NEWS
BTS singer and soloist Jimin has unveiled his new pre-release track ‘Smeraldo Garden Marching Band’.
The new visual features the idol performing to the song in a fairytale woodland stage, bringing couples closer as he dances past them. He is joined by rapper Loco in the second verse, and the duo later close out the video with a lively dance while flower petals rain down on them.
“Ooh, I love you babe / I’ll come closer to you / I love you, babe / Ooh, I want you, babe / I wanna hold your hand / I want you, babe,” Jimin sings in the chorus.
‘Smeraldo Garden Marching Band’ is the first song to be released from the BTS singer’s upcoming solo album ‘Muse’. It will also include the fan-dedicated song ‘Closer Than This’, which Jimin dropped shortly after enlisting in the military last December. The full seven-track record will arrive on Friday, July 19 at 1pm KST / 12am ET.
The new album will be Jimin’s second solo album, coming about a year-and-a-half after his debut record ‘Face’. It will also make him the latest BTS member to release an album while serving his mandatory military service, after leader and rapper RM unveiled his second album ‘Right Place, Wrong Person’ last month.
Earlier this month, vocalist Jin became the first BTS member to complete his military service. The idol celebrated the occasion – which coincided with the boyband’s 11th anniversary – by holding a special fan meeting in Seoul.
In other K-pop news, BLACKPINK’s Lisa has made a solo comeback with her new single ‘Rockstar’, her first music release since leaving longtime agency YG Entertainment last year.
JT is officially ready to embark on her solo journey in full force with the release of her debut effort, City Cinderella.
The former City Girls rapper announced the title of the LP along with its release date and striking cover in a post to Instagram on Tuesday (July 2).
“City Cinderella coming….7/19,” she wrote with a crown and an ice cube emoji. “Pre-save link in bio. My hands shaking posting this. Juvies we here…”
The cover features a naked JT – but her entire bottom half is made out of ice (or possibly glass). A glass slipper sits nearby as the Florida native wears a crown on her head.
“JATAVIA .. this ARTWORK!!??? UR MIND UR WILLINGNESS TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE over and over,” an impressed SZA said of the cover.
Back in February, JT dropped her first official solo song “Sideways” and quickly found success, as weeks later it became the No. 1 most-added song on United States Urban Radio.
When reacting to the news on Instagram, she wrote: “Ahhhhhh! [three champagne bottle emojis] SIDEWAYS the number #1 most added at urban radio! & That’s because of yall & every PD, MD & most importantly the DJ’s! I’m so humble & grateful.”
The 31-year-old also took her solo act on the road with a series of dates throughout March and April without her City Girls groupmate Yung Miami in a continued bid to establish herself as a star in her own right.
In April, she collaborated with Doechii on the single “Alter Ego.”
The long-awaited collaboration between the two Hip Hop powerhouses was hyped up by none other than SZA, who sang its praises on social media.
Under Doechii’s post announcing the new song, SZA commented: “THIS IS MY FUCKING SHITTT IM BOUT TO RIP MY FUCKING PUBES OUT !!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.”
The SOS singer also took to her Instagram Stories to share a video JT posted to stir up excitement for the song. Above the reshare, the New Jersey singer wrote: “3/29 she bout to drop the craziest song I’ve heard all year .. fuck. God bless everybody [laughing emoji].”
About the new record, Doechii shared: “I accidentally created my own genre with this one.. this record doesn’t sound like anything out right now. I’m so excited for y’all to experience this song, this visual, and this ERA with me! when they ask you.. tell em it’s editorial rap; if hip hop and house music had a baby.”
