“League of Legends” struck K-pop gold in 2018 while that iron was hot. Now in 2020, K-pop has remained a global phenomenon, and the game’s chart-topping fantasy K-pop group K/DA is coming back with an extended-play release with several new tracks later this year.
The single and lyric video for K/DA’s second song ever, “THE BADDEST,” drops today, a follow-up to 2018′s “POP/STARS,” which amassed enough YouTube views to be the most successful debut for a K-pop group in the site’s history. The group was originally based on four real-life stars: SOYEON and MIYEON from (G)-IDLE, Madison Beer and Jaira Burns. But the four characters in the group — Ahri, Kai/Sa, Evelynn and Akali from “League” — will feature vocal performances from a mix of artists instead.
On release, K/DA’s “POP/STARS” topped the Billboard World Digital charts, as well as iTunes’ K-pop charts. While that’s no small feat for a group of made-up fantasy characters, the song’s instant popularity was a testament to the global phenomenon of “League of Legends,” the game behind the planet’s most popular esport. The song debuted with a live performance at the 2018 world championships. The music video currently has 365 million views on YouTube.
The song had appeal outside of the sizable “League” community as well, attracting fans of music and art. Its melody, as well as the high quality animation in the video, stunned and impressed YouTube influencers who cover K-pop and hip-hop. Creator BRISxLIFE, who was not familiar with “League of Legends” at all, loved the masked, rapping Akali character, and said in his reaction video from 2018, “Oh my God, tell me she’s somebody that I can pick in the game bruh. This is the most hardest design I’ve seen.
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“I’ve heard of ‘League of Legends.’ I know (G)-IDLE is dope as hell, but break down the characters,” he told his viewers.
Last year, “League of Legends” debuted a hip-hop group, True Damage, in conjunction with a partnership with Louis Vuitton for the 2019 Worlds Championship. The animated video for their song, “GIANTS,” currently has 110 million views.
While Riot Games has only created one other franchise in the 2020 shooter hit “Valorant,” its become one of the most powerful forces in the industry just on the “League” franchise alone. With K/DA’s return and their upcoming EP, Riot Games seems to be morphing into a next-generation multimedia company. It has already announced plans for a TV series. Riot intends to promote K/DA like virtual stars similar to Hatsune Miku and Lil Miquela, digital creations that have amassed a fan following.
Riot Games says to expect more announcements about collaborating artists in the coming months, including track details for the EP, which currently doesn’t have a scheduled release date. The social media accounts for the K/DA members are going to feature “day in the life” type Instagram posts that mimic real life influencers.
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Whatever the ladies of K/DA have in store for Instagram, they’ll be walking a trail blazed by Rabbid Peach from “Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle.” Rabbid Peach has been posting as a virtual influencer since 2017, with saucy bedroom and bejeweled makeup selfies, one year before the debut of K/DA.
Read more:
The origin story of ‘League of Legends’
League of Legends finally has a name for all its esports leagues
How to quickly climb the League of Legends ranked ladder
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