BrandNew Music Co., Ltd. (, initialized as BNM) is a South Korean hip hop company founded in 2011 by rapper .
History 2003–2012: Founding and first-generation artists Kim Se-hwan (), known as Rhymer, founded the record label IC Entertainment in 2003 after having failed to establish a career as a rapper since his debut in 1995. The label later changed its name to BrandNew Production. In 2009, BrandNew Production merged with Future Flow, a record label owned by rapper and producer Cho PD. The combined company was named BrandNew Stardom.
BrandNew Stardom split into two companies in 2011, with Cho PD founding Stardom Entertainment and Rhymer founding BrandNew Music. Artists Verbal Jint, Tae Hye Young, BNR, Keeproots, A-Man, and Miss S followed Rhymer to the new label.
Following the split of BrandNew Stardom in 2011, the newly founded Stardom Entertainment sued BrandNew Music, saying that Oh Yoo-mi, a member of Miss S, was still contracted with Stardom. According to BrandNew Music, the two companies had previously agreed that "neither company would restrict Miss $'s movement."
BrandNew Music released its first label collaboration, "Happy BrandNew Year," at the end of 2012. Artists Verbal Jint, Phantom, As One, Miss S, Swings, Shijin, and Bumkey all contributed to the single. It reached #24 on Korea's Gaon Digital Chart.
2013–2016: second-generation artists In January 2013, BrandNew Music launched its own Internet show, BrandNew Live. That summer, rapper San E left major music label JYP Entertainment and joined BrandNew Music. He has since become one of the most awarded artists in the label and one of the most successful rappers in Korean mainstream media.
In early 2014, the label released its second collaboration, "You Make Me Feel Brand New", featuring Verbal Jint, San. E, Bumkey, Kanto, Swings and Phantom. The song samples the 1974 American soul hit song of the same name by The Stylistics. The single reached #13 on the Gaon Digital Chart. Later that year, R&B singer C-Luv (now known as Taewan) joined the label, having debuted ten years prior under Rhymer's BrandNew Production label. A few months later, rapper Swings left the label to focus on his own record label, Just Music Entertainment. In December, the label released "BrandNew Day," its third collaboration, which featured Verbal Jint, San E, Phantom, As One, P-Type, Taewan, Kang Min-hee (of Miss $), Kanto, Champagne & Candle, Yang Da-il and DJ IT. The song reached #30 on the Gaon Digital Chart. The year ended with Bumkey of the group Troy being indicted for dealing illegal drugs. Bumkey denied the allegations and was found not guilty in a trial the following year.
Several artists joined BrandNew Music in 2015, including Eluphant, Gree, Pretty Brown, and Unpretty Rapstar 2 contestant KittiB. BrandNew Music released its fourth label collaboration, "Heat It Up" in December. The song featured San E, Verbal Jint, Bumkey, Hanhae, Kanto, Kang Min-hee, Yang Da-il and Candle.
2016 saw new additions to the label including the Esbee, Chancellor, and actor Yang Dong-geun who raps under the name YDG.
2017–present: Sub-label and new generation artists In 2017, BrandNew Music launched its indie sub-label "Korean Roulette", led by Kiggen as president. The first act to sign under it was the duo SBGB. In July 2017, BrandNew formed a duo MXM.
On May 22, 2019, BrandNew debuted their first idol group AB6IX, with Lee Dae-hwi, Park Woo-jin, Kim Dong-hyun and Jeon Woong among the members. AB6IX, 5월 22일 올림픽홀서 데뷔 앨범 쇼케이스 개최(공식) On October 29, BrandNew debuted BDC. On December 26, Han Dong-geun signed an exclusive contract with the company.
On August 31, 2020, artist Lee Eun-sang, formerly of X1, made his solo debut.
On April 20, 2022, BrandNew debuted their third boy group Younite.
Artists
Soloists Bumkey (since 2013) DJ It DJ Juice Gree (since 2014) Hanhae (since 2011) Lee Eun-sang (since 2019) Muzie (since 2023) Rhymer (since 2011) Taewan (since 2014) Verbal Jint (since 2011) Vincent Blue (since 2019)
Groups AB6IX As One Eluphant Younite
Producers 9999 Dong Ne-hyeong LISHBEATS MasterKey NOMAD On The Road Won Young-heon XEPY Yellow Willow
Entertainers Lee Dae-woo
Former artists
Soloists Bizniz Esna (2019) Chancellor (2016–2018) Esbee Han Dong-geun (2019–2024) Henney J'Kyun (2011–2014) Kang Min-hee Kang So-yeon Kanto (2014–2023) Kiggen (2011–2018) KittiB (2015–2020) Lee Kang P-Type (2011–2017) Rudals (2015–2022) San E (2013–2018) Sanchez (2011–2018) Swings (2013–2014) Yang Da-il (2014–2025) Yang Dong-geun Yenjamin (2018–2022) Yo Da-young
Groups BDC (2019–2023) Miss S MXM (2017–2018) Phantom (2011–2017) (co-produced with RBW) Pretty Brown (2015–2017) (co-produced with ROOFTOP Company) Troy (2014–2017)
Members of current groups Hyeunseung (Younite, 2022–2024) Lee Min (As One, 2012–2025) Lim Young-min (MXM and AB6IX, 2017–2020)
Discography TitleYearArtistsPeak chart positionsSales (DL) KOR "Happy BrandNew Year" 2012 24KOR: 292,674 "BrandNew Anthem" — "You Make Me Feel Brand New" 2014 13KOR: 192,831 "BrandNew Day" 30KOR: 100,723 "High" (잘 되길 바래) — "Heat It Up" (몸 좀 녹이자) 2015 40KOR: 100,780 "BrandNew Shit" — rowspan="2" "Respect the Name" 2016 — "Already Christmas" (어느새 크리스마스) —KOR: 13,992 "Better Tomorrow" — rowspan="10" "Baby Can I" (너가 필요한 것 같아) 2017 — "Fresh Air" — "Do Your Thing" (다 해도 돼) 2018 — "Sweater" (스웨터) — "Melting" 2019 — "Look Good" — "Chandelier" (샹들리에) 2020 — "Better Days" (바래) — "1 Year" —
Concerts BrandNew Year 2015 (December 12, 2015) BrandNew World Seoul (September 22, 2017) BrandNew Year 2017 BrandNew Season (December 22, 2017)
See also Korean hip hop Stardom Entertainment
References
External links