Biography
U-KISS, an acronym standing for Ubiquitous Korean International Super Star, is a South Korean boy band whose pop-centered vocals draw from R&B while weaving in rap passages. NH Media assembled the group in Seoul during 2008. The founding roster comprised Kim Kibum and Kevin Woo, both formerly of Xing, together with Shin Soo-hyun, Alexander Lee Eusebio, Kim Eli, and Shin Dongho. That year they issued their debut EP, New Generation. Because several members spoke multiple languages, the Yashimoto Group backed the act to market them internationally, which helped them build an audience in Japan. A follow-up EP, Bring It Back 2 Old School, appeared in 2009, after which Lee Kiseop joined in time for the ContiUKiss EP later that year and Break Time in 2010. Their first full-length album, Only One, surfaced early in 2010 and registered on charts throughout Asia. The band played concerts across Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, and additional territories while headlining the variety program All About U-KISS; individual members also guested on other Asian television series.
Kim Kibum and Alexander Lee Eusebio departed in 2011, with Kim Jae Seop (“AJ”), formerly of Paran, and Yeo Hoon Min taking their places. Later that year the group released the EP Bran New Kiss and the album Neverland. Their initial Japanese studio album, A Shared Dream, arrived in 2012; extensive touring of the country resulted in sold-out halls. The EP DoraDora followed that spring, The Special to Kissme appeared in June, and Stop Girl came out in September. The band then graduated to larger Asian venues, among them Tokyo’s Budokan. In 2013 they unveiled their third Korean full-length, Collage, and their second Japanese album, Inside of Me. Shin Dongho exited later that year, after which the EP Moments was issued. Vocalists performed U.S. dates in January 2014, visiting San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City. The Japanese album Memories surfaced shortly before Lee Jun-young joined the lineup that spring. Mono Scandal arrived in June, followed by the EP Always in early 2015. Continued activity brought the fourth Japanese LP, Action, in March and a Christmas EP at year’s end. In 2016, nearly twelve months after their previous Japanese release, the group delivered their fifth, One Shot One Kill. Their eleventh EP, Stalker, emerged that summer and included the driving, BTS-esque title track.
Kim Kibum and Alexander Lee Eusebio departed in 2011, with Kim Jae Seop (“AJ”), formerly of Paran, and Yeo Hoon Min taking their places. Later that year the group released the EP Bran New Kiss and the album Neverland. Their initial Japanese studio album, A Shared Dream, arrived in 2012; extensive touring of the country resulted in sold-out halls. The EP DoraDora followed that spring, The Special to Kissme appeared in June, and Stop Girl came out in September. The band then graduated to larger Asian venues, among them Tokyo’s Budokan. In 2013 they unveiled their third Korean full-length, Collage, and their second Japanese album, Inside of Me. Shin Dongho exited later that year, after which the EP Moments was issued. Vocalists performed U.S. dates in January 2014, visiting San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City. The Japanese album Memories surfaced shortly before Lee Jun-young joined the lineup that spring. Mono Scandal arrived in June, followed by the EP Always in early 2015. Continued activity brought the fourth Japanese LP, Action, in March and a Christmas EP at year’s end. In 2016, nearly twelve months after their previous Japanese release, the group delivered their fifth, One Shot One Kill. Their eleventh EP, Stalker, emerged that summer and included the driving, BTS-esque title track.
Singles
