BTS celebrates their 13th anniversary this weekend with a new release while their labelmates give an ICONICperformance. JAY B is keeping his King of R&B alive with his new mini album. Oh SHXT, BABYMONSTER has a new digital single out. Here are this week’s releases and a preview of what’s to come.
BTS “Come Over”
Big Hit Music
BOYNEXTDOOR HOME
1st Album ‘HOME’
HAN (Stray Kids) Digital Single – back to life
Digital Single – back to life
Although the music video was released about a month ago, Stray Kids’ all-rounder HAN’s digital single “back to life” is available to purchase & various music streaming platforms.
YERIN (GFRIEND) REACH YOU
4th Mini Album ‘REACH YOU’
BABYMONSTER Digital Single – SUGAR HONEY ICE TEA
Digital Single – SUGAR HONEY ICE TEA
EPEX Youth: Epilogue
izna SET THETEMPO
3rd Mini Album ‘SET THE TEMPO’
ChillLit “Bottles”
JAY B (GOT7) TR.EE
3rd Mini Album ‘TR.EE’
KATSEYE, LE SSERAFIM, & ILLIT “ICONIC BY MISTAKE”
Big Hit Music
AHOF “Sugar High”
JUNNY “_Heaven Can Wait”
Seori “My Gravity”
JACOB (THE BOYZ) j.
NAVILLERA “Friday Night”
What’s to come…
1st Mini Album – BITE DISTRICT
2nd Mini Album Part.2 – ONF:MY SELF
2nd Mini Album – //
6th Mini Album – 2:LOVE
14th Mini Album – GOLDEN HOUR: Part.5
9th Mini Album ‘We Made’ Pre-release Single “Crow”
CORTIS proves that they are the most demanded K-pop group by selling out their first solo tour ‘2026 CORTIS TOUR PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN IN NORTH AMERICA.’ Fans snatched the tickets within an hour after the Weverse COER membership pre-sale opened on June 10th, local time. Big Hit Music’s monster rookie group CORTIS is expected to captivate global fans by visiting six cities across North America.
Before they embark on their first tour, they will perform at Lollapalooza Chicago as the ‘only invited K-pop boy group of the year.’ CORTIS continues to achieve monumental success with their recent mini album GREENGREEN, solidifying their status as a global hot commodity domestically and internationally.
Of course we’re happy for the ones who were able to get tickets. Those who weren’t so lucky (that’s REDRED), trust that there will be a time to see them as this is only the beginning of Color Outside The Lines.
GREENGREEN is available now on music streaming platforms.
Princes of K-pop SHINee celebrates their 18th anniversary with Atmos while FIFTY FIFTY shows us it’s okay not to be perfect. TREASURE goes back to their hip-hop roots. Forever graceful group Mamamoo goes 4WARD. Here are this week’s releases and a preview of what’s to come.
ALPHA DRIVE ONE returns with a breezy summer single while aespa provides us LEMONADE to quench our thirst. XLOV continues to serve. KARD member J.seph shows what he can do on his first solo EP. Here are this week’s releases and a preview of what’s to come.
HEART OF WOMAN (H.O.W) 1st Album – Heart Byte: LEGACY
J.seph (KARD) 1st EP – Spin-off
ALPHA DRIVE ONE No School Tomorrow
Summer is here ☀️
ONEWE 2nd Single Album – The Quiver
aespa LEMONADE
BOYFRIEND Boyager 6
H//PE Princess 1st Mini Album – 17.7
Ayase Dialogue
AND2BLE Sequence 01: Curosity
IDID “FLY!”
XLOV I, God
Anderson.Paak K-POPS! (Music From & Inspired by K-POPS! Motion Picture)
can’t be blue “can’t love” (Feat. HAN (Stray Kids))
Love Island alum Huda Mustafa has made her debut with single “Bad Girls.” Similar to polarizing opinions of her persona from the television series, there are positive and negative reactions of the music video on social platforms.
The music video featured Huda dancing provocatively against the background of bustling office activities. Flying papers, smoke, and backup dancers are some elements of the song. The song’s sound quality was impressive, even though some people did not like her singing.
People immediately gave comments about the release. “She did really well; her vocals are smooth, and the words are very simple but powerful. This is a nice debut, and from watching some of her singing videos before this, I can say she is talented. She is just showing us how amazing her skills are”, commented one person.
One of the most common complaints concerned cultural appropriation, as it seemed that the artist used African American Vernacular English in her lyrics. She seems to mock people, calling them the n-word, as “Huda Mustafa is laughing at people getting the n-word to sing these lyrics.”
Whether you like or not, Huda Mustafa is here to stay and do whatever she pleases unapologetically as a ‘Bad Girl.’
Tarrus Riley has been removed from the 2026 Best Of The Best Music Fest lineup in Miami after the festival objected to his separate free Fort Lauderdale appearance scheduled days later.
Riley’s management issued a statement on Wednesday, May 20, saying the Reggae singer had been “officially contracted and advertised” for the May 24 concert and remained “willing and able to perform as agreed.”
Best Of The Best responded in its official statement, saying Riley would no longer appear on this year’s festival lineup because of the Fort Lauderdale booking.
The festival said it “was not made aware” of Riley’s booking for a free event in the South Florida market until last week. After learning of it, Best Of The Best said the decision to remove him was made “out of respect for both the artist and his supporters.”
Best Of The Best is set for Sunday, May 24, at Museum Park in Miami. Gates open at 2pm.
From triple Taes blessing us with their respective comebacks to LE SSERAFIM’s “pure flow” of music ahead of their tour this summer, check out this week’s music releases and a preview of what’s to come next week.
Jay Park & LNGSHOT 4SHOBOIZ Vol. 2: 4SHOVILLE
More Vision
More Vision CEO Jay Park & LNGSHOT dropped their collaborative mixtape 4SHOBOIZ Vol. 2: 4SHOVILLE May 18.
TAEYANG (BIGBANG) QUINTESSENCE
Black Label
After show-stopping performances in the desert at this year’s Coachella, BIGBANG’s TAEYANG comes back with his most experimental project QUINTESSENCE, his first full-length album in nine years. The album has features including The Kid LAROI, Tablo from Epik High, and label mates Tarzazan and Woochan of Allday Project.
BIBI “BUMPA”
Summer is here ☀️
SHOWNU X HYUNGWON (MONSTA X) LOVE ME
Starship Entertainment
Finally SHOWNU x HYUNGWON subunit is back after three years. Isn’t it easy to fall in love with them?
LE SSERAFIM PUREFLOW pt. 1
May 22 LE SSERAFIM’s “BOOMPALA” arrives as the title track of their second studio album, PUREFLOW, Pt. 1, marking their first full-length record in three years. The single samples the 1993 hit “Macarena,” with the group recreating its iconic dance moves in the music video surrounded by a festive crowd.
Balming Tiger Gongbu
Alternative K-pop band Balming Tiger brought the ‘Gongbu Korea’ universe to life with their second album Gongbu May 22.
ITZY Motto
JYP Entertainment
What is your guys’ motto?
YORCH (POW) “Blow Your Mind”
Boy band POW’s leader Yorch makes his domestic solo debut with his first single titled “Blow Your Mind,” featuring Sik-K and Bryan Chase. The single is produced by Diplo and King Henry. The singer has previously made his solo debut in Thailand with the single “Seven” (2023).
ZEROBASEONE Ascend–
ZEROBASEONE aims to ‘ascend‘ higher after moving forward as a quintet earlier this year. They’re off to a great start.
xikers ROUTE ZERO: The ORA
After the official closure their long-running “HOUSE OF TRICKY” storyline, K-pop group xikers has launched a new storyline universe with the release of their seventh mini-album, ROUTE ZERO : The ORA. OKayyyyy xikers we see you.
Big Ocean “Make it up to you”
South Korean’s deaf K-pop group Big Ocean transforms canceled European tour into a musical promise of eventual reunion with a surprise single “Make It Up to You.”
TAEYONG (NCT) WYLD
SM Entertainment
NCT’s leader wasted no time to get back to music after his mandatory military enlistment. Of course the charismatic leader did not disappoint with his first album WYLD.
I.O.I I.O.I : Loop
Ahn Hyo-seop x Khalid “Something Special”
Following January’s critically acclaimed FANDOM collaboration “Two Car Garage,” from Jon Bellion and Swae Lee, “Something Special” is another bold new cross-market single from international star Ahn Hyo-seop—widely recognized for his global success as “Jinu,” the leader of the Saja Boys in the Netflix animated smash film KPop Demon Hunters—and multi-platinum recording artist Khalid. Released on May 22nd, the track expertly unifies K-Pop and U.S. R&B—two of the most influential musical forces shaping global pop culture today. Available to listen on music streaming services.
DXMON HYPER LINK: Vol. 2
TAEMIN “PERMISSION”
Wondered if TAEMIN was ever going to release”PERMISSION,” especially after the explosive reactions he received performing it at Coachella a while back. “PERMISSION” is available on music streaming services.
From the boys next door knocking down doors to NMIXX belting out a serenade, check out this week’s music releases and a preview of what’s to come next week.
Jay Park & LNGSHOT “4SHO 4SHO”
More Vision
Jay Park & LNGSHOT pre-released the music video for “4SHO 4SHO” from their upcoming mixtape 4SHOBOIZ Vol. 2: 4SHOVILLE scheduled for release May 18.
aespa x G-DRAGON “WDA (Whole Different Animal)”
SM Entertainment
aespa dropped their new single “WDA (Whole Different Animal)” featuring G-DRAGON of iconic group BIGBANG, off their upcoming album LEMONADE scheduled for May 29.
BOYNEXTDOOR “Knock Knock Knock”
BOYNEXTDOOR came back with a powerful pre-released single “Knock Knock Knock” from their full first album HOME and that’s not the only exciting news. KOZ ENTERTAINMENT announced a world tour BOYNEXTDOOR TOUR ‘KNOCK ON Vol. 2!‘
NMIXX “Heavy Serenade”
NMIXX strives to meet expectations following up 2025’s Blue Valentine with their new EP Heavy Serenade.
Balming Tiger “Gojingamrae”
Alternative K-pop band Balming Tiger’s album Gongbu will be released May 19. The album is centered around the narrative of ‘Gongbu Korea,’ a fictional research institute where experimental technologies are used to observe and document human dreams and the unconscious.
CrazAngel Picasso (1st EP)
Four-member global girl group CrazAngel has returned with a new form of art-pop.
NOWZ “Us”
May 13th Cube Entertainment’s NOWZ celebrates its second debut anniversary with a new song that is filled with fan love: “Us.”
FIFTY FIFTY “STARSTRUCK”
ATTRAKT
FIFTY FIFTY will drop its fourth EP Imperfect-I’mperfect on June 1. The album’s concept pushes self-acceptance. Flaws and all your true self is enough.
MINGI (ATEEZ) FIX OFF Desire Project:ORIGIN
ATEEZ’s rapper MINGI displays his musical capabilities he has built over time and shows his true colors as a singer-songwriter with his new project FIX OFF Desire Project:ORIGIN. There are seven songs total. In addition to the previously released songs, three new tracks have been added.
YOUNITE INYUN Part.1
Younite opens a new chapter with INYUN Part.1 after label transition. Member Eunsang is still on hiatus for health-related reasons. The EP title draws from the Korean word “inyeon,” a meaningful connection between people that exists somewhere between coincidence and fate. The album according to the group and label Para Music reflects a shift in Younite’s musical identity, leaning into lower-toned sounds and layered emotional textures.
PARK JIN YOUNG (GOT7) Said & Done
Actor and singer Park Jin Young released his solo mini-album Said & Done. You can catch him in series “Shining,” and “100 Days of Lies,” scheduled to air later this year
RAIN “FEEL IT (You)
In his 24 year career, Rain is attempting an upbeat R&B pop genre for the first time with the single ‘FEEL IT (You).‘
Today, multihyphenate artist Riovaz releases his latest track, “bleed belief,” a fast-paced, dance-driven offering elevated by his emotive vocals and a hypnotic, dreamlike energy. Produced by Frankie Scoca (NewJeans, The Kid LAROI, Kanii), the track continues Riovaz’s boundary-pushing evolution, further underscoring his versatility.
In the music video directed by Jix, Rio is drawn to a mysterious light striking down through a dark, snow-covered forest. As he approaches, he discovers an otherworldly girl—fragile, luminous, and seemingly not from this world. Surrounded by a sky full of stars, he brings her to safety. The visual captures this external experience, while the lyrics offer a deeper emotional lens into the push and pull of a fleeting connection. One that feels intense and real in the moment, yet fragile enough to disappear without warning. He sings, “Is this the life I want, is this the girl I need, baby watch me bleed.” At its core, the track explores the feeling of finding safety in another person while still navigating one’s own path.
Best of the Best Music Fest, widely recognized as North America’s premier Caribbean music festival, will return Sunday, May 24, 2026, during Memorial Day weekend in downtown Miami, organizers announced.
This year’s lineup features a mix of established icons and emerging acts, including Sizzla Kalonji, Beenie Man, Capleton and Tarrus Riley, alongside 450, Tifa and Kkrytical. Additional performers include Skeng, Shaneil Muir, Vanessa Bling, RajahWild, and Kraff. Soca artist Voice will make his debut appearance at the festival. Known for a catalog of hits and a strong 2026 Carnival season, his inclusion reflects the event’s continued expansion across Caribbean genres.
The official countdown to the 19th annual staging began Monday night (April 27) with a press launch event in Miami, where performing artists Beenie Man, Tifa, and Shaneil Muir were in attendance, joining media, partners and stakeholders to preview what’s to come for this year’s festival.
Beenie ManTifaShaneil Muir
The 2026 staging will be presented by Grabba Leaf as title sponsor, signaling an expanded global platform for Caribbean music and culture.“At Grabba-Leaf, LLC we pride ourselves in staying true to our roots while focusing on continued growth and a commitment to excellence,” said Michael Robinson, president and CEO of Grabba-Leaf, LLC. “Partnering with Best of the Best has been a tremendous opportunity to engage with a respected brand, cultural icons, and individuals who share the same values and vision for the future. We’re looking forward to this year’s celebration.”
Michael Robinson, president & CEO of Grabba-Leaf, LLC at Best of the Best Press Launch
For nearly two decades, Best of the Best has served as a cultural mainstay, bringing together multiple generations through reggae and dancehall music. The move to Maurice A. Ferré Park (Museum Park) marks a new phase for the festival, offering an expanded footprint and waterfront backdrop while maintaining its focus on Caribbean heritage and community.
Best of the Best Music Fest is a family-friendly event that spans reggae, dancehall and soca, offering a multi-generational experience rooted in Caribbean culture. Children 12 and under are free with adult admission (except in VIP, Children 12 and under must have a ticket purchased by their guardian for the VIP section as this is a seated section). Tickets are on sale now.
