2019 and 2023 — K-pop's massive fanbase and multi-genre influence make it an ideal collaboration for everyone from rappers and singers to electronic DJs.

But don’t take our word for it. Here are nine of the most iconic K-Pop/Western collaborations (not in any order; they are all great songs!).

Usher and Jungkook - "Standing Next to You (Usher Remix)" (2024)

The maknae (the youngest member of the group) of global K-pop superstars BTS and the King of R&B are both having banner years: Jungkook released his debut solo album, and Usher just performed at the Super Bowl . 

The Bangtan Boys have cited Usher as a significant influence (even singing a callback to his 2001 hit "U Got It Bad" in their No. 1 song, "Butter"), so BTS fans were delighted when the Jungkook tapped Usher for a remix of "Standing Next to You." The song marks the fourth single from his Billboard 200 chart-topping debut album, Golden . 

Both singers count Michael Jackson as a major influence. In their collaboration video, Usher and Jungkook pay tribute to the King of Pop as they slide, pop, and lock across the slick floor of an abandoned warehouse. 

John Legend and Wendy of Red Velvet - "Written in the Stars" (2018)

R&B singer/pianist John Legend was the perfect choice for an R&B ballad with Wendy, the main vocalist of K-pop quintet Red Velvet. The final song on the five-track SM Station x 0 , a digital music project, "Written in the Stars," is a beautiful, mid-tempo love song. A bit of a departure from K-pop’s typical upbeat sound, Wendy and Legend are in perfect harmony over a warm yet melancholic rhythm.

As Red Velvet’s main vocalist, Wendy was the ideal voice for this collaboration. Additionally, she split her childhood between Canada and the U.S., and has been comfortable singing in English since Red Velvet debuted in 2014. This wasn't her first collab with a Western artist: In 2017, she released an English-language version of the pop ballad " Vente Pa’Ca " with Ricky Martin . 

BLACKPINK and Selena Gomez - "Ice Cream" (2020)

A powerhouse debut single, BLACKPINK collaborated with pop royalty Selena Gomez on the massive 2020 hit "Ice Cream."

An electropop-bubblegum fusion filled with dairy double entendres, "Ice Cream" was an enormous success for both Gomez and the BLACKPINK girls. The track peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has racked up nearly 900 million YouTube views to date. 

Written by a consortium of hitmakers, including Ariana Grande and BLACKPINK’s longtime songwriter and producer Teddy Park (a former K-pop idol himself), "Ice Cream" shows that YG Entertainment’s golden foursome and Gomez were the correct partnership for this track. The pop-trap bop marked the first time a K-pop girl group broke the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and immediately solidified BLACKPINK as global superstars. 

Snoop Dogg and Monsta X - "How We Do" (2022)

West Coast rap godfather Snoop Dogg has quietly become one of the go-to Western acts for K-pop collabs, working with Psy, BTS, Girls’ Generation and 2NE1. K-pop is the Dogg Father's "guilty pleasure, " and he performed at the Mnet Asian Music Awards with Dr. Dre in 2011. Without Snoop's love of K-pop, the world might not have gotten this fun and energetic collaboration with Snoop and Monsta X, a five-member boy group under Starship Entertainment.

The song appears in The Spongebob Movie: Sponge On The Run in a dance segment where Snoop, decked out in a pink and purple Western suit, is accompanied by zombie dancers. Though we do not see the members of Monsta X, their harmonious crooning is the perfect accent to Snoop Dogg’s trademark casual West Coast flow.

BTS and Steven Aoki - "MIC Drop (Steve Aoki remix)" (2017)

No K-pop list is complete with a nod to the magnificent seven, and "MIC Drop" is one of their catchiest Western collabs to date. 

"Mic Drop" is quintessential BTS: a nod to hip-hop with a heavy bass line and fun choreography. While the original version of "MIC Drop" is excellent, the remix with EDM superstar DJ Steve Aoki and rapper Desiigner cracked the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 — the first of many hits for the Bulletproof Boy Scouts. 

Released at a time when BTS were just starting their ascent to chart-topping Western dominance, the track's boastful lyrics and tension-building electro-trap production offered an excellent introduction to the group that would soon become international superstars. 

JYJ, Kanye West and Malik Yusef - "Ayyy Girl" (2010)

A truly deep K-pop cut, you’d be hard-pressed to find many people who know that Kanye West collaborated with a first-generation K-pop group over 13 years ago. Released as the lead single on JYJ’s English-language album The Beginning , West’s signature bravado and wordplay are on full display over a track that sounds like the Neptunes produced it.

The song garnered attention in the U.S., but after a string of bad luck (including a severely delayed U.S. visa process and issues with their management company, SM Entertainment), JYJ could not capitalize on their American success. The group continued to see success in Korea and Japan in the early 2010s but never made a splash in the Western market again.

IVE and Saweetie - "All Night" (2024)

A reimagining of Icona Pop’s 2013 song of the same name, "All Night," sees fourth-generation K-pop girl group IVE partner with rap’s resident glamor girl Saweetie for a funky, electronic-infused pop song that’s perfect for dancing from dusk till dawn. 

"All Night" is the first English song for the Starship Entertainment-backed group. Interestingly, none of the members of IVE have individual lines in the song, choosing instead to sing the lyrics in a six-part harmony. This choice is exciting but fun, giving listeners the feeling that they are more than welcome to sing along. 

The girl group embarked on their first 24-date world tour in January 2024, with stops in the U.S., Asia, Europe and South America. Given their quest for global dominance, there’s a good chance "All Night" won’t be IVE's last English-language release.

BTS and Megan Thee Stallion - "Butter (Remix)" (2021)

BTS’ "Butter" had already spent three weeks atop the Billboard charts and was declared the "song of the summer" when the group’s label announced Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion as the guest star for the song’s remix in late August 2021. The GRAMMY-nominated septet is no stranger to collaborating with Western musicians, having worked with Halsey , Jason Derulo, and Coldplay . 

Though only slightly altered from the original (Megan’s verse was added in place of the song’s second original verse, along with several ad-libs), the remix was praised by both fans and critics alike, catapulting the song’s return back to the No. 1. Although the collaborators did not release a new music video featuring the group and the self-proclaimed "Hot Girl Coach," three members of BTS’ "dance line" (members J-Hope , Jungkook and Jimin ) released a specially choreographed dance video . Additionally, Megan was a surprise guest during BTS’ record-breaking Permission to Dance LA concert in November of the same year.

LE SSERAFIM and Niles Rodgers - "Unforgiven" (2023)

GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Nile Rodgers ' first foray into K-pop was a partnership with LE SSERAFIM , a fourth-gen girl group from the same parent company behind BTS. "Unforgiven" was released earlier this year as the lead single from the group’s debut album of the same name. 

A darker take on the familiar K-pop formula with A Western feel and look (the young quintuplet dons cowboy hats, boots and bolo ties in the song’s accompanying music video), "Unforgiven" is about rebellion and being a fierce, strong and independent risk taker. That riskiness drew Rodgers' ear. 

"It seems like a lot of the K-pop that I'm hearing lately, the…chord changes are a lot more interesting than what's been happening [in other music fields] over the last few years," he told GRAMMY.com in 2023. "I come from a jazz background, so to hear chord changes like that is really cool. They’re not afraid, which is great to me."

15 K-Pop Songs That Took 2023 By Storm: From Seventeen’s "Super (손오공)" to NewJeans' "Super Shy"

  • 1 K-Pop Summer 2024 Guide: ATEEZ, IU, TXT & More Live In Concert & On Tour
  • 2 Leap Into AAPI Month 2024 With A Playlist Featuring Laufey, Diljit Dosanjh, & Peggy Gou
  • 3 Chung Ha Returns: On 'EENIE MEENIE,' The K-Pop Soloist Is Ready To Step Back Into The Spotlight
  • 4 Listen: GRAMMY.com's Women's History Month 2024 Playlist: Female Empowerment Anthems From Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Jennie & More
  • 5 9 Essential K-Pop/Western Collabs: From BTS And Megan Thee Stallion, To IVE And Saweetie

IMAGES

  1. MONSTA X 世巡完整行程表公開,確定7月14日來台開唱!

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  2. MONSTA X Tickets, 2023 Concert Tour Dates

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  3. MONSTA X

    monsta x world tour 2023

  4. Monsta X Tickets & 2023 Tour Dates

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  5. MONSTA X Sets Off To Begin June With World Tour's First Overseas Stop

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  6. Monsta X kicks off 3rd world tour

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VIDEO

  1. Top Five Space Exploration Missions in 2023

  2. [4K] 180825 몬스타엑스 MONSTA X 형원 HYUNGWON 폭우

  3. 몬스타엑스 "몬베베와 하나되는 월드투어 만들 것" (2019 MONSTA X WORLD TOUR 'WE ARE HERE' in SEOUL 기자간담회) [통통TV]

  4. [Vertical] 180825 몬스타엑스 MONSTA X 형원 HYUNGWON 반칙이야

  5. [4K] 180526 몬스타엑스 MONSTA X 형원 HYUNGWON Blind

COMMENTS

  1. MONSTA X's I.M Gets Real on First Solo World Tour and Not Caring What

    Off The Beat is now available to stream. K-pop rapper and solo artist I.M of MONSTA X talks about his upcoming first solo world tour shortly after releasing his third EP, 'Off The Beat.'. The ...

  2. We Are Here World Tour

    Monsta X Live From Seoul With Luv. (2020) We Are Here World Tour, also known as Monsta X World Tour: We Are Here, is the third worldwide concert tour by the South Korean boy group Monsta X following their successful and sold out world tour for the previous year The Connect World Tour. The tour started on April 13, two months after the release ...

  3. MONSTA X Tickets, Tour Dates & Concerts 2025 & 2024

    MONSTA X tour dates and tickets 2024-2025 near you. Want to see MONSTA X in concert? Find information on all of MONSTA X's upcoming concerts, tour dates and ticket information for 2024-2025. MONSTA X is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 3 concerts across 3 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

  4. MONSTA X Tickets, 2024 Concert Tour Dates

    MONSTA X 2020 Tour Schedule. Tue Jun 02 - Minneapolis, MN - The Armory. Fri Jun 05 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theatre. Sun Jun 07 - Washington, DC - EagleBank Arena. Wed Jun 10 - Newark, NJ - Prudential Center. Fri Jun 12 - Boston, MA - Agganis Arena. Sun Jun 14 - Toronto, ON - ScotiaBank Arena. Tue Jun 16 - Chicago, IL - United Center.

  5. Monsta X, Jessi Join We Bridge Music Festival & Expo 2023 Las Vegas

    Monsta X. Monsta X will be the day 1 headliner for the Las Vegas fest's first night of concerts on April 21. The festival has also added rapper-singer Jessi to its 10-artist bill. We Bridge ...

  6. Exclusive Interview: MONSTA X Starts Their 3rd World Tour 'WE ...

    Members started the world tour with two concerts in Korea on Apr. 13 and 14 at the Seoul Olympic Handball Stadium. For their 2nd world tour, they had already greeted fans with powerful performances with 25 concerts in 20 cities. This time for their third world tour, the boys are going to new countries and cities and will perform in 18 cities.

  7. Monsta X Tickets & 2024 Tour Dates

    Monsta X Tour Dates will be displayed below for any announced 2024 Monsta X tour dates. For all available tickets and to find shows near you, scroll to the listings at the top of this page. DATE. CITY. VENUE. LOWEST PRICE. 08/15/2024. Toronto, ON, CA. The Danforth Music Hall.

  8. No Limit Tour

    No Limit Tour, also known as Monsta X Tour: No Limit, is the fourth concert tour by the South Korean boy group Monsta X following their successful online live concert Live From Seoul With Luv in 2020, and their first since We Are Here World Tour in 2019, due to COVID-19 pandemic.Originally, it was supposed to be a U.S. tour only, which started on May 21, six months after the release of their ...

  9. Monsta X's I.M announces first solo world tour 'Off the Beat' across 14

    I.M of boy band Monsta X will hold concerts in 14 cities for his first-ever world tour as a solo artist, the rapper's agency Sony Music Entertainment Korea said Monday. I.M will kick off the tour, titled "Off the Beat," with two concerts in Seoul on May 25 and 26. He will then perform in Europe, with concerts in London and Paris in July and in Cologne and Berlin in Germany in August.

  10. The Connect World Tour

    The Connect World Tour, also known as Monsta X World Tour: The Connect, is the second worldwide concert tour by the South Korean boy group Monsta X following their successful and sold out world tour for the previous year Beautiful World Tour.The tour commenced on May 26, exactly two months after the release of the group's sixth EP The Connect: Dejavu, kicking off in Seoul, and visiting twelve ...

  11. MONSTA X Setlist at KSPO DOME, Seoul

    MONSTA X Gig Timeline. Apr 21 2023. We Bridge 2023 Las Vegas, NV, USA. Add time. Jul 08 2023. KSPO DOME Seoul, South Korea. Add time. Jul 09 2023. KSPO DOME This Setlist Seoul, South Korea.

  12. MONSTA X Setlist at We Bridge 2023

    MONSTA X Gig Timeline. Jan 20 2023. KBS Music Bank Seoul, South Korea. Add time. Jan 29 2023. SBS Inkigayo Seoul, South Korea. Add time. Apr 21 2023. We Bridge 2023 This Setlist Las Vegas, NV, USA.

  13. 2022 MONSTA X "No Limit" World Tour

    2022 MONSTA X "No Limit" World Tour is the fourth world tour held by MONSTA X. The first show was held on May 21, 2022 in New York, N.Y. On January 13, 2020, the group announced their world tour titled 2020 MONSTA X World Tour will begin in Seoul for two nights on May 9 and 10.[1] Later that same day, the North American stops and dates were revealed with the first show on June 2, 2020 in ...

  14. I.M (Monsta X) Tickets, 2024 Concert Tour Dates

    31. Saturday 07:00 PMSat 7:00 PM 8/31/24, 7:00 PM. Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern I.M (MONSTA X) presents Off The Beat World Tour 2024. Find Tickets 8/31/24, 7:00 PM. EXCLUSIVE | Ticketmaster now offers hotel deals! Save up to 57% off your stay when you bundle your ticket with a hotel.

  15. MONSTA X I.M Announces 2024 Off The Beat World Tour Cities and Dates

    The rapper has just announced the 2024 Off The Beat world tour along with the official dates and cities. MONSTA X Member I.M. To Embark on 2024 Off The Beat World Tour. The upcoming world tour kicks off with a bang in Seoul with back-to-back nights of electrifying performances on May 25 and 26, setting the stage for an unforgettable journey ...

  16. Why Monsta X Is Playing More U.S. Shows Than Ever

    Monsta X's summer tour will be its most ambitious, with 17 North American dates; in comparison, BTS ' upcoming Map of the Soul trek includes eight U.S. stadiums and BlackPink played five U.S ...

  17. Monsta X Drop More Teasers For 2023 Comeback With 'Reason'

    Earlier this month, South Korean group Monsta X announced they would be making a comeback in 2023 with a brand new EP. Titled Reason, the record follows the six-member group's April 2022 EP, Shape of Love and is set to drop on January 9th, 2023.. Monsta X began teasing the comeback on December 11th by announcing the album's title via a teaser poster, then dropped a comeback schedule on ...

  18. Monsta X

    MONSTA X's I.M announces 2024 'Off The Beat' world tour. Featuring concerts in Asia, the US and Europe ... 20th October 2023. ... IVE and MONSTA X.

  19. MONSTA X Concert & Tour History (Updated for 2024)

    MONSTA X. Concerts. MONSTA X Concert History. 149 Concerts. MONSTA X (몬스타엑스) is a South Korean hip-hop group under Starship Entertainment, formed in 2015. Currently consisting of Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon (DJ H.ONE), JOOHONEY and I.M. Originally a seven-member group, WONHO left in October 2019. Concerts.

  20. Monsta X Just Gave Us A REASON To Celebrate 2023

    To Celebrate The Start Of 2023: A Track By Track. January 11, 2023. Courtesy of Starship Entertainment. If you don't stan this group already, what are you doing? Monsta X just gave you the perfect REASON to begin your Monbebe era, thanks to their brand new mini album. Following on from Shape Of Love and a 2022 filled with touring, Monsta X ...

  21. Monsta X Tour

    We Are Here in 2024! K-pop sensations Monsta X are coming to North America for their biggest tour yet, and tickets for all upcoming tour dates are on sale now!Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Jooheon, and I.M. are touring in support of their latest hit album Shape Of Love, and they'll perform all its cuts at venues across the continent.It's one of the biggest pop tours in the world this year ...

  22. Entradas, fechas y conciertos de MONSTA X en 2024 & 2023 -Songkick

    MONSTA X fechas del tour y entradas 2023-2024 cerca de ti ¿Quieres ver MONSTA X en? Encuentra información sobre todos los próximos conciertos de MONSTA X, fechas de visita e información de entradas para 2023-2024. MONSTA X no tocara cerca de tu ubicación actualmente - pero están programados para tocar 1 concierto en 1 país en 2023-2024.

  23. K-Pop Summer 2024 Guide: ATEEZ, IU, TXT & More Live In Concert & On Tour

    I.M (Monsta X): Off The Beat 2024 World Tour. Aug. 8-31. Monsta X 's maknae (youngest member) I.M has been building a prolific solo career while his teammates are enlisted in the military. Accompanying his third EP, Off The Beat, the singer announced an eponymous world tour, featuring 19 stops in Asia, North America, and Europe. He will play ...

  24. List of awards and nominations received by Monsta X

    7. Totals [a] Wins. 53. Nominations. 152. Note. This is a list of awards and nominations received by Monsta X, a South Korean boy group formed through the reality survival program No.Mercy under Starship Entertainment on May 14, 2015. It also includes its sub-unit: Shownu X Hyungwon formed on July 25, 2023.