2PM

South Korea’s six-piece act 2PM crafts dance-driven pop and R&B. While many peer K-pop acts favored the kkonminam or “pretty boy” aesthetic, 2PM’s rugged, hip-hop-inflected persona helped establish the jimseungdol or “beast” look. JYP Entertainment assembled the group in 2008 after the earlier project One Day divided into the separate units 2PM and 2AM. The original lineup featured lead vocalist Jay Park alongside Jun. K, Nichkhun, Taecyeon, Wooyoung, Junho, and Chansung. Their first EP, Hottest Time of the Day, appeared that same year and contained the tracks “10 Out of 10” and “Only You.” Full-length debut 01:59PM arrived in 2009 and yielded the chart-topping single “Heartbeat.” Before the album’s launch, however, negative remarks Park had posted about Korea on Myspace in 2005 came to light. Although he apologized and insisted the statements had been misconstrued, he was barred from all 01:59PM promotions throughout 2009. In February 2010 the band confirmed that Park would not rejoin. After leaving, Park pursued a solo path and issued the album New Breed in 2012. With Park gone, the remaining six members dropped the EP Don’t Stop Can’t Stop in 2010 and joined Wonder Girls as support on tour. The following year they unveiled their second Korean studio album, Hands Up, together with their first Japanese-language effort, Republic of 2PM, and began hosting their own variety series, The 2PM Show. In 2013 they returned with the second Japanese set, Legend of 2PM, and months later released their third Korean album, Grown, which featured the singles “Comeback When You Hear This Song” and “A.D.T.O.Y.” Their fourth Korean album, Go Crazy!, surfaced in 2014 and reached number three on the South Korean chart, while the third Japanese album, Genesis of 2PM, debuted at number one in Japan. The group then headlined the 2PM of 2PM tour in 2015 and confirmed plans for a fourth Japanese album bearing the same title.