Reasons Why We Love Rookie Sensation Group NINE.i And Why You Should Too

Armed with sensational talents, NINE.i are the rookie groups set to infuse their creative and refreshing music to elevate the standard of K-Pop in the future.

Michael Albert, Kpopmap Editor
5 min to read · Published : Nov 9, 2022

Reasons Why We Love Rookie Sensation Group NINE.i And Why You Should Too

Firstone Entertainment

NINE.i are the ten-member group signed under Firstone Entertainment who made their official debut on March 2022 with the release of their refreshingly exciting debut album "NEW WORLD".

Bursting into the scene with their overflowing talents and charms, these rookie idols with a not-so-rookie-like skill set already poses as a sensational force that will continue to propel the industry and even elevate its standard and value in the nearest future.

New to them? Here are some of the many reasons why we love them and perhaps why you should too.

1. They are hilarious gems

Starting off with their personalities, you can expect to get your fill of laughter and delight from this rookie group. Be it on stage delivering an amazing performance or off-stage being their hilarious and chaotic selves, it is clear that with NINE.i, you're bound to have the best time.

When it comes to K-Pop idols who are prime variety show material, NINE.i are one of them as each member is just as hilarious as the next. They really feed off each other's energies so well, it's very evident how strong the chemistry is. The members are quick-witted and smart, their punchlines always hit just right and their tiki-taka banter could serve as the highlight of a Netflix comedy special.

While they have lots of variety shows appearance that spotlights their amazing chemistry and hilarious nature, these behind videos give you a full dose of their charms as their interactions are so adorable, funny, and all-around wholesome.

2. They are amazing performers

When we think of groups with synchronized performances, we think of big names like SEVENTEEN, THE BOYZ, ATEEZ, and SF9. And now, we might also add NINE.i to that list as even though they are still a rookie group, their performance skill is definitely not rookie-like.

It feels like they have been training and performing together for years as they all move like they share one brain. Many of the members are very flexible, which is perhaps one of the reasons why their lines and extensions look so graceful and sharp. Looking at their performances (both covers and originals), we could be right in say that their style is a mix of modern dance, lyrical dance, and contemporary.

With almost every motion being a wow factor of their performance, from start to finish there is not a moment where you can take your eyes off them, if not for anything, just for the fear of missing out on an epic move or extra wow moment. And by the end of their performances, some of the statements that might run through your minds are "wow, they are so good!" Or "I really enjoyed this performance." And funny enough, they are just starting.

3. They are vastly talented

The members of NINE.i are vastly talented in various fields. Notably, Vahn and JooHyoung are known for their production skills, having either written, composed, and arranged all of their songs.

VaRi and Seo Won are both very acrobatic and even though they are shy bunnies, they do moves that are mind-blowing. Winnie, the resident Iron Man who simply looks cool with everything he does, is very athletic and can speak 4 languages, Thai, Korean, English, and a bit of Japanese.

Leader JeWon is not just an amazing vocalist, he is also a budding chef too. He is said to mostly do the cooking in the dorm.

MinJun is a budding choreographer with a specialty in modern dance. During his participation on the MBC survival competition "Wild Idol", he prepared a contemporary number for BLACKPINK Rosè's 'On The Ground'. He also choreographed this splendid contemporary dance cover to BTS' 'Save Me'. And Eden has trained in acting. We hope he gets to display this skill in a drama soon.

As the day goes on, the members continue to show fans various levels of their charms and talents that truly make them special.

4. They already have an amazing discography

With 2 mini albums out now, NINE.i already poses some of the best songs by a rookie idol group. Frankly, while their sound falls under the bright and cheerful category that rookie groups are known for, they also have other songs that explore and showcase their broad creative range and concepts.

This self-produced group are pushing the boundaries when it comes to making quality music and are surely honing their identities in the process. Be it with the message, sound, production, or genre, each song has something unique that evokes different levels of emotions and reactions from listeners. These songs make their albums so flavorful and give the listeners a satisfying listening experience. While all the songs are bops, especially the title tracks, check out some of our faves below.

5. They are all good-looking

Hope you're seated and got an eye drop next to you at this part because you will be staring at your screen for a very long time.

Firstone Entertainment

The members of NINE.i are a visual powerhouse whose dreamy good looks are so captivating and will easily have you falling in love with them. If visuals are a criterion for your stan list, then make room for the members of NINE.i because they deserve to claim the top spot.

6. They have the best cover performances

Much like their own songs, NINE.i members always deliver a memorable and amazing cover performance. Vocal or dance, they truly embody the feel and vibe of the original song while also adding their own unique style to the performance, making you feel a note of difference from the original as well.

And when you watch some of the behind of these performances, while they are also having fun, you see the amount of hard work they infuse into making these performances truly special and perhaps you might finding yourself giving a note of admiration and appreciation for their hard work.

NINE.i has made a comeback with their 2nd mini album "I (Part 1)" and its lead single 'Young Boy' that brilliantly captures their bright and youthful energies. Check it out below.

Did this article make you interested in the rookie boy group? Are you already a fan? Have you listened to their new album 'I (Part I)"? Which song is your favorite? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.

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10 K-Pop Artists We'd Like To See Get More Recognition in 2024

Here are 10 K-Pop groups we would love to see get more recognition in 2024!

Kay Sesoko, Kpopmap Editor
6 min to read · Published : Jan 9, 2024

10 K-Pop Artists We'd Like To See Get More Recognition in 2024

Lapillus' Twitter / CIX's Twitter

We are blessed with new talent in the K-Pop industry almost every day. This is one of the best parts of being a K-Pop fan! You get to enjoy new groups with cool concepts and new music continuously. However, it's important to appreciate the artists already active in the industry who might be going underappreciated, too. You might feel like it's hard to keep up with all of the groups, but we've got you covered!

We are back with our selection of underappreciated K-Pop artists we'd like to get more recognition in the new year! For 2024, we truly hope to see these artists get some much-deserved spotlight

In 2022, we selected artists such as OMEGA X, A.C.E, Billlie, Ciipher, Dreamcatcher, KINGDOM, woo!ah!, SECRET NUMBER, bugAboo, and ONF.

In 2023, we selected artists such as Weki Meki, WOODZ, DKB, PURPLE KISS, OnlyOneOf, E'LAST, BAE173, PIXY, DKZ, and TO1.

Check out our selection for this year!

Note: This list is in random order and is not a ranking.

1. Lapillus

Lapillus' Twitter

Lapillus is a group that debuted in 2022.

Known for their killer choreography and catchy music, Lapillus is the first group on our list that we hope will get more recognition in 2024. The members have not only been praised for their bright and charismatic personalities but also for their talent as shining vocalists, dancers, and rappers. Many fans are hoping that Lapillus' stage presence will be appreciated on the main stage of the K-Pop industry this year as they deserve the special limelight.

Check out Lapillus' 'Who's Next' music video here.

2. CIX

CIX's Twitter

CIX is a group that debuted in 2019.

Whilst they've been in the K-Pop game for a while, they are one of those groups that makes you scratch your head as they are overwhelmingly talented yet somehow still go underappreciated. Their discography speaks for itself and the sheer magnetic charm that they have when they perform on stage does the same. CIX has been stealing the hearts of many since its debut. However, we think it's about time that they steal the hearts of the entire K-Pop fandom as their dedication to their craft truly entitles them to. This group deserves all of the spotlight and more.

Check out CIX's 'Save me, Kill me' music video here.

3. BOYNEXTDOOR

BOYNEXTDOOR's Twitter

BOYNEXTDOOR is a group that debuted in 2023.

Whilst BOYNEXTDOOR is from a sub-label of a huge company and has a popular mentor/CEO, they are still one of the groups that can honestly use a boost in recognition. The group has yet to release a skippable song and yet many are still sleeping on their golden discography. Once people get to listen to their music, they will ask themselves why they hadn't added BOYNEXTDOOR to their stan list much sooner. There is no doubt about this.

Check out BOYNEXTDOOR's '뭣 같아 (But Sometimes)' music video here.

4. tripleS

tripleS' Twitter

tripleS is a group that debuted officially in 2023 although they were quite active before.

tripleS has been one of the most innovative K-Pop groups we have seen in the industry as of late. Not only is the group's concept unique and keeping K-Pop fans on their toes/hyped with anticipation, but their music is so soothing to the ear, too. With their praiseworthy discography and all-rounder skills, this group lacks very little. Whilst the group has been steadily gaining attention, we predict that 2024 will be a big year for this group where they will become even bigger stars thanks to their dedication.

Check out tripleS' music video for 'Rising' here.

5. H1-KEY

H1-KEY's Twitter

H1-KEY is a group that debuted in 2022.

It seems that every time we write about H1-KEY, we have to praise their incredible lyricism and vocal talent. But what can we do? They're just that overwhelmingly talented that we need to emphasize their skills. H1-KEY has some of the best empowering songs that will leave you feeling like you can conquer the day and like a better version of yourself. Them getting more recognition is not just about more people discovering their talent, but also for the greater good of K-Pop fans who deserve to be blessed by their message.

Check out H1-KEY's music video for 'SEOUL (Such a Beautiful City)' here.

6. ATBO

ATBO's Twitter

ATBO is a group that debuted in 2022.

ATBO has one of the most slept-on discographies in K-Pop. Their music is of top quality and the kind that you will add to your playlist instantly upon hearing it. ATBO is especially great at performing their vibey music in a way that makes you want to dance along with them. This is one of their biggest performance charms. Not only do you get immersed in their performances but they make you want to join their bright energy, too.

Check out ATBO's music video for 'Must Have Love' here.

7. JUST B

JUST B's Twitter

JUST B is a group that debuted in 2021.

This group is known for being able to pull off versatile sounds and concepts but still keeping an admirable consistency. They are known for their strong and energetic persona which has captured the attention of many, especially during performances such as MAMA. Many of their fans have described them as a hidden gem in the industry that has huge potential to be the next big thing. Once people start listening to them, it will be a matter of time before they stan.

Check out JUST B's music video for 'MEDUSA' here.

8. VANNER

VANNER's Twitter

VANNER is a group that debuted in 2019.

Whilst this group won over the hearts of many during their time on the survival show "PEAK TIME", we need to give them more of their hard-earned flowers. Whilst their inspiring background is one thing to consider, you can't deny their level of talent. They have amazing energy, are captivating performers, have overwhelming passion, and their rap and vocal skills can't be ignored either. We hope that more and more people discover their charms as soon as possible.

Check out VANNER's music video for 'PERFORMER' here.

9. YOUNG POSSE

YOUNG POSSE's Twitter

YOUNG POSSE is a group that debuted in 2023.

This group gained a lot of spotlight for their debut song as it embodied the not-too-serious essence that once was the biggest appeal of K-Pop. However, some could not appreciate the sentiment. Despite this, YOUNG POSSE's willingness to be creative has given them an appeal that is hard not to fall for in the eyes of many people. Many are looking forward to seeing more of their quirkiness in the future and hoping that this can be the driving force of them getting some more merited spotlight.

Check out YOUNG POSSE's music video for 'MACARONI CHEESE' here.

10. NINE.i

NINE.i's Twitter

NINE.i is a group that debuted in 2022.

NINE.i has already been deemed a 'complete package' group thanks to their consistently good music, incredible production skills, and the carefree enchanting nature of the members themselves. They are the kind of idols who ease your worries as you stan them. It boggles the mind how this group has yet to get the buzz that they deserve, especially considering that their musical color is so one-of-a-kind.

Check out NINE.i's music video for 'NEVERLAND' here.

Do you have any other K-Pop groups that you think deserve more spotlight and recognition in 2024?