BLACKPINK's Rosé shared personal stories and insights into her upcoming album during her appearance on the November 29th episode of KBS 2TV's The Seasons – Lee Young Ji’s Rainbow.

Rosé performed her track APT. alongside host Lee Young Ji and revealed, "I’ve been a fan of Young Ji for a while. We met at a BLACKPINK party, but she was shyer than I expected. I even worried, ‘Did I make her feel uncomfortable?’"

She shared the story behind APT., saying, "It was inspired by a drinking game called the 'apartment game.' I wrote it a year ago, not thinking it would become so loved."

Rosé also talked about collaborating with Bruno Mars, revealing, "I secretly sent him APT. even though I was advised not to. He loved it and thought it was fun. Working with him was amazing—he’s a perfectionist with such a clear vision. In person, he’s like a ‘tsundere’—cool but warmhearted."

Opening up about her music journey, Rosé said, "Growing up in Australia, I couldn’t admit I wanted to be a singer. But after becoming a trainee, I was determined. My parents were the ones who encouraged me to audition."

Rosé’s first full-length album, Rosie, set to release on December 6, features 12 tracks she helped write and compose. "This album tells the real stories of my 20s—not all pretty ones. I hope it can comfort others going through hard times," she shared.

One song, Number One Girl, came from a particularly dark moment. "After BLACKPINK’s tour ended, I felt restless and stayed up all night on the internet. I started reading hate comments and couldn’t admit how much they hurt me. It felt like I was torturing myself. That’s when I wrote Number One Girl. It’s brutally honest and came from a very raw place."

She added, "After writing it, I felt relief, like I left those feelings behind. It was so freeing that I spent the entire year in the studio, pouring my emotions into music," she said with a smile.

Fans are eagerly awaiting Rosie and the personal stories Rosé promises to share through her music.

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BOYNEXTDOOR, the rising boy group, has been recognized for their growing popularity in Japan, winning an award for their impressive buzz.

On December 4th, Yahoo Japan revealed the winners of the "Yahoo! Search Awards 2024," and BOYNEXTDOOR (Seongho, Riu, Myeongjaehyun, Taesan, Leehan, Unhak) was chosen in the "Next Break" category. They are the only overseas male artists to win this year, marking a significant achievement.

The "Yahoo! Search Awards" ranks individuals, works, and products that have seen a big jump in searches, based on data from Yahoo Japan. Known as a prestigious, nationally recognized award, it holds a lot of weight and is seen as a reliable indicator of local popularity.

The "Next Break" category is for artists who are expected to see a sharp increase in searches, based on last year’s data. Yahoo Japan explained, "BOYNEXTDOOR debuted in Japan with their single 'AND' in July and quickly gained attention at music festivals like 'SUMMER SONIC 2024.' They became popular not only through music programs and variety shows but also by appearing on many magazine covers, causing a surge in searches."

The group has seen a big rise in popularity in Japan. Their debut single "AND" earned them the Japan Record Association Gold Disk "Platinum" certification (over 250,000 copies sold).

They also topped the Oricon weekly charts with their mini-album 19.99, which was released in September, taking two number-one spots. Additionally, they are continuing to gain attention and have been included in TV Asahi's prestigious year-end program, Music Station SUPER LIVE 2024.

As the "hottest group" right now, BOYNEXTDOOR’s next big milestone is their first solo tour. They will kick off BOYNEXTDOOR TOUR 'KNOCK ON Vol.1 on December 14–15 at the Incheon Inspire Arena, and will perform in 13 cities, including six in Japan where fans are eagerly awaiting their arrival.

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