AKLO will release his major label debut album, “Outside the Frame”, on June 22. Last week, he premiered one of the songs from the album, “McLaren”, on Apple Music’s Beats 1. The rapper has now released the music video for the song. In the English-subbed PV, AKLO plays a racing game against a rival gamer. AKLO is backed by KLOOZ, JAZEE MINOR, and MIKE MATIDA. AKLO’s rival is backed by a crew with includes SALU, carrying over the theme from the video for “RGTO.” Check out the video for “McLaren” below!
Wakusei Abnormal will release their fourth mini album, “VIVI de VAVI de LOVE”, on July 6! The duo recently released the music video the the mini album’s opening track, “LET IT DIE ~Toki wo Kakeru Koroshiya~.” The frantic pop song’s video is composed of new footage of daily life mixed with random video clips, such as vintage cartoons and a man getting shot by police. Check it out below, along with more information on the release!
Pop/rock legend YUKI returns with not one, but two different releases mid next month. One is a live DVD/Blu Ray documenting last year’s arena tour, entitled “YUKI LIVE Dance in a Circle ’15” and the other is an accompanying single “Post ni Koe wo Nageirete“, which will also serve as the theme for upcoming Pokemon movie “Pokemon the Movie XY & Z“. See the covers below!
Popular girl group, E-GIRLS will be releasing two singles consecutively on July and August with E.G. RIDER and Pink Champagne.
Wedding bells are ringing again! Former Morning Musume member Risa Niigaki will be marrying actor Yoshikazu Kotani in July. This announcement was made on Niigaki’s blog today. The two met in 2013 while acting in the play “Zettai Kareshi,” and have been dating for the past two years.
Singer songwriter Leo Ieiri is releasing her 4th album “WE” on July 6th, and now she has released an album trailer in which 5 songs can be heard, two of them for the first time ever! These just revealed songs are “Koukotsu” and “I Wish”. The first track, “Bokutachi no Mirai” is also the theme song for the Nippon TV drama “Omukae desu.”. Check this album trailer and complete tracklists of both Regular and Limited Editions just after the jump!
The biggest event of the year for AKB48, The 8th AKB48 General Election (AKB48 45th Single General Election) arrives next Saturday on June 18. The event will be held at the HARD OFF ECO Stadium Niigata in Niigata City, home of the new 48 sister group, NGT48. FUJI TV will be providing live coverage for the 5th straight year (6:30pm – 9:24pm JST). Who will stand at the top of 272 members? Who do you think will reign as the new queen in AKB48 for 2016?
As with the previous elections, fans vote for the top 80 members who will participate in the next single, chosen from the current groups AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, and NGT48. Voting started last May 31, the “flying get” day for the group’s latest single “Tsubasa wa Iranai”. The respective positions are: Rank 1 – 16 (Senbatsu), Rank 17 – 32 (Under Girls), Rank 33 – 48 (Next Girls), Rank 49 – 64 (Future Girls), and Rank 65 – 80 (Upcoming Girls).
The group with most members to rank or the “majority party” will be given 3 rewards; an original setlist which starts October 2016, a ‘Thank you’ festival for fans, and LINE stamps. Miyane Seiji and Yurika Mita will serve as MCs while former AKB48 member Takahashi Minami will make a guest appearance.
Prior to the main event, you can check out the preliminary results below. This was announced last June 1 at the AKB48 Theater. Who got an early lead? Find out below.
On June 29, TV Tokyo will air the third edition of its midyear music special Tele To Ongaku Sai. It will air from 6:25 PM – 10:48 PM JST. It will be hosted by TOKIO’s Kokubun Taichi and TV Tokyo announcer Ohashi Miho.
Today, the show’s performers were announced, and they include the likes of Hey! Say! JUMP, Ami Suzuki, globe, and Ken Hirai. See who else is performing below!