Korea Observer

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Asian pop star Rain, Big Bang’s G-Dragon and former Super Junior member Hangeng are among winners at the recently concluded QQ Music Awards, organized by China’s biggest music streaming site, QQ Music. The awards ceremony, held at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center in Shenzhen, China, drew popular artists from across Asia including Jay Chou, JJ Lin and Jolin Tsai. (Clockwise from top left) Rain, G-Dragon, Hangeng and Lyn (QQ Music and YG Entertainment)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Organizers of the 11th Korean Music Awards released the list of nominees for this year and non-mainstream artists dominated the different categories. The Korean Music Awards recognizes talent than popularity or album sales, paving way for independent singers to be acknowledged. (Clockwise from top) SHINee, EXO, f(x) and G-Dragon (Photos from official Facebook pages of SHINee, EXO, f(x) and G-Dragon)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin American rapper Snoop Dogg is set to appear in the new music video of rapper Psy. This was relayed by YG Entertainment via its official blog site, YG Life, noting Snoop’s recent visit to South Korea. Psy with Snoop Dogg and G-Dragon (courtesy of YG Life, Psy’s Twitter and Internet community site)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin The G-Dragon-Missy Elliott collaboration song has been chosen as one of the 50 Best Songs of 2013. Complex magazine has released its list and it includes songs by Jay-Z, Ariana Grande, Lil Wayne and Eminem.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin   The top 10 artists and other nominees in the 2013 Melon Music Awards have been revealed. These 10 artists are G-Dragon, EXO, BEAST, SISTAR, Davichi, Dynamic Duo, Busker Busker, SHINee, IU and Ailee. Nominees (clockwise from top left) G-Dragon, SHINee, IU and SISTAR (Photos courtesy of Melon website)

Dancer-choreographer Aimee Lee Lucas praises EXO and talks about G-Dragon, Taeyang, Park Bom and Uhm Jung Hwa in an interview with Manila Bulletin 

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Pop star Justin Bieber gave K-pop fans a surprise when he kissed 2NE1′s Sandara Park at a party after his concert in Seoul last Oct. 10. Korean American jeweler Ben Baller uploaded on his Chinese microblogging account Weibo a photo of Bieber kissing Sandara. Justin Bieber (left) kissing Sandara Park. On the right is Ben Baller. (Photo courtesy of Ben Baller’s Weibo)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Pop star Justin Bieber held his Believe Tour concert in Seoul last night and surprised the audience when he called Big Bang’s G-Dragon on stage as his guest. Justin Bieber, Psy and G-Dragon in Seoul (Photo courtesy of Scooter Braun’s Instagram)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Big Bang leader G-Dragon has set records with four of his songs winning the charts on TV music programs. Photos: www.newsen.com

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Big Bang leader G-Dragon’s latest album “Coup d’etat” has entered several charts on Billboard including the Billboard 200.

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin K-pop star G-Dragon's dream came true when he performed with Grammy-winning rapper Missy Elliott on stage. The two heated up KCON, the K-pop convention in Los Angeles, over the weekend when they sang together G-Dragon's new song for his new upcoming album "Coup d'etat."

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin Big Bang's leader G-Dragon has courted controversy over his Instagram photo that showed him wearing black face paint and a hoodie that resembled the image of teen Trayvon Martin, who was shot and killed in Florida last year. Spin.com said, "But this time G-Dragon might have gone too far. As with Frank Ocean, Diddy, the-Dream, and others after news of Martin's shooting death broke last year, the K-pop idol wears what looks like a hoodie (though may be a T-shirt pulled up over his head), in apparent tribute to Martin. But he's also wearing black face paint." G-Dragon's controversial photo (left) (Photos courtesy of G-Dragon's Instagram and www.newsen.com)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - The nominations for the 10th Korean Music Awards are out and Jay Park, G-Dragon and f(x) have made the list. The Korean Music Awards will recognize musical talent rather than popularity or album sales. Like in previous years, most of the nominees this year are indie singers and only a few mainstream K-pop singers were recognized. (Clockwise from top left) Jay Park, G-Dragon and f(x). (Photos courtesy of www.newsen.com and YG Entertainment)

By JONATHAN HICAP, Manila Bulletin MANILA, Philippines - Korean rapper and YouTube sensation Psy's wish to chart higher on Billboard has come true. And fellow YG Entertainment artist G-Dragon, leader of boy band Big Bang, has joined him on the charts. (Clockwise from top) Ellen and Psy doing the "Gangnam Style" dance on "Ellen"; Psy on 'Saturday Night Live' and G-Dragon

MANILA, Philippines - Big Bang’s agency, YG Entertainment, has announced that it will stop the sale of G-Dragon and TOP’s first album after it admitted that it infringed on the bunny logo trademark of adult magazine publisher Playboy Enterprises. GD & TOP's album in question (extreme left), which is similar to the Playboy logo (center). At right is the new cover of the album. (Photos courtesy of Playboy and YG Entertainment)