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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Nomad but right at home in Delhi!
'NOMAD' is a five-member K-pop group under NOMAD Entertainment that debuted on February 28, 2024, with their EP Nomad. The group's name—short for Need Our Microphone And Dances—also reflects their identity as artists who feel at home on any stage. Known for their genre-blending style rooted in K-pop, R&B, and hip hop, NOMAD is led by producer-rapper DOY, alongside members Sangha, ONE, RIVR, and Junho. Their debut featured global collaborators such as Jayrah Gibson and Cha Cha Malone, and their tracks No Pressure and California Love received critical acclaim. With a rapidly growing fanbase named BASE and recent performances in Seoul and Tokyo, NOMAD is gaining attention for their polished sound, global outlook, and hands-on artistry. Nomad spoke to TMS ahead of the grand finale of KCCI's All India K-Pop Contest 2025, in Delhi on July 19. When it comes to K-pop nowadays, one is spoilt for choice, how does NOMAD stand out in songs and performances? Please also introduce us to the different personalities in the group. DOY: NOMAD is a group that pursues a free and unrestricted path, unbound by conventional moulds. Showing what we genuinely like and expressing our own unique taste honestly — that's the biggest difference and strength of our team. I serve as the leader and producer of the team. When I first planned this project, I personally searched for members from across the country and brought them in one by one. Like completing a puzzle, once we became five members, I felt certain — 'Now we can begin.' That's how NOMAD's journey began. SANGHA: I play the role of bringing positive and bright energy to the team. I try to keep the atmosphere cheerful so that the members can enjoy our work. ONE: If 'passion' were a person, it would be me. With a spirit of challenge and a fiery heart, I'm responsible for being the core energy of the team. RIVR: All of our members have distinct vocal colours, and I believe my tone brings harmony among them. My voice is one of the key charm points that completes NOMAD's unique sound. JUNHO: As the youngest member of the team, I bring energy to the others when they're feeling tired. I also think my playful and cheerful nature, fitting for the youngest, helps lift the team's overall vibe! SANGHA (adds): Junho really catches the fans' attention with his looks! ONE: To explain a bit more about personalities — DOY has a big difference between when he's working and when he's not. When he's working, he's strict and solid, which is why we trust him and follow his lead well. RIVR: But when it's not about work… we often playfully tease DOY with jokes. (laughs) JUNHO: SANGHA always mediates the team well with his bright and positive energy. ONE has this lovable, over-the-top passion — like a 'passion fool' — and when he jokes around with us younger members like me and RIVR, the chemistry is really great. SANGHA: RIVR is calm but has a very distinct world of his own. He has this irresistible charm — once you fall for it, it's hard to get out. DOY: Our JUNHO is full of maknae (youngest member) charm. He's the most playful and has quite a few clumsy moments, but when he's on stage, he shows a surprising side — cool, skilled, and impressive. Who among Indian bands and performers do you follow and why? DOY: Hanumankind. I think I first came across him through the Big Dawgs music video, and it was honestly shocking — in a good way. Since we love hip-hop, the music itself was incredibly cool, but what really drew me in was how each scene in the video felt so fresh and creative. That's what made me a fan. What are the NOMAD specials or new numbers the Delhi audience can look forward to? What are the things are you going to try out in Delhi? SANGHA: We have made some special changes to one of our performances. We've prepared it with a lot of effort so we can enjoy the moment more closely with our local fans — please look forward to it! ONE: Since we've come to India, I really want to experience things that can only be found here. In particular, I want to see the famous Taj Mahal with my own eyes. There's something truly special about seeing a place in real life that you've only seen in photos. JUNHO: When you think of India, you can't skip the food! I love trying different cuisines, so I really want to taste authentic curry in its homeland. I'm also super excited for dishes like tandoori chicken — authentic Indian cuisine! (laughs) Through your music, what kind of message does NOMAD hope to convey to the public and your fans? Is there a particular message or vibe you value most on stage? RIVR: We want to share the experiences we've had in life so far, the values we've gained, and the positive thoughts we've developed along the way. DOY: The musical aspect is definitely the biggest, but beyond just music, we want to convey positive energy and messages through everything we're able to document and express. There are so many fields in this world, but if we can deliver even a small positive message through what we do, we hope it might contribute — even just a little — to making the world a better place. Who among senior K-pop bands inspire you and anyone else from world music. RIVR: I've been heavily influenced by BIGBANG. It's not just their music — they were involved in everything: performance, style, concepts, producing. They paved the way for the kind of path we want to follow, so there's so much we can learn from them, and we hope to grow in that same direction. DOY: Among international artists, I really like A$AP Rocky and Travis Scott. Beyond their musicality, what I admire is how they built their own labels and teams — even as solo artists, they formed communities. I've been influenced by both of them since I was young, and they continue to inspire me even now.
San Francisco Chronicle
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Suge Knight says Tupac begged for death and friends smoked his ashes
Marion 'Suge' Knight, the embattled former CEO of Death Row Records, has come forward with bombshell claims about the death of rapper Tupac Shakur, revealing in a new jailhouse interview that Shakur asked to be killed in the hospital after being shot — and that his friends later smoked his cremated remains. Knight, 60, the only living witness to Shakur's final hours, recounted the chaotic night of Sept. 7, 1996, when their black BMW came under fire in a drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip. After the pair were rushed to the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, Knight said Shakur, fearing prosecution for a gang-related assault earlier that night, begged to be killed. 'Kill me. Shoot me,' Shakur allegedly pleaded, according to Knight's interview with People. Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur, a former Black Panther, allegedly gave her son pills to ease his suffering, Knight claimed. When doctors attempted to revive him, Knight says she intervened: 'Don't ever do that again ... Let him go.' Shakur was declared dead six days later, on Sept. 13. According to Knight, Afeni insisted on an immediate cremation. He paid $1 million in cash to have it done. That same night, in what Knight described as a symbolic tribute, several of Shakur's close friends allegedly rolled his ashes into a blunt and smoked them. Knight, on probation at the time, says he abstained. Despite a tumultuous music career that spanned just five years, Shakur made an indelible mark on the world of hip-hop. He sold more than 75 million records worldwide, including the diamond-certified album 'All Eyez on Me,' which included the hits 'California Love (Remix),' 'I Ain't Mad at Cha' and 'How Do U Want It.' He also found success as an actor, starring in the films 'Poetic Justice,' 'Juice' and 'Above the Rim.' Although Shakur was born in New York and spent his youth in Baltimore and Marin City, he credited Oakland with launching his music career after he connected with the East Bay rap outfit Digital Underground. In 2023, the Oakland City Council unanimously approved the renaming of a section of MacArthur Boulevard to Tupac Shakur Way in honor of the rapper. In 2016, the city also issued a proclamation naming June 16 as Tupac Shakur Day. 'I give all my love to Oakland, if I'ma claim somewhere I'ma claim Oakland, even if I don't live there,' Shakur said in a 1993 interview. The new revelations come amid renewed scrutiny over Shakur's killing. He has claimed Sean 'Diddy' Combs ordered the hit, an allegation Combs has repeatedly denied and which authorities say has never led to Combs being considered a suspect. Afeni Shakur died at the age of 69 on May 2, 2016. The cause was believed to be cardiac arrest, according to the Marin County Sheriff's Office. Nearly 30 years after the shooting, Knight says he still can't bring himself to listen to Tupac's music. 'It was a part of me that changed my life forever,' he said. 'When Pac died, I saw the whole sky turn a reddish orange.'
Los Angeles Times
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Why is Dodger Stadium SO LOUD? ‘It's just all part of an entertainment show'
The two New York teams dropped by Dodger Stadium a couple of weeks ago, first the Yankees and then the Mets, and broadcasters for each team made sure to complain about how loud it was. 'The Dodger Stadium center field speakers are in full assault mode,' Yankees radio voice Dave Sims tweeted. On the ESPN Sunday night broadcast from Dodger Stadium that week, Karl Ravech introduced an in-game interview with the Dodgers' Tommy Edman this way: 'He's in center field now, being blasted by, I think, arguably the loudest speaker system I have ever heard in my life.' Notwithstanding the audacity of New Yorkers whining about someone else's volume, the broadcasters did lend their distinguished voices to a long-running debate among Dodgers fans: Is it loud at Dodger Stadium, or is it too loud? 'It's just all part of an entertainment show,' Mookie Betts said. 'There is no 'too loud.'' Organists Helen Dell and Nancy Bea Hefley soothed generations of fans, but the traditional soundtrack to a Dodgers game has gone the way of $10 parking and outfield walls free of advertisements. The fan experience now includes a finely choreographed production at virtually every moment except when the ball is in play, and that includes recorded music, cranked up. 'We don't make it louder just to make it louder,' said Lon Rosen, the Dodgers' executive vice president and chief marketing officer. 'It's all part of what fits in the presentation.' And the players, the ones whose performance determines whether the Dodgers win or lose, love the presentation. 'I think it's great,' Clayton Kershaw said. 'Even on the road, I'd rather have that than quiet. St. Louis was just really quiet. It almost felt like golf at times. 'The louder, the more fun, the better. The Dodgers have the best sound system out there. So why not use it?' Said former Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen: 'When I used to come out to 'California Love,' that thing used to bang. The bass they have, you can feel that thing shake in your chest.' Just how loud is it at the ballpark? To find out, I downloaded a decibel meter and visited Southern California's three major league ballparks during an eight-day span this month. At Dodger Stadium, I walked around the ballpark, and up and down to different levels, but the readings were relatively consistent no matter where someone might be sitting. Bottom line: It's pleasant at Angel Stadium, lively at Petco Park, booming at Dodger Stadium. Caveat: Even with all other things equal, it always will be louder at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers sell 50,000 tickets to a game more often than not; no other major league ballpark even holds 50,000. At 60 and 30 minutes before game time, as fans settled into the ballpark, Angel Stadium and Petco Park registered in the 65-75 dB range, roughly the sound of a normal conversation on the low end and household appliances on the high end. The introduction of the home team lineup registered in the 80-85 dB range at Angel Stadium, 85-90 dB at Petco Park, and 90-95 dB at Dodger Stadium, roughly the sound of a noisy restaurant at the low end and power tools on the high end. The high-end levels would be hazardous if sustained throughout the evening, but sounds ebb and flow as the game does. (Decibel levels are measured logarithmically, so an increase of 10 dB means sound is heard 10 times louder and an increase of 20 dB means sound is heard 100 times louder.) The highest levels at any stadium occur not when a voice pleads 'Get loud!' or 'Everybody clap your hands!' but organically, as the result of a big moment in the game. My decibel meter hit 100 dB twice during my three test games: immediately after the Angels' Travis d'Arnaud homered in Anaheim, and as the Dodgers' Will Smith slid safely into home plate with the tying run at Dodger Stadium, as the opposing catcher tagged him but dropped the ball. What distinguishes the Dodger Stadium experience is the hour or so before the game starts. The Angels offer music, spotlight fans on the video board, and 'invite you to enjoy the hospitality of Angel Stadium.' The Dodgers impose a relentlessly loud pregame show, with hype guys and hype girls, pounding away well above the 65-75 dB levels in Anaheim and San Diego, with dB readings into the 80s. The Dodgers' pregame show attempts to force anticipation upon the audience, as if that is somehow necessary. It's not. You're about to see Shohei Ohtani! There is always something happening before the game in the center field plaza: a band, product giveaways, Instagram-worthy photo opportunities, the live pregame broadcast for SportsNet LA. You can get hyped there, if you like. Or you can enjoy a conversation with your friends in your seats, instead of getting a headache before the game even starts. Tyler Anderson, who pitches for the Angels now and used to pitch for the Dodgers, said he finds no fault in the traditional way of presenting the game, or in the Dodgers' way. 'It's like you're trying to turn that venue into one of the best bars in town, where you just go to the bar and listen to loud music and people are having a good time,' Anderson said. 'I think that's the atmosphere they're trying to create. It's a fun atmosphere for the fans too. 'And then some places are more family-based. They'd rather have kids and older families, and young kids and grandkids coming to games. They probably have less of a party atmosphere and less of a bar kind of atmosphere. 'There is no right or wrong way.' In his ESPN in-game interview, Edman called the Dodgers' sound system both 'absolutely absurd' and 'great.' I asked Edman about that seeming contradiction. 'That was one of the things that stuck out to me my first time playing here, just how loud the speakers are,' he said. 'You can't hear yourself think.' He got used to it, and to how he need not be distracted because the sound shuts off 'once the play actually starts.' He likes it now. 'It makes it more fun,' he said. 'It's like a big league game.' The Dodgers' game presentation is creative and compelling. And, instead of eliminating the beloved organ, the Dodgers include talented organist Dieter Ruehle as part of the show. Really, just tone down the pregame hour, and we're good. Rosen shrugged off the notion that the Dodgers should tone down anything. If fans did not enjoy the production, he wondered, why would they keep packing Dodger Stadium? 'It's really not any louder than any other of the more popular stadiums,' Rosen said. He might be onto something. Veteran baseball columnist Bob Klapisch reported that, during last month's Yankees-Mets series at Yankee Stadium, 'the decibel levels at the stadium routinely reached the mid-90s.' That, Mr. Yankee Announcer, would be 'full assault mode.'
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tupac Murder Suspect In Some Serious Trouble...But Not For What You Think
Duane 'Keefe D' Davis, the man accused in the fatal shooting of rapper Tupac Shakur, managed to get himself in more trouble while awaiting trial behind bars. The jury verdict is finally in determining whether he'll face prison time for a crime unrelated to the famous shooting. The jury's April 9 verdict stems from a December 2024 incident. Davis was in custody when he got into a brawl with a fellow inmate after a personal visit, per KTNV. Video footage of the scene shows Davis walking with a security guard past the other inmate and pivoting toward him. Davis appeared to then restrain the inmate in a headlock. The two punched each other while dragging themselves to the ground. The security guard appeared to grab something from his pocket, presumably pepper spray, and point it at the two while they fought on the ground. Davis asserted to officers he was standing his ground, per Complex. However, there are little to no details as to why he had beef with the other inmate. Regardless of the reason, a jury found Davis guilty of two counts: battery by a prisoner and issuing challenges to fight. He'll return to court for sentencing on May 27. However, he's still up for trial for the shooting death of the 'California Love' rapper from back in 1996. Prosecutors are holding on to his prior interviews where he confessed to being part of the murder as part of a 'proffer agreement.' Davis is also the last man alive out of the group of men who were allegedly in the vehicle when the shots were fired. However, in an interview with ABC News from behind bars, he maintained his innocence. 'I'm innocent. I ain't kill nobody. Never killed nobody. They don't have no evidence against me. Prove that I orchestrated this. You're key witness orchestrated this. Their top witness is the lead suspect,' he told the outlet. The Shakur murder trial is set to begin in February 2026. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Associated Press
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Emergent Media's Original Social Series Honored for Video & Film in the 29th Annual Webby Awards
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Emergent Media announced today that its exclusive creator-led original video series, 'The Hype,' has been honored in the Video & Film category in the 29th Annual Webby Awards. Hailed as the 'Internet's highest honor' by The New York Times, The Webby Awards, presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet. 'The Hype' debuted in May 2023 as a monthly original video series on Emergent's California Love channel. Hosted by creator Jake Toohey, each 60-second episode dives into a popular California attraction, destination, or activity and shows the audience whether it's worth 'the hype.' Over 24 episodes, our intrepid host has explored Hearst Castle, trekked through the super bloom, eaten his way through Downtown Disney, and experienced the US Open of Surfing in partnership with Pacifico® and Constellation Brands. 'Honorees like Emergent Media are leading the charge in pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation online,' said Nick Borenstein, General Manager of The Webby Awards. 'Being chosen from nearly 13,000 entries this year is a remarkable accomplishment and a true testament to their excellence.' 'We're thrilled to be recognized by The Webby Awards for something we're truly passionate about—leveraging the power and scale of our proprietary creator network to bring innovative stories to life in the digital space, both for our lifestyle publishing brands and our incredible brand partners,' said Jen Klawin, Chief Business Officer at Emergent Media. About The Webby Awards Established in 1996, The Webby Awards is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites and Mobile Sites; Video & Film; Advertising, Media & PR; Social; Podcasts; and Creators. The awards saw nearly 13,000 entries from all 50 states and over 70 countries last year. About Emergent Media Emergent Media is a creator-led digital publisher and branded content studio. Powered by our global community of creators and informed by data and insights, we create and distribute content that delights consumers and drives results for brands.
