New Kids: Begin is the first single album by South Korean boy group iKON. It is the first album released since their single "#WYD" was released in May 2016, and their debut album "Welcome Back" was released in 2015.
The single album was a commercial success peaking at number 2 on the Gaon Album Chart. It has sold over 73,823 physical copies as of June 2017.
On March 2, 2017, YG Entertainment confirmed that iKON has begun the shooting of two music videos for their new album, set for release in April. During the shooting of the music video, Chanwoo injured his ankle. Consequently, shooting of the music video was delayed. On May 16, 2017, it was confirmed that they will release a new series of albums under the name New Kids. This series will be released continuously throughout 2017 and started on May 22, 2017, with the release of the album titled New Kids: Begin. YG Entertainment's Chief Executive Officer, Yang Hyun-Suk, talked about the concept of the album saying: "The concept for iKON's comeback this year is 'NEW KIDS'. It means iKON's 'new beginning' and 'new style', which also shows iKON's resolution and will to release 'NEW KIDS' series albums continuously during this year."
The first teaser was released on May 16, 2017 and the date of release was announced. The following day, the first comeback teaser video was released on their official Youtube channel. On May 18, 2017, the first title song was announced, named "Bling Bling". iKON's members Bobby and B.I had worked on the lyrics, composition, and rearrangement of the song, jointly with YG's rookie producer Millennium. The following day they released the teaser for their second title track "B-Day". On May 22, 2017, music videos for both songs were released on the official iKON YouTube channel.
The album is released in two different versions, Dope and Bold. The digital album was released on May 22, 2017 worldwide, while the physical version was released at the YG e-shop and in record shops on May 23, 2017 in South Korea.
The first performance of "Bling Bling" was on May 20, 2017, during a concert at Japan's Kyocera Dome while on their first Japan Dome Tour. On May 22, 2017, they held a live countdown show on V LIVE to celebrate the release of their songs.
iKON may have titled their EP NEW KIDS, but this release is more of a homecoming: Both "BLING BLING" and "B-DAY" play to the hard-hitting hip-hop for which the septet initially became known. The former is a boastful banger in which the boy band brags about their long list of successes over regal horns. "B-DAY" is a clever take on living the good life, with the guys relating their worlds to buzzing bees sipping on honey. Fans who enjoyed iKON's 2015 singles like "DUMB & DUMBER" will welcome this return to fierceness.
New Kids: Begin entered and peaked at number 2 on the Gaon Album Chart on the chart issue dated May 21–27, 2017. In its second week the single album fell to number 4 and to number 6 in its third week. The single album entered at number 5 on the chart for the month of May 2017 with 49,380 physical copies sold. It also charted for the month of June at number 10, with 24,443 additional copies, for a total of 73,823 physical copies sold since its release.[18]
Both songs entered the Gaon Digital Chart, "Bling Bling" at number 24 and "B-Day" at number 36 on the chart issue dated May 21–27, 2017. The first with 57,704 digital downloads sold and the second with 44,433 digital downloads sold.
TRACKLIST
#KOREAN VERSION
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#JAPANESE VERSION
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