Missy Elliott has not been immune to the pull of Korean pop music. The K-pop conference KCON takes place in Los Angeles on August 24 and 25, and the groundbreaking rapper has just joined the official lineup, Los Angeles Times reports. Missy’s scheduled August 25 performance, which will be taped for South Korean show M Countdown, raises the question of what, exactly, she will perform.
The stage looks set for a possible collaboration with G-Dragon of Seoul quintet Big Bang (see K-Pop’s New Style: G-Dragon Blazes a Cray Path). She has previously confirmed she would appear on the upcoming album from the singer, rapper, and producer, whose 2012 “Crayon” was SPIN’s No. 1 K-pop song of the year. G-Dragon hasn’t released a new song since “GO” in April, so any debut with Missy would be a major event.
That day’s lineup also features K-pop performers EXO, f(x), Teen Top, and Dynamic Duo. KCON 2013 will be held at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. Tickets, which run from $60 to $300, are available at the event’s website. The Times reports more than 10,000 fans attended last year’s inaugural U.S. K-pop convention.
Meanwhile, Missy has been fairly quiet since 2005’s The Cookbook. Nearly a year ago, she premiered her first new songs in four years, “Triple Threat” and “9th Inning,” but the new album she discussed at the time has yet to arrive. (G-Dragon performs after receiving criticism for a photo that his reps have said was “a HUGE misunderstanding.”)
In other K-pop developments, Huh Gak has shared a new track, “That You’re Mine” (via Billboard). The latest single from the winner of South Korean singing competition “Superstar K” strikes a breezy, reggae-flavored tone on the song, which recalls Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” in more than the title. “Don’t ever leave me alone,” he croons, and there’s a welcome rapped section. Check it out below.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=bEihWxVRu4E%3Ffeature%3Dplayer_embedded
Catch up on our other K-pop coverage:
Seoul Trained: Inside Korea’s K-Pop Factory
K-Pop’s New Style: G-Dragon Blazes a Cray Path
K-Pop Heals New Jersey: Backstage at BigBang’s ‘Alive’ Finale
K-Pop Fizz Fizz: Life After Psy
The 21 Greatest K-Pop Songs of All Time
