Justin Bieber – Downtown Magazine

BTS — short for the Bangtan Boys — is a seven-member boy band from South Korea. The group debuted in 2013, going on to win awards within a year’s time from the MelOn Music Awards, Golden Disk Awards and the Seoul Music Awards. BTS also made history with its second full-length album Wings charting at #1 on iTunes in nearly 30 countries and debuting at #26 on the Billboard 200; previously a K-pop album had never charted so high in the U.S. Forbes recognized BTS as the most retweeted artist on Twitter in March 2016, while Billboard placed BTS in the #1 spot on its Social 50 chart in October 2016. Earlier this year, BTS ranked at #5 on the Power Celebrity list of Forbes Korea.

2017 has not only brought the release of a new BTS album, You Never Walk Alone, but also a world tour. 117,000 tickets have been reportedly sold for this tour, which includes New York area stops at the Prudential Center on Mar. 23 and 24. Following the pair of sold-out concerts in Newark, BTS has sold-out arena shows in Chicago and Anaheim. In celebration of these major events, Downtown conducted Q&A with all of the BTS members — Rap Monster (Kim Namjun/Team Leader, Rapper), JIN (Kim Seokjin/Vocalist), SUGA (Min Yoonki/Rapper), J-HOPE (Jung Hoseok/Choreographer & Rapper), JIMIN (Park Jimin/Choreographer & Vocalist), V (Kim Taehyung/Vocalist) and JUNG KOOK (Jeon Jungkook/Vocalist, Rapper, Choreographer) — via e-mail.

For more on BTS, visit http://bts.ibighit.com. BTS can also be tracked via Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

BTS toured New York in 2015 as part of the 2015 BTS Live Trilogy Episode II: The Red Bullet. Was that your first time in New York?

Jung Kook: Yes, it was our first time in the city. We were very excited to go back with even bigger shows packed with new songs and performances.

Did you try any restaurants while in New York? Any sightseeing experiences that were especially memorable?

Rap Monster: I loved Shake Shack last time I was in New York. Best burger yet! Thank god we have Shake Shack in Seoul now. I was enchanted by the scene at Times Square because it was my first time as a tourist.

J-Hope: I tried a Korean restaurant in New York back then and the meal was some of the best Korean food in the world. I also loved walking around Midtown area and Times Square. Awesome!

V: I had the best Korean food at Korea Town in New York!

Will you have any time to explore New York during your tour dates?

Jung Kook: Our tour schedule is very tight this time since we have other shows coming up in Chicago and the L.A area. We hope we can find some time to explore New York during the stay to check out the beautiful night skyline and everything else.

Do you have a favorite musician from New York?

Rap Monster: Nas, Biggie, A$AP Rocky, Lady Gaga.

V: Maxwell.

Jin: Jay-Z.

What is your favorite song on the You Never Walk Alone album?

Suga: “Spring Day,” the lead single. I wrote the lyrics based on my very personal story that involves my old friends.

Jung Kook: “Not Today.” It has very intense lyrics that excite people and I especially love choreography of the song. It is one of the best and coolest of BTS.

Aside from your upcoming tour, what is coming up for you and BTS?

Jung Kook: The upcoming tour is the most important event for us in 2017. We’re trying to go to as many cities as possible this year. We’re also planning to write more music on our own.

What is your favorite part of touring?

Jimin: Favorite part of touring is that we get to meet thousands of fans from around the world. Wherever we go, fans are passionate and they show us lot of unconditional love. It is very special experience for all of us to sing and perform in front of people who are singing the song in Korean together.

When not busy with BTS, how do you like to spend your free time?

Jin: When not practicing, I’d stay home and take rest. I like playing games with other members and watching TV.

J-Hope: I write lyrics or play around with tracks I’ve made. I also try to study foreign languages during my free time.

Jung Kook: I work out from time to time and play games with my BTS brothers at home.

Rap Monster: I usually read books in my free time. I go out and meet my friends sometimes. But most of the time, I wander around the city listening to music.

What was your favorite album of 2016?

J-Hope: Mac Miller’s The Divine Feminine.

Jin: Gallant’s Ology.

Rap Monster: dvsn’s dvsn, J. Cole’s 4 Your Eyez Only, Chainsmokers’ Collage EP, Justin Bieber’s Purpose, and Flume’s Skin.

Finally, any last words for the kids?

Jung Kook: Hey, BTS is coming to New York! We’ve been waiting for this tour for a long time. We’ve got so much prepared for the shows, so expect the unexpected of K-pop!

Bang Bang, Photo Courtesy of Jason Banker.

This week, popular celebrity tattoo artist Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy celebrated the launch of his brand new book at his recently opened Lower East Side shop.

Bang Bang: My Life in Ink chronicles the artist’s rise from humble beginnings tattooing in his mother’s kitchen to tattooing Justin Bieber on a private jet. The book is a response to fans wanting not just one of his signature detailed small-scale tattoos, but also a look into his life.

“The people who are closest to me told me that the things [people are] asking the most are not about the celebrities, it’s more about my life,” he said, “where did I come from, how did I get here? What’s it like to be Bang Bang? So I was like, let me tell the world, because all they really know is my portfolio. Let me tell them about me and how I got here.”

Bang Bang didn’t quite realize how many people would resonate with his story.

“I didn’t think it would be an inspirational story, but that’s the feedback I’ve gotten,” said Bang Bang, “It’s such a cool feeling.”

Cara Delvigne’s famous lion tattoo, Photo Courtesy of Norval Ramirez.

The book combines an autobiographical dive into his life, including what he notes as a “troubled childhood,” with celebrity interviews, beautiful photographs and sections that look at the different tattoos and styles that he’s done. He thinks readers might be interested to learn about the journey that he’s made.

“I think for me what would be most surprising [to readers] are the things I was uncomfortable telling,” he said, “My troubled childhood and me being an unsuccessful kid, and how that impacted me and my confidence and you know, just how I stayed true to myself.”

Tattooing Rita Ora, Photo Courtesy of Edward Borew

The book also contains a forward written by Rihanna, who got her first Bang Bang tattoo when she was 17, just around the time “Pon de Replay” got popular. Rihanna is known to trust Bang Bang’s expertise over all.

Rihanna and Bang Bang, Photo Courtesy of Edward Borew

“I almost tattooed a broken guitar with a pair of underwear on Rihanna,” he said, “and I made her leave with the stencil and I was like, ‘Go home and live with that for a bit.’ We never did it and it was the right call. She’ll tell you, I shut down the ideas when they’re not going to work.”

Bang Bang tattooing Justin Bieber, Photo Courtesy of Bang Bang

When asked what he would want people to know from his experiences, he lauded trusting your gut above all else.

“Your head can be a liar, your thoughts can take you places that you don’t want to go,” said Bang Bang, “Your gut–at least mine in particular–speaks the truth to me. It’s taken me everywhere in my career and more and more I’ve learned to trust it. And every time in my life I haven’t, I’ve regretted it. Right or wrong, you trust your gut, you learn about yourself and you’re confident in your decisions.”

For more information on Bang Bang’s shop and book, click here.

-by Kari Sonde